National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Across the length and breadth of Australia, Lutheran schools bring forgiveness to the fore as they celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week. Forgiveness is as much about the future as it is the past. The journey of forgiveness lies constantly before us. Lutheran schools are places where the joy and practice of forgiveness can be lived out on a daily basis, where the life-changing effects of forgiveness can be experienced, and where reconciliation, made possible by the love of God through the cross of Jesus Christ, enables everyone to be a peacemaker. All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18 Mission project Health for Life! If schools wish to raise funds for community service during National Lutheran Schools Week, it is recommended that the 2013 ALWS Nepal project is supported. Details available:

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013

Students, staff and school communities of Lutheran schools across Australia are invited to celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week - a week of celebrating God’s gift of forgiveness to all people through Jesus The life-changing power of forgiveness

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Worship theme: Be reconciled

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 View song/video: Kev Carmody ON THE WIRE A AGathering

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 A prayer Heavenly Father As we gather together during National Lutheran Schools Week, we thank you for love – the love and concern of our families, our friends, our school and our community. Help us to grow in goodness, in faith and in generosity. Create in us a capacity for giving, let wisdom be our guide, and help each of us to be a messenger of peace, of truth, and of joy. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May Corinthians 5:17-21 and 6:1-2 …it was God who reconciled us…through Christ… The Word of God

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Symbolic action – part 1 A group of student sits in a circle of chairs facing outwards, heads bowed… Symbolic action

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 A prayer Heavenly Father So often we have closed our hearts to what might have been and narrowed our horizons to what is comfortable and safe, we have manipulated others to achieve our own ends, we have failed to make peace when we could have, we have erred on the side of injustice when we have upheld values that are questionable, we have filled our lives with clutter instead of making time for you, we have resisted being fully alive to our potential…

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 First reader: Joel 2:12-13 Second reader: Matthew 18:21 First reader: Matthew 18:22, Matthew 6:14-15 and …

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Symbolic action – part 2 The group of students stands, forms a circle facing inwards, and holds hands as First reader continues… Luke 11:2-4 Symbolic action

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 May God who is our Father Fill that which is empty in us, Complete that which is incomplete, And mold with care that which is poorly formed. Go in peace, and live generously. A blessing

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Reference: Winter, M.T. (1973) God-with-us – resources for prayer and praise. Nashville, Tennesee: Parthenon Press

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013