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From the Chaplain

Welcome to The Chaplains Corner!

 Rev Dominic Hubbuck

My role at the Federation involves supporting the spiritual input, faith development and the pastoral care of everyone in the school community.

My background before being ordained was working with children, young people and families. It has often included play, creating safe spaces for families and supporting people to explore faith as they do life.’

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  • From the Chaplain

    Published 14/06/21

    I was attending an online conference a few weeks ago. It was about Children and Young people’s Spirituality and about different generations supporting the exploration of faith of others in the community.

    I was struck by the number of elders in the Bible who are tasked with sharing wisdom and encouraging questions of the younger people around them. It made me wonder how many opportunities we offer for us to share our journey of faith with the young people we know.

    One of the speakers said something very profound and so I share it with you: It is more important that we share our journeys than to just tell young people what the destination looks like. In a way – it’s more beneficial that we describe how we got to an answer than just giving the total.

    Imagine if we created a community that nurtures faith, encourages growth and makes questioning safe.

    I can imagine the Kingdom of God on earth looking like that. I hope that our school can become a place like that.

    And then we would echo our school prayer – where our school would be a bit like heaven. 

    Have a good term.

     

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  • Stephen Lawrence Day Prayer

    Published 22/04/21

    Almost 30 years ago but still alive in the thoughts and experiences of so many people in our region.

    Please use this day to talk about prejudice and the promise of hope.

    Please encourage people to share their lived experiences and their desire for genuine connection and belonging.

    Please remember that as a community we support each other, pray for each other and value each other.

    May the works of God be seen clearly in our community. Amen.

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  • Welcome

    Published 01/09/20

    This week sees the start of a New Academic Year and a New Term.

    Like the triumphant first notes of the theme and the scrolling words moving up the screen at the start of a Star Wars film, 

    I wonder what our stories will be as we share our summers, and for some the time between March and now.

    As the words scroll we see the stories that form and frame the next part of our journey together.

    It tells of adventures or struggles, of excitement and tears and the last few lines set us up for what happens now.

    What are the stories we will tell others?

    What are the stories we keep to ourselves?

    Are we looking with energy and excitement at what will come in the next seven weeks?

    Or is it with trepidation and concern that we step into each week as it comes?

    Either way, our stories continue and these stories have the power to define us and set our daily paths.

    As we daily step into school, will we face them with strength and a smile?

    And how will our stories affect those that we will meet? 

    Will we be sending out waves of peace and love – forces stronger than fear and anxiety.

    Will we equip others to be positive about their days ahead, positive about the faith that has strengthened them.

    This week, let us write our own opening sentences to frame a positive year regardless of what the world brings to us.

    This term, let us help others to write their lines with thoughts for faith and love and community and family and fellowship.

    And This Year, let us invite God to be at the centre of all we do, guiding us safely into each day. Amen.

    Spirit of the Living God,

    Fall afresh on me.

    Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.

    Spirit of the Living God,

    Fall afresh on me.

    https://starwarsintrocreator.kassellabs.io/#!/CMG8JXWW2Fk69BX7up8i

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  • A Last Word...for now!

    Published 17/07/20

    I love Musicals. My family less so.

    I sing songs from them, listen to them on my phone, have been to see some in the West End over the years, 

    and watch them on the telly when I have chance. And one of my favourites is The Sound of Music.

    I still love the songs and especially ‘So Long, Farewell’

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  • Maybe we should too...

    Published 16/07/20

    I wonder if you’re like the old clips of Wonder Woman who spins really fast to change from one thing into another.

    Or Superman running into a phone box and exits changed and ready for the next thing.

    Or Batman or Batgirl who slides down their poles and their complete wardrobe and mindset has altered.

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  • The Perfect Mix...

    Published 15/07/20

    When we were young, we used to make mix tapes.

    Recording tracks of music off the radio or albums that we had.

    Creating our own album of music to listen to in the car, in our room or in even more romantic circumstances – to a friend.

    We would share tapes that summed up how were feeling or what most said ‘This is Me!’

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  • It's Not Wrong...

    Published 14/07/20

    Some days it is really slow going.

    It feels like hard work to get up and get going.

    The day seems to take extra energy to get momentum, to find traction and to gain ground.

    It’s days like these we are thoughtful for the things we have lost and the moments missed.

    But that’s not a bad thing.

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  • Welcome to the week...

    Published 13/07/20

    I wonder who or what you will welcome this week.

    Will it be other people into the place where you are or will it be new things into your life.

    I remember the moment I welcomed Jesus into my life. But you can ask me about that later.

    I remember the refuse collectors at 7am this morning and in my heart, 

    I welcomed them into the street as our bins definitely need emptying in this warm weather. 

    As I go into school this week, other people will welcome me too.

    And we welcome in so many different ways – if we imagine the word meaning ‘well come’ or good visit then so many people have cleaned, sanitised readied rooms and prepared so much for people to arrive. 

    As we now get to the stage of being able to welcome others into our gardens and our homes, we also welcome many back into our lives that we have not seen for a very long time.

    And I wonder what welcome we will have ready for these people.

    But what about those that have very few people to welcome them? And what about those who have struggled with the time we have been through and will struggle again to get slowly back into our communities again. And those that have lost more than we did?

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  • Is it time yet...

    Published 10/07/20

    My wallet is full of them. There’s more of them than money to be honest.

    Not moths as my wife might comment: Cards!

    Membership cards, loyalty cards, points cards, stamp cards, lots of them.

    And they tell a story of two things – 

    If there’s something free that you can get then I’ll work for it.

    I’m part of many different things and have evidence to show my support for them in some way.

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  • Building Blocks for Life...

    Published 09/07/20

    We are a Lego family. 

    It is everywhere. On shelves, in cupboards, even under foot.

    There is not a room in our house without Lego in it.

    These small plastic building blocks are part of the building blocks of our family life.

    I wonder what building blocks are part of your family life.

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  • Let them come...

    Published 08/07/20

    ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.’ Luke 18:16.

    This is part of the Gospel reading set out for today.

    It is a timely reminder of the care we give our children and young people and the nurturing we do of them and their faith.

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  • Where is your Joy...

    Published 07/07/20

    I don’t know whether you had picked up yet that I have a real thing about JOY.

    Joy is not about excited, exuberant, ecstatic moments with fireworks being let off and million-pound mansions being won in prize draws.

    Joy is not about belly laughing all the time, crying tears of laughter and doubled up with the pain of it.

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