These words were shared as the devotion component of another powerful and poignant Grammar Anzac Day Assembly. 

"There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) This Bible verse is read, explained and upheld at many Anzac Services throughout Australia and New Zealand. Giving your life either literally or in service of others, applied in Biblical times, applied during times of war, still applies today and will always apply well into the future. This is, of course, because there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. That’s what our Anzacs did, and that’s what Jesus did at Easter by his own death and rising, so we can be at peace with God.

Let’s be reminded today to be people who love and serve others, people who promote peace, not war, and people who uphold our schools’ Christian values of compassion, honour, love, gratitude, forgiveness and humility as we each in our own unique way seek to display faith in action. And of course, to choose this greater love, the love of God for us and our sacrificial love for others in the spirit of the Anzacs.

Our Choir sang: “The tumult and the shouting dies; the captains and the kings depart; still stands Thine ancient sacrifice; a humble and a contrite heart; Lord God of hosts be with us yet; Lest we forget - lest we forget."

“God our Father, we thank you for the opportunity to remember those who have fought and died for the freedom of others, and to remember that your Son Jesus not only showed us how to live at peace with each other, but that he died for us and conquered death by rising again. We ask that you give us the courage to always choose to be peacemakers, both here in our school community and also in our families, in our state, in our nation and in our world. May we know what it means to trust in you, to follow you and to experience your peace. Through Jesus' name we pray, Amen.”

Jon Taylor
School Chaplain