Ministry

Pictured: 1945 whole school photo.

O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD

The focus and invitation for establishing a 'new school' in Wartime.

PAUL SMITH

pastor

Some years ago, I was travelling in England when I had the opportunity to explore the Imperial War Museum in London. This is a museum that introduces people to the experience of the people of the United Kingdom during various wars and, of course, the Museum is careful not to glorify war.

A particular display that was in the middle of the Museum put my soul unexpectedly in an odd space. Within the Museum was a fully rebuilt two-storey London terraced cottage from the Second World War years (1940s). The house was complete and showed all the signs of hardship from that era: basic items of furniture; an old valve radio that was playing war-time broadcasts; simple pots and pans; no fridge that we would recognise; and the windows taped shut in case of bombing. Looking at this rebuilt cottage was somewhat an emotional moment for me, because I realised that this house was exactly the kind of home that my mum had described from her childhood years.

My mum is an English migrant who came to Australia with her family from London after WWII. With her family she had endured the struggles and uncertainties of war-time. My mum remembers how most day-today necessities were rationed: material for clothes, petrol, milk, eggs, cheese, tobacco, sugar – you name it. You had to line up for things and get your ration book 'stamped' according to how much you were allowed to have.

These images of war-time hardships are important to keep in mind when we consider the significance of the establishment of St Peters Lutheran College.

The opening service for St Peters was Sunday 25 February, 1945. That date is very significant for those in attendance. Since 1939 the world had been at war. When St Peters was opened the war in Europe had no end in sight and the war in the Pacific was raging. When St Peters was established, rations still were the norm and people were living with daily uncertainty.

So, what do you tell the young people and their families establishing a new school in the middle of war time? At the Opening Service, on that February day in 1945, the celebration began with Psalm 34, as a word to guide us and inspire us with the promises of God’s gracious hand at work in our world, even during uncertain times. Psalm 34 was something of the 'charter' for our school, to begin and continue in God’s care.

At the heart of Psalm 34 is an invitation and promise: “O Taste and See that the Lord is Good.”

The words 'taste and see' are the call of the founders of St Peters for students to come and to learn at this school, of the gracious hand of God at work. We are invited to put your hand to the wheel and to be involved in seeking peace for the world in the name of God.

What motivated this bold conviction and the establishment of this College, was the story of Jesus Christ that is revealed to us in the Old and New Testaments. God’s heart is fully revealed in the cross and resurrection. God’s loving purpose is to deal with sin and evil, to make us people of hope. The message declared at the foundation of St Peters was 'in Christ, God is for you'. This same message has been passed on to each generation of the St Peters community.

Back on that Sunday in 1945, the students were invited to consider how the Lord God was providing for them and would provide good things for them even during war time and uncertainty. Our founding student cohort had a similar experience of uncertainties as we are having in these times of COVID-19 and the invitation of Psalm 34 is just as relevant for us:

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8

God bless you and your family.