Love, Serve, Celebrate Together

Love

‘Love one another as I have loved you’

John 13 v34

In our schools, we believe that God’s love surrounds us all. This part of our vision guides our way in setting the highest aspirations for the relationship we enjoy with both God and each other. This is why we do what we do.

In our school community, it is important to show that love for each other in the ways we act towards others. Everyone is welcome. We value compassion and peace, respecting each other and accepting difference so as to live in harmony. 

Each one of us is precious in His sight.
 

John Wesley (co-founder of the Methodist movement) urged us to ‘watch over one another in love.’

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Replace the word ‘Love’ with ‘Our School’.

‘Not to be served, but to serve. ‘

                                                        The Servant King

John Wesley urged Methodists to do all the good we can. This guidance is reflected throughout our lives at our Methodist Schools. We are called to serve and this part of our vision is very much about action. This is what we are called to do.

We aim to be sensitive to the needs of others, to give without expecting to receive. We should be active in working to help those in need even if we feel our contribution may only be in the smallest of ways – we still try.

Do all the good you can,

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'

                                                                                                                                                               Mark 10:45

Celebrate

Rejoice, Rejoice, again I say Rejoice!

Philippians 4 v4

For us, the final two parts of our vision describe how we are going to do what we do.

We are inspired by the wonderful gifts of God’s creation. We aim to truly value and respect the amazing world that has been entrusted to our care with the awe and appreciation this great gift deserves.

As we are part of God’s creation, it is important that we value the talents that God has given to us and to others. Our talents represent our potential and the Christian faith urges us to make every effort to achieve our potential, not just for our own benefit but also to the benefit of others and our wider world. The Christian faith teaches us to learn and grow as people who give their best and contribute, giving true thanks for our gifts.

Jesus’ Parable of the Talents   Matthew 25:14–30

A man decided to go on a long trip, so he called his servants and asked them to take care of his house, his belongings and his money.

The man trusted his servants and believed that they would take care of his special and valuable things.

After a nice long trip the master came back and wanted to know what his servants did with his money.  The first man with the five talents said, "You trusted me with five talents and I made five more!" 

His master smiled and replied, "Great job, good and faithful servant!"  You are trustworthy with a few things so I will put you in charge of lots of things.  Come celebrate with me!

John Wesley encouraged Methodists to celebrate and rejoice through inspirational and heart-warming music and song:

‘I recommend it (hymns, songs, music, singing) as a means of raising the spirit of devotion; of confirming faith; of enlivening hope; and of kindling and increasing the love to God and others.’

Together

‘Bind Us Together, Lord.’

As St Paul describes, the individual parts of the body only realise their fully functioning potential when working together as one. John Wesley’s words ‘I look on the world as my parish’ remind us that we are part of a great Christian family that is spread over the globe. We aim to be a valuable part of that family, doing all we can to carry out God’s work in this place.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27 

One Body with Many Parts

 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.  Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part!  Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honourable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

‘Unite together, to encourage and help each other.’

John Wesley’s ‘Advice to a People Called Methodist’