Greetings,

Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection as we joined together for worship.  Last Sunday night I was invited to participate in a different sort of gathering – a healing session which was focused on calling forth life and remembering Divine love for a woman who has terminal cancer.  Sunday night was seen as the right time for such a gathering because of the full moon.  Sunday night seemed appropriate to me too, as Easter is about remembering divine love and resurrection life.  In this posture, I was able to bring my prayers, and join with prayers of others, as we stood in community with this woman and surrounded her with love.

Easter is still fresh in our minds and while we are still in the throes of celebrating the joy of Easter Sunday and Christ being alive among us, we are brought up short as Anzac Day is suddenly looming large upon us.  In Australia, Anzac Day has been crafted into an almost religious commemoration, when we not only remember the sacrifice of those who have served, and the great loss of life, but also see this as the thing that birthed our nation.

For Christians, Anzac Day is also a day that forces us back to the reality that while Easter is about resurrection hope, Christ’s resurrection does not mean an end to pain and suffering.  When we acknowledge that the wars our country has been a part of were waged by Christians against each other, as well as those of other faiths and of no faith, we can see that the world is still far from that which Christ envisaged for us.  While we were created for community, we haven’t seemed to find a way to stay within it for long.

This year, as we gather at dawn services and remember, might we also reflect on the One who greets his followers with a word of Peace.  May we try to be people who bring new life into the world.

Blessings – Heather.