From very humble beginnings incredible things can happen. From a mere lump of clay the master potter can shape something of great beauty. Who would have thought that from the distant dream of a group of immigrant Methodist church folk that the Newington of today could have been possible?

Newington has been hewn out of the rock of hard work and commitment.  Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without hard work and self-sacrifice. Thankfully these things are drummed into us here at Newington, and long may it be so.

God has the habit of using the humble, the weak and the fallible to shame the wise, the rich and the strong. God takes the most unlikely individuals (like Moses, Jesus, Martin Luther-King and Nelson Mandela) and works miracles; these themes are embedded within our Christian tradition which is at the very foundation of this great school community. Humility, an awareness of where we have come from, and a sense of not having arrived yet – are surely vital ingredients to ensure that the miracle continues to happen in this place.

It will soon be Easter – and Easter reminds us that at the very root of our faith, God works in the most unexpected ways through the most humble and unlikely people, “He had no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.  He was despised and forsaken of men” (Isaiah 53).

Here is the great hint to humanity that God works through the most unlikely and unusual ways and people. There is something, hidden in this mystery, for us all. Most of us feel small and insignificant. Most of us feel ineffectual and a bit anonymous. This is a healthy characteristic of the human condition.

We recognise that this school started from very humble beginnings. We recognise that the dream was a long shot – it was a dream that could easily have failed, but right from the beginning there was a willingness to risk the dream even though the odds were stacked against success.  The record of the miracle is there, and it has been a miracle wrought through a partnership of frail and fallible human beings working willingly with the God of history who has stayed loyal and faithful to his people.

Our God is interested in each of us and in each of our particular situations in life.  We accept that we are fallible and frail human beings – but through a willing and a committed heart we can bring light and life to that part of humanity we have to do with – within our families, our school, our work-place or our neighbourhood.

Rev David N. Williams
School Chaplain