ANZAC Day – a play reading by Rosalie Sugrue

ANZAC Day

A play reading that reflects on war

4 characters: Mum, Dad, son Jamie, daughter Amber.

Jamie is sitting by the table engrossed with his smart phone; Mum stands behind the table, she wears an apron and holds a cloth (or other kitchen item) and looks busy; Amber enters wearing a uniform, or a symbol of uniform (hat scarf etc), she removes her back-pack with a thud.

Jamie: Why are you wearing your Girl Guide (or Girl’s Brigade) uniform?

Amber: I’ve been selling red poppies in the mall. Our company was asked to help.
(sits at the other end of the table, chair turned towards audience)

Jamie: Yea! It’s ANZAC day tomorrow, we get a day off school.

Mum: We will be going to the Citizens Service at the War Memorial in the morning.

Amber: I’m going to be in the parade. There is going to be a band and I am going to be carrying the Girl Guide flag.

Mum: That is an honour. We will be proud of you.

Jamie: I like the parade but the speeches get really boring. They go on and on.

Mum: Those speeches are important, you should try listening. If we don’t know our history we are in danger of repeating it.

Jamie: I know what ANZAC is about – old soldiers who died years ago. We learn that stuff at school. Hundreds of New Zealand and Australian soldiers died at Gallipoli in Turkey. But it was ages and ages ago.

Amber: It was exactly (102) years ago.

Jamie: You are such a know all. History is full of wars but we don’t have them now.

Amber: There are wars now.  …

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Download the full script here.

The script also includes Shirley Murray’s
“Hymn for ANZAC Day”, written in 2005, set to music by Colin Gibson.

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Auckland Workshop – 21 April

COMBINED SYNODS
WORKSHOP DAY

21 April 2018

“Churches Connecting
with Communities”

community.jpg

Venue: Takapuna Methodist Church

Time: 09.00am until 3.00pm – BYO lunch. Cafes close by

Cost: $10 per person or maximum of $25 per parish group

Morning Programme:
Presenters: Denise Bijoux, Jennifer Moor, Peter Norman

Afternoon Programme: Choose one workshop – Details below
Workshops: Mary Caygill, Andrew Gamman, Bob Franklyn

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Workshop Descriptions

Mary Caygill:

“Why Listening Matters and how can we do it better?”

This workshop looks at the vitally important pastoral skill of listening, and listening at depth. What are some of the basic skills required? What are some of the obstacles that hinder our listening? How do we get beneath the things that matter in order to build bridges across difference and division in order to build stronger relationships within our church communities?

Andrew Gamman:

Alternative Options for Worship –

Our worship patterns are not engaging people as they once did. Andrew Gamman will present ideas and resources to help develop worship styles that are more visual and interactive.

Bob Franklyn:

“Mission Shaped Church”

This workshop is about thinking differently about being church in the 21st century. Changing church for a changing world.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Download an A4 poster here

An Easter Poem

OUR DAY

This is my day
A day of rest
A day of hope
A day of peace and happiness.
This is the day the Lord has made
A day to sing
A day to praise
A day to become one in the Spirit.
This is the day that the Lord has made
This is my day
This is your day
This is our day.

Doreen Alexander, Guyana, in Margaret Hebblethwaite, ed., The Living Spirit: Readings for the Christian Year – A Tablet Anthology (Norwich, UK: The Canterbury Press, 2000), p. 242.

Confession and Forgiveness – an Easter prayer

We serve a risen Saviour yet live as if in chains. Forgive us, Lord that we are so hesitant to live the resurrection life. Forgive us that we fail to show through word and action the truth that you loved us into your kingdom through the glorious mystery of the Cross. Forgive us that there is still fear in our lives that prevents us from achieving our full potential. Draw us close. Open our eyes to the glory of the risen Christ, our hearts to the wonder of the Cross and our hands to the service of your kingdom where you have placed us. That your name might be glorified through our lives. AMEN.

God of resurrection
of life and death
rebirth
All: Renew our hearts and minds

confession-and-reconciliationGod of promise
of all beginnings
and all endings
All: Renew our hearts and minds

God of hope
of new growth
and harvest
All: Renew our hearts and minds

From http://www.faithandworship.com/liturgy_Easter_Sunday.htm#ixzz1mVnvcQMf

An Easter Litany of Praise

The risen Christ meets us at the tomb, and turns our tears to joy
For your love and goodness
we give you thanks, O God.

Christ comes through our locked doors, and turns our fear to courage.
For your love and goodness
we give you thanks, O God.

Christ comes to daily life and work, and turns our failure to new vision.
For your love and goodness
we give you thanks, O God.

Christ breaks the bread, and turns our despair to hope.
For your love and goodness
we give you thanks, O God.

If you were not risen,
Lord Christ, to whom would we go
to discover a radiance
of the face of God?

If you were not risen
we would not be together
seeking your communion.
We would not find in your presence
forgiveness,
wellspring of a new beginning.

If you were not risen,
where would we draw the energy
for following you
right to the end of our existence,
for choosing you again and anew?

Brother Roger of Taize

Auckland Ecumenical Lay Preachers Gathering – 21 April

You are invited to attend an Auckland Synod Workshop on Saturday 21 April 2018.

Time: 9.30- 3.00pm

Venue: Takapuna Methodist Church

alt worshipAndrew Gamman will lead a workshop entitled Alternative Options for Worship.

Our worship patterns are not engaging people as they once did. Andrew says, “Bearing in mind that this overlaps with my topic in November, I’ll present some different ideas and resources to help develop worship styles that are more visual and interactive.”

Please pass on this invitation to any Lay Preachers in the Auckland area.

I hope to see you there.

Linda Hall
Phone: (09) 521 5360, or email
Committee member of The Auckland Lay Preachers gatherings
Correspondence Secretary of the NZLPA