Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone in of our learning community!  I hope everybody will have a safe and restful Christmas break.  I would like to thank you for all the Christmas and New Year’s wishes we received this season.  Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who volunteered to support the many activities throughout the month of December: our weekly Advent celebrations, Turkey Dinner, Santa’s Workshop, Christmas Concert, and the various social justice projects including Mission Mexico and Sock Drive.

Earlier this month I challenged everyone to Keep Christ in Christmas: Feed, Clothe, Forgive, Welcome, Care & Love.  During this advent season I have truly seen these acts of mercy.  Our community is building ‘A Horizon of Hope’.  Although not an inclusive list, here are some ways OLA kept Christ in Christmas:

• Feed – some of our students do not have a daily lunch, yet they do not go hungry.  I’ve witnessed students giving up their food for others.  Also, OLA provides students with snacks and lunches every day.  As a community, we all enjoyed our annual Turkey Dinner;
• Clothe – our Sock Drive was the most successful ever.  This year the campaign brought in 937 pairs of socks, an increase of over 200 from last year.  Before we packed up the socks for charity, we put some aside for our own families in need;
• Forgive – More often than before, I am witnessing students forgiving other students.  This is powerful.  Often we are quick to say sorry, but we do not forgive.  I am seeing forgiveness;
• Welcome – Although we do not have a lot of new students at this time of year, I do see students being welcoming.  Often, students welcome students into new peer groups.  As a staff we have had some staff changes and I see how the existing staff welcomes new staff in a very caring manner;
• Care – When I think of caring I think of community.  This fall OLA as a community has had some ups and downs, especially we respect to the health of some students and staff (or their extended families).  Throughout it all I have been impressed with our caring community;
• Love – As the Beatles wrote, “All you need is love.”  I see members of a community that not only cares for one another, but loves one another.  Earlier this year, I wrote Don’t Be Nice.  Christ calls us to love each other, not to be nice to each other.  I see acts of love more and more.

OLA is not a perfect community, but this Advent I’ve witnessed ‘A Horizon of Hope’ building built at OLA.  As we bring 2015 to a close and welcome 2016 may we count our many blessings and pray that we continue to build ‘A Horizon of Hope’ throughout 2016.

Blessings to everyone in our learning community as we celebrate the birth of Jesus and a Happy New Year to everyone!

Greg Kostiuk