Principal's Corner
AHA!
Have you had an ‘aha’ moment lately? These events happen within Red Hill Lutheran School on a weekly and daily basis throughout the school year. The faculty and staff at Red Hill Lutheran School would like to believe that it is our amazing teaching that produces these enlightenment moments; however, if we are honest, much of the childhood maturation process lends itself to curiosity and learning new skills without our intervention. Parents and teachers simply are given the opportunity to help construct and lead children as they mature. Simple, maybe; immensely important, you bet! But wait, there must be more.
Let’s not misunderstand the charge given to us by God in His Word, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”. (Proverbs 22:6 ESV). Education, at its core, is a responsibility that comes with the title of ‘parent’, whether we want to accept it or not. Today, most parents choose to partner with ‘professional educators’ to help them with this immense educational responsibility. It has been this way for the better part of the past century.
Research shows us that the success of the partnership between parent and teacher is a key factor in children attaining educational goals and attaining a positive self-concept. The more closely aligned parent and teachers are in their beliefs, philosophies, and morals, the more successful the educational partnership will be.
It is critical that the RHLS admissions process is finely tuned so that we at RHLS can clearly articulate to parents what we value, what we believe, and what we teach. Equally important is that we seek parents who not only value these same attributes, but also admit that working on teaching them to their children together in harmony with their child’s teacher will be more successful when done in unity than individually.
So, what do we do at RHLS and how do we go about doing it? I believe that these foundational questions were foremost in the minds of the founders of Red Hill Lutheran Church. Their answers were intimately entwined with our theme and focus today: make Jesus known as Lord, Savior, and King through educational ministries. Seeking to address these questions, the founding members of Red Hill Lutheran sought to invest in the eternally important process of offering formal Christian education for children.
In 1962, Red Hill Lutheran School began on the premise of “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you do with that gift is your gift back to God.” To this day, it is of utmost importance that our academic education is top notch and state of the art. Our founders knew that rigorous academics were important; for God has richly blessed his creation (formed in His likeness) with unlimited potential. However, knowledge for knowledge sake is not what God intended. Knowing that God is
our creator, the one who directs our lives, is essentially important for everyone. This requires that we not only integrate Biblical knowledge and truths into the educational process, but that we lead with them and model them; constantly making direct links to Jesus Christ as our ‘true north’ in a sin filled world.
Looking back at the past years since Red Hill Lutheran School opened the doors in 1962, we know that students have been provided with Biblically based Christian educational opportunities daily here at Red Hill Lutheran School. These students, many of whom are now parents and grandparents (some already called home to be in heaven) have all been provided with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit has worked in and through His Word in their lives for His good and perfect purpose.
Providing this opportunity is no easy task, and comes at a high cost. Many extra hours of work, and hundreds of thousands of dollars are expended on this 'mission’ among the many children and families God brings to our doorstep here at Red Hill Lutheran. Over the past six decades this eternally important task of Christian education has proved to be an amazing investment with an unlimited return, as children have blossomed into Christian parents and grandparents, exponentially multiplying the effect of the Christian education that began in their lives here at Red Hill Lutheran School in Tustin, California.
What do we do at Red Hill Lutheran School? Provide Biblically based Christian education that seeks to fully develop each child’s God given gifts, so that they are prepared to serve Christ Jesus with their lives today, tomorrow, and until they are called home to heaven by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How do we do this “Biblically based Christian education” at Red Hill Lutheran School? First and foremost, we seek God’s guidance and direction. We then give our very best as we daily challenge ourselves, our students, and parents in all aspects of learning and development (academic subjects, social interactions, ethical standards and morals). We do all this anchored to God’s Word and tethered together as a Christian community of believers that seeks to support and build up the body of Christ.
What will the next 5, 10, 15 … plus years bring? How will God use the many gifts and talents He has placed here? Have you had an ‘aha’ moment lately? Prayerfully ask God how you can continue to use your God given gifts in support of our local Christian educational ministry and mission. Nothing can truly compare to seeing and touching the real thing (see doubting Thomas story, John 20: 24-29). We welcome your partnership into this eternally important Christian educational ministry; we encourage, no NEED your involvement, participation, and input. The Lord’s plans are rarely carried out without his people’s hands and feet.
October
4: Minimum Day
10: PTF Meeting
11: Parents Book Club and Parents in Prayer
12: Parents Night Out
18: Parents Book Club and Parents in Prayer
18: Pep Rally
21-23: 7th Grade Trip
21-25: Red Ribbon Week
21-25: Preschool Pumpkin Patch
25: Parents Book Club and Parents in Prayer
26: GALA Auction Event
27: Oktoberfest Trunk or Treat Family Event
31: Minimum Day: Parent Teacher Conferences
Pastor's Corner
Dear Red Hill Lutheran School Families,
On Sunday, October 27th, we once again celebrate the festival of the Reformation. On October 31st, 1517, a relatively obscure Catholic priest nailed a document to the door of the village church in the small town of Wittenberg, Germany. This priest, Martin Luther, was calling for a debate on some of the theological (and in many ways, political) assumptions of his day that he believed were contrary to Scripture. While most did not realize it then, this simple, yet dangerous, challenge to the church and empire, would reverberate through the surrounding villages, on through Europe, and would ultimately change the course of world history itself! Both secular and church historians would mark Martin Luther's nailing of the “Ninety-Five Theses” on the church door in Wittenberg as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
What prompted Luther to engage the immensely powerful church and empire of his day? What
empowered him to boldly preach, teach, and write about Biblical truths that conflicted with the
accepted teachings of the church? What sustained Luther in the face of intense criticism and
accusations, which would ultimately lead to his excommunication from the church, brand him an
enemy of the church and state, as well as lead to the threat of death? In a word, it was the Gospel!
Luther had discovered, deep in his soul, the truth of the Gospel (Good News); that the mercy and
love of God was a gift of sheer grace. All of Luther’s religious efforts to please God and make himself acceptable were useless, because Jesus had died the death that he deserved and lived the life he couldn’t live. All Luther had to “do” was trust what Jesus had already done! Luther’s
discovery of this “Gospel truth,” came as he studied the book of Romans. One glorious day, Luther read a passage from this powerful Epistle from Saint Paul. Luther describes whathappened next:
Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the
statement that ‘the just shall live by faith’ (Romans 1:17). Then I grasped that the justice
of God is that righteousness by which, through grace and sheer mercy, God justifies us
through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors
into paradise.
Of course, Luther’s challenges to the church in that day were not well-received and he was asked to appear before an Imperial Diet (fancy word for a committee meeting) in Worms, Germany, in April of 1521. Believing he was there to debate his concerns, Luther was told to publicly recant his teachings and writings. Luther famously rejected that demand, and in response told the Diet
of Worms:
Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the
popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to
the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is
neither right nor safe. I cannot do otherwise. Here I stand. May God help me. Amen.
From this time forward, the ideas and theology of Luther spread throughout Europe. Other reformers would arise, igniting the Protestant Reformation; a theological, social, and political movement that changed the course of human history. It all started with a monk who found in the pages of scripture, the life-changing Gospel!
Remembering and celebrating the Lutheran Reformation is more that recalling a particular, historical moment, as important as this “moment” in history was. Remembering and celebrating the Lutheran Reformation is remembering that, like Luther, all Christians stand on the Word of God. To go against the Word of God is neither right nor safe! Celebrating the Lutheran Reformation is to celebrate that, like Luther, we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ alone! Like Luther, even though the powers of hell itself may rise up against us, we can boldly believe and live that, because we belong to Jesus, God will sustain us and lead us home.
As we celebrate the hope and grace that flows from the Reformation, join us for worship on Sunday, October 27th at 10:15 am (one service that morning), followed by our annual Oktoberfest BBQ and “Trunk or Treat” for the kids! We will also offer games and other special events for our kids throughout the morning! I invite you to bring your friends and neighbors to enjoy this festive morning. We hope to see you!
As the Pastor of our church and school, my hope and prayer is that you find, deep in your soul, the hope of the Gospel—just like Luther!
Have a great a great October and a great Reformation Day!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Seth
Red Hill Lutheran Church and School
Email: rhlsoffice@redhillschool.org
Website: www.redhillschool.org
Location: 13200 Red Hill Avenue, Tustin, CA, USA
Phone: 714-544-3132