From the Chaplain - Edition 13 - 2019

This week in Chapel Senior School students have been focusing thoughts around the theme of ‘Service’.

A feature of the Uniting Church to which we belong is that it is a ‘people’s movement’; that is, the ‘work’ or service of the church is that of its people, not of the leadership or professional clergy. In church talk, we call this ‘the ministry of the laity’.

The Uniting Church declares this in one of its most familiar sayings, “Each one of us is given a gift by the Spirit: and there is no gift without its corresponding service”. Spoken at ordination services or the induction of a new minister to lead a congregation, this is our reminder that, in faith, all of us are equipped and called to serve.

Service is strong in Westminster’s values. We are a Round Square school, part of an international network that has service as one of six key virtues. To name but two examples, in recent days I have joined Westminster students in serving meals at the ‘Red Dove’ Café at the Royal Adelaide Show. Meanwhile, throughout Terms 2 and 3, Westminster Staff have had a major role at Ronald McDonald House in North Adelaide serving country and outback families who have children hospitalised at the Women’s and Children’s.

Service fulfills the heart of faith. We who serve are the beneficiaries. Francis of Assisi long ago summarised – and Irish band U2 echoed - true life is found in giving it away.

Rev Phil Hoffmann
Chaplain