Dear Friends

I struggle with ANZAC day, particularly the burgeoning popularity of the dawn services. I confess to never having a strong desire to get involved in anything related to the day, but I was challenged early in my first pastorate when asked to lead the local mid morning community service for the RSA. My natural inclination was to refuse but I sensed quite clearly God saying to me that if these people wanted to worship Him in some manner then I must assist them. So I did, and sought to do my best.

However that was 31 years ago and since then the nature/spirit of the day has changed dramatically. With it being on Sunday this year and many of our churches giving some attention to the commemorations within their services, including our Waihi congregation, I have been set thinking a little more about some attendant issues. e.g. What has made the commemorative events both in NZ and Gallipoli so popular; what could be an appropriate response from our worshipping communities (church) perspective; do we as Christians have an opportunity to somehow call the nation to consider the deeper issues of spirituality and freedom?

There are probably many facets to these, not the least being the power of the media, the deliberate social engineering coming out of 9 years of Labour government, and within the political arenas the pushing aside of anything that “smells of being Christian” while at the same time demanding inclusion of other religions and Maori spirituality.

If I was asked now to participate in a community ANZAC service I am not sure what would be my response. Part of my working it through would probably be a bit like leading a funeral for a person who was clearly not a follower of Jesus. As one of His representatives in today’s world we can take every opportunity to put Him in front of people in a loving and caring way without compromising the truths and values we hold as core to our faith and being.