One of the great privileges I have of being in chaplaincy at Newington is that I work in a team with two great guys whom I respect enormously. We are a very unified little team of ministers. We each have our own perspective on life and faith, but share a common passion for education and relating our Christian Faith to boys, young men and families within the milieu of the exciting landscape that is Newington College.

Last week, at the annual Fletcher House Chapel service, it was a great pleasure to be a member of the congregation, rather than doing the “up front” stuff. My colleague, Michael Bennett, had lovingly crafted together a homily that looked back on the life of Joseph Fletcher, and used his historical insights to bring an inspirational challenge to the rest of us.

The Reverend Joseph Fletcher was President of Newington from 1865 until 1887 and was responsible for leading the College Council to relocate Newington from Silverwater to its present campus at Stanmore. An important theme for Fletcher was a sense that God was the one whom credit was due for the prosperity and progress of Newington in those early formative years. Being a man of the Scriptures the Reverend Fletcher had identified God as “Jehovah Jireh” which translated from the original language of the Bible means “God the Provider” – the One who has “foreseen and then provided” (see Isaiah 50:7-9). It is thought that Fletcher in fact wished that the words “Jehovah Jireh” would become the motto of Newington College – the sentiment certainly was his own personal mantra throughout his long and adventurous life.

Chaplain Bennett challenged us to consider whether we see God at work providing for us and our families. Most of us at first would think that the good things of life have arrived on our “doorstep” through our own hard work and skill. We look at the amazing story of the growth and development of Newington College over the years. Surely there is so much to be thankful to God for. Surely we can see evidence that God the Provider has been faithful to this unique school community in the midst of the rapidly expanding city of Sydney. Is this not also true of our own lives and the blessing our own families bring to us?

Chaplain Bennett spoke of God’s provision in his own life through tough times and through good times. Again we were invited to ponder on our own journeys thus far. As he concluded Mr Bennett quoted from Joseph Fletcher, and I leave you with this thought, from the annals of our school’s own history: “My whole life has been built on God’s promises…seek earnestly to make your Christian life real, real enough to be the one reality in death.”

Be thankful for what God has blessed you with, and be thankful for life and the life that is ahead of you, where there are no more tears, or pain, or death, only life with God into eternity. We appreciate your work Chaplain Bennett – for your encouragement and challenge.

David N. Williams
College Chaplain