Snippets from the classroom Scripture in Schools News December, 2015 • When a class was invited to give some written feedback on what they thought of the Scripture lessons, one student wrote, “The [Scripture] class this year helped me through a bad patch and made me believe in God. Thank you for all you have taught me.” Another wrote, “I really enjoyed this class. It really got me thinking about how I should act.” There were many responses similar to these. • S tudents s ometimes a sk S cripture teachers to pray for them. At the end of a lesson on the power of prayer, one of our Scripture teachers felt impressed to ask students • Display a poster for Scripture in schools whether there were concerns troubling them that they would like him to pray about. Hunter SRE, the peak body for Scripture in schools in One boy told the teacher that he was distressed that his mother had not spoken to the Hunter and Lake Macquarie regions, is running a him for three years and had made no attempt to contact him. The Scripture teacher campaign to counter the negative attitudes felt impressed to pray about this situation then and there. At the next Scripture class expressed in the media by groups opposed to school the boy was overjoyed because his mother had contacted him that week. The class Scripture. As part of this campaign, Hunter SRE has prepared posters advertising the benefits of was g reatly i mpressed. While students need to understand that things don’t always work out like that, the experience has set many students thinking about God. Scripture in schools. • After a lesson on the prodigal son and forgiveness, a member of staff who had been listening told the Scripture teacher that she had been convicted by the lesson and as a result had decided to rekindle a relationship with someone towards whom she had felt embittered. She also said there were other classes that had spoken powerfully to her. • One of our Scripture teachers recently distributed copies of the gospel of Luke to Year 8 students. When the teacher arrived for the next lesson he saw a girl reading the book between the class periods. “What do you think of it?” the teacher asked. “It’s great,” she said. There is power in the teaching of God’s Word. We are pleased to display our new logo in this edition. We are grateful to Leticia Maguire of the Avondale College Church for the design. • One primary school student who was often inattentive asked the Scripture teacher, “If I want God in my life, can I have him?” The Scripture teacher assured her that she Southlakes Christian Education is an inter-­‐denominational association supported by could pray and ask God to come into her life. fourteen churches in our area. Did You Notice? Meet our 2015 Scripture Teachers How does scripture help students and parents? •
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It helps form a personal moral and ethical framework and provides guidelines for relationships and personal growth. It helps nurture the spiritual side of children. It provides an opportunity for children to explore their natural spiritual curiosity and find answers at the appropriate development level. It gives an avenue to pastoral care and supports children through times of difficulty or through challenging personal situations. It helps our children develop into mature contributing adults in the community. Public schools support the overall development of children, including education in various aspects of culture in society. Scripture in schools reflects the diversity in our community and gives students the opportunity to understand and explore the world from a wider perspective. You , too, can be involved The ministry of Scripture in our local government schools is entirely dependent on donor funding. If you would like to help us, you can make a one-­‐off donation or a regular contribution online to the following bank account: We now have 27 Scripture teachers presenting Scripture lessons to 58 classes BSB 032 524 Account No. 218517 in government schools between Wangi and Wyee, including 16 classes at Account name: South Lakes Christian Education Association Donations over $2.00 are tax deductible. Morisset High School. We will need extra volunteer Scripture teachers for primary classes in 2016. If you can help for half an hour or an hour each week, To obtain a tax deductible receipt, please put your name in the online reference box and email your name, the amount and date to our treasurer: [email protected] please email your contact details, including phone number, to our secretary: [email protected] • Pray for our SRE teachers, students and support organisations. • Support and enjoy our fundraising events and ask to be involved. Contact us Secretary: [email protected] Treasurer: [email protected] You are most welcome to join them