Messiah School News   - May 2008

In chapel last Wednesday, I was blessed to have the Bible text from Acts 17:16-34. On his second missionary journey, Paul traveled to Athens. Upon hearing his preaching in public, some Greeks took him to the Areopagus. This was a large judgment hall and men were brought before the nine jurists who would listen to cases, and pass judgment upon them. The Greeks loved to listen, talk and debate. Verse 21 says: “Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.”   But there were those in the Areopagus listening to Paul who heard God’s Word, and the Lord brought them to faith. Paul affirmed to them they were “God’s Offspring,” not just observers of some “altar to the unknown God.”

  That’s what we do here at Messiah. That’s what our teachers do every day sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our beloved children. That’s what our children do regularly when they “hear, read, learn, and inwardly digest” (quote from Luther’s Small Catechism) the Word of God. That’s what our children do when they witness to their faith in Jesus Christ. And, believe me, other residents of Grand Junction and surrounding communities hear our children – they respect the Word they speak from God.

  But they also respect the knowledge and self-discipline our children exhibit. The four valley high schools look forward to receiving Messiah students. They are disciplined in daily homework. They excel in memorization – because it is a process they go through every week. Skills in language, diagramming sentences, writing structure surpass that of other students. The high school teachers know that Messiah students typically score, on average, 2-3 grades above grade level in reading, spelling, vocabulary usage, and mathematics. On average, over 30% of our students begin high school placed in accelerated or advanced classes.

  No, our students are not perfect – far from it. We all daily sin much and deserve God’s punishment. We have our problems at Messiah. But thanks be to Christ who has given us the victory! We reference our theme for the 2007-08 school year: “Built on the Rock the Church Doth Stand.” Messiah children are grounded in the faith in Jesus Christ as risen Lord of all.

  As we close this school year we bid loving goodbyes to Mrs. Linda Joseph, who is retiring at the end of this year, and Mrs. Cinda Hetherington, who is moving to Texas. Both will be deeply missed. “May God be with both of you and your families.” 

  Finally, we look forward to all of you joining us in the closing celebrations of the current school year – the Graduation of our 8^th graders, the Awards Assembly, the Closing Chapel service, the Student end-of-year carnival and picnic.

  May the God of all grace continue to bless and keep you.

Yours in Christ, Neal A. Kaspar, Principal