Methodist Church of New Zealand
Welcome to the July edition of Touchstone where we share news and issues of importance to the wider Connexion. Our lead article is the first of a series of three where we look at the work of chaplains; on campus, in the military field and in hospitals. Tending to the spiritual wellbeing of students and staff is diverse, unpredictable and sometimes demanding, but always rewarding.
This online edition of Touchstone replaces the tabloid newspaper that was previously published by The Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa. We welcome feedback so we can adjust content to meet the expectations of our readers.
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa, Ady Shannon
Chaplains at Large – Ministry Beyond the Parish
The term Chaplain originates from the old Christian story of St Martin who offered his Chappelle (coat) to someone in deep distress ... Read more…Kapiti Couple Celebrate 65 Years of Marriage
Daphne and George Forster recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Rosalie Sugrue reports on a lifetime commitment to each ... Read more…Hamilton Youth Embrace Leadership Workshops
In late May, MCNZ President Rev Peter Taylor visited Hamilton to lead a workshop on ‘Public Speaking’ for the St John’s Methodist ... Read more…July is Bible Month
Bible Society has a mission to help to make the Bible accessible to everyone and encourage interaction with it and Bible Month is a ... Read more…John Wesley Day Celebration Crossroads Methodist Church, Papakura
On Sunday 28 May Crossroads Methodist Church held a combined service with Manukau Synod to celebrate Wesley Day - also known as ... Read more…Parishes Celebrate Wesley Sunday
The Waitakere Methodist Parish remembered the 285th anniversary of John Wesley’s conversion with a combined service at the Glen Eden ... Read more…Praying For Our Ministers
Coming to the realisation that we are already halfway through 2023, gave me a bit of a shock at how quickly the months of this year ... Read more…Survey for Church Life
The Church Life Survey is about assessing and examining our performance, reviewing our commitment and effort in doing our ministry. Read more…The Meaning of Spirituality
Spirituality? What’s that? Once the word seemed to me to suggest a rather woolly groping after religious experience without religion, ... Read more…Te Hāhi Weteriana: Para Kore working towards Zero Waste
Me mau tonu ki ngā taonga tapu ā ōu matua tupuna, koinei ngā taonga nā tō tātou Atua, tō tātou Kaihanga. Hold steadfast to the ... Read more…World Methodist Council Social Affirmation
The Methodist Church has a strong tradition in social justice which dates back to the Wesley's. Our passion for social justice ... Read more…Tips for Better Worship Livestreams
Tempting as it is to start yet another article with a variation on the theme of “Covid has Changed the Way We Use Technology Forever", ... Read more…Jim's Cartoon
Our regular cartoon that seeks to find the funny side of faith. Read more…Mystery and Joy in the Gift of Music
The great neurologist Oliver Sacks (1933-2015) once wrote, “I have found only two types of non-pharmaceutical ‘therapy’ to be vitally ... Read more…It’s Bible Month
July is officially Bible Month. I would like to offer a few observations. Before I get going, let me be clear – I love the Bible – it ... Read more…A Cup of Cold Water
Matthew 10:40–42 (NIV) Mt 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I ... Read more…Thanks for the Memories
As we come to the end of our term of being in the New Zealand Methodist Women’s Fellowship (NZMWF) National Executive, I reflect on ... Read more…Ethical Standards to Combat Fraud, Bribery and Corruption
Fraud, bribery and corruption are global problems that damage businesses, markets, democratic institutions and the social fabric of ... Read more…A day in the life of a Methodist Youth Worker
Methodist Alliance members offer a wide range of services fto whānau around Aotearoa New Zealand. Young people often get bad press in ... Read more…Inoi Whakawātea / Letting go with Grace
On Friday 9 June, friends and staff of Everil Orr Village gathered to farewell the buildings Tyler House, Aroha Hospital and Garlick ... Read more…A Poignant Pilgrimage
Rev Loyal Gibson is the longest serving Methodist Presbyter in the South Island. His first appointment was in 1951 and he was ordained ... Read more…Thomas Aquinas: 1225 –1274
Thomas Aquinas was born into a noble family in Italy. He studied at the University of Naples where he learnt about the ancient Greek ... Read more…Kidz Korna
On Trinity Sunday the children at St John’s Methodist in Hamilton East heard how Jesus met with his disciples on a mountain in ... Read more…Climate Talks Must Deliver
Last month’s climate negotiations in Bonn failed to focus on the real agenda according[LW1] to the ACT Alliance (Action by Churches ... Read more…Dalits Challenge Unjust Caste Practices.
India might be the fifth largest economy in the world but there is little sign of prosperity for rural Dalit communities in Tamil ... Read more…Bank of Dave
Bank of Dave rocks with live music and a cameo appearance by Def Leppard. The movie's feel-good vibes are amplified by an encore that ... Read more…The Dark Interval: towards a theology of story.
Author: John Dominic Crossan Publisher: Polebridge Press, 1994. 130 pages. Reviewer: Adrian Skelton Read more…Wounded World and Broken Church Sermons towards healing
Author: Keith Rowe Publisher: Coventry Press, Melbourne, 2022, 198 pages Reviewer: John Thornley Read more…Memorial Plaques to be Mounted at Pitt Street Methodist Church
Memorial plaques that were in the entry way / common area at the former Trinity Methodist Theological College, Grafton, have been ... Read more…Honour Bound
Ministry is rarely recognised in the Queen's - or King's - Birthday Honours List in NZ and the Methodist Church is sparing in its use ... Read more…“O LE ALA I LE PULE, O LE TAUTUA”
“The Pathway to Leadership is Through Service”. Read more…THE WASEWASE KO VITI KEI ROTUMA CELEBRATE A MILESTONE AT NORTHLAND.
Same 137:4 ‘EDA NA SERETAKA VAKACAVA NA SERE I JIOVA ENA NODRA VANUA NA KAI TANI?’ {How can we sing the Lord’s Song in a Foreign ... Read more…
