In December 2021 the government launched Te Aorerekura, a national strengths-based strategy and action plan to eliminate family violence and sexual violence. The Hon Marama Davidson, Minister for Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, shared her vision for a future where women and children in Aotearoa are no longer harmed late last year in Otautahi.

At the induction service welcoming Rev Andrew Doubleday to the position of Ministry Facilitator for UCANZ, Andrew, in his typically candid style, drew an analogy between the role on offer and a visit to the dentist. “When I was first approached by Rev Geraldine Coats I thought I would sooner have a root canal on a monthly basis than take on this job.”

Waitakere Methodist Parish shared in a wonderful candlelight service at Henderson Methodist Church on Sunday 11 December. Catherine and Matthew Barnett report on the Christmas celebration service which brought people from the local Christian church communities together to praise God with song, absorb His word and connect over food and laughter.

Following on from the retirement of long-serving archivist Jo Smith late last year, MCNZ is delighted to welcome Jennie Hood and Katherine Doig to the team. Both Jennie and Katherine bring a range of expertise and experience and are keen to share that knowledge, passion and enthusiam for history.

On Sunday 20 November 2022 St Paul’s Union Church Taupo celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first worship service as a uniting Methodist /Presbyterian congregation. Melanie Plaisted reports on the occasion that recognised the efforts of so many who have contributed to the continued success of the church community.

I am not one for excessive formality, and prefer to be more laid-back, but as President there are times when formality can work to my advantage.

Mission Resourcing celebrates the grace offered by Conference 2022 to re-direct the responsibilities of funding the much-valued ministries for Tauiwi Children, Young People and Families. There is renewed hope and excitement for children and young people as Te Hāhi re-commits to secure funding and thus reviving the work of the National Co-ordinator TCYFM and his strong team of young supporters.

David Hanna, Director Wesley Community Action, reflects on the phrase former Prime Minister Jacinda Adren used to describe the reason behind her decision to resign.

Let 2023 be the year when everyone in the church stops believing and instead focuses on faith. That would make us all better Christians.

Mark Gibson, retired Presbyter and member of the Climate Justice Working Group, writes the first of what will be a regular Touchstone feature focussing on the Climate Justice Decade for Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa launched at Conference 2022.

I was chatting with Andrew Doubleday last week, and we spoke about the fun he will have as the new UCANZ Ministry Facilitator. In our discussion, one of our shared experiences was the call to use vaccine passes and how this particularly affected the uniting parishes.

There was a special weekend of celebrations at St Paul’s Methodist Church, Remuera late November 2022.

Colin Gibson, Emeritus Professor of English at Otago University and one of New Zealand’s greatest hymn-writers, died on Saturday 10 December, aged 89. At a memorial service, members of Colin’s family shared an extract from an essay he wrote. The words are inspiring and explain the enormously talented, kind-hearted, generous and tireless composer and writer’s approach to life.

And so it begins. I struggled to understand why on earth the Methodist Church would appoint me its President. Maybe you were equally bewildered? It was as I was coming to the end of my term that I realised what a gift it had been to me personally. Whether it had been such a positive experience for the Church is for others to judge.

Judy Robinson shares extracts from a Sermon she prepared for a January service. The key Scripture was I Corinthians 1;10-18. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Promises to yourself that you will do—or will not do—certain things in the coming year?

The catchy classic Sunday School song This Little Light of Mine reminds us to shine our light for God, no matter what situation we find ourselves in. This week when reading the Epiphany 2 lectionary, a verse in Isaiah 49 caught my eye and brought me a new perspective.

I love Christmas. I love the decorations, the family gatherings, the food, the present giving and receiving, the carols. I am named Carol because I was born three days after Christmas. When I was young, my parents told me that they put all the coloured street lights up in Nelson for my birthday. I believed them.

E te Atua kaha rawa, nōu nei anō te Kaha katoa, tēnei anō mātou te inoi atu nei ki a koe kia manaaki koe i tō pononga i te Kāwana o tēnei whenua; māna i tukua ki a ia e tō mātou Rangatira e te Atua Atawhai, ā kia meatia āna mahi i runga i te tika, i te mahi tohu, kia whakamaramatia ia e tāu atawhai; tirohia mai, tiakina hoki ia; kia manako koe ki a ia, kia awhi hoki i a ia; kia meatia ai e ia āna mea katoa me te whakaaro mō te Atua; ki te pai mō tēnei whenua, mō tēnei iwi. Tukua mai tēnei, e te Matua aroha, ko Ihu Karaiti hoki tō mātou Kai Whakaora, tō mātou Kai Inoi. Āmine.

“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.”

Rev Abhishek Solomon, a presbyter at East Coast Bays Methodist Parish in Auckland and a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland, this month launches a new Touchstone series of articles on great thinkers who shaped our world. In this article Abhishek introduces readers to what will be a regular, thought-provoking and inspiring read.

One of the prayers from opening devotions during the business days of Conference.

Scams are increasing in number and sophistication. They appear in many forms from dating and romance scams, investment scams, upfront money scams, phishing, online auction scams, computer hacking scams, unsolicited computer service calls, mobile menaces, and more.

As part of Tauiwi Youth Conference 2022, the worship team set about writing some original worship music for the gathering. Traditionally, youth events lean towards more contemporary expressions of praise and worship. This is not to say that young people do not engage with the long-held traditions of the church – our worship team is as adept in contemporary worship as they are with the hymn book – but rather, points to a reality that different generations can have different ways of connecting with God which can and should also be recognised as equally authentic and theologically enriching.

Welcome to the first Kidz Korna for 2023. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. It was a pity that we had so much rain and wind. Some of you may have had to move to a safer place because of the flooding?

Donations to the 2022 Christmas Appeal are already helping communities in need of safe water.

Christian World Service has sent initial funds to provide relief to families facing starvation in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, but warns without further action famine is likely to spread rapidly.

A lost King (played by Harry Lloyd) and a determined researcher (played by Sally Hawkins) star in The Lost King. Directed by Stephen Frears, the movie depicts the real-life discovery in 2012 of the bones of Richard III in a Leicester carpark.

Gary Clover reviews a book by Sue Marsden, published by Mary Egan Publishing.

Brian Turner reviews latest book from John Bluck, Published by Harper Collins (2022).

In the later 19th century, women in New Zealand were becoming increasingly visible. Women gained the vote in 1893, following the campaign for women’s suffrage and the presentation of a suffrage petition, signed by over 30,000 people, the majority of whom were women. There was increased emphasis on education for young women and women’s organisations were being formed at both local and national levels. These included the formation of the first women’s trade union, the Tailoresses’ Union, in 1889 and the formation of the National Council of Women in 1896.

Thomas Arthur Pybus 1873 – 1957

Victoria Togafau, a Panmure parish youth leader reports on recent events.

E da sa kidavaki ena 2023 ena vosa ni Daunisame enai ka walu[8] ni kenai wase ni cavuta tiko ni Kalou e ra vakabauta enonai yau talei me dau talevi keda tiko na veika e buli ena vei tabagauna.Same 8:4 “A cava na tamata mo ni nanumi koya kina kei na luve ni tamata mo ni talevi koya kina?”

Kuo fakanofo faka-potungāue ‘a e kau faifekau ‘e toko fā ki honau ngaahi takitaha potungāue fo’ou ‘i māhina kuo toki maliu atu.

Na’e fakahoko ha pōlotu fakafeta’i ‘a e kominiuti Tonga ‘i ‘Aokalani ke faka’ilonga’i ‘a e ta’u taha ‘a e mapuna ‘a e Mo’ungaafi Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai.