World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation led by women which enables us to hear the thoughts, hopes, concerns and prayers of women from all parts of the world. Each year the service for World Day of Prayer (WDP) is prepared by women from a different country. On Friday 1 March 2024 people in 146 countries will celebrate the service prepared by a group of ecumenical Christian Palestinian women.

This year's Koutu Community day was held on Saturday 27th January at Karenga reserve in Rotorua.

After a summer of welcoming, hosting, connecting and farewelling friends and whānau from overseas, around the country, and locally, I can’t say that my ‘summer holidays’ were particularly restful, but they were certainly rejuvenating, nonetheless.

In December, Carol Barron, retired from her role as National Coordinator of the Methodist Alliance. She has brought enormous skill, wisdom, humour, passion, compassion, vision and innovation to the position she started six years ago. The following article captures the spirit and career of an outstanding women, deeply committed to social justice and ensuring policies and practices are designed to help those in need.

A community initiative started by the Christchurch Methodist Mission (CMM) to bring a little Christmas joy to disadvantaged Christchurch families 16 years ago has grown into an amazingly successful appeal that saw more than 650 families benefit from the largesse of sponsors, companies and generous individuals in 2023.

On 5 December 2023, the Religious Leaders Forum, hosted each year by the Religious Diversity Centre, met in St John’s Theological College on its historic site in Meadowbank, Auckland. Rev Uesifili Unasa and TeRito Peyroux-Semu represented MCNZ at the event.

In November, Hutt City Uniting Congregations hosted a seminar by Professor Joan Taylor, titled, “Rediscovering Salome the disciple of Jesus: what archaeology reveals”. The presentation shared new evidence on the role of women in the early church.

On Saturday 20 January an estimated 10,000 participants converged on Turangawaewae marae in Ngaruawāhia to be welcomed by hosts Waikato Tainui when Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII called a Hui-ā-Motu for Te Iwi Māori.

In early December, 27 lay preachers representing 12 Auckland parishes gathered at St John’s College in Auckland where Rev Andrew Gamman led a workshop on Re Thinking Worship. Andrew, a presbyter at Waitoki Community Church, Whangaparaoa Methodist Parish, is well known for his innovative approach to worship and worship resources.

The housing crisis in Aotearoa/New Zealand is dire for many families. In 2020, the Methodist Conference noted ‘the high levels of stress, poor health outcomes, and poverty sustained through the lack of affordable healthy housing.’ Conference also acknowledged ‘the skills and resources Te Hāhi Weteriana has to be a part of the solution.’

A reader challenges the MTA investment policy and the MTA Chair responds on behalf of the Board.

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

From a climate justice perspective, how we get around, matters. Fifteen years ago, I decided to make cycling integral to the way I do ministry. At first it was on a regular bike, and since 2019 on an e-bike.

Laurie Mitchie offers a reflection.

The year stretches out ahead of us. As did last year, it holds uncertainties – will this year be the one that sees China move against Taiwan? Will the US again re-elect a twice impeached, four times indicted ex-president - who incited an insurrection, and currently faces 91 criminal charges – as its next President? Will Russia or Ukraine triumph? How will the Israel/Gaza conflict be resolved? Will the nations wake up, this year, to the extent of the environmental crisis facing us? Will our new tripartite NZ government go the distance, or dissolve at the 18-month mark?

Nan and I didn’t start tramping until we were in our mid-forties. I always thought tramping was something that other people did: people with different, more adventurous lives than mine.

2024 is a year for new beginnings, as we look back on the challenges of Covid- 19, cyclones, floods, theft, arson and the events that played out in Christchurch in March 2019. We will never forget the 51 victims, the survivors and their loved ones who suffered an act of extreme violence because of their religious belief. The event serves as a reminder to safeguard and protect our religious institutions.

As we kick off the new year with a new NZMWF executive team, we invite President Lesieli Pope to share her vision and plans for her team.

In Sri Lanka, elephant and human deaths have been rising as the competition for natural resources intensifies. With drier conditions and increased water shortages associated with climate change, steps need to be taken now to ensure food for elephants and humans.

Late last year, Tonga Community Development Trust delivered the first 50 chicken houses to families in nine villages. More are planned as part of a strategy that has proved effective after previous natural disasters.

Welcome to a New Year. Most of you will be back at school when you read this. I hope you all had a happy Christmas with your family and friends.

A film review by Rev Dr Steve Taylor

Elites, Counter Elites and the Path of Political Disintegration

The Wesley Historical Society administers the Gilmore-Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund, established some time ago to honour two long-standing members of the society, Rev L.R.M. Gilmore and Frank W. Smith. Rev Gilmore was secretary of the society from 1948 to 1982, and Frank Smith was an active and enthusiastic member of the society, with a lifelong interest in Samuel Ironside. In their memory the fund seeks to encourage post-graduate research in the field of Methodist history in Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific.

William Thomas Lill and daughters Sister Maisie and Sister Amy Lill

The Covenant service, often celebrated on the first Sunday of the year, is at the heart of Methodist’s devotion and discipleship, and their dedication in working for social justice. In the service the Church joyfully celebrates God's gracious offer to Israel that "I will be their God and they shall be my people”.