mountain masala

international day of peace

we had planned to run prayer stations in the city tomorrow, coming out of our time with mark pierson, but we've had a very small group available for this part of the week, and frankly, not enough time to put together something good. so the fact that it might rain helped us decide not to go ahead.

we outlined four themes:
STATION ONE: PEACE IS A GIFT… CELEBRATE
STATION TWO: PEACE IS A LAMENT… GRIEVE
STATION THREE: PEACE IS A MYSTERY… HOPE
STATION FOUR: PEACE IS AN ACT… CHOOSE

so for what it''s worth, this is what I'd written for the 'prayer tree' that we were going to create using the tree out the front of pilgrim church.

Peace 

throughout human history
peace remains a mystery
always hoped for
yet never arriving
evasive and elusive
attractive and inspiring
we can’t grasp it
but we can choose it
 
though peace seems unlikely
we hope in its coming
we trust in its blessing
we dwell in its promise
 
so we have the strength
to offer trust
in the face of fear
we have the daring
to live simply
in the face of greed
we have the audacity
to live honestly
in the face of deceit
we have the courage
to live gently
in the face of violence
 
Write your own dream, hope or prayer for peace and hang it on the tree.
Read some other people’s dreams and hopes.
Pause for a moment. Let this hope flow inward and outward.
 
Take an olive branch as a gift. 
The gift of peace to you and our world.
You are invited to give it to another person, one with whom you seek peace, as a gift to them and a sign of reconciliation.
 
Peace be with you.

stop child labour

a week or so ago the twins were part of a flashmob in the city to raise awareness about child labour and its implications. you don't get to see them in the video as they were on the other side of the 'silver balls'.

a pioneering woman

Jean Pavy died in 1995 at the age of 86. She was a South Australian educator, union activist and feminist. As well as being a classroom teacher, Jean was President of the Primary Teachers Association, and President of the Women's Branch of the SA Institute of Teachers, spending her time fighting for equal pay for women in the early 60's."

In 1960 the Equal Pay Council of Australia was formed (Jean was a member), and as a result she formed the teachers' Equal Pay Committee in SA. Their equal pay proposal for women teachers was rejected.

Jean was the first woman to represent Australia at the World Conference of Teachers.

In 1964 Jean led a delegation to the SA Premier on the matter of equal pay. Some teachers were opposed to this right, and Jean threatened to split the union along gender lines. The first of five 'equal pay for equal work' salary increases was finally granted to SA teachers in 1966.

Our Ellen has just received the Jean Pavy Award for coming top in the state for Year 12 Womens Studies last year. May Jean's passion live on in Ellen Jean! (my mum's name is also Jean, a teacher.)

So Ellen Jean. That 'Jean' name has a lot of connections.

Jean means "God is gracious".

May God continue to grace you.

as of course she will, no matter what you do or don't achieve.

you are always blessed by God.

always.