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I’ve recently come across a very interesting and sobering reflection by Tim Challies. It is the kind of spiritual sustenance that we need in times where human wisdom simply can’t satisfy and reliance on earthly powers often disappoint. It brings us back to God’s grand story and I am sure you will be as blessed as I was by this.  

Challies[1] writes: “We often overestimate our wisdom. We often overestimate our capacity to rightly assess any given situation. We often overestimate our ability to know what would be best for ourselves and those we love. We are nothing if not self-focused, nothing if not self-reliant, nothing if not self-assured.

Of course we know that, in theory, we are limited little creatures whose knowledge is small and whose understanding is minimal. But this rarely stops us from acting as if we know far more than we actually do, as if we are far wiser than we actually are. This rarely stops us from praying as if the best thing God could ever do is to grant us our desires, to cede to our will, to do things in the way we demand. “Nevertheless, not as you will, but as I will” is so often our functional petition before the Lord.

But those who live by faith must have faith not only in God’s salvation but also in his providence. They must have faith that God knows best not only when it comes to the state of their souls but also the events of their lives, to entrust to him not just their distant happy future in heaven, but also their difficult present here on earth. They must have faith in God’s desire to hear their prayers, in his ability to answer their prayers, but also in his far greater capacity to know what is best for them and what best serves his great plan and purpose.

It is for this reason that we must pray earnestly and fervently, pouring out our petitions before the Lord, yet all the while encapsulating every prayer in the words, “nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.” While we can and should pray for those things we long for, we should always pray that what we long for would be according to God’s will. This is no more than an acknowledgement of the greatness of God’s knowledge and the limitations of our own. It is to admit that it is always better for God to carry out his will than for us to get ours. It is to profess that God’s ways are always better than our ways, even when they contradict our most fervent desires, and that his ways are higher than our ways, even when they lead through the deepest of valleys.

By faith we believe that God will some day right every wrong and bring contentment far greater than every pain. By faith we believe that we will worship God for every one of his actions and praise him for every part of his providence. By faith we believe we will see that when our will and his were in contradiction, we were actually longing for what was merely second best.”

Look what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”

And finally, this beautiful song by Keith and Kristyn Getty[2]:

By faith we see the hand of God In the light of creation's grand design In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth With the power of His promise in their hearts Of a holy city built by God's own hand A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward Till the race is finished and the work is done We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day When the longed-for Messiah would appear With the power to break the chains of sin and death And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go In the power of the Spirit to the lost To deliver captives and to preach good news In every corner of the earth

By faith this mountain shall be moved And the power of the gospel shall prevail For we know in Christ all things are possible For all who call upon His name

We will stand as children of the promise We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward Till the race is finished and the work is done We'll walk by faith and not by sight.

[1] https://www.challies.com/articles/longing-for-whats-second-best/

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXB8ihepUpE

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Keith Getty / Stuart Townend / Kristyn Getty

By Faith lyrics © Thank You Music Ltd.

To view all updated calendar events please go to the Parent Calendar Link

Dear Parents,

A reminder to notify the school if your contact details have changed. Please email emmaus@emmaus.act.edu.au if this applies to you.

The Administration Team

SRC Term 4 Fundraiser (K - 10)

• Sausage Rolls $4, pay when collecting
• Served Thursday Lunchtime, commencing Week 5
• K-2 will have orders delivered to their classrooms
• Y3-10 orders to be collected from Secondary Food Tech
• Please place your order via the Skoolbag App link.
• Orders close on Wednesday’s at 1pm.
• Sorry no late orders can be accepted.

SRC Term 4 Fundraiser (Yr K - 10)

• Fridays Weekly during Term 4, commencing week 5 
• Lunchtime
• Lemonade Icy Poles -  $2.00
• Cash payment on the day.
  

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2022 can apply now. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for a school travel pass for the first time, or if they are requesting an additional travel entitlement as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, or who have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications and current entitlements are updated and remain valid. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2022.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

School Student Transport Scheme site change

On 1 October 2021 the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) information and application portal was moved to transportnsw.info. This will assist families to find all their travel information in the one place.

Travel from Term 1 2022

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.

Applications for the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) open at the start of Term 4 2021 for travel in 2022, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year.

The start of the year is a difficult period for local bus operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations increasingly difficult.

We recognise that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel on a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.

Please also remember that students using Opal cards must tap on and tap off in line with the Student code of conduct and Opal terms of use.

Year 5 student Anna G, is riding in the Great Cycle Challenge in October, to raise money for children’s cancer research. Her goal is to ride 50km (or more!) over the month of October, and to raise $500. She is very keen to meet her goals. Her older brother Toby (yr 7), little brother Elliot (yr 2) and mum Amanda are also taking part in the challenge. As a family, they are aiming to ride over 1000km and to raise $2000!

As part of their fundraising efforts, they are also collecting 10c deposit bottles and cans to return at the recycling depot. If you are able to help them out and would like to save bottles and cans for them, they will be happy to collect them when you have a big box or bags saved. You can email Amanda directly to let her know if they have some ready to collect. They will be collecting all through September and October. The 10c deposit bottles and cans include soft drink cans, soft drink bottles, small flavoured milk or fruit juice bottles, juice poppers and fruit-box cartons, beer bottles and beer cans (not regular 1-3L milk bottles or 2-3L juice bottles or wine bottles or food cans).

Amanda's email address is : amandajanegraham@gmail.com

If you would like to support Anna with a direct donation, here is the link to her fundraising page:

https://greatcyclechallenge.com.au/Riders/AnnaGraham

Thank you for your support!

Amanda (Yr5) and Mum - Anna Graham