I arrive at the preschool early each morning to a quiet building filled with promise. The promise of the joy that will fill each classroom when the teachers and students arrive. I walk down the hall and begin to pray. I pray for the health and safety of all our students and teachers. I pray for the teachers to each be equipped with everything they need to have a great day with their students and that they will have a full measure of patience, planning and a healthy dose of fun! I pray for our students, who we do not see as just tiny humans, but we see the hope of who they will become, and pray for each of them to be caring, loving people as they grow. I pray we are modeling how to always be good citizens of the world as well as caring and kind to all of God’s creation. (Yes, we all look out for Cosmo the Cat each day!)
I am mindful that Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” That shapes my perspective of our purpose each day in this building. I want the Lord to be building each of us into good stewards of all the blessings He has placed in our lives, and I want our purpose to reflect His glory. As we plan for the next school year, I am also reminded of the verse Jeremiah 29:11 which promises that it is the Lord’s plan to give us a future filled with hope. My hope is in each of these little ones and the joy it is to watch them grow and learn each day. My hope is also in the fact that at the end of each school day our teachers are so committed to their purpose that it is difficult to get them to leave school! They gather to share ideas and materials and plan for the next school day. The feeling of all being on one team with the same purpose is what is bringing me joy and hope these days. It is that feeling of being a part of something bigger than us and knowing that the Lord is not only building this house, but His purpose and plan is being fulfilled in our wonderful little school.
I want to appeal to the church to see how you can support this important ministry at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Our greatest need these days is substitute teachers because many on our staff are mothers and need to take time off when their children are not well. Are you available to give a few hours once in a while? A school day only lasts four hours, and the rewards are great. You can have the opportunity to love our little ones and laugh at all the sweet and funny things that they say. You can see our amazing teachers in action and the innovative and exciting lessons they teach. But most of all you can be supporting a wonderful ministry of the church and be a part of the purpose and plan for our school. Please contact me if you are available.
Lisa Girimonte lisag@stjohnswf.org
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.