Tim Neale

At this time of year you will be in the minority if you’re still full of energy.  In my experience, as I have chatted to staff, the Christmas break can’t come soon enough.  There are of course some lovely events that go on around the end of term – nativities, carol concerts, not to mention the end of term coursework to mark or the reports to write. 

In this first bulletin I wanted to highlight the work of the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity (LICC).  
The Institute was started over 25 years ago, by John Stott.  The aim of the LICC is to equip Christians to have a solid biblical framework of work, rest and play.   To quote Stott, “The Christian needs to be double listening and thus have the bible in the one hand and the newspaper in the other”.  
We can so often go to the extremes of either knowing the word without the world or be so absorbed in the world that we have no ears to hear his Word.

As Christian staff there are always challenges along the way, whether that be in the classroom with the children, in the office with the head or at the school gate with the parent.   

How are we, therefore, to think biblically about each of these settings?   Or, to put it in a more cringe-worthy way, wwjd (what would Jesus do/say)?   Often it is only as individuals that you can answer this because you know your pupils, staff and parents better than your vicar knows them.

So let’s be that light where there is darkness and be salt that adds flavour to all!

As we stop for a little while over this Christmas period let’s remember the Immanuel who is with us.   Let’s remember not to forget who he is and why he came and let’s remember to thank him!

She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”  (which means, God with us)