28/10/2014 Issue 33 Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68 Most people when they read and interpret the bible, are looking to it only to find something that will basically serve themselves. They treat it not so much as God s word, but simply as another human word, no better than something I could have written myself! We would much rather our own fallen human spirit to be the interpreter rather than God s Holy Spirit. What then often happens, if people find something in the bible that challenges them a bit too much, they just fall away, and turn against it. Once when Jesus was preaching to a crowd, there was an occasion when almost all the people who were listening to him left him, except for a small group. Peter, his disciple, was one of these, and he is the one who spoke the words in the bible verse at the top of the devotion. If only we knew what power the words of Jesus have, not just for this life, but also for the next! If only we knew what a wonderful gift the words of Jesus give eternal life! Lord Jesus, thank you for your words of eternal life! Amen. Pastor Stephen van der H Thank You After a week in which I attended the Year 4 and Year 1 camps, I d like to acknowledge and thank the many parent volunteers who so freely give of their time for our students. Seeing parents who have taken time off from work and reorganized their family life to be able to help out on camp was a wonderful reminder of how blessed we are at St Mark s to have so many willing volunteers. Our corridors and classrooms are regularly filled with parent helpers, our P and F and School Council are comprised of active engaged parents and many parents find incidental ways to help out where and when they can during the year. As we rapidly approach the end of another school year, I d like to thank you all again for your practical and valuable support shown. Naturally I also wish to thank staff involved in our camps and sleepovers for their commitment to our students and their time spent away from their families. St Mark s Activities This Week - Our P and F meet tonight in the Library from 7:00pm. - Our school Council meets tonight from 7:30pm in the staffroom. The draft 2015 budget which includes proposed tuition fees for 2015, staffing levels as well as expenditure on resources, facilities and technology, will be high on the agenda. It is expected that following tonight s meeting, the 2015 budget will be fine-tuned ready for adoption at our next meeting on 18 th November. - Tomorrow morning our 6K class will share at our whole school assembly. We begin at 9:00am in our hall and all are welcome. - We will participate in the nationwide event Music Count Us In on Thursday, joining with 2100 other Australian schools celebrating music in our school. The event will be held at midday in our hall. - Our reception students will enjoy their sleepover at the school on Thursday evening. - Pastor Stephen will lead our Friday chapel service beginning at 9:00am in our hall. This will be followed by coffee and chat. - On Sunday morning, our 1UM class will be participating in the 10:30am worship service at St Mark s Church. James H Principal 37 Hampden Road, Mt Barker SA 5251 T 8391 0444 E contact@stmarks.sa.edu.au W www.stmarks.sa.edu.au
Bussing for 2015 Application forms have been sent home for current bus users for the 2015 school year (does not apply to the Strathalbyn bus run). If your child will be accessing buses next year for the first time, please see Julianne in the front office. All application forms need to be returned to the front office - thank you. Please Note: There is a $20 administration fee per application (from Mt Barker High School) to lodge bus applications - this will appear on your invoice in Term 3 or 4 next year. Parents will be notified in due course regarding the cost for the shuttle bus service from St Mark s to Mt Barker High. A Reminder - Could parents please return the bus application forms to the office by Thursday - thank you. Book Club If you wish to place an order, please send your payment and order in to the office by Thursday 30 th October. Thank you. Mrs Paterson Chapel Offering in Term 4 In Term 4 our Chapel offerings will provide Gifts of Grace for people in developing countries around the world. Gifts of Grace is organised by the ALWS. We hope to provide some pre-school toys and teach me packs for children in countries like Cambodia and Burundi. If you would like to know more about Gifts of Grace, there are brochures available at the Front Office or you can go online https://www.alws.org.au/gifts-of-grace.html Through just 50 a week in the Chapel offering box, we can make a big difference to people s lives this Christmas. Thank you for your support. SRC Bible Study Seminar Blessed Are the Peacemakers 15 th November 2014 9.00am-3.30pm St Mark s Lutheran Church (Learn practical ways to live out your Christian faith, even in the face of conflict. Call 8391 1695 - Register today Presented by Rev Bruce Zagel Director of Reconciliation Ministries Lutheran Church of Australia Registration forms are available from the front office YOU CAN DO IT Please find enclosed with this newsletter, a second handout on Organisation, one of the five keys associated with the You Can Do It program.
For Your Information Macclesfield Strawberry Fete - Sunday 23 rd November @ Davenport Square from 9am (Market Stalls/Produce & Home Baked Goods/Children s Activities/Strawberries Galore (Free Admission ) MUSIC IS FUN BAND Last Friday, students were entertained by members of the Music is Fun Band. Some students were lucky to be able to participate in various song and dance items. Judging by the look on the students faces (and parents!) it was a most enjoyable hour of entertainment.
ST MARK S STUDENT Organised by our P and F
ST MARK S LUTHERAN SCHOOL NOVEMBER Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 2 1UM Church Service @ 10.30am 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Senior Chapel (4S) Junior Chapel (1M) Chapel (5I) SPECIAL FRIENDS MORNING 10 11 12 Assembly (3S) 13 Champion s Challenge 14 Chapel 15 16 1M Church Service @ 10.30am 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Senior Chapel (5A) Junior Chapel (Rec S) SciWorld (Reception) Mobile Science Unit (Year 5 s) Chapel (Rec H) Parent Helper Morning Tea School Council Meeting 2015 Reception Parent Information Evening Year 3 Excursion 24 25 2015 Reception Orientation Visit (Group A) 26 Assembly (5I) 27 2015 Reception Orientation Visit (Group B) 28 Chapel Choir Visit to Sash Ferguson 29 30 P&F DISCO