From the APRIM

Dear Families

Another Grandparents and Special Friends Day is over. This year’s circus theme reminds me of the 1952 film ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ with its complement of 1400 people, hundreds of animals, and 60 carloads of equipment and tent.  I love that movie! Thankfully, we didn’t have that many people involved and even better, not that much equipment. The stage hands and I had trouble keeping track of the juggling balls! I especially loved the way the characters care for one another, especially James Stewart’s Buttons. It is like one, enormous family.

Our Grandparents and Special Friends Day is the same. A big family who each year, request more tickets and our students who learn new skills to perform for their families. They are so proud that their families are in the audience watching. How blessed we are to have families.

I would like to share with you the prayers that we offered at the beginning of the show:

We are grateful for all the blessings God has given us: our faith and health, our food and shelter, our families and special friends. Help us to remember all that we have and to share the earth’s resources with everyone.

We pray that God will open our eyes and let us see those around us that are in need of compassion. Help us hear their needs. Give us the heart to be interested in their troubles and provide for us the means to help them.

We pray that God will bless us with the power of forgiveness. Give us the grace to unconditionally forgive those who have done us wrong. Give us the strength to let go of all un-will, the strength to forgive ourselves for our own failings and sins knowing that God is ready to forgive us.
We pray for courage, to face our fears, to stand up for ourselves, to fight for what is right. Strengthen our minds so when things happen, we can face them with confidence and courage.

We pray for justice. We ask God to help us to weave a tapestry of love and not hate, a spirit of tolerance and caring, a dedication to freedom for all and not just some. God, help us to sow seeds of peace and justice in our hearts today.

We give thanks for our school community. Help us to ensure that we are welcoming to all who enter – students, parents, grandparents and special friends. May we be generous in sharing our friendships and caring to those who need help.  May we live the ethos of our school authentically – Families: living, loving and learning.

We pray that God will give us the inspiration and courage to build God’s world as he would want it. We ask these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Thank you to all those who helped to make today such a wonderful day. There are too many to mention but each and every one of you is a valued and appreciated member of our Nativity family.

Thank you and God bless you.

Sharyn Black
Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission