I have been asked to reflect on recent tragic and violent events in Palestine/Israel. Even as I write my thoughts are still being clarified. I have strongly held opinions about the recent history of Palestine/Israel, but the tragedy currently unfolding in that place raises deeper questions than can be resolved by standard arguments. Foundational questions are posed afresh: Can humanity control its tendency towards violence? Is it possible to live in peace with neighbours who live and believe differently? Can we escape from humanity’s tragic desire to possess what is valued by others?

In January this year, 15 Turkish refugee families including adults and children of all ages, came together in Motueka in a spirit of friendship to spend four days with members of St Andrew’s Motueka Uniting Church. The 60 visiting guests, recently arrived from Turkey, came from their new homes in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Over the past several months General Secretary Rev Tara Tautari and her personal assistant Lucille Havenga, ably supported by a large team of tech savvy volunteers, and a dedicated organisational committee, have been busy preparing for the online Conference 2023.

Theme: Theology on the Edge Sunday 28 - Tuesday 30 January 2024

Shortly after Rik TeTau, Ngāti Kahungunu, took on the role as General Manager of the Palmerston North Methodist Social Services PNMSS, we interviewed him for the July 2022 issue of Touchstone. At that time, he said he was “looking for a challenge in an environment that truly cared and supported community and each other.” Since that interview, Rik and his team – 11 paid staff and 13 volunteers - have had a major impact on the local community with a range of increased and enhanced social services, including a social supermarket that is helping to fill pantries and restoring the mana of the many working families who are registering to visit.

On Wednesday 25 October, 80 people attended a joint Methodist and Catholic service held at Takapuna Methodist Church, Auckland. The service followed a liturgy of Repentance and Reconciliation prepared by the Methodist Catholic International Dialogue Commission to accompany its most recent report, God in Christ Reconciling. The service offered an opportunity to repent on past and ongoing divisions and to celebrate how far we have travelled together in ecumenical friendship.

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) General Assembly has normally met in recent times every five years, but because of Covid restrictions it was eight years since the last CCA General Assembly. As President of Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa – The Methodist Church of New Zealand I was a voting delegate representing our church.

October 14, 2023, was a troubling day across the Tasman Sea.

Unlike most other colonised countries Australia has never formally recognised the Indigenous People who have lived in these lands since creation, nor made treaties or other agreements. The outcome of a recent government referendum to recognise Indigenous People by enshrining an advisory voice (The Voice) to Parliament in the Australian Constitution has been overwhelmingly rejected.

Dr ‘Elisapesi Hepi Havea represented the Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa at the World Methodist Council Consultation on Migration in Manila, Philippines from September 4-7, 2023. She shares insights from the event that included delegates from Methodist churches and organisations worldwide.

The historic induction service of the new Tumuaki for Te Taha Māori, Rev. Dr Arapera Ngaha was held at Whakatuora centre on the evening of 24 October. The opening prayer is a blessing for the new Te Taha Māori leadership from Tira Toki – Mema o Te Rohe o Te Waipounamu.

cbm NZ (Christian Blind Mission) invite you to register for their free four-week online Advent series to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and spread the good news.

Welcome to the final instalment of our series, offering valuable tips for live-streaming your church services. We hope you've already witnessed significant improvements in your live streams by implementing our previous tips on enhancing audio and lighting.

Our regular cartoon that seeks to find the funny side of faith.

Growing up in a big extended Pasifika family and having a large network of relatives, friends and people who were connected via church, sports teams, friends of friends, cousins of cousins, neighbours etc. meant there was never ever a shortage of jokes and laughter.

It’s often easy to see the faults in others without recognising our own. We imagine that our case is special, requiring a dispensation, a measure of grace, that we would not make available to others should ‘the shoe be on the other foot’.

“These flowers haven’t bloomed since we first moved in,” I said to a friend recently in conversation.

The United Nations is a forum for the world's nations to respond to conflict, however the organisation's real power is in the Security Council. To date members have been unable to agree on a speedy response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

NZ Methodist Women’s Fellowship gathered in person for their biennial Convention at the Sudima Hotel, Auckland from 12 to 15 October 2023. Along with business talk, the weekend was full of laughter, dancing, and fellowship as 96 members celebrated having the first opportunity since Covid-19 to meet in person. Tuituivao (Tui) S Salevao,ex NZMWF President 2021 to 2023 reports on the event.

Approximately 1000 people gathered for the 13th Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation 13-19 September in Krakow, Poland. The Assembly theme, One Body, One Spirit, One Hope was drawn from Ephesians 4:4 (NRSV): “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”

The global gathering of the Methodist-Wesleyan family, will be held in Gothenburg, Sweden 13-18 August, 2024.

I hope everyone enjoyed their school holiday. During the holiday the children at Cambridge Union Parish celebrated Grandparents Sunday.

Days after the Hamas attack on Israel triggered airstrikes and the threat of a ground offensive, residents of Gaza are facing unbelievable destruction.

Finding the right gift is always a challenge, but one that Christian World Service has covered. Their popular range of gifts is full of surprises and big gifts that don’t cost the earth.

A film review by Dr Steve Taylor

A study guide review

Author: Mitri Raheb Publisher: Orbis Books, 2023, 166 pages. Reviewer: Brian Turner

On the evening of Thursday 28 September 2023, Rt. Rev. Rose Luxford, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, led a farewell devotion to celebrate the work of Presbyterian Women Aotearoa New Zealand, (PWANZ) and to acknowledge its role within the life and history of the Church.

Ashleigh K. Petch 1916 – 1983

Na'e lava lelei hono katoanga'i 'e he kāingalotu Trinity Methodist Parish, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, 'a e hokosia e ta'u 'e 25 'o e 'uluaki fai'angalotu Metotisi Tonga 'i he ongo kolo ni Napier & Hasting he 'aho Sapate 3 'o Sepitema 2023.

O le afiafi o le Aso Sa 22 Oketopa 2023, na fa’atumulia ai le malae o Saint Paul Otara i le mamalu o le Itumalo ma malo asiasi, o e sa molimauina ma maimoa i le Tauvaga Pese a Autalavou o le Itumalo Manukau.

In the traditional Fijian calendar, we usually observe the seasons of fruits, crops and fish from the sea. This is the beginning of the hurricane season. Long distance sailing becomes risky due to storms, but in this turmoil God strives and belongs. Jesus was/is with the sick, poor and hungry.

I welcome feedback on content included in Touchstone