2026 Covie Weekly T3 Week 5 - Covenant Christian School

The Death-throes of our Culture? Culture, Covenant, Christianity

Dear parents and carers,

At a previous school I led, the opening remarks of former Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, to the prefects of the school were “you young people are living through the collapse of Western civilisation”. This should not be thought of as a party political view (John Anderson was leader of the National Party and therefore Deputy Prime Minister to John Howard). Former Labor Prime Minister, Dr Kevin Rudd, has been very clear on the geo-political challenges facing Australia.

What are we to make of this as adults? More to the point, in a school, what are young people to make of the world as they see it? Our world is riven by savage warfare, terrorism, and great power tensions. It is estimated some 50 million people are trapped within conditions of modern slavery of various kinds including physical and sexual slavery. Billions live in poverty, many on less than $1 a day. In many countries of the world, women live under great oppression, being denied education, permission to drive, unable to leave their home without a male escort and with their entire body hidden behind clothing. Low laying countries face inundation from rising sea levels such as they may disappear below the sea, while many coastal communities fear the same fate. Deforestation, wildfires and drought are the outcome of poor stewardship of our planet. In our own country, the scourge of domestic violence, sexual assault , homelessness, racism and other forms of discrimination are all too real. Our culture is increasingly polarised as contending sides shout at one another on social media and algorithms constantly feed confirmation bias. Cultural wars lead to cancel culture, civility is on the decline.

There is certainly enough malfunction in society to challenge the secular humanist notion that progress is making us better, that science and economics will solve all our problems and that we are moving towards a paradise on earth. Conversely, it seems as if our culture is eating itself. This is to some degree due to the loss of a shared vision of theology and Christendom. The President of Harvard University, when asked to categorise his students, famously replied with one word: “emptiness”.

Some have seen in our cultural wars the death-throes of Western civilisation. Whether one regards this view as excessive, the malignant signs of stress and distress are too extensive to ignore.

Where then is hope? How can we frame the tensions in our world to make them intelligible? In fact, Jesus said exactly this would happen. To an ancient historian (in both senses) it seems to me we are becoming more and more like the world of the 1^st century under the Roman Empire. The Apostle Paul, in addressing that situation in Romans 1, provides an interpretive grid. In summary, he said that because the bulk of people would not acknowledge God, He gave them up to live as they chose (wildly). “God gave them over to a depraved mind so they do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28). Poor behaviour flows from wrong thinking. The hope then in a Christian sense is in adopting the faith and ethics of Jesus, knowing that in an ultimate sense God will put all things right when Jesus returns.

Kind Regards,

Dr John Collier

Interim Principal

Dates for your diary

Week 6

Monday 31 August - Friday 4 September, 8.00-11.00am | Cafe Covie open for parents

Monday 31 August | Infants Morning Lines Rumpus Room

Monday 31 August | Japan Mission Training Event 4

Wednesday 2 September - Friday 4 September | Year 9 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Wednesday 2 September - Saturday 5 September | Junior School Bittersweet Musical

Thursday 3 September | Secondary CSSA State Oztag Gala Day (opens)

Friday 4 September, 7.15am-8.30am | Dad's & Donuts

Friday 4 September | CIS Primary Athletics Championships

Saturday 5 September, 8.00am-12.00pm | Covenant Working Bee

Don't Miss Out

Bittersweet Musical | 2-5 September

Junior School presents 'Bittersweet', a musical based on the Old Testament story of Naomi and Ruth, and Boaz, Ruth's 'kinsman-redeemer', who points us to our ultimate Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus!

Directed by the multi-talented Mrs Rachel Young, produced by organisational mastermind Mrs Heidi Stead, musically directed by the genius of Mrs Jacqui Alldis, and choreographed by the energentically effervescent Mrs Hayley Jacobs, 'Bittersweet' is a must-see for all the family.

Dates & Times:

Wednesday 2 Sept 5:30pm
Thursday 3 Sept 11:00am
Friday 4 Sept 5:30pm
Saturday 5 Sept 5:30pm - Sold Out

BOOK NOW

Dads & Donuts | 4 September

Join us for a special Father's Day celebration on Friday 4 September from 7.15am.

Dads and their children are invited to enjoy donuts and drinks, take part in some fun activities, hear a devotion, and connect with other fathers in our school community.

We'd love to see you there!

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Covenant Working Bee | 5 September

We need your help at our upcoming working bee! This is a great way to contribute to the school and do your PIP hours.

A Working Bee is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and lend a helping hand in caring for our school grounds and facilities.

There will be jobs for everyone. From gardens and grounds maintenance, to cleaning and logistic changes.

This is a special moment to celebrate God’s provision and the continued growth of our school facilities. If you’re not able to commit to the entire time, please feel free to come for part of it, come when you can and leave when you must. Every bit of help makes a difference!

Thank you for your willingness to participate. See you there!

RSVP NOW