Page 16 - Southwell School Year Book 2021

AALLLHHAALLOLOWWSSCCHHAAPPELEL
It has been a blessing this year to have the Reverend Matt Pickering join us as Assistant to the Chaplain, bringing with him the Christian message for our students, the staff and the wider Southwell family. Apart from his teaching roles, Matt has had responsibility for two of our daily Chapel services and reflects upon these in his words as follows:
The sacramental life of Southwell has been somewhat blurred by the resurgence of the Delta strain of Covid-19, especially in the latter quarter of the year. Clearly, couples have considered carefully the logistics around weddings where the rules around attendance appeared to change week by week. However, the call for baptism remained strong and the June service overflowed with candidates, their godparents and their families to combine in making a beautiful celebration.
The Boys' Choir of All Hallows had a memorable trip to Auckland in May, with opportunities to sing Evensong in Pukekohe and enjoy plenty of fun activities in between. My thanks and gratitude go to Mrs Julia McIntyre, Director of Music for her tireless commitment to all aspects of the choral life of the Chapel.
The Chapel Party of 2021, ably led by the Sacristans Samuel Williams and Alice Howard, made setting up for daily worship, or larger occasions, a real pleasure. The 18 other members of this Chapel team were punctual, efficient and respectful of the holy space that is All Hallows.
The Reverend Canon Neale Troon Chaplain
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Arahina, Tiakina, Arohaina e te Atua - Guide us, Care for us, and Love us, O God!
These words have shaped our time together this year as we have met on Thursday mornings for Junior Chapel. It has been my privilege to take this service and it is a highlight of my week. God has guided the Year 1s and 2s in their new adventure of beginning and consolidating their time at Southwell. Along the way, we have made it part of our routine to make two tight fists resting in our laps, and then unfold our fingers one by one, counting ten ways we are blessed by God, ten ways He cares for us. Oh what a sight it is to see hundreds of little fingers wiggling around in the air, representing the gratitude we show to God for things and people in our lives!
Chapel has also been a place for students to grow in confidence with public speaking. Each week a group of students has taken to the lectern to bring to life a Bible story. How important this reading is to remind us that Jesus not only talked the talk using beautiful stories, but he walked the walk, living a beautiful life as an example for us to follow.
As the year draws to a close, may peace like a river, love like an ocean, and joy like a fountain be present in our lives, on this day, through the summer holidays until we return in 2022 to gather again and sing God’s praises.
Blessings,
Reverend Matt Pickering Assistant to Chaplain
Reverend Matt Pickering after his ordination as deacon in New Plymouth
CHAPEL PARTY
Back Row: 2nd Row:
Front Row:
Riley Dons, Jade Woodward, Ryan Wang, Iona Boswell, Billy Smyth
Alice Howard, Rev'd. M. Pickering, Josh Cashin, Addy McLeod, James Nicholson,
Cooper Lundy, Katie Ellis, Kaedan Govender, Rev'd. Canon N. Troon, Samuel Williams Anmol Virk, George Benjamin, Lydia Kong, Alex Young, Christine Li, Thomas Southworth, Julia Chang