Unimaginable sorrow

CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER 26 October 2023

Friends in Christ, I regret to say that over the last day, as many of you know from the media, the St Andrew's Cathedral School experienced the loss of a life in an almost unimaginable circumstance.

At short notice, your Cathedral team replaced Evensong tonight with Evening Prayer, since the choristers were understably unavailable in this distress. We changed the hymns, but stuck with the readings already set for this evening.

Here are the remarks I prepared. 

The Gospel reading today (Luke 18:35-43) had a blind man calling out to Jesus for mercy. “Lord,” he said, “I want to see.” 

“Receive your sight,” said Jesus. 

Tonight we are groping around in the dark. We know that those even closer to the tragic circumstances at our Cathedral School are further in to a very dark valley of shadows. 

We say, “Lord, we want to see.”

Above all, we want to see Jesus, in all his compassion, in all his mercy. We desperately need that. 

When Job suffered the most harrowing loss of his children, his friends were doing well until they opened their mouths… Sometimes there is just a time to sit in silence with those we want to comfort. 

The Old Testament reading, Ecclesiastes 6, showed life can seem so inexplicable and unfair. V11 also observed that sometimes, it’s the case that the more words there are, the less the meaning. So I’ll try not to say too much more. 

But amazingly, somehow, in his loss, Job, in agony, worshipped God and said, “Shall we accept good from him, and not trouble?” “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21, 2:10) 

Tonight we are trying to worship God in anguish. 

What else can I say? 

Grieve with those who grieve… Weep with those who weep. 
Bring your unanswered questions to God.
In your need to talk, avoid the speculations. 
Mainly pray. 

Pray for the students, teachers, other staff, and their families, and the whole School community that they would find in God a strength and refuge in this time of trouble. 

Pray also for the Police and for their protection from trauma in discharge of their duties. 

And remember: Jesus has taken on frail human flesh; he’s come near to us in our weakness; he sympathises with us tonight. And through his own death, and in the power of his resurrection, promises rest for our souls. He said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). 

Canon Chris Allan is honorary Chaplain at Day Street Police Station down the road from the Cathedral. He has been caring for many of the officers involved in responding to very traumatic circumstances. This evening, Chris led prayers for the Police, the Ambulance Service and others (such as the security guard) involved from the first response.

Below, I reprint, lightly edited, the prayer I led for the School community. Please pray with us. 

Yours in Christ,

Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney

P.S. Sensitivity to these circumstances means we have cancelled the Bach Cantata scheduled for this Sunday's 10:30am service, as the Choir will be unavailable.

Prayer for a School in distress

God of all mercy, giver of all comfort: when we cannot understand the things that happen, and are weighed down by loss and loneliness, uphold us in your love.

Look graciously, we pray, on those in grief, pain, and confusion, especially the victim's family, whose loss is so keen, together with the whole St Andrew’s Cathedral School community: for students, teachers, other staff, alumni, and also their families.

We pray specifically for Head of School, Dr Julie McGonigle, for her Executive team and for the school Chaplain, called to lead the School community through this time of trouble: grant them depths of wisdom, compassion and resilience.

We pray also for students with final HSC and IB exams coping with this additional stress.

Casting all their cares on you, may each member of the School community know the consolation of your love.

Give us all the assurance of your constant care, that we may have courage for the days ahead. We pray in the name of our Friend and Saviour, the only one to promise to wipe every tear from our eyes, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.