The upcoming year is a significant one for our ELC and Primary School, as we celebrate 70 years since the school commenced. It was on 12 February 1952 that St John’s Lutheran Primary School first opened its doors and welcomed its first 19 pupils, with Miss T. Doecke appointed as the teacher.
The development of the Primary School was as a result of St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley looking to reach out and serve the local community. Funds were raised by the Church with most of the building being done by the hands of the congregational members of the time.
Our ELC and Primary School has come a long way since these early beginnings, amalgamating with Concordia College in 2015 and growing significantly in enrolments and reputation over the years. During this time St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley has valued our partnership with the school and looked for ways of serving and supporting the school community. We are passionate that the school not only offers a brilliant education to its students, but also remains Christ-focused, nurturing and growing the faith of the students as well as the staff.
This has resulted in a caring community that reflects the light of Jesus, living and sharing the hope that we have in Jesus’ death and resurrection. We want this good news to influence the present and the future, secure in God’s love. St John’s congregation seeks to actively live out the tagline: Sharing Jesus’ Love’ in Concordia College and beyond.
For just over three years I have been blessed to serve the ELC and Primary School as the Spiritual Life Coordinator. It is with a bittersweet feeling that this chapter comes to a close in a few weeks’ time. But we are grateful and excited for the appointment of Mark Rathjen as the new College Chaplain and all the blessings that this will bring.
St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley is looking forward to supporting Mark in his new role and to continuing to serve within Concordia College both spiritually, but also practically.
May God bless Concordia College and everyone who is part of this special community and may he also continue blessing the partnership between St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley and Concordia College.
Paula Meyer
Spiritual Life Coordinator - ELC and Primary School
