This phrase comes from a hymn our school community frequently enjoys during daily Chapel: “Jesu, Jesu, fill us with Your love, show us how to serve the neighbors we have from You.” But at St. Nicholas, we don’t just SING about service – we actively seek hands-on opportunities to help those around us, whether people, animals or the environment. And as Chaplain, one of my responsibilities is organizing outreach activities throughout the school year.
Attending Biennial Conference in 2022 proved to be a transformative experience for me. It bolstered my confidence and stoked the creative fire, ultimately helping me “find my voice” as a lay leader. So by the time 2024 rolled around, I knew that I had something to offer as a presenter as well as an attendee.
Thanks to a generous grant awarded by NAES, our Assistant Head of School, Alice Clark, was also able to participate in the 2024 Biennial Conference. Together, we presented “Hearts to Love, Minds to Think, Hands to Serve,” outlining imaginative and easy service learning opportunities for PreK – 5th grade students. We also made new friends, learned from a variety of workshops and speakers, and enjoyed conference worship.
The continued support from the entire NAES network means everything to me. In addition to Biennial, regular online offerings such as webinars, newsletters, weekly meditations, and forum entries are meaningful and nourishing. I’m so grateful to have been provided the chance to give back to such a supportive community!