St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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BOYS' SUNDAY: 29TH M Y, 1977 SER N PREACHED IN CH PEL BY JOH K YLL, GR DE 12 11'I 5110111111110 before 1 .1w.1ke H.1ve 1 1150111 111.11 c.111ese.1pe? Yes! A 111.111 CC1'f.l1111y 11118 .1 soul. But t11e more i111por1.1n1 question is: W1121I11LlI.7p611S to t11e sou1.111- 1e1 de.1111? T11is is .1 problem 111111 11218 1l.lL1I1ICd the 111i11ds of me11 1.0l'I1lOUSkl11dSO1.YCL1fS. lt is not so 1n11e11 t11e 1'.1e1 111.11 1 11.11'e 3150111 111.11 .11n.1zes111e: it is t11e S11ilI1ICI'1I1g11101121111 111.11 1111' sou1 can never die 1.7111VV111111h1C.lC111VC 1-or eternity either 111 He.11'e11 with God or i11 Hell W1K110LI1f1'11I1l. l believe. 111C1'C1'-Ol'L'. 111.11 1111 desire to hve in Heaven it is i111per.1tive 111.11 here o11 e.11'111 1 1n.1ke friends with God. But the di1'1'ic111t1' is 111.11, like .111Ot11C1'I11C11. 1 know 1 .1111 .lS1I111Cl'.Tl'LlC, 1 111.111 not be .1 11ope 1ess sinner, I 11.1VCI1.I killed L1I11'OI'lC. B111 1 s1i11 11.1ve 1111' 1.111115 .ind niy 1'.1i1i11gs. . . n1.111y o1-them. And 1 know 111.11 they SCPJIALIIC 111e 1-I'GI1l God. making it very difficu11 for me to know His 1ove .111d t11e p1.1n 111.11 He11.1s tor 1111' 1i1ie,O1' course. this experience is not unique. As t11e Bible s.1ys: A1111.1ve sinned LIIIL1 11.111011 s11111'to1At11e G1ory of God. We h.1ve Ql11VV1L1C11CL1 t11e g.1p 111.11 exists between ourse1ves.111d o111'1V1.1ker. We do 1111s every 1i111e we deliberately do SO111Cl11111gI111lf our conscience te11s us is wrong. N11 doubt. by going 111 C11L11'C11 1 help to bridge 111111 gap. By fS2lL11I1gI11C Bib1e dlld Skly1I'lg111y prayers and striving to hve .1 better 1i1ie - by .111 these ways 1 do close t11e g.1p.1 1itt1e. But not e11ti1'e1v. Somehow, des- pite II11' best efforts to succeed, t11e g.1p never 1'CLl11y grows much 11.1rrower. Like every other man w11o tries to ox'erco111e his 1A.ll11IS. 1 so111e11ow continue to feel FIIIPPCL1 by 1i1'e. l 11ee1 111.11 there is l11W2lyS some- 111i11g11ott1ui1e right. Now, it is here 111.11 1111' religious 1.11111 enters t11e picture. 1 believe 1.10111 what t11e New Testament 1e11s111e 111.11 Cod 10115: .igo c.1111e to t11e rescue of people 1ike 111yse111. He se11t His only Son, jesus Christ to show us how much He 1oves us, .111d 1-Ll1'I1lC1'11101'B He revealed 111.11 1ove by dying for us on t11e Cross. The death 01:-1CSL1S e1'1iec1ive1y e1osed 1111- gap - for the very first 1i111e in the NV1101C course O1-11L1IIlL1Il111S- torv. For the first 1i111e .1 co111p1ete11' si111ess 11111111111 life w.1s1ived. 1t was jesus Christ who 1ived it. He c111sed the g.1pbe11vee11 M.111 .l11k1Q:Ot1. S11 He said to Himself with truth: 1 .1111 come 111.11 111e11 n1.1y have

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THE SCHOOL CHAPEL This report begins on a note of profound tliaiikfulness that. at a time of shrill controversy over the merits of this and that type ofeducation. here at our school we quietly pursue in Chapel a well-ordered round ofChristian instruc- tion and praise. Can anyone in these days of crumbling values and traditions seriously doubt the worth of solemn as- semblies of young people. all intent on hearing the Word that gives moral enlightenment and spiritual understanding? How uplifting it is to think ofthe many old boys who still recall with affection and wonder the gracious influence of the Chapel: how encouraging also to dream of those who in years to come will likewise find here inspiration and stren- gth. Our Commencement Service in September was more crowded than ever. After some experimentation, the seating problem was eased by placing some prefects in the area near the sanctuary. Our services and assemblies, therefore, have taken place with the accustomed dignity and calm. On October the Jftli. the school observed the 750th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. and the chaplain gave a short address. On the previous day. we celebrated the an- nual Harvest Festival, and the Reverend T. Davies, Head of English, preached the sermon. ln the following month. on the 10th November. we held our Remembrance Service, and the guest speaker was the Reverend john Travis, Minister of the Centennial United Church in Victoria. There will surely be many of our boys. whose memories perforce do not stretch back to either of the Great Wars, who will remember his words. During the course of these Remembrance cere- monies. a memorial tablet was dedicated in honour ofthe late Mr. R. H. B. Ker. a former Governor and Benefactor of the school. Q It is pertinent to record here that Mr. Ker served in the First World War with No. 24 Squadron of the old Royal Flying Corps, and he took part in the first battle ofthe Somme and faced the German fighter-ace, Baron von Richtofen. J Last Post and Reveille were sounded by Trumpeter Corporal G. Fiorin of the 5th Field Battery. R. C. A. Cadet Corps. Wreaths were then presented at the alter by David Cousins, jeff Spencer and Stephen Dancey. Another significant occasion took place on Sunday 6th February. when the Right Reverend R. J. Pierce came to administer the rite of Confirmation. Five boys were confirmed: Gordon Peter Cuckovich David Antony Gurr james Beaufort Ross Ronald Campbell Stuart Willem Arie Vanderspek On Sunday, the 13th March. we were honoured by the presence in Chapel of Mr. Lionel Dakers, Director of the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace in England. He kindly addressed the boys at Morning Service. In the month of May. several important events took place in Chapel. On the 8th May, a Memorial Service was held for the late Mr. Eric H. Quainton, who for many years was a devoted member ofthe school's teaching staff. In the pre- sence of a large congregation of former students and friends of the school, a memorial plaque was dedicated by the chaplain. Mr. john Nation, formerly Chairman of the Board of Governors, delivered the eulogy. Archdeacon H. Dowker after conveying a message of sympathy from the Bishop of the diocese of British Columbia, said the final prayers and gave the blessing. On the 19th May, we observed Ascension Day as usual. and our preacher was Fr. Philip Hanley. Rector of St. Andrew's Cathedral, Victoria. We acknowledge here our gratitude for his inspired address. The service was also note- worthy for the sacred solo sung by our Head Boy, David Cousins. On Whitsunday, the 29th May, Morning Service was arranged and conducted by the boys themselves. David Cousins read the Service: Marcus Endean said the prayers: Harry Cubbage and Patrick Blair read the lessonsg the organist was David Hamilton: and the sermon, the text of which is printed below, was preached by john Kayll. To complete this report, the final word must be one of gratitude to the Chapel Officers for duties well and persever- ingly performed: Patrick Blair, Verger and Chapel Prefect: Marcus Endean, Headmaster's Warden: and Harry Cubbage, Chaplain's Warden. C.D.B Boys' Sunday: 29th May, 1977. Sermon preached in Chapel by john Kayll. Grade 12.

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life. and that they may have it abundantly. It is abundant life. therefore, that He offers anyone who is willing to trust Him. ln Saint john's Gospel, the words ofjcsus are recorded: I am the Way, He said, I am the Truth and the Life. And no one comes to the Father but through me. lt all boils down to Faith. All you need is the Faith to believe in jesus Christ. This is what makes you a Christian e not just a religious person. This is the turning point of life - just a simple act of Faith. Such a conversion doesn't mean, of course, that you suddenly become perfect. There is no miraculous change - as if you were brain-washed into becoming a completely different human being. You are not physi- cally changed at all. lt is a spiritual change. Faith gives you a Divine source of guidance which you nev- er knew before. It is this sense of guidance that helps a Christian to deal with his daily problems and difficulties. Furthermore, it is this sense of being guided that encourages a man to persist against every failure until finally he succeeds. Faith gives a man Hope. To help you understand better what it means to become a Christian, I would ask you to picture in your mind's eye a circle. ln this circle there are many dots representing the various activities of life. But right in the middle of the circle there is a throne. And on the throne sits the Lord jesus Christ. He sits there in control of your life because you yourself put Him there. When you were not a Christian. you occupied the place yourself and tried to run your own life - usually with disastrous results. But when you become a Christian. you stepped down from the throne and handed your life over to Christ. In the Book of the Revelation. chapter 3. verse 20, there are some words ofjesus that sum up what I have been trying to say. Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in unto him. This is a promise that is worth remembering. If in humble prayer we sincerely ask jesus to enter our lives and occupy the throne of our souls. then we need never fear the future. jesus rewards such Faith with the promise ofeternal and abundant life. So Holy Scripture bears witness to this truth: . . . God has given us eternal life: he who does not have the Son does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may have eternal life. One final Word. Living life as jesus asks us to live it is not easy. He makes great demands. He exp- ects a great deal. He doesn't take away the ordinary. everyday problems and strains and hang-ups. But what He does do is to stay with us every step of the way as we journey through life. He takes away any feeling ofloneliness that might attack us. And so, we find a joy and a peace in Him that is greater than anything found elsewhere. jesus doesn't promise us that discipleship is easy. There may be many sacri- fices we shall be asked to make. But the point is that the blessings that come from Faith are so much greater. Perfect, none of us can ever hope to be: we are too human for that. But one thing is certain if we keep Faith with jesus Christ: He will keep His promise and we shall be with Him forever.