E NEWS 4TH OCTOBER 2024
Here we are in the month of October, this year is flying by so quickly, Christmas is just around the corner.
Our Seasons of Creation for the month of September was a great success. It was a month of sharing and reflecting on the Moana, Maunga, Animals, Humanity and Papatuanuku. Thank you to all who participated by way of reflections, prayers, readings, co-ordinating, hymn selection, music and to your fur babies that were able to attend on Animal Sunday.
I received approval from Central Presbytery last week that my study leave is approved for next year. I plan to be away for 3 months during May through to the end of July. I will send you all an update closer to the time. I am planning to do a religious pilgrimage to the Vatican, London, Iona in Scotland, my old stomping ground in Birmingham and visiting Union Theological Seminary in New York among other things on my way home. I am awaiting to hear whether I have secured a writer’s scholarship for the month of July at Vaughn Park Anglican Retreat Centre in Long Bay Auckland to write my memoirs and reflections on my study leave. Please watch this space.
Well it goes without saying that I had a fantastic day out with the All Blacks last Saturday. I was privileged to meet at their hotel at the Intercontinental meet some of the lads beforehand and ride in a special bus provided for the families of the All blacks which took us straight into the stadium avoiding all the crowds and back to their hotel after the game. We were well fed and watered. An opportunity very seldom had. Here is a photo of father and son Eroni and Caleb Clarke with myself. BTW, Caleb scored two tries on the night and they won (in case you weren’t watching).
This Sunday is communion Sunday and we are at Pentecost 20. The lectionary reading I have avoided every time it had appeared on divorce. I thought I might give it a go this year and see what emerges. My theme is titled “dare I go there”. Had Jesus been around today, I wonder what his thoughts on divorce would be now, would they have changed with the times?
We have changed the day and time for our community shared lunches which we have every second month, from the second week to the first week. So you just need to remember that Communion Sunday will also be a shared lunch afterwards, a morning of Koinonia. .
Please remember to come to our lunchtime talk – Divisiveness and Democracy on Monday October 7, 12 noon. St Andrew’s on The Terrace and the Ephesus Group have invited Dame Anne Salmond and Professor Jonathan Boston two of our most respected public thinkers. They will discuss divisiveness in our society and the threats our democracy faces. Please join us at SAOTT for what promises to be a fascinating exchange of ideas. Entry free, but koha welcome.
Next weeks E News will be coming from Te Maungarongo in Ohope, our churches Marae. I have been invited as Co-convenor of the Doctrine Core Committee to attend a National Leader’s Hui from 11-13th October. If you convene a local, regional or national committee within the PCANZ then you are invited to participate at this Hui. Our Sunday worship service will be led by Jim and Maxine Cunningham.
I look forward to seeing some of you on Sunday, in the meantime wherever you are keep dry and take care. Ka kite ano. Fei
You can view the full E-news here: https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=0062a96a4c34243b29829aedc&id=17dd996a21
