Run, Walk, Crawl, Kneel

Run towards justice, in all its forms. Like the prodigal son’s father, without hesitation. Freedom is within your reach. The Good news is at your fingertips. Don’t leave anyone behind. Love like Jesus.

Walk with one another. Teach and pass on wisdom and knowledge. Be patient, compassionate and kind. Keep a steady pace. Pick it up when others are ready, but most importantly keep moving forward.

Crawl when you need to. It’s perfectly fine to be vulnerable. But know you are not vulnerable alone. Move at your own pace. The ground may close to your face, but the wonders of God’s creation is all around you – below, around and above.

Kneel as a starting point of surrender. Be aware of God in your midst. There is nowhere beyond God’s reach. Move when you are able, but for now, be still and know that God is God.

Caricature – Based on Rev Rua Rakena’s ‘A Maori Response to the Gospel.’

God in particular, remind us that we were not made to be mimics or copies of something or someone else. We are made to respond to the Gospel exactly where we are, exactly as you would have us be. Forgive us, your church, for the times we have strayed from this hope. For the times we have been focused on creating a certain type of Methodist Christian that serves a certain type of agenda. Help us to discover a sense of belonging and selfhood in our own story. As people made in your image, this is our prayer. Amen.

Colourblind

Don’t make us colourblind, Lord, make us aware. Aware of the diversity of creation that surrounds us. Aware of the differences that characterise each person made in Your image. Aware of the language, culture and tradition that shapes every person in wonder. Aware of perspective and difference, experience and naivety, exuberance and measured-ness. Let us see each person as they are. Let us love all the same. Let us search for a sense of unity that makes each colour bolder and brighter. All for the goodness of Your name. Amen.

Be Real

Loving God, if this very moment is one that you are attentive to, let this moment be real. Let all people, young and old, come to you with a sense of uncompromising authenticity. Remove the thoughts in our mind that we may only approach You when qualified to do so. Remind us that we are invited to take a seat at Your table. That Jesus, with saint and sinner, extends an invitation to us every day. Let every expression of the hope we have in You, be real. Amen.

Conference Prayer

God of grace, we pray for members of Conference who will be journeying to Kerikeri in the coming weeks. We pray for Your love and guidance. For the people who have worked tirelessly in preparation of this event. For each member and those that they are representing. For venue staff and people of Te Tai Tokerau who will assist and serve. For our incoming leadership and Presidential Team and their families. For the outgoing Presidential Team who have served the Haahi faithfully in unprecedented times. We pray for all who gather, in person and virtually, to be readily responsive to the question – what is the Spirit saying to the church? Let every talanoa, kōrero, pātai and whakaaro be in response to this question. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Best of All

Loving and holy God, as John Wesley once declared, the best of all, God is with us. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe e Ihowa.

Wherever we go and whatever we do – the best of all, God is with us.

Whoever we encounter on the journey called life – the best of all, God is with us.

However many times we are tested and faced with adversity – the best of all, God is with us.

Whichever direction the Spirit leads us, in collision or in avoidance – the best of, God is with us.

Amen.

End of year

God of wisdom, we pray for our students. We especially pray for those who coming to the time of end of year exams. As the last year has continued to feel the effects of the pandemic world, we uphold our young people during this time. Thank for the resiliency and courage they have displayed throughout this year. Thank for the support networks and systems that are available to them – in their families, church and communities. We pray for a productive end to the academic year for young people all over our land. Bless their studies and preparations and help us to keep them at the forefront of our minds during this time. Bless every young student, learner and achiever, we pray. Amen.