November 30 Home Communicator – I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving break. I know there were many that were thankful for the extra day off on Wednesday for travel and preparation. I appreciated the break as it was refreshing, enjoyable, and time spent with family and friends.
With the focus on Thanksgiving, I find it hard to believe that tomorrow is the beginning of December already! It will be a packed few weeks, starting with our Love Bazaar on Friday. We appreciate all of the decorating of the hallways and the volunteers for this event. I look forward to, with anticipation, the opportunity to experience this event for the first time since I was 10 years old. We also are diligently preparing for a Choir, Band, and Orchestra concert with our Middle School students on December 6 at Fair Haven. I look forward to witnessing this occasion and see/hear how we are able to give God the glory through our talents. We also can look forward to praising His name through our K-5 Christmas Gathering on Wednesday, December 15 at Fair Haven. I have been able to witness some preparation with the singing that has reverberated into the hallways. If I had to guess, the students are excited by the season’s special activities that are planned at school, at church, and at home.
With all that is happening in preparation, it is important to know that the students are also reminded about the true meaning of Christmas in their class devotions, their school lessons, and very soon in chapels. Our society and American culture provide many reasons to be distracted with Christmas. It is easy to lose focus or cheapen the importance of Christmas with the distractions. With preparations, travel, presents, and an overall busy schedule in the so-called “holiday season,” I can find myself intentionally and unintentionally consumed with other things. Hopefully we will continue to be reminded about the true reason for Christmas in that the Son of God left the glories of heaven, and was born in an animal stable to a young, poor mother and her husband. Jesus was born a child, but grew up to be a teacher and the perfect sacrifice to bridge the gap between man and His Heavenly Father. It is my hope that we continually be reminded of this truth throughout the Christmas season and holiday.
In His service,
Devon Brinks, Superintendent
