Build Your Kingdom Here

A goal in writing an article in the Express each month is to keep parents in the loop regarding the happenings at school. An advantage the elementary campus has is that most of the students are quite eager to share what is happening at school. I am hoping that means that you have heard your children singing our theme song for the school this year, Build Your Kingdom Here. Every time we sing that song, I am impressed by the depth of understanding contained in the lyrics. And it is just fun to sing. Mr. Bakker has pointed out that we need to be careful not to sing it too often as that can dampen the vibrancy of the song. Still, if you would like to experience it at home, here is a link you might enjoy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sbdJXKqVgtg A second link below gives a little more background into the Rend Collective Experiment, the group who originated the song. I am particularly struck by the focus on breaking down walls, and being a community in which we can share our hurts, our joys, and our struggles. The gratitude to God that infuses the Rend Collective is something that we all would like to see driving what we do in our learning community. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Vk2MpaTEzXw The truth that it is God who builds his kingdom is clear. The excitement comes in that God invites us to be part of that. Discerning what that means for ACES in what we do here on a daily basis is both challenging and inspiring. One way that we recently saw that happening (though a little beyond the normal day-to-day activities) was when the UP classes acted on the question, what if learning about our Abbotsford community meant learning how to serve. That meant visiting the Food Bank, Gleaners and the Salvation Army to see what they do and to contribute to that. It also meant cleaning up garbage at Mill Lake and handing out plants at Seven Oaks mall. It was gratifying to read on our Facebook site that this had an impact on at least one person who received a plant. As one person wrote on our chalkboard wall, "We get to build God’s kingdom every day." Thank you for your support in making that a reality.