April 2006

Will You Have Mustard

The biennial Mission Week at Scotch has provided the whole School with a WITH THAT? focused opportunity to consider what it means to become, and to be, Christian.

Young old boys have had significant input into recent Mission Weeks. Several who embraced the faith while at school, or afterwards at university, have made impressive contributions.

Ben Saunders seemed surprised to discover the significance of Jesus Christ in the middle of his law degree at Melbourne University. He came back to see if we were doing anything to promote the faith! Rob Turnbull, who delivered the memorable sermon on The Matrix in Assembly in the Memorial Hall is now working in campus ministry at Monash University. Others doing similar work have also returned to make a contribution.

Older and more widely experienced contributions have included significant presentations by Professors Ian Harper (Economics) and Kerr Graham (Paediatric Orthopaedics) who have both shared how their working life is impacted by their faith. For many the simplicity and magic of Songe Chibambo seven years ago was totally disarming. Boys embraced him openly as they left for term holidays as if he was their favourite uncle, not just an African evangelist they'd only met a few days before.

Staff who were there can recall the simply stunning concert finale to Term 2, 1993 when James Morrison, with his brother John, shared their story with music; especially the unforgettable rendition of Amazing Grace. I am delighted to say that James Morrison will be back this year. On June 15th he will run a Brass Master Class, and in the evening he and his band will perform an Amazing Grace, Concert for Kapumfi. The details are provided elsewhere in this edition of The Torch.

This year we will again be drawing on the expertise and innovative skill of the youthful Mustard Schools Ministry. The guest speakers will be integrated into a sequence of carefully crafted multi-media presentations in the Geoffrey McComas Theatre during the last week of term. By the end term you should be able to have an informed discussion with your son about his perception of issues relating to Christian commitment and faith!

Graham Bradbeer