Wrapping up a Decade of Child-focussed Initiatives

St Paul’s Methodist Church, Remuera, Auckland, will celebrate its centenary on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November 2022.

In July Enid Dawson celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and close friends.

The decennial Lambeth Conference where Anglican Bishops from all over the globe gathered has recently concluded.

At the time of writing, Covid protesters continue claiming their personal right to be free from government mandates that have saved lives.

Is the golden age of western democracy drawing to a close? American liberal philosopher Richard Rorty feared it might be. And there are disturbing signs he may be right, both on his world canvas and in events close to home.

I am seriously disturbed that the two US churches (Touchstone, August 2022) have swallowed whole, without fair, detailed analyses of the actual situation on the ground, BDS’s and human rights groups’ depictions of Israel as an “apartheid state”.

May I correct Ian Hood’s statement in the August Touchstone that I “sympathise with the scientism viewpoint that only science can provide truth about the world and reality”.

Dr Tralee Sugrue shares this haiku created for the Royal NZ College of GPs Scientific Conference poetry competition.

“Ua ai ulu tuana’i taisi” “When eating breadfruit, taro is forgotten.”

Pacifica the Musical is the world’s first ever Pasifika musical to headline at the Civic Theatre in Auckland. A story told in contemporary Auckland, Pacifica is interwoven with the rich history of Pasifika culture and tradition and expressed through well-known classic NZ music, dance and home-grown talent.

I got Covid-19 just eight days after writing my last article about wearing facemasks.

Annie Jane Schnackenberg was a social and political activist who drew on her Methodist values to support the lives of women and children in Aotearoa. Among Methodist women whose Christian concern has led them to social and political action, Annie was outstanding.

Our children were always involved in school shows. One of the most memorable for me was The Little Shop of Horrors

I heard recently that some folks are announcing their intention to make the country ungovernable.

Reflections on Luke 16:19–31

Help cbm Cure River Blindness

The word truancy is not officially used by the Ministry of Education, but non-attendance at school and non-enrolment is high. The truancy issue is complex and there are many factors causing it.

Aratupu Preschool and Whānau Hub is an early childhood education centre located in Papanui, Christchurch, next to WesleyCare, Christchurch Methodist Mission’s residential eldercare facility. Aratupu serves a diverse community from the wider Christchurch area. Bridget Swan is the Whānau Support Worker at Aratupu. Her role is to support a holistic approach to the wellbeing of children and their families. Bridget shares a bit about the role she started six months ago.

I te Rātapu rua tekau mā tahi o Akuhata, i haere ahau ki te Rā Koroneihana o Kīngi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu, kei Turangawaewae marae, i Ngaruawahia. “Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha.” I ngā tau e rua ki muri, kāhore te iwi i tae a tinana mai ki te whakanui i tō tātou Kīngi Māori. Nā te Kowheori-19 te take.

Sourced from ‘Nga Inoi’ circa 1960s for family prayers. Revised 2022 by Te Taha Māori members.

On 21 August a combined parish service at St Marks–Wesley Uniting Church, Lower Hutt, celebrated Lay Preachers’ Sunday. Lyn Price, Hutt City Uniting Congregations (H.C.U.C.) Lay Preachers’ Convenor, reports on the service that recognised the contribution of all lay preachers.

On Sunday 31 July the Wesley Centre, Blenheim congregation was joined by the St Andrews Presbyterian Church congregation in a combined service to celebrate three musicians who have been making music for a total of 138 years.

We hear a lot about climate change and global warming so what can children do to help reduce the amount of carbon in air?

Christian World Service encourages churches and individuals to join the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel, to be observed 15 – 22 September.

When the Ekta team arrives, a ripple of excitement spreads through a rural village in Tamil Nadu, South India. Most of the Dalit and Tribal children know they will be allowed time off from their chores to attend the Speak Out programme. The Ekta team welcomes the opportunity to play games and teach them life skills that will guide them in an uncertain future.

The Quiet Girl rewards but requires considerable patience.

A review of a book by Keri Opai, published by Upstart Press, Takapuna, 2021. 190 pages. John Meredith wrote this review was written prior to his death earlier this year.

A review of a book by Silvia Purdie, published by Philip Garside Publishing. 2022. 342 pages. Reviewed by Garth Cant.

The effect of influencers in our contemporary political and social world is very clear. Wikipedia posts that influencer marketing is a form of social media marketing involving endorsements and product placement from influencers, people and organisations who have a purported expert level of knowledge or social influence in their field.

A.B. Chappell 1872 – 1942

Theme for 2022 to 2026: Go and Bear Fruit – Fruit that will last

Helen Kim Scholarship recipient and Missions Convenor NZMWF Executive

On Sunday evening 14 August our New Zealand Methodist Women’s Executive team kindly hosted the commissioning of our very own Olive Tanielu, as the newly appointed South Pacific Area President.

Lesoni Luke 14:25-33 t27 Ia ko koya talega e na sega ni colata nona Kauveilatai ka muri au sa sega ni rawa me noqu Tisaipeli.

Ko e lava eni e ta’u kakato e taha talu mei he tu’uta e peau hono ua ‘o e mahaki Koviti-19 ‘i ‘Aokosi ‘o e ta’u kuo’osi, ‘a ia ko e liuanga Delta.

Tau kei tokanga pe. ‘Oku tau ‘i he tu’unga fakafiemālie, ka ko e fakatokanga ia ‘a e kau toketā ki he hokoatu ‘etau fononga mo e mahaki faka’auha ko e Koviti-19.

125th Anniversary

Thursday 22 September 2022 5pm - 6pm