Fostering a sense of grace and gratitude
By Reverend Dr Katherine Rainger, Senior Chaplain
And God said, 'Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years' – Genesis 1:14.
I wonder what is filling your bucket. I asked this question to a group of students this week. Answers included My Kitchen Rules, the sun, looking forward to the formal, Snowsports and friends. The conversation generated quite a bit of enthusiasm.
My own answer includes: finishing reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, who also wrote A Gentleman in Moscow, both of which are available at the Franklin Library; the new season of Gogglebox and the incredible moon, which has shone brightly this week.
A conversation with my dad on Father’s Day filled my bucket. I hope that his bucket was also filled last Sunday. The book Dear Son: Letters and reflections from First Nations fathers and sons, compiled by Thomas Mayo (also available in the Franklin Library), is a profound act of writing and resistance that takes us into the heart of precious relationships.
The simple gifts of life can contain great meaning. My hope is that within our caring and work responsibilities, there are moments of joy, hope, peace and renewal that foster a sense of grace and gratitude. The Scripture from Genesis above and the poem by Edna St Vincent Millay below, highlight the wonder that surrounds us:
The spring is a lovely thing,
With its flowers and its birds,
Its melodies and its wings,
Its moon and its sunlight, and its words.
Sometimes bucket-filling moments are spontaneous and sometimes the rituals we cultivate enable them to happen. A cup of tea on a Saturday morning is a ritual I savour before heading out the door to whatever lies ahead.
Our lives are also marked by deeper rituals that mark significant moments in time. All faith and cultural traditions have examples of these. Secondary School students have seen this video in Chapel, made by the Anglican Schools Commission, which explains three significant Christian rituals: Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Baptism is the initiation ritual symbolising dying and rising to new life in Christ and becoming part of the Christian community. This ritual can take place in a person’s life at any age.
Holy Communion is a central ritual in Christianity, involving a shared meal of bread and wine (or juice) to commemorate the Last Supper and Jesus' sacrifice.
Confirmation is a ritual for a person who has been baptised to confirm their faith by stating publicly their belief in God. At the same time, God’s grace is confirmed in their life through the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Anglican Church, confirmation can happen at any age, although between the ages of 13 and 17 is common.
Baptisms in the Radford Chapel can be arranged at any time. We are also planning a Confirmation Service in November 2025. If you would like to be confirmed or have questions, please email Rev. Katherine Rainger.
May your bucket be filled this week!