Jane Williams

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

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

Resourcing February 8

/ Ian

Hymns and songs focusing on the ministry of healing have been listed on this page today. The Jane Williams reflection help concerns our responses to the task of Proclamation and how we feel about that.

Another useful resource if you are stuck for musicians:

http://www.hymnswithoutwords.com/hymns/Hymn_lyrics 

This website has 400 accompaniments for well-known hymns and songs, many of which are free to download (and burn to CD, or whatever works). You can also subscribe for high-quality recordings, although what’s on offer will be adequate for many.

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