Chaplain's Remarks
Dear Parents and Guardians.
This past few weeks I have been looking at the prophet Samuel with our Year 3 classes. Samuel’s journey began long before he was even born. His mother, Hannah, barren and unable to have children, travelled yearly to worship God. One year she pleaded with the Lord through prayer, bargaining for a son. It was there in her deep anguish and sorrow that the Lord heard her. Hannah received a son a year later. During her bargaining with God, she promised to devote her son to the Lord, and so when he came of age, he was sent off to work in the temple. While he was still young, we believe around the age of 12, the Lord spoke directly to Samuel and his journey as the mighty prophet began. Teaching this is always a humbling experience. Teaching the kids so many amazing lessons, such as the importance of listening to Gods voice, how we can do that in todays day and age since we don’t exactly have prophets of the same calibre they did back then. And arguably the most important is that just like Samuel, God can work with us too. God doesn’t only work with old wise adults. He can use anyone, including young children to enrich not only their lives, but the lives of their peers and their families. It’s comforting to know that this incredible journey of listening to God began with God listening first. He heard the cries of a heartbroken woman, and through answering her prayer, provided the nation with one of His greatest messengers. Let’s do our best to remember as a community, that listening is always a good thing. Especially if you’re listening out for God. His response is truly clearest when we’re close enough for Him to hear our requests also.
God Bless.
Toby A
This past few weeks I have been looking at the prophet Samuel with our Year 3 classes. Samuel’s journey began long before he was even born. His mother, Hannah, barren and unable to have children, travelled yearly to worship God. One year she pleaded with the Lord through prayer, bargaining for a son. It was there in her deep anguish and sorrow that the Lord heard her. Hannah received a son a year later. During her bargaining with God, she promised to devote her son to the Lord, and so when he came of age, he was sent off to work in the temple. While he was still young, we believe around the age of 12, the Lord spoke directly to Samuel and his journey as the mighty prophet began. Teaching this is always a humbling experience. Teaching the kids so many amazing lessons, such as the importance of listening to Gods voice, how we can do that in todays day and age since we don’t exactly have prophets of the same calibre they did back then. And arguably the most important is that just like Samuel, God can work with us too. God doesn’t only work with old wise adults. He can use anyone, including young children to enrich not only their lives, but the lives of their peers and their families. It’s comforting to know that this incredible journey of listening to God began with God listening first. He heard the cries of a heartbroken woman, and through answering her prayer, provided the nation with one of His greatest messengers. Let’s do our best to remember as a community, that listening is always a good thing. Especially if you’re listening out for God. His response is truly clearest when we’re close enough for Him to hear our requests also.
God Bless.
Toby A