Practical resources

ANZAC day inspiration

/ Ian

We have permission to share with you this picture of an ANZAC floral display at St Paul’s Whangaroa (Part of the Kerikeri LSMU). Note the lovingly knitted poppies! Thanks to the Revd. Margaret Williams for supplying the picture, and to the talented florist. Margaret writes “St. Pauls had one young man killed named Vivian Shepherd, killed at Gallipoli.” 

 

 

knitted flowers

Easter Resources and Conference 2015

/ Ian

For our Diocese of Auckland LSMUs: We have secured Grafton Hall for our Conference 2015. The dates will be Friday 27 November to Sunday 29 November. These dates late in the month will mean most students will have already departed. Further information will be sent to units shortly.

Easter resources have been updated. Please note that the Music pages and Jane Williams Reflections pages are now marked Year B, Pt.2 from Easter Day onwards. I would like to acknowledge once again the resourcing provided by Chris Harris, and Natalie Sims comprehensive site, from both of which I seek to provide a digest of the best of old and new, including my own recommendations.

Easter blessings,

Ian

Relationship Course offered to all LSMUs

/ Ian

The Northern Education programme which caters for Local Shared Ministry Units from Bream Bay northwards is having a change of content for April only. On 18 April, Heather Bond, a trainer for the Prepare/Enrich course will offer a one-day training at St Stephen’s Onerahi. There is room for a few more participants, although we have enough numbers to proceed.

This is an opportunity to become familiar with a tool, which involves an online questionnaire, which helps couples to prepare for marriage or to enrich their relationship.

We are able to offer a much-reduced rate for the day’s attendance and resources. It is $95.00 for an individual, or $120.00 for a couple. (A couple shares the resource material). This is partly due to St. Stephen’s kindly providing the venue (with comfortable chairs!), and the fact that we all bring food to share for lunch. If you would like to participate, please make a comment on this post (or phone, below). Comments will reach me as an email (please include your own email address in the comment!). Please note that you do not need to be ordained to undertake this training. People involved in pastoral care or counselling, for example could offer this service in their Ministry Unit setting, provided they have the support of the Ministry Support Team.

The details are:

Saturday 18 April, 9am – 4pm

St Stephen’s Anglican Church, 167 Church St. Onerahi, Whangarei (not far past the end of the airport runway)

Please bring food to share for lunch or morning tea

The Enablers and Bishop Jim are pleased to be in support of this learning opportunity

– Ian (ph. (09) 433-9993

Preparing for Lent 3

/ Ian

Music resources and material for Jane Williams’ reflections have been added.

Consider using the 10 Commandments as part of your preparation for confession today (p.521 ANZPB/HKMOA) or scroll down on this page for them.

The Gospel lends itself to dramatic reading, especially if you used a male voice from the back of the assembly for the words of Jesus.

Lenten observance in churches is typically marked by the removal of decorations (flowers, banners etc.) but mere absence misses an opportunity to highlight the symbolism of the season. Dried branches, thorny bushes and stones are all appropriate enhancements. On this particular day, if you have the space, an overturned table with coins on the floor, a whip made of cords (macrame, anyone?) could be very… um… striking. For the more traditionally minded, consider one large, plain pottery vase with dried sticks and dead grasses (maize is good at this time of year in A/NZ). Go on, do something different!

Ian

1 February 2015 (Candlemas)

/ Ian

February 1 has the Principal Feast of “The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Candlemas)” which can be observed on the Monday following. The hymn and song selections largely presume you will use the Candlemas readings, but if instead you are using those for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany there are music suggestions for those lections too.

Jane Williams offers reflections on Sunday readings only, so the Epiphany 4 readings apply in that case.

Ian