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

Worship theme: Be a giver, not a taker

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 (Video/song as students gather ) GIVE LeAnn Rimes or (background music as students gather) HEART TO CHANGE THE WORLD

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 As we gather together today, during National Lutheran Schools Week, we come as givers, not takers. We want to live together in harmony, and we seek this for ourselves, our families and friends, and the whole world. This means that we need to think about others, and how our actions can affect them - positively or negatively. Gathering

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 God of forgiveness and healing, you sent your Son Jesus to show us how to forgive. Teach us the importance of putting things right, of taking responsibility for our actions, and of saying sorry when we hurt others. Show us how to be givers, not takers. This we ask through Jesus, who gave everything, even his life, for us. Amen. A prayer

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 A reading from God’s Word: The forgiving father (Luke 15:11-25) The Word of God

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 A prayer Loving Jesus, We mess up so often: when we put our own needs before the needs of others, when we take advantage of our friends or act selfishly without thought, when we don’t appreciate what others do for us or hurt those who love us, when we don’t take responsibility for our actions…help us to recognise our wrongs, to change our ways and to put things right. Amen

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Students exchange Be a giver, not a taker badges, and offer one another a handshake of peace. Symbolic action

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 May God’s peace be with us, May God’s love cover us, May God’s mercy fill us. Amen A blessing

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013 Reference: Wintour, R. (1998) Sacred Celebrations. Brisbane, Qld: Mountjoy Enterprises

National Lutheran Schools Week 5 – 11 May 2013