AEH( CoRo, 21-26) bids us a heart-warming farewell
The Wykehamist
The Wykehamist’ s Sermon
AEH( CoRo, 21-26) bids us a heart-warming farewell
Twenty-one days. That’ s all the time I have left here at Winchester. My eldest brother arrived into Beloe’ s in 1988 when I was not quite three and he was followed by my next brother in 1993. Now, thirty-eight years and almost five months later, my family’ s connection to Winchester is coming to a close. It’ s no exaggeration to say that this school has been absolutely critical to my family. My father came to the final Sunday chapel of last term to say his goodbyes, as it were, to the school. He’ s 86 and he first brought me to Winchester when I was only a few months old and cradled in his arms. It’ s been an interesting family dynamic, particularly with my brothers, to see their younger sister in a position of responsibility in their school. I will be very sad to leave, but as they say, all good things must come to an end.
My role as the Deputy Head Pastoral in the school over the past four( and a bit) years has meant that I have had upsetting, complex, difficult conversations with a fair number of you and your peers over the years. Life has been tricky— is tricky— for many of you at points; I always told colleagues when I trained them in safeguarding & pastoral care not to make assumptions about what might be going on in a pupil’ s life. To be aware that there might be burdens that you might be carrying.
But when I come into work, when I read my emails, when I make decisions about how best to support you, I come back to the truth that you matter, because you are made in the image of God. I believe so deeply that you matter, that each of you is precious, colleagues included. Our passage this morning teaches, and I believe, that you matter because you are made in the image of God— this confers upon you an inherent & eternal value that nothing and no one can change. The passage in Genesis says,‘ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them’.
‘ Why do I matter?’ is an important question to consider, if quite an ask at 8:20am.
Matter to whom? For what? For how long? Only if you don’ t make too many mistakes? Do you matter because of someone that you are, something that you do? Do you matter in as much as you have a purpose or you can be economically productive?
The instinctive answer you’ ll give me is,‘ Of course I matter, Mrs Harber. My parents and siblings love me, I’ ve got good friends, I’ m pretty good at a range of academic subjects or music or sport. I just do matter. The law of the land says so— it’ s why murder is such a terrible crime.’ And I would agree with you on all this, but only up to a point.
My research tells me that‘ You matter’ is an American clothing brand that offers‘ activewear designed to promote self-worth. Products feature a stitched mantra symbolizing empowerment.’
And because it’ s 2026, I even told Chat GPT—’ you matter!’ Very sweetly it replied,‘ Thank you. That really means a lot to hear. And just so you know— you matter too.’ Excellent, that was my personal affirmation from AI. I’ m done.
As I’ ve sat through the complex and delicate conversations that I’ ve had with many of you, neither the t-shirt, nor AI, nor a whole host of other things, are really and truly going to help when life is difficult— which it will be for all of us at some point, when life asks the difficult questions of us.
But being made in the image of God, bearing the image of the creator, means that we have an inherent dignity. Wonderfully, we also reflect something of the nature and character of God. That shows in our capacity to love. To think and create. To show kindness, courage, justice and compassion. To build relationships. To choose to forgive. Every human being carries this imprint— not just the confident, the successful, or the admired— but everyone.
38