Chaplain's Reflection
Introduction from our Chaplain
My name is Mark Pimlott, and I am Chaplain to the Open Academy.
My heart is to make a difference in this life that we live.
My roles are varied, and fluid and I am privileged to be involved in every area of school life. Roles include responsibility for upholding the Christian ethos and the Core Values of the Academy, which is something that is at the heart of who we are and of course the Education Brief. As Chaplain, I am responsible for those aspects of school life which address the Christian ethos more obviously than others. There are acts of collective worship, Soul Christian Union, Open house, prayer, and community involvement. These set the tone and enable the Academy to promote our core values which are very much needed in daily life. I run after school clubs and lunchtime activities for students which promote teamwork and taking responsibility.
A main part of my role is providing additional pastoral support (a listening ear) for staff, students, their families, and the community. Life today is very hectic and brings forth many challenges, so as a school we aim to support our local community in whatever way we can. I look forward to meeting you and providing support and encouragement along life’s journey.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel I can help in any way.
God bless you; you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mark
30 April 2026
For this week’s reflection I would like to start off with a story about a little life altering experience I had at McDonalds. My family and I had just pulled up to the drive thru and into the left-hand side ordering lane. We were expecting a “welcome to McDonalds” to resound through the speaker. Nothing, silence.
I noticed in the right-hand lane, cars were arriving, placing their orders, and moving through whilst we just sat there. I began to get frustrated and impatient. I had to have words with myself to get a grip and put things into perspective. This changed me.
Often, we don’t have the patience to wait in this fast-paced world, and we miss the beauty of the present.
The poem below is both challenging and encouraging.
Contentment
It was spring but it was summer I wanted, the warm days and the great outdoors.
It was summer but it was autumn I wanted, the colourful leaves and the cool dry air.
It was autumn but it was winter I wanted, the beautiful snow and the joy of the Christmas season.
It was winter but it was spring I wanted, the warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted, the freedom and the respect.
I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted, the youth and the free spirit.
I was retired but it was middle age that I wanted, the presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, but I never got what I wanted.
Source: "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow
Sometimes we are looking to move fast onto the next thing and miss out on what is around us.
Philippians chapter 4 verses 11–12 in the Bible say this:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I want to encourage us to slow down, be in the moment and take in all what is around us. After all, life can be so short.
God bless you all.
23 April 2026
I want to begin this week’s reflection with a story. A man was walking through a circus and noticed something that puzzled him. He saw a fully grown elephant tied to a small rope that was barely able to restrain a puppy. The elephant did not even try to break free.
Out of curiosity, the man asked the trainer why the elephant did not escape. The trainer replied,” when they are young, we use the same size rope to hold them. As they grow, they are conditioned to believe that they cannot break free. They think that the rope can still hold them, so they never try.”
Often in our lives we can be conditioned or held back by past failures and hurts. This causes us to be tied up so to speak and we are afraid to break free or move on because of them.
I want to encourage you with this quote. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t”.
Please know that whatever the rope may represent, it cannot hold you back any longer, you are stronger, you are amazing and you can break free.
In closing the Bible says these encouraging words in Psalm 118 verse 5. "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free."
He is only a prayer away.
God bless you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
16 April 2026
Just to encourage you with a few thoughts this week from a powerful Bible story. The disciples of Jesus were out in a boat and were caught up in a storm. They naturally became fearful for their lives.
The Bible says that Jesus came out to them walking on the water and as he got near, the disciples saw him. Peter, one of the disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Jesus told him to go for it. Peter climbed over the side of the boat onto the water and walked towards Jesus.
The Bible says that Peter took his eye off Jesus and began to sink when seeing the storm around him. Jesus then took hold of his hand and rescued him.
When Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water, it wasn’t certainty that held him up, it was courage rooted in faith. For a short while, he did the impossible. Not because he was exempt from fear, but because he trusted enough to take the first step.
We all face moments like that, where comfort ends and stepping out into the unknown begins.
The following words are here to encourage and remind us that:
• Courage doesn’t mean you won’t doubt or be afraid.
• Faith doesn’t mean you won’t struggle.
• Every step taken in faith and trust moves you forward.
• You are loved, cared for, and supported through life’s journey.
In every storm that we face, Jesus says these words to us. "Take courage. Do not be afraid — I am here."
God bless you all.
Easter Reflection
On the Sunday, 2 days after Jesus died, some of His followers went to his tomb to anoint his body which was custom in those days, but when they turned up, the stone had been rolled away.
An angel was there saying, He is not here, He is risen. The tomb was empty.
As with the followers of Jesus, we often stand before our own “tombs,” so to speak, places in life that feel sealed, heavy, and final. Like the stone rolled across the entrance, our problems can seem immovable.
This can be fear that will not lift, pain that won’t ease, or situations that don’t seem to change.
The resurrection tells a different story. The stone was not just moved; it was already gone before anyone arrived. What seemed like the end with no hope had already been transformed into new beginnings.
In the same way, the obstacles we face are not always as permanent as they appear.
I want to encourage you; change can be unfolding even when we cannot yet see it and “He is not here” is a reminder that the situations that we face, no longer have the final word.
“He is risen” is the promise that life, hope, and a fresh start are still possible. Sometimes, the stone moves when we least expect it, and everything changes.
My prayer for you this Easter is that when you expect to come across problems, that they are not there.
Have a wonderful Easter break and may this be a time of rest hope and peace for you.
God bless you all.
23 March 2026
In the Easter Story, Good Friday reminds us that there are moments in life when things feel dark, confusing, uncertain, and painful. For the disciples of Jesus and all that followed Him, Friday looked like the end. Their friend was gone, their dreams seemed crushed, the future felt empty and all hope was gone.
But the Easter story tells us that Friday is never the final word.
Between Friday and Sunday there is waiting, confusion, and grief. Yet God was still at work. What looked like defeat became the pathway to resurrection.
“Friday is bad, but Sunday is coming” reminds us that even when we face disappointment, loss, or uncertainty, hope is not lost. God can bring new life out of what seems broken.
The cross was not the end of the story; resurrection was and that promise of new life is at the heart of Easter.
So, when life feels like Friday, I want to encourage us to hold on to faith, courage and remember that Sunday is coming.
God bless you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
16 March 2026
There’s a short story in the Gospel of Mark about a man who could not walk. His friends carried him on a mat to see Jesus. When they arrived, the place was packed and they couldn’t get through the door.
It would have been easy to give up and go home, but they didn’t. Instead, they climbed onto the roof, opened it up, and carefully lowered their friend down into the room. The Bible says that the man was healed.
Schools can feel like crowded places too—busy, pressured, and full of challenges. But every day in schools, something similar happens. Staff notice the students who are struggling. You carry some of their worries, encourage them when they feel stuck, and keep trying when learning doesn’t come easily.
Many young people move forward not because everything was easy, but because someone in school believed they were worth the effort.
So, as we go through this week, remember this: for some students, you may be one of the people carrying the mat. And that quiet, determined support can make a bigger difference than you may ever see.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless you all
9 March 2026
In the Bible, a guy called Moses in Exodus 17 had some enemies to defeat. God told Moses if he held up his staff in the battle, his army would prevail. During the battle his arms grew tired and started to drop down, the victory began to slip away from them.
Aaron who was the brother of Moses and Hur a member of his leadership team noticed — and instead of standing by, they stood with him. They held up his arms until the sun went down and a great victory over their enemy was achieved.
Moses had the calling, but he still needed support. The victory came not from one leader’s strength, but from shared strength. The strength of a community
As a community, we all have moments when our arms feel heavy with burdens that we carry, difficult situations, unexpected challenges, and general stuff. This story reminds us that we are not meant to carry the weight alone. Sometimes we lead. Sometimes we hold up someone else’s arms. Both roles matter significantly.
When we support one another, encourage one another, and step in when someone is weary, we create victories that none of us could achieve alone.
May we continue to lift each other up and in doing so, strengthen our entire community.
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
2 March 2026
I just want to encourage you this week, starting with a story from the Bible. Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds followed him. On this particular occasion, 5000 were there. After listening to what Jesus had to say, the crowd were hungry.
Faced with a huge crowd and extremely limited resources, Jesus’s disciples saw only what they lacked. But Jesus focused on what was already in their hands. Five loaves and two fish, A packed lunch brought to the gathering by a child and through that small offering, something incredible happened. Everyone was fed with baskets of food left over.
As we are out in the big wide world, it can be easy to notice what feels insufficient: not enough time, energy, capacity, or even patience.
Yet this story gently reminds us that what we bring to our community. Our personalities, compassion, experience, humour, and care which are more than enough to begin with.
When we offer what we have, however small it may seem, it can be multiplied in ways we may never fully see.
In our community, small acts matter enormously: a word of encouragement to a neighbour, a moment of extra patience with people we find difficult, a smile at adversity, or a quiet check-in with someone who seems unsettled or discouraged.
These are our “loaves and fish.” They may not feel dramatic, but collectively they create an environment where our community can flourish.
As we step into this next week, may we remember that we are not alone. We are part of a community body, all needed to share the load and the joy.
May we trust and be encouraged that the small, faithful things we do each day have lasting impact — often far beyond what we can measure.
God bless you all and all that you do.
6 February 2026
Just a little encouragement for you for this week. I really hope you realise how wonderful you are.
Sometimes we can lose track of our place and value in life due to the circumstances that we may face.
The Bible talks about in the book of 1 Corinthians, that everyone belongs and all are needed.
“Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
Every one of you are an amazing part of our community body. All needed, all valued and in it for a purpose. We cannot do without you.
My prayer for you all this week is that you realise how loved and priceless you are.
30th January 2026
Forgiveness is one of the quiet strengths of our community. It often begins in difficult moments when things do not go as planned, when words or actions hurt, or trust is broken, or when expectations are not met. These moments are part of being human, but how we respond to them really matters.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring harm or pretending that pain does not exist. It asks us first to acknowledge what has happened and how it has affected us. From there, forgiveness becomes a choice: to release resentment, to seek understanding, and to allow space for healing and growth.
Forgiveness can be offered to others, but it is also something we must give to ourselves too. We all make mistakes. We all have moments we wish we could manage differently. When we practice self-forgiveness, we give ourselves permission to learn, to grow, and to begin again.
In our communities, forgiveness strengthens relationships, it encourages honest conversations, restores trust, and reminds us that no one is defined or remembered by a single moment or mistake.
It teaches patience, empathy, and resilience which are values that reach far beyond any one situation.
Forgiveness is not always easy, and it does not always happen quickly. Sometimes it requires time, reflection, support, and lots of conversations. But when forgiveness is practiced with patience, sincerity, and care, it opens the door to understanding release and renewal.
In closing, Jesus is a perfect example of forgiveness. When on the cross during that terrible time of crucifixion, Jesus spoke powerful words, not of anger or revenge but of love and compassion in saying “forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”
God’s words in the book of Colossians say this too. “Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
May we continue to choose forgiveness, not because it is simple, but because it allows us to move forward with compassion, hope and a free life.
19th January 2026
Just a bit of encouragement to help you through the blue days of January. I can remember when I was very young and at every Christmas time, we used to have the whole family came to stay with us. Every room in the house was needed so I was always relegated from my room to sleeping on a mattress in my mum and dad’s room.
I can remember one particular night that we watched one of the early versions of the movie The Wizard of Oz, and I can remember feeling really scared of some of the characters in the film, especially the wicked witch of the west and her green face. Anyway, my mum put me to bed, and I fell asleep only to wake up in the middle of the night to see what looked like the wicked witch standing in front of me. I was frozen in terror and never slept the rest of the night because of what I could see.
However as soon as dawn approached, the light came through the curtains, and I could see things for what they really were. The wicked witch turned out to be my mums dressing gown that she had hung on the hoover before she had got into bed.
All of that fear because of a dressing gown. The light shone in and my fears subsided.
I want to encourage you with this. When the light shines in on a situation, we see it differently to what it looks like in the dark. We can hide our problems and anxieties, keeping them in the dark so to speak and they can grow bigger, increasing our fears and worries.
The light can be shone on our situations just by speaking to others about them. The saying goes, “a problem shared is a problem halved.”
Please be encouraged to find someone in your world to talk to, don’t hold onto those fears a moment longer. Get those worries and anxieties out in the open and in the light. It’s a life changer.
In closing, Jesus Christ is described as the light of the world. He brings light and is only a prayer away.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—who shall I fear?”
5th January 2026
New Year Reflection
A new year is a chance to pause and look at how far we’ve come. It’s not about being perfect, but about learning from our mistakes and growing from our experiences. This year, think about one habit you want to improve, one challenge you’re ready to face, and one way you can be kinder—to yourself and to others. Small, consistent efforts can lead to meaningful change. The new year isn’t a fresh start because the past disappears; it’s a fresh start because we’re wiser than before.
Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
19 December 2025
“Do not be afraid.”
These are the first words spoken in nearly every part of the Christmas story.
It was said to the shepherds under a cold sky. “Do not be afraid.”
It was spoken to Mary in a moment that changed history. “Do not be afraid.”
Spoken to Joseph as he wrestled with uncertainty. “Do not be afraid.”
At this moment we may be living with fear in our lives over certain things. Fear about the present, the future and even our loved ones.
Maybe we have shared these fears with others, or they may even be unspoken and still remain in our hearts.
Just as in the Christmas story, before good news arrives, reassurance was given first. I want to encourage/reassure you today, don’t be afraid.
When Jesus was born, one of his names was the prince of peace and I pray that all of our fears would be driven out by peace. The prince of peace is only a prayer away.
This season invites us to pause, breathe, and trust that even in our fearful nights and days, hope, light, and peace is still being born. Do not be afraid, be reassured, the light is on its way.
On behalf of my family and I, we pray you and yours, a merry big Christmas, full of joy, rest, light, and peace.
God bless you all for a wonderful and prosperous New Year ahead.