Inside this Issue - Redeemer Lutheran College

College News
Lutheran Schools Week
Lutheran schools across the nation celebrated
their contribution to the education of
Australians, since 1839 during Lutheran
Schools Week, held 3-7 May 2010.
At Redeemer, for the most part, celebrations were low-key,
centring around reflective Chapel devotions, with thanksgiving and
appreciation the central themes. In contrast to events at Redeemer,
the peak bodies, namely Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) and
Lutheran Education Queensland (LEQ) conducted their annual
celebrations which include formal recognition of achievements by
students, staff and school communities as a whole.
As with recent years, Redeemer was the recipient of a number
of LEQ awards. Three of our students received Art awards with
Ashleigh Bentley (Year 12) receiving the Senior Art Award and
Madeleine Nicol (Year 11) and Katie Hewitt (Year 6) receiving Highly
Commended Awards. Additionally, Redeemer as a community
received a ‘Highly Commended in the TT Reuther Award for school
excellence’ in the category of School Congregation relationship.
The citation celebrates recognition for the wonderful way in
which Redeemer and Our Saviour Lutheran Church work closely
together for child and youth activities, modelling service to others
as a Christian community.
TT Reuther Award 2010
Highly Commended
Citation: Redeemer Lutheran College
has established and nurtured a special
relationship with Our Saviour Lutheran
Church over an extended period of time
that serves as a model for all schools that are
co-located with a local congregation.
The college is not unique in having a Lutheran congregation
calling the school Chapel its spiritual home. What is unique is
the level of interaction between the two institutions, the quality
of that interaction, and the equality of the partnership between
the congregation and the school. Just as unique is the steadily,
continuing growth of the relationship that manifests itself in
new ambitious programs coming to fruition each year.
Those within the Lutheran Church and its schools are very
aware of the need for a close relationship between the two
institutions. Invariably, congregations see ‘their’ school as part
of their mission and ministry, and the schools are ever mindful
of the governance relationship between the two. Both of these
viewpoints are borne out of one owning the other, if not literally
then at least historically. At Redeemer Lutheran College, Church
is at school and students are in Church. This is seen in the
everyday life of the school where both school and Church
are committed to seeing a need, and then serving that need.
This has led to a vibrant, young, growing congregation and a
school that feels part of, and cared for, by the Church.
Some of the ways in which this harmonious and productive
relationship is seen at work include the sharing of facilities and
resources, shared promotion of the activities of each, shared
Pastor with a special focus on youth ministry, regular informal
meetings of the leaders, a playgroup, and shared preaching.
The Sunday Night Live (SNL) fortnightly youth service is a major
event which draws youth from as far south as the Gold Coast
and Redcliffe in the north. This event is promoted by the school,
involves current students in the music and liturgical dance and
still draws past students from the school back to the school to
be a part of a church family.
Redeemer and Our Saviour have every right to be proud of
their relationship and have much to teach fellow schools and
congregations of the way to nurture a shared ministry in the
service to God.
As a school Redeemer has much to be proud of and thankful
for: in the context of the Christian faith we give thanks for that;
in the day to day context we give thanks to the many staff,
students and parents who commit themselves daily to making
Redeemer a wonderful school.
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