By: Jeremy Case, Head of School

Each year, we steward the privilege and responsibility in partnership with one another to give our children truth and show them Jesus. Each year, our students, faculty, and families memorize and meditate on God’s word together in a beautiful expression of our covenant commitment to encourage and equip the next generation to be all that God has created and called them to be. Each year, for the past 38 years, God has faithfully accomplished His good and perfect work in and through the covenant families of Perimeter School.

Let us sit at the feet of Jesus

This year, we’ll be sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His call in Matthew 5 and praying that He will make the Beatitudes the meditation of our hearts, prompting our praise of the Father, glorifying His name and furthering His kingdom.

“Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

‘You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.’”

Matthew 5:1-16

Let us be Surrendered and Submissive to him

Here Jesus is outlining the qualities and characteristics of those who live surrendered and submissive to Him, His will, and His ways. It is His call to join Him in the work of cultivating the character of His kingdom in our covenant children. As His power is made perfect in our weakness, His grace is sufficient to cultivate in our lives and those of our children, disciples who are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted.

Let us be salt and light

The outflow of His work is those who are transformed and who join Him in His work of redemption. Jesus calls His disciples “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” - two things that permeate and transform.

Like salt and light, our covenant community is to have a transformative effect on this world and our community.

The Beatitudes aren’t a list of things we are to do, but who we are to be - a kingdom-focused, covenant community proclaiming the excellencies of our King and seeking the glory of Christ in everything we do. Because when we live as those transformed by the Spirit, the world will take notice and “see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

We sit in joyful expectation of all God will do at Perimeter School this year for our students, families, and the kingdom!