Religious Education   

On Thursday 25th April, Anzac Day will be celebrated in Australia and New Zealand 

The Anzac tradition was established in 1915 when the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps landed on Gallipoli Peninsula and fought courageously in extremely difficult conditions for 8 months. The ideals of courage, mateship and endurance displayed then, are still relevant today. Those Australians and New Zealanders who served in this war campaign created a legend, adding the word ‘ANZAC’ to our vocabulary and creating the notion of the Anzac spirit. 

We will be gathering as a school at Assembly on Monday to remember and honour those who fought to protect our beautiful lands. ANZAC Day is also an important day for us to stop and pray for peace –

➢ peace in our world,

➢ peace among people in our own country,

➢ peace in our families,

➢ and peace in our own hearts.

I heard a story where a Year 5 student asked a war veteran:

"How do you think we can find peace in our world?"

 The veteran replied: "Peace begins with you and me. With you and your brother in the loungeroom at home. With you and your classmates out on the playground. If we can't find peace in our own hearts, here and now, we can't hope for it in our world."

So let us pray for peace:

God of Help, God of Love, and God of Peace, in this season of Easter we rejoice in the New Life your Son the Risen Jesus gives us. 

You offer us hope. You offer us peace. We thank you for these treasured lands of ours, Australia and New Zealand. Help us to strive for peace in all we do. We know that war brings sadness, grief and death. 

We pray for those in our world who are affected by war at this time. We especially keep in our hearts and prayers the people of the Middle East, the Ukraine and all other peoples ravaged by war, conflict and unrest.

May we learn from the suffering of the past,  

And aspire to live by the values of Your son Jesus;

The values of love, compassion, peace and forgiveness, 

That lead us all to true freedom. 

We ask this through Jesus who shows us the way of peace.     

All: Amen.  

The Year 6 students were very productive today baking ANZAC  Cookies for our parishioners. In doing so they learnt of the Anzac tradition and the sacrifices soldiers made so that we may live in a peaceful land. 

Thanks Year 6's, I'm sure the parishioners will love their tasty treat!