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Enduring understanding
Lutheran education is centred in the belief that God invites all people to join God in ongoing creation and care for the universe.

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that value learning as God’s gift to people
for their wonder, growth, and to inspire them to respond for the needs of the world.
Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework - http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

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My prayer to staff during staff worship to lead us into Term 4

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My prayer to staff during staff worship to lead us into Term 4

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Connect Session 2: Creation Theology - Resource provided during session

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that value learning as God’s gift to people for their wonder and growth, and to inspire them to respond to the needs of the world.
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities which acknowledge God as Creator and join in the ongoing creation and care of the world and all people.

God created all things from nothing

God created the world in seven days, however God continues to create

God’s creation is good, we need to support His creation in order to support the world to be a better place

God made people in God’s image: His own special creation

God creates people as unique individuals : each person has worth and importance, with their own gifts, personalities and abilities

God invites people to be co-creators: to be a part of the ongoing process that serves the world.

God promises to restore the brokenness of creation through Jesus
Bartsch, M. (2013). A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools. Adelaide: Lutheran Education Australia pp 51-54

Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework - http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

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A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools

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A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools

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Christian Studies Curriculum Framework - Lutheran Education Framework

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Christian Studies Curriculum Framework - Lutheran Education Framework

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Christian Studies provides a safe and supportive context in which students can reflect on their experiences of the world and on their own beliefs and spirituality. The Christian Studies classroom is a place where:

teaching and learning occurs in a supportive, inclusive and safe environment

learners are engaged in intellectually challenging experiences that actively involve them in journeys of inquiry and constructing their own meanings

Christian Studies in Lutheran schools

Pedagogy of Christian Studies

Roles and responsibilities: principal, Christian Studies leader and teacher

Administration of Christian Studies: policy, whole school plan and time allocation

Christian Studies leaders getting started

Audit of Christian Studies resource

Christian Studies audit tool for students

Connect to eLibrary for the Christian Studies Curriculum Framework, Christian Studies resources and LIFE curriculum.

Christian Studies Curriculum Framework

The Christian Studies Curriculum Framework (CSCF) is part of Lutheran Education Australia's (LEA) ongoing provision of resources for the teaching of Christian Studies in Lutheran schools which began with the comprehensive Australian curriculum LIFE, launched in 1998. Both LIFE and the CSCF are grounded in Lutheran theology and informed by the Lutheran Confessions. The CSCFprovides for the years prior to formal schooling (Beginning Band) and progressing through to Year 12 (Band E). The CSCF aligns with the structure and terminology of other Key Learning Area (KLA) syllabi, allowing for opportunities to plan, integrate and assess Christian Studies in line with those documents.

The CSCF has been organised into four strands: Christian Beliefs, Christian Church, Christian Living, and Christianity in the World. These strands identify the major understandings and processes essential to develop religious literacy from a Christian perspective.

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Christian Studies provides a safe and supportive context in which students can reflect on their experiences of the world and on their own beliefs and spirituality.

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Reflection: What are important aspects of spirituality from a Lutheran perspective?

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Reflection: What are important aspects of spirituality from a Lutheran perspective?

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* Include more Christian songs to enhance learning of Bible Stories to create a whole learning experience.
* Make learning of Spirituality more transdisciplinary across units, to make it richer, rather than teaching it separately.
* Gain a deeper understanding into the Units of inquiry for Christian Studies in order to gain a better understanding and to how best implement it in an early years setting.

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What is important to Lutheran Education and the questions that I have

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What is important to Lutheran Education and the questions that I have

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References for: Induction: Personal Spirituality

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References for: Induction: Personal Spirituality

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* Induction to spirituality of Lutheran education - Neville Grieger July 2018
* Exerpts from Luther for the Future - Kirsi Stjerna 2016
* Christian Studies Curriculum Framework pages 24-25

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Christian Studies Curriculum Framework pages 25-26

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Bartsch, M. (2013). A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools. Adelaide: Lutheran Education Australia pp 51-54

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Creation Theology: God continues to create

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Creation Theology: God continues to create

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How is learning and teaching shaped by Lutheran theology?

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How is learning and teaching shaped by Lutheran theology?

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that value learning as God’s gift to people for their wonder and growth, and to inspire them to respond to the needs of the world.

Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities which acknowledge God as creator and join in the ongoing creation and care of the world and all people.

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* Creation in the Pre-School age 4 classroom
* Teaching Creation in the classroom: Age 4
* Creation in the classroom: As God intends it to be

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What questions or issues does the concept raise for me and how can I explore my questions?

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What questions or issues does the concept raise for me and how can I explore my questions?

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OTHER:
* An excerpt from And God Saw that it was Good: Reflections on Theology of Creation

Barbara R. Rossing https://www.lutheranworld.org/sites/default/files/dtpw-2017_booklet_creation_0.pdf
* God's continuing creation M Bartsch 64-65
* Bartsch, M. (2013). A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools. Adelaide: Lutheran Education Australia pp 51-54 and pages 58-61
* "A Good Day" With Brother David Steindl-Rast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zl9puhwiyw

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Enduring understanding
God's grace as revealed in Jesus is central to a Lutheran understanding of spirituality.

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities where grace abounds. While recognising the brokenness of humanity, they reflect the unconditional love of the Father, revealed through the saving work of his Son, Jesus.
Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework - http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

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Christian Studies Curriculum Framework pages 34-35

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Grace abounds in Lutheran Schools and Early Childhood Centres.  While recognising the brokenness of humanity, they reflect the unconditional love of God that is revealed through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ.  He died on the cross for us.

Grace is the most important concept taught in the Bible. Scripture is filled with verses about God’s grace, and even though it is not something we deserve, God is kind to us and wants the best for our lives. Simply put - grace is the unmerited, unearned love and favour of God.

We discover God’s riches for our lives through the grace he has given us as a free gift. The greatest gift of all is forgiveness of our sins through salvation in Jesus Christ. Because of the grace God gives us, we are able to then show grace to others as we seek to follow Jesus.

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Reflection on my understandings of Grace

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Reflection on my understandings of Grace

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* Grace comes down from God, not us to God.
* What God gives you should give you joy, it is not what you think that you want or deserve.
* Our hope also comes from God - top, down.  He gives us the capacity to love Him.
* God gives us the faith - we are the ones with the ability to reject, not God.
* The fact that we are so unique and different is what connects us, we do not need to be perfect
* We don't earn religious points - it is just given to us.
* As much as we are sinners, we have the same enormous capacity to show kindness
* It is ok if I make mistakes, it will not determine who I am.  I can learn from my mistakes and move on as I know that God will show me grace and forgive me

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Lutheran Theology in 90 Seconds -- Nadia Bolz Weber

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Grace is unconditional.  Grace is about getting something you don't deserve

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Confirmation:
* Grace is love towards someone who doesn't necessarily deserve it.  God gives it to us regardless.
* Grace is the base of our Christian identity

Revelation:
* Grace encompasses everything in a Christian's life and our responses to the world in which we live.  It is the base of our Christian identity
* Grace is needed the most when one is sinning, suffering or feeling the inability to cope
* Grace does not judge

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Ephesians 1:7
Through Christ’s death on the cross that is showing us   God’s grace in its highest form

2 Corinthians 12:9
Being vulnerable and being open.  If we rely on ourselves we are too weak to do anything.  It’s about being humble

Hebrews 4:16
God already knows, knowing that makes it easier.

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Our Classroom Essential Agreements: How the concept of Grace can shape Lutheran Communities

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Grace within the classroom: Essential Agreements

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Grace within the classroom: Essential Agreements

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Our Classroom Essential Agreements
As a whole class, we brainstorm essential agreements on the expectations of fair behaviour within the classroom, the setting and the wider community. This allows for children to understand the expectations and to also know that they are safe and will be treated fairly by others. This also gives them a better understanding of what their roles and responsibilities are.

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Restorative Practice: How the concept of Grace informs my the understanding of my role and my contribution

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Grace within the classroom: Restorative Practice

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Grace within the classroom: Restorative Practice

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Once Essential Agreements are in place, we then discuss what would happen if we made a mistake and did not follow our set Essential Agreements.  We discuss that we are human, and we all make mistakes, and that it is ok.  How do we fix the mistakes that we make?  We then introduce Restorative Practice: How do we fix what we have done wrong?
I feel that this is such a great way to show God's Grace, to forgive others, just as how God forgives us.  This practice fits in with the ethos of Lutheran Education where:
* Grace is not quick to judge
* We all have a voice and are allowed to respectfully share our perspectives
* Being kind and respectful towards each other, even though we are angry

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Reflection: How grace shapes Lutheran Educational Communities

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Reflection: How grace shapes Lutheran Educational Communities

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Reflection: How grace informs my practice

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Reflection: How grace informs my practice

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"I am not held to a standard of perfection, I am held by the arms of grace."
Annavoskamp.com

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Reflection: What will I explore further?

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Reflection: What will I explore further?

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Ongoing personal questions:
* How do I ensure that I am practicing grace in my daily duties within my teaching practice, with my colleagues, with my friends, with my family and towards myself?  Particularly in Term 4, when I feel that I am being pulled in so many directions?
* Grace is a life changing concept and one that I want to instil in my daily life, how do I do this when life becomes challenging?  We are in unprecedented times and these times have effected my family financially in conjunction with being away from family. How do I ensure that I reflect and pull on grace to keep me gounded?

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OTHER:
* Christian Studies Curriculum Framework pages 35-34
* A God who speaks and acts: theology for teachers in Lutheran schools pages 164-167

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Grace, which comes from the Greek New Testament word charis, is God's unmerited favor. It is kindness from God that we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, nor can ever do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration ( rebirth) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.

Webster's New World College Dictionary provides this theological definition of grace: "The unmerited love and favor of God toward human beings; divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure, morally strong; the condition of a person brought to God's favor through this influence; a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God."

God's Grace and Mercy

In Christianity, God's grace and God's mercy are often confused. Although they are similar expressions of his favor and love, they possess a clear distinction. When we experience God's grace, we receive favor that we do not deserve. When we experience God's mercy, we are spared punishment that we do deserve.

Amazing Grace

God's grace is truly amazing. Not only does it provide for our salvation, it enables us to live an abundant life in Jesus Christ:

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (ESV)

God's grace is available to us at all times, for every problem and need we face. God's grace frees us from slavery to sin, guilt, and shame. God's grace allows us to pursue good works. God's grace enables us to be all that God intends us to be. God's grace is amazing indeed.

Examples of Grace in the Bible

John 1:16-17
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Romans 3:23-24
... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ... (ESV)

Romans 6:14
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (ESV)

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God ... (ESV)

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people ... (ESV)

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What Does God's Grace Mean to Christians?

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Learn about the meaning of God's grace in Christianity, plus see examples of the word used in the Bible.

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Sharing the word of God within our community: Why do we do what we do as teachers?

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Sharing the word of God within our community: Why do we do what we do as teachers?

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Each teacher was asked to share a Bible verse to be shared in the staff room, on why we do what we do. Teaching is my personal vocation. This verse also expresses how dedicated I am and how devoted I am. I could not be the teacher I am today if I did not have God in my life.

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Enduring understanding
God has created us for relationships and Christian spirituality finds expression in love, service and our vocations.

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are
communities that recognise that God has intentionally
created each person and that each person is uniquely gifted
to live in relationship with God and others.
Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework - http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

Using God and Jesus as our role models of who we want to emulate.  God shows us forgiveness in our relationship with Him over and over again.  We should forgive others like that when they fail us.  We should be listening with the intent to hear, tuning in, in particular to what God wats of us. We need to build that relationship with Him to know what our path is.

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Group brainstorm during our Connect Session

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Community within Immanuel: A Flourishing Community

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Community within Immanuel: A Flourishing Community

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God exists in relationship. God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together in love, because God is love and love comes from God [1 John 4:7-12].

Community is Valued:
* It is based on relationships.
* Your personal relationship with God, your relationship with your students, your relationship with parents, your relationship with the community, your relationship with your colleagues and your relationship with yourself

Successful relationships are based on:
* Love, respect, acceptance, communication, putting in the work and trust.

The greatest challenges in relationships are:
* Time to build relationships, different opinions, different personalities and building mutual trust.

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My personal reflection of what I feel is the core value of what makes up a community within a Lutheran Educational Setting.

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Reflection: How Lutheran Education Values Community

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Reflection: How Lutheran Education Values Community

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A celebration of Harmony Week: Everyone Belongs

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Building Relationships in an Early Years Setting

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Building Relationships in an Early Years Setting

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For Harmony Week, we invited families to come in and share their cultures, thus instilling the importance of building, developing and maintaining relationships within our community.  We are all unique and different, but we are created in His image.

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Martin Luther also talked about vocation. All of the people using their gifts to serve others are doing their vocation.
(Christenson, T. The gift and task of Lutheran higher education, pp 49-50)

Vocation is not only what we do, but how we do it, conduct ourselves in doing it and implementing it.  Teaching, being a wife, mother, sister and a daughter is all my vocation and it is my God given gift.  I serve God through my services to others.

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How learning about Community and Relationships has informed my role

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How learning about Community and Relationships has informed my role

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OTHER

* Malcolm Bartsch (Ps 8:4-6).
* Christenson, T. The gift and task of Lutheran higher education, pp 49-50
* Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework
* A God who speaks and acts: Theology for teachers in Lutheran schools pp 245 - 248

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Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework 

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Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework 

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Enduring Understanding
God’s word inspires and guides Lutheran education communities.

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Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities of hope, nurtured by the promises of God’s word, love and forgiveness which empower staff and students to embrace the future with confidence.
Growing Deep - Leadership and formation framework - http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

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Reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak06MSETeo4&t=6s

My understanding:
* It is the most influential book in History, containing the new and the old testament.
* It is based on the history of people in ancient Israel
* Prophet saw it as the central part of what God was doing for all humanity
* It is a strong foundation for teachers and children of what the scripture and message is saying
* It is God's word
* It contains powerful messages that have formed the life of many Christians around the world
* Our sacred text is the Bible, we don't know much about God without the Bible

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Connect Session 4: slide presentation - three key points to bring to a text when interpreting it

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Interpreting the Bible: A Hermeneutical Approach

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Interpreting the Bible: A Hermeneutical Approach

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I really found this session regarding interpreting the Bible very interesting and insightful.  A few key points to reflect on:

* Interpretation involves an understanding of the Bible that can be justified
* Hermeneutics refers to the theory and practice of interpretation
* It describes a body of historically different methods for interpreting text, objects and concepts
* It is the theory of understanding
* As humans we have various different interests and are at different stages in our lives.  We will thus bring our own personal context when interpreting the Bible.
* As teachers, we will always add our own personal flair when teaching, but it is key to remain to the key points when teaching.
* Going forward, when teaching an aspect of text in Christian Studies, I will consult different teams and resources to ensure that my understanding and interpretation is correct and in line with Lutheran Education.
* I have always been given the Bible story to teach, but have never really analysed it further or delved into it a lot deeper to get the whole picture. I feel that I need to start doing this for best practice. This will not only help my teaching but also my spirituality and provide me with a more in-depth understanding of the Bible as a whole.

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What do we learn about God through this story?
* An insurgent story of an unruly prophet who has a hatred towards God for loving his enemies.  He does not understand how God can care for gentiles.  Jonah tried to run away as he knew that God was compassionate and always forgives.
* God is a caring and forgiving God that always shows Grace - to everyone.

What did Jonah learn?
* Jonah initially realised that it is impossible to run away from God.
* Like the prodigal son Jonah runs away, but then repents and expects forgiveness, but then is not willing to accept that God can forgive and show mercy to others who have done similar to what he has.  God cares about gentiles.
* God said to Jonah, "Aren't humans more valuable than vines?"  By sending the vine and then the worm to kill it was an attempt to make Jonah understand that it is ok for God to feel the same way about the people of Nineveh.  However it did not seem to make any difference, but rather portray a message to the interpreters and readers of the story.

What is the story saying to me?
* I have never really understood the story of Jonah and had so many questions about it.  For one, did he really get swallowed by a whale?  Also, why did Jonah run away?  I now realise after looking into the history at the time, that Nineveh was a place of sin and absolute destruction.
* The story of Jonah is also not about Jonah, but about God, and how much grace God has.
* Humans are all like the people of Ninevah, we all sin and we sin daily.  Sin is equal in the eyes of the Lord.
* As God loves and forgives his enemies, so must I.  I need to show my "enemies" the same compassion and forgiveness, even if they do not express the same towards me.  I need to know that God loves them, and God forgives them, so why don't I?  As he loves and forgives me.
* I need to confront forgiveness
*  “Men have been looking so hard at the great fish that they have failed to see the great God.”  (Tim Keller)

What might it be saying to our community?
* To come together during as a whole during difficult and trying times. To be the best that we can be and to live our lives in a Godly way.  However, if we do stray, to forgive not only ourselves but those that have sinned against us.
* To not run away from your problems, but to confront them and to deal with them

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Seesaw post released to parents giving an overview of what we will be teaching.  A snap shot of some of the Bible stories taught in the year

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* I introduce the Bible and explain what the Bible is to students in Term 1. I explain that as a Lutheran Community, all the stories that we will learn in the year come straight from the Bible. The stories are full of adventure and power and once that we can learn from and implement in our daily lives. That the Bible is not only for us to read wonderful stories from, but can also help us when we are feeling sad.
* The Bible will also how us how to be the best Christians that we can be, by following in the footsteps of Jesus. For example in Term 3: "How can you be helpful like Jesus?" "How can you be a friend like Jesus?"

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Reflection: How does God's word form and inform Lutheran theology for Lutheran Education

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Reflection: How does God's word form and inform Lutheran theology for Lutheran Education

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Reflection: What are the most important aspects of Lutheran theology?

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Reflection: What are the most important aspects of Lutheran theology?

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Overall Reflection and Personal Journey with Connect: now and in the future

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Overall Reflection and Personal Journey with Connect: now and in the future

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* Am I interpreting the Bible Story that I am teaching correctly?  Am I using the resources available to ensure that I am?
* How do I know and ensure that I am making a different to the students in my class and that I am providing a platform for them to make a spiritual connection?
* Have I provided the connection for students to take that learning home so that they can provide their families with a spiritual connection?

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* Growing Deep - Leadership an formation framework http://growingdeep.lutheran.edu.au/index.php/our-foundation

* What is the Bible - Youtube (refer above)
* Connect Session 4: slide presentation
* Tim Keller on a fishy story: Tim_Keller_on_a_Fishy_Story___Interview_with_Matt_Smehurst (1)