ABM-A news
At the February meeting of the State Committee in Launceston, the Revd Doug Edmonds stood down as Chairperson. Visiting speaker for the day, Stephen Daughtry of ABM announced that Linda Kurti, National Director of ABM had asked Tim Swifte of Lutana to act as Chairperson for the next twelve months. Tim had accepted the role.
Stephen demonstrated to the meeting some of the material ABM has available on DVD which individuals and parish groups may use to stimulate discussion on the mission arm of the Anglican Church. These seven to twelve minute video clips demonstrated work being done in both Australia and overseas, particularly Fiji, Philipines and Papua New Guinea.
Stephen used a few of these clips to intersperse round-table discussions on the work of the State ABM Committee. He threw out a challenge to members of the committee to use one or more of the films as a stimulus to encourage wider participation in church affairs. His suggestion was along the lines of a coffee evening where friends could be shown the very practical way in which ABM-A is helping people. Committee members were encouraged to invite friends into their homes, friends who were on the fringe of the church, or outside it, to view one or two segments from the DVD, and have further follow-up discussions with those friends relating to mission.
It would be interesting to show these video clips to members of our own parishes and ask them how similar programs could be set up in our own missionary diocese. A particular instance in this case could be the short film of the reformed drug addict working with indigenous youth north of Cairns in Queensland. There surely is a role for such a program in Tasmania.
Visitor from Israel
The Revd Fuad Dagher, Rector, St Paul's Episcopal Church, Shefa Amr, Israel came to Tasmania under the auspices of ABM-A, guest of ABM board member, the Revd Stephen Savage of Claremont. He spent Sunday 25 February working in the Parish of Claremont, addressing two morning services, including a family service, and working with the youth group in the evening.
On Monday 26 he was guest speaker at an ABM-A Auxiliary luncheon held at Lindisfarne, and after dinner that evening was guest at a coffee and cake evening at St James, New Town.
Fr Fuad had a presentation of time as a Christian Palestinian living in Israel.
It was interesting to hear of the close co-operation between the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic Churches in his village. It appeared that he placed service to the people of his village before all else, including the 'institution' of the church. He was a talented guitarist and singer, and was only too happy to 'sing for his supper'. His visit also helped to explain how the Good Friday Giving impacts on the local church in Israel and the Middle East.
One very interesting slide in his Power Point was of some poignant graffiti.
Fear builds walls.
Hope builds bridges.
Could we carry out such a philosophy within our own community?
ABM-A materials were designed as Lenten thought provokers, but the quality of the whole DVD, and each particular segment is such that it could be used at all seasons. Copies of this are available from ABM-A in Sydney. Contact Stephen Daughtry ABM Communications Officer at abmsa@optusnet.com.au or Ph. 08 8278 9783 M: 0412 120 835