the end of a story....

Here we are at the last week of school!  I hear often around the school:  "Wow, how did that happen?"  While the day-to-day rhythm can sometimes feel like a long time, in hindsight it seems to be a whirlwind.  It seems like not that long ago that the kids piled off of the buses for their first day - fresh clothes and school supplies, excitement to be back, hesitance at what this school year would bring....

At our opening assembly, we wondered together what this year's story would be.  Throughout the year, we have reminded one another that we are a part of God's story.  No matter what, he is the author and Lord of our lives, and we can trust Him because He made us and we are His.  Together, we have accepted the work that He had planned for us.  That hasn't always been easy work, but it has been good work.  Please join us again this Friday for our closing chapel when we close off this year's story and again praise God for His faithfulness.

Along with thankfulness to God, we also must say thank you to the many, many people who make Covenant the place it is and allow us to do the many things we do!!  Parents, especially, take time to step up and help where needed in so many ways.  Thank you to the office volunteers, bus drivers, our custodian, Educational Assistants, librarian, coop students, classroom volunteers, event planners, TRIP volunteers, and those serving at community events.  Your direct involvement in the lives of the students, supporters, and visitors to the school is the hands and feet of Christ in our community.  To those of you on committees or working behind the scenes, we thank you as well!  Often without thanks, you continue to give in ways that we don't immediately see, but we do experience in a well run school!  We are blessed and strengthened by your giving!

As you head into the summer, continue to take hold of God's story and remain rooted in God's promises.  He has known us since before we were born, and continues to have good works for us to do!  We will see you again, Lord willing, on Tuesday, September the 8th!!

On the road..

It's the time of year where many of our classes head out on the road to either present what they have learned, or to experience what they've learned in a new way.  Trips present so many unique opportunities and in the lives of students are often the most memorable experiences of school.  Not only do they get up close and personal with the learning material, but they get to solidify and strengthen class friendships and bonds in a new way.  This kind of learning has given many educators over the years pause to think "Maybe we should do education differently..."  How can we harness these excellent learning experiences more frequently?

As we continually consider ways to better teach and learn, we find often that we are striving to recover relationships:  Relationship with God, one another, the world - a yearning for what we enjoyed before the Fall.....

As we walk along - experience deeply God's handiwork, struggle with how our world is broken, long for and share hope in redemption and grace... as we take hold of God's story, our relationships can be reclaimed  just as Christ claimed us as his own.

As we travel, learn, and experience, pray that our relationship with God, others, and the world may be rekindled and strengthened.

Drops in a Bucket

At Covenant, we are spending the day with a family that is visiting us from Guatemala.  The Doppenberg family moved to Guatemala 6 years ago from Beamsville to answer God's call to help there.   After a few short term trips to help out, they saw that the need in Guatemala was prevalent, but also opportunities for them to begin to help.

Their story was told to us through the lens of Dave Tebbutt, a local film-maker who created the documentary 'Drops in a Bucket' which they shared with us (JKCS came up to watch with us!!).  Their story of developing long term relationships, meeting the greatest needs, sustaining the support they've put in place has touched us in a HUGE way. The question of malnutrition, hunger, disease, medical needs seem so daunting from our corner of Ontario.  Geoff closes the video, though, by saying: "When we first started, we thought 'It's impossible, .... it's too big a task..... But now, I have extreme hope and I believe it can happen in our lifetime...."  How?  God is using them as His vessels.  "We aren't doing any of this.  God is simply using us and is doing amazing things."

What can one person do?  One small family from the Niagara Penninsula?  We are all drops in a bucket.  But together, many drops will fill the buckets of others worldwide.  Thank you, Geoff, Rita, Gabe, and Luke, for spending the day with us!!!  May God bless you as you continue to work with the people in Guatemala, and may your actions speak loudly into our lives and all those you touch to have the courage not only to know God's story, but to Take Hold of it!!!

The full-length documentary "Drops in a Bucket" has another limited showing on June 15 at the Mandeville Theatre in St. Catharines.  The film trailer is available at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aWSESeQoWY