Inside this Issue - Redeemer Lutheran College

2 | from the principal | REDEEMER RECORD
A Thriving Community
With the year drawing to a close, I thank
staff, students and parents for another
wonderful year. Redeemer is more
than a place, it is a thriving community
and it thrives because of the diverse
contributions of many. Within the pages
of this edition of Redeemer Record, we
give thanks and celebrate the various
activities which have not only occurred
throughout Semester 2, but also
throughout 2011.
In August we celebrated together with the Our Saviour
congregation upon the completion and official opening and
dedication of the Redeemer Chapel ‘Welcome Hub’. We give
thanks to God for our partnership and for this new facility which
has been fully funded by the Our Saviour community.
With the arrival of Springboard in the calendar, Redeemer
automatically knows that the Fair is only several sleeps away,
and an atmosphere of expectation is the result. This year’s
Springboard was larger than ever and the showcasing of Design
Technology, Fashion, Art, Hospitality and Music at Springboard is
very special and quite unique. The extent to which Springboard
has become a special event in the life of the college is evident in
the attendance, not only of students and parents, but also former
scholars, Grandparents and friends of Redeemer.
Redeemer Fair was again a tremendous success with record
crowds attending the event. Our Fair Committee deserves
widespread community praise and thanks for yet again organising
an outstanding community event. I also applaud the many
volunteers whose desire to serve others, results each year in this
wonderful event. Without volunteers and individuals who, out of
a spirit of servanthood, go over and above what is asked of them,
Redeemer Fair could not proceed.
The efforts, attitudes and friendships of many people have assured
me that Redeemer is a very special community. I thank parents for
entrusting their students to the staff of the college and I thank
staff and students for what simply has been a wonderful year.
I wish all Redeemer families a relaxing and blessed Christmas and
look forward to 2012 and serving the Redeemer community for
another year.
Mr David Radke
Principal
The Path to Life
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount,
Jesus gives a pretty serious warning that
following him will not be easy. The way
of life that he commits his followers to is
by no means easy. This is what he says,
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the
gate is wide and the road is easy that leads
to destruction, and there are many who
take it. For the gate is narrow and the road
is hard that leads to life, and there are few
who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)
It is no surprise that he gives this warning. A brief glance at the
chapters that precede it tells us that Jesus teaches his disciples to
love their enemies, give to the poor without recognition, refrain
from casting judgment on others (no matter how they hurt you),
forgive without measure, don’t worry about material security, and
let your every word be totally trustworthy. It is not an easy way of
life. But it does lead to life.
The opposite is of course much easier. It is pretty much the
‘way of the world’ as we know it, and fits neatly into societal
expectations. Our society encourages us look out for number one,
get what you can, build up your own security and always make
sure that you get ‘justice’ on those who hurt you. So that way is
easy, obvious and popular. It is pretty much our default setting as
human beings. But Jesus warns that it leads to destruction.
So how do we walk the narrow way? How do we do the things
that lead to life? The answer is in the starting point. Take the right
gate and you can walk the right way. Jesus holds himself out to us
as the gate. If we come to him, he can set us on the way of life.
By ourselves we would struggle to even begin this commitment,
but with Jesus’ grace-giving, life-changing presence it becomes
possible.
The narrow way is always open to us. It does not matter how
long we have walked the broad, easy, obvious and popular way to
destruction, it is always possible to turn and discover that Jesus,
the gate to life, is right there beside us. We can at any moment
start to walk a different path. It is a harder path. It takes discipline
and effort. But it is a path that leads to life.
Pastor Matt Thomas
Chaplain
Redeemer Lutheran College | Our Hope is in Christ
745 Rochedale Road Rochedale Queensland 4123 | PO Box 6090 Upper Mount Gravatt Queensland 4122
Telephone 07 3340 8888 | Facsimile 07 3340 8800 | mail@redeemer.com.au | www.redeemer.com.au
www.facebook.com/RedeemerLutheranCollege | www.twitter.com/RedeemerCollege
A school of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District ARBN 051 602 996 | CRICOS Provider Code 00668M | ABN 40 618 603 690
Redeemer Record is a publication of Redeemer Lutheran College © 2011 | Editor: Mr Julian Schubert | Contributions: record@redeemer.com.au
On the Cover: Sydney Cock (2012 College Captain), Kristy Anna Hampel (2012 College Vice Captain) at the 2011 Closing Service. Photograph by: Michael Kirby, Studio Kirby Photography