Rev Andrew Doubleday, President MCNZ, shares his vision for Conference 2021.

When the Vahefonua Tonga o Aoteara (VTOA) youth convenors did a shout out to their youth leaders to come up with some novel ideas and initiatives to encourage uptake of the Covid-19 vaccination in the Pasifika youth community, they didn’t imagine that the call to action would generate a huge swell of internet and social media activity, and culminate in almost 1,500 people rolling up their sleeves for a shot.

The Ashburton Methodist Parish Baring Square Church, built in 1926 and badly damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes 2010/11, is currently undergoing major strengthening and refurbishment.

Following on from a Covid-inspired year-long deferral of his appointment, Right Rev Hamish Galloway was installed as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ on Wednesday 29 September.

Last August, Kapiti Uniting Parish celebrated Kath Turkington turning 100. In October this year, Marie Storey became the second parishioner to turn 100. Marie still lives independently in her own home and is a loyal church attendee.

Touring Northland earlier this year with Rowan and Margaret Smiley, we saw first hand some of the struggle that is facing our church. Ironically, one of the most energised and heart-warming meetings was at Ngunguru (Tutukaka Coast Community Church – just out of Whangarei).

One of the important questions the Directors of Mission Resourcing always ask those who are candidating for presbyteral ministry when they come for their initial interview is, “Are you willing to be stationed by the Conference anywhere from Kaitaia to Invercargill?”

Readers share their views.

In the workaday world “Christ” is, more often than not and deplorably, a swear-word. On the religious margins it is, more often than not, just another name for Jesus. The former usage is ignorant, the latter sells the term short. With misconceptions abounding, some sorting out seems in order.

WesleyCare Chaplain, Christchurch. Full-time

Touchstone cartoonist Brendan Boughen aka 'Jim' finds humour in religion and technology.

This is a time of expectant waiting for the children of Tuvalu and Kiribati. The UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) is scheduled to be held in Glasgow this month. COP26 will be decisive for the future of these children. “We’re sinking. Enough sleeping. Do something now.”

As world leaders and climate experts converge on Glasgow for COP26 to discuss the future of the planet, Christians are being called to pray for God’s creation.

In September I suggested it was time to see the church ‘as it is’ and to recognise the meta-historical juncture that we have reached in the ‘Western’ church: partly a crisis of denominationalism. In the deafening silence of any feedback, I want to identify another crisis, that of leadership.

Will you be wearing a white ribbon on Thursday 25 November? Will you show your commitment to eliminating violence against women and girls? It will cost you nothing other than a few seconds of your time to pin a white ribbon to your collar or lapel.

In Mark (12) Jesus denounced the scribes’ false piety and attention-seeking ways while commending the quiet, humble, genuine sacrifice of the poor widow.

When it comes to the vaccine and vaccination the issues that require consideration are relatively novel. We have not experienced a pandemic of Covid-19’s reach and effect in modern times. Employers and employees will need to navigate different pieces of legislation, often adopting a first principles approach in working out what steps to take when contentious issues inevitably arise within workplaces.

World Homeless Day is held on 10 October. Its purpose is to draw attention to the needs of people who experience homelessness and to provide opportunities for the community to get involved in responding to homelessness.

As a connexional Church we move towards our first ever Hui Tōpū Conference online. This new way of conducting conference gives us opportunity and time to reflect on those treasures that we hold to as Weteriana living together in Aotearoa. We begin by offering an exploration into the theology of our Mission Statement through a Te Taha Māori lens.

A Vision for a Sustainable Future

Warm lockdown greetings from Tāmaki Makaurau. The pandemic continues to shape a new, ever-changing normal every day which understandably can heighten levels of anxiety and stress.

It hardly seems possible that ti will soon be the end of 2021. Yesterday I saw Christmas pies in the cake shop.

A crisis reveals some real strengths and weaknesses of a nation’s way of life. Covid-19 (SARS Cov-2) has cast an unexpected and even unwelcome spotlight on many nations’ failure to live up to their traditional self-beliefs.

Words to hold when troubled

Christian World Service has launched its ethical giving catalogue for 2021 with four new gifts.

At the end of September Christian World Service joined others in presenting a petition to Phil Twyford, Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control.

Squid Game is a survival drama television series streaming on Netflix.

A Companion to the Publications of the New Zealand Hymnbook Trust from 1993 to 2009 together with the New Zealand Supplement to With One Voice (1982).

One man’s journey to healing and the global anti-violence movement he inspired.

Forgotten now, Gipsy Smith was a world-famous evangelist who toured New Zealand in 1926.

Alexander Reid – 1821-1891

UNITE AGAINST COVID-19

Ko Jisu Bula, Tiko Ka Sa Yaco Me Vakabauti.( Christ Who is History becomes His Story)

‘Oku kau ‘a e Vahefonua he poupou lahi ‘aupito ki he polokalama huhumalu’i ‘oku lolotonga fakahoko ‘e he Pule’anga⸍ pea mo e Potungāue Mo’ui⸍.

Kaveinga/Theme: “Foaki ‘o e Fusimo’omo/Donation of the vulnerable”

Pasifika Community still needs to be vaccinated