When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him,
“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”
And his servant was healed at that moment.
Matthew 8:10, 13 NIV
The only time Scripture mentions that Jesus was “amazed” by anything was in reference to people’s faith. In Mark 6:6 it says that Jesus was “amazed by their (the people in his hometown of Nazareth) lack of faith.” The people who should have known and trusted Him the most, who watched him grow up as a boy, lacked faith in Him. As a result, the scriptures state “He could not do many miracles there.” But in Matthew 8, the Bible says that Jesus was “amazed” by the strong faith of the Roman centurion. As a result, the centurion’s servant was “healed at that moment.”
As I have reflected on my own faith, I confess that while I have trusted Christ for my salvation, I find it difficult to trust Him with lesser matters pertaining to this life. Romans 8:32 says, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?” If Christ is trustworthy enough to save us, He is surely trustworthy enough to meet any other challenges we may face in this life.
As we begin the New Year, there will be many opportunities to put our faith into practice in 2024. May our faith “amaze” Jesus more and more. And not for our lack of it, but for the strength of it.
Shepherding His Lambs,
David Funk
Superintendent, VCA
NO SCHOOL: Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
NORTH CAMPUS GRADE REPORTS: Second-quarter grades for middle school students were posted this week in their Sycamore account. High school grades will be posted on Monday, January 15. I encourage you to take time to review them with your child(ren). This is another way to partner with the school in your child’s education.
SOUTH CAMPUS GRADE REPORTS: Second quarter grades and Winter NWEA scores were sent home with your child on Thursday (1/11). If you did not receive them please follow up with your classroom teacher.
SOUTH CAMPUS SPELLING BEE: Due to the snow day today the Spelling Bee will be held on Friday, Jan.19.
2024-2025 RE-ENROLLMENT: Re-enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year will begin on Monday, February 12, 2024. For three weeks in February, existing VCA families have the opportunity to re-enroll before we open enrollment to the public on March 1. If you know that you want your child(ren) to attend VCA for the 2024-2025 school year, please do not delay in re-enrolling in February. As of March 1, we go to a first-come-first-serve basis and because your child attended during the 2023-2024 does not guarantee enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year if you did not take advantage of the early re-enrollment period. Re-enrollment will be completed through your Sycamore account. Instructions for re-enrollment will be communicated through email, text and a written letter the last week of January.