Join Katie Marcar over lunch to delve into this fascinating book together.
Anne van Gend — Feb 13, 2024
Beverly Roberts Gaventa is someone with an infectious enthusiasm for Paul's writings. She has been invited by the University of Otago Theology Programme to give the Burns Lectures in July-August this year... and Katie would like to know if you want to attend on or before March 1.
Anyone who is interested in reading and discussing her book on Romans is invited to a lunchtime discussion session in Dunedin, taking place sometime in July before the Burns lectures begin. If you'd like to purchase your own copy, please do so now since shipping can be very slow!You do not need to be a biblical scholar to join in! The invitation is to all who are interested.
If you would like to participate, please email Katie on or
before March 1 onkatie.marcar@otago.ac.nz. Closer to the time she will be in contact with you to find a lunchtime that suits.
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Autumn Garden
The Scattered People of the Good Shepherd Service Details
Bishop Anne van Gend — Apr 15, 2025
Our next service takes place on Sunday 27 April at 10 am. Service sheets, hymns and readings are attached at the end of this article.
We have an order of service that can be used every month (attached below).
Hymns and readings for each service are also attached below (these are updated each month).
Who can join us for any of our services?
Any group (or individual) who can gather around a screen!
In places where church services are only occasional, maybe two or three of you could meet together in someone’s home and join us from there.
Faith communities who don’t “need” this but are open to trying something new may like to join us to support smaller groups.
Ministry teams of small churches may simply like a week off from finding a priest and filling a roster.
Individuals who, for whatever reason, cannot attend a regular service are also welcome to join us and share in spiritual communion if we cannot get the reserved sacrament to you.
If you let us know in advance, we can ensure reserved sacrament gets to any small gathering. If you are wanting to meet in your own church, we can work with you to provide and set up whatever equipment and internet connection is needed.
Please contact Nicola Wong by email or phone 03 488 0826.
This is not meant to be a plan to replace communal, in-person worship, but is offering an alternative to both assist some who can gather together but lack a preacher or priest, and for those unable to meet with others.
Why Do this?
This is part of our ongoing commitment to find ways to support and minister with all those across our Diocese, with services planned for the 4th Sunday of each month. We are all aware that there are communities and individuals across our Diocese for whom running or attending a Sunday service can be difficult. There are the regular issues of finding a priest, filling a roster, overcoming distances, being ill/needing to stay at home and so on.
Services are using Reserved Sacrament in various physical locations from Invercargill and Dunedin to Lumsden, Alexandra and Palmerston, with smaller groups and individuals being given an opportunity to take part in a moment of Spiritual Communion.
