Breakfast, Bible stories and blessings

Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Rochedale, Queensland, has long been connected to Redeemer Lutheran College since its founding. The church has been seeking opportunities over the years to be involved in the college community and spread the love of Jesus to its staff and students.

One of the new initiatives this year has been hosting a breakfast for the senior students before their mid-year and final exams. Students from Year 12 gathered at 7.30am on their last day of school to be in community with one another and the members of the Our Saviour congregation.

Congregation members cooked bacon and egg rolls, provided fruit and juice and then chatted with the students and staff at Redeemer. It was a great morning of connection across multiple generations and communities, and the Year 12 students really appreciated it. One Year 12 student stated they just loved the coming together as a cohort on their final school day to share memories over food.

Our Saviour’s tagline is about loving, supporting and caring for its community, and this is exactly what its members are doing with the school.

Another initiative that is continuing to be an absolute blessing is having five members of the congregation, including the pastor, come into the college and read a Bible story to the ‘preppies’ for 15 minutes. There are usually lots of questions about the Bible story, such as, ‘Where are the dinosaurs?’ when reading the creation story.

This is another way the congregation is seen and can show the love of Jesus to the school community.

It is important to show grace and understanding when teachers are stressed and have a lot on their plates. We don’t force ourselves into this space. We come and chat with the students only by invitation and on the classroom’s schedule, and we are thankful to the school for allowing us to visit.

There are many different ways a congregation can serve their local school community, and this is one for the littlest ones.

Christian Hansen is the Community Connections Facilitator/Chaplain at Redeemer Lutheran College in Rochedale, Queensland.