Hello everyone,
I get the most interesting email invitations. One this week was to a lecture by the Rt Hon Helen Clark presented by UnionAID
UnionAID is a charity run by NZ unions which organises, mentors, trains and teaches workers in Asia so they know their rights and learn to organise as a labour force. Ms Clark said that from her UN development perspective, UnionAID was making an excellent contribution to human development in Asia.
I noticed several fascinating things…
The age of the audience was probably averaging 40 years. Of course if you are involved with a union you are usually still working – but there were several students also present. It was obvious how the audience appreciated Helen Clark – applause was extended both before and after the lecture – it would be fair to say they loved her. I had only seen her in adversarial situations and working under the criticism of the political scene. It was quite moving to see the interaction between her and a partisan crowd.
Her topic was on how work will fare in this recent technological revolution. She emphasised the need for work to be ‘decent’. Also, she reminded us that each revolution from the industrial to now had caused anxiety about what would happen to the nature of work. Throughout the world there was not enough work, and even more, there was not enough ‘decent’ work.
A sobering link was the one she made between unemployment and the Arab Spring, especially Tunisia. She had talked with a young man in that area of the world. She asked him how he coped with the fact that becoming a terrorist was his most lucrative option. He was emphatic that he wanted real work where he could make a positive difference to the world. She also linked unemployment with the Brexit and Trump votes and with the increased voting for Penn in France.
The whole lecture reminded me of a question I asked a recent visiting German Presbyterian academic. He had lectured on the Reformation and the economy. I asked, if Presbyterians were in favour of each human being treated with dignity, why they did not get more involved in workforce issues. His answer was that Presbyterians favoured things being done “decently and in order” and the disruption often associated with employment issues was a put off.
It all made me think that I wished I had another life in which I could be a (Presbyterian) unionist!
Speaking of human dignity….our theme on Sunday is ‘just a cup of water’. We will consider this as well as commissioning a parish councillor and convenor and celebrating communion together. I hope you have the Housing Forum on July 10 in your diaries and that those posters and fliers are going up this week if they are not up already. See you Sunday.
Susan
St Andrew’s Parish News…
THE SEASON OF PENTECOST CONTINUES Communion is held today when we also are delighted to commission Lynne Dovey and Katrina Harpur. Lynne Dovey and Ben Gray will speak to us of Parihaka on July 9. The service will be led by Rev Ken Irwin. In the rest of July we will reflect how God images occur in popular music, art and hte movies: July 16, ‘Where is God on your Playlist?’ July 23, ‘What images of God stir your soul?’ July 30, ‘Who is God in the movies?’
SOUND SYSTEM TRAINING For those volunteers who currently help with the sound system on Sundays there will be training available after the service on Sunday 9 July for the upgraded system. Anyone, who might like to consider joining our small team of helpers on the sound system are welcome to join in as well.
RAINBOW ROOM ON HOLIDAY The Rainbow Room will not operate over the next two Sundays (July 9 and 16). Super NEW activity bags will be available in church on these Sundays, some geared for younger children and others for older children. All children are more than welcome as usual. We hope to introduce the new Rainbow Room Coordinator on Sunday 23 July.
ST ANDREW’S ASKS YOU – WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY DO WE WANT? On three occasions this election year St Andrew’s presents the issues to the general public. Keep these dates free and make sure you invite others. Events held 5.30 and 7pm on Monday July 10 Housing. Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson and others. Tuesday 15 August Fair Incomes for NZ. Paul Barber and Max Rashbrooke and others. Thursday 31 August, 6-7.30pm (note different time) we host political candidates for the Centre for Theology and Political Issues’ series ‘Keeping Faith in Politics’
ADVANCE ADVANCE NOTICE October will be Reformation Month at St Andrew’s, Sunday October 1 to Sunday October 29 (Reformation Sunday). October 1 Why? What theological changes led to the Protestant Reformation? October 8 Where? Reformation in the context of Europe and Scotland October 15 Who? Reformers of the Reformer’ Wall, Geneva October 22 How? Printing and the Reformation October 29 What? Differences Reformation has made to the world and the church. This may make you plan to be at church during October – or plan to stay away! I hope it will be the former! Susan
CAN YOU HELP? A volunteer opportunity to consider from Ben Gray: The Wellington Welfare Guardian Trust has been set up to train and support volunteers to act as Welfare Guardians for people who lack capacity and have no Enduring Power of Attorney in place and no one willing to be their Welfare Guardian. The role of the Welfare Guardian is to make decisions in relation to health and welfare (and not property and money) for the subject person. We are seeking people willing to volunteer to be trained to fulfil this function when applications are received from the carers of subject persons. Our system is based on the successfully running Otago Welfare Guardian Trust. More detail can be found at https://welfareguardians.nz/ For further information contact Megan Bibby (administrator) or Ben Gray (Chair) at wwgt@gmail.com
RUSSELL HOBBS BENCH OVEN Home wanted for a near new Russell Hobbs bench oven. Suggest a donation to the organ fund. Contact Margaret Megwyn/Meg phone 3877311
FUND RAISER CHRISTMAS BAKING This is an early notice to call for Volunteers to bake Christmas Cakes, Gingerbread or Christmas novelties to raise funds for the Organ Fund. Baking from October – selling marketing in November December. Calling for Bakers, marketers and sellers, donators of ingredients (including the 1/2 cups of brandy/spirits left in the bottle neglected in the back of the cupboard). Recipes and baking tins can be supplied. Volume of project will depend on the number of Volunteers. Will need help to market and sell goodies particularly in December. We do best from internal sales and a stall at lunch time on The Terrace. Contact Maxine Cunningham txt 027 489 4348, email jimax117@gmail.com
VOLUNTEER COLLECTORS NEEDED Jenny Simpson writes; “MS Collection Day is coming up soon. In Wellington it is Wednesday 30 August. I would be really grateful for anyone able to collect for an hour or so at either Thorndon New World or Chaffers St New World. All collection funds go to the field workers. Not admin etc. Please call Jenny Simpson Ph 389 9426 or email simpsath@xtra.co.nz ”
CRUISE VOUCHER AVAILABLE If anyone is planning a cruise holiday with Affinity Cruises, Margaret Pannett has a small voucher available that she is happy to donate. Please see her after church or contact her on Ph 384 3382.
WORM FARM LIQUID FERTILIZER FOR SALE Jon Schrader has fertilizer for sale at $5 per 2 litre bottle (many report good results). Orders to Jon after the service on Sunday or call Ph 389 7082. Delivery and payment the following Sunday. Thank you. |
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Wider Church and Community News…
DON’T MISS GALE FORCE GOSPEL IN THEIR ANNUAL CONCERT Get on Board that Gospel Train! Friday 7 July at 7pm at St Andrew’s on The Terrace. The choir which sings acapella (unaccompanied by instruments) will delight their audience with a musical programme of trains, chariots and wheels, in the black gospel tradition. The fifty-strong choir’s performance will also include songs by small ensembles in an evening not to be missed. Tickets $15 adults, $10 unwaged, under-10s FREE. To buy tickets please contact a choir member or info@galeforcegospel.co.nz – door sales also available.
ENCOUNTERING AUGUSTINE A public lecture series by Professor Gillian E Clark. In this lecture series, Professor Clark examines Augustine’s central, most influential and contested ideas, exploring their context and origins and assessing their enduring significance. Each lecture will take place in the Council Chamber, Hunter building, Gate 2 Kelburn Parade. Tuesday 15 August, 5.30-6.45pm Peace and Empire. Wednesday 16 August, 5.30-6.45pm Where does evil come from? Thursday 17 August, 5.30-7pm What happens in a life?
SAVE THE DATE! HOUSING ELECTION FORUM, WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST On the evening of Wednesday 9 August, the Anglican and Catholic churches will co-host an election forum on the topic of housing. This will be a fantastic event where we hear about housing challenges and political leaders’ proposed solutions. Please save the date! We would love for you to join us. More details to follow. We are also looking for volunteers to help plan and run the night. If you can help, please contact kate@wn.ang.org.nz.
DCM Bookfair, – Call for Volunteers DCM’s annual, fundraising Bookfair is back and better than ever! The Bookfair will be held on Saturday 5 August, at Shed 6, Queen’s Wharf, from 8am-8pm, and we’re calling on your help to make it a huge success in 2017. If you’re able to volunteer this year please get back to Matthew at DCM with the following info: Your details – Your name and cell phone number (if you have one) for on-the-day purposes When you’re able to help: – 1st shift, 7:30am-12:00pm – 2nd shift, 11:30am-4:00pm – 3rd shift, 3:30pm-8:00pm – Pack-down from 8:00pm (requires some heavy lifting) What you’d like to do: – Tills (handling cash transactions and bagging up books) – Floor (sales area, keeping tables tidy, etc.) – Handing out bags/maps at door – Crowd control/directing people – Publicity blitz (see note below) Our ‘publicity blitz’ requires helpers ahead of the Bookfair, and on the day itself. We need volunteers to help distribute flyers to homes throughout Wellington, and leave free ‘I Need a Home’ books at local businesses, cafés and community centres one month ahead of the event. https://www.facebook.com/events/304950303285729 Contact Matthew Mawkes at events@dcm.org.nz or ph (04) 384 7699.
BILLETS NEEDED! On the weekend of 18-20 August 2017 Presbytery Central is holding a Gathering at St. John’s in the City, Wellington. As the hosting region we would love to make a range of billeting options available for those attending the Gathering from out of town. If you are able to offer a billet, could you please contact Rev Richard McLean on Ph 233 8572 (office) or e-mail richard@ppp.org.nz It would be helpful to give an indication of whether you could accommodate a single person, a couple, a family or a combination of these possibilities; if your offer is available for one or both nights (Friday/Saturday); and if you could help by transporting your guests to/from St John’s in the City if required. |
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