The Last Word

Reverend Gillian Moses Chaplain

This week I have been listening to the Archbishop of York, The Most Rev’d and Rt Honourable Stephen Cottrell talk about community. If you are familiar with the story of Pentecost, as our Kindy-Year 2 students are, you will remember that on that day the Holy Spirit came among the disciples, and they could suddenly speak in many languages so they could be understood by the many and varied people who found themselves in Jerusalem at that time. You can read the story in the Bible, in the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 2.

Archbishop Cottrell reflected that if he had been in charge that day, he would have ensured everyone could speak the same language, rather than giving the disciples the ability to speak many languages. How much easier is it when we are all the same, rather than needing to accommodate difference!

Time and again, however, it is brought home to us that a diverse and messy community of many different voices is so much more vibrant than a monoculture. Biology teaches us that biodiversity is key to a flourishing biome, and we humans are no different. We have better ideas, more interesting brainstorming, and much greater creativity when we are bumping up against one another’s difference. One might almost think God was onto something by keeping us as such a mixed bunch. Certainly, Jesus showed no interest in purifying the kingdom of God, but rather did everything he could to stretch the community wider and wider, to include the most unlikely people, even women, Samaritans and tax collectors!

We are always challenged to keep our community open to the other and to welcome those who are not like us. It is uncomfortable, and takes hard work sometimes, but it is the work of God’s people. At St Aidan’s I am grateful for every single person who is not like me (that is everyone, of course), because you constantly remind me that my idea, my position, my opinion can never, in fact, be the last word. Thank God for that!

Leading the Future

Open Morning

St Aidan’s is a Prep – Year 12 school for girls with a coeducational Kindergarten, located in Corinda.

We invite you to come and experience everything that St Aidan’s has to offer at our upcoming Open Morning.

9am Wednesday 23 November

Register to attend: staidans.qld.edu.au/events Or book a private tour: staidans.qld.edu.au/take-a-tour

St Aidan’s

Anglican Girls’ School

A School of the Society of the Sacred Advent 11 Ruthven St, Corinda Qld 4075 Australia P +61 7 3373 5999 E reception@staidans.qld.edu.au www.staidans.qld.edu.au

St Aidan’s School Council Ltd CRICOS Code: 01194K ABN: 310 749 995 27