Weekly Update of Events at St Andrew's on The Terrace.

A message from the Parish Council Convenor

Nga mihi o te Tau Hau

I think this might the last week we can still say Happy New Year – once the calendar says February the year is well and truly underway.

In Susan’s absence I have been asked to write this week. It is almost a year since I was elected back on to Parish Council and took on Convenor role for the second time. The year has passed very quickly and yet we have come a long way in that time.

In last week’s service I was struck again by how active our members are in the community. We were being encouraged to make submissions on a number of matters to both central and local government. There are some of these submissions that will come as individual ones and some, such as the submission to the City Council on the Living Wage that come from St Andrew’s community.

Freedom House, an American organisation that monitors the state of democracy in 195 countries around the world considers factors such as freedom of expression, civil society, state surveillance and the rule of law in determining whether a country is "free", "partly free" or "not free". In their recently released 2015 report New Zealand is one of the 44% of countries listed as being free. For citizens of more than half the countries in the world the ability to speak out is curtailed. By using this precious freedom we are living up to our personal and community commitment to the Jesus way. One of the tenets of Progressive Christianity is to “strive for peace and justice among all people”. I wonder if Jesus would have used the submission process had it been available in Roman times.

We know that speaking out against injustice takes time and courage. People won’t always agree with our stance. We will be challenged and this is healthy.

Jim Hightower, an American writer, is quoted as saying “The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” St Andrew’s on The Terrace has a long history of not conforming – right from the early days in 1840. Let us not conform where we see injustice but have the courage and commitment to speak. Remember going with the flow is for dead fish. We will be swimming upstream to change the church; the city; the country and the world.

Kia kaha

Sandra

Sandra Kirby

Parish Council Convenor

St Andrew's Parish News

RAINBOW ROOM

The programme for Children during the Sunday service begins this Sunday 31 January.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY PASTORAL CARE

Susan is on leave from Monday January 18^th to Thursday February 4^th, returning to work on Friday February 5th. During her absence, contact regarding urgent pastoral matters can made to Jim Cunningham Ph (04) 297 1694 until Sunday Jan 31^st . For the few days in February when Susan is away, Frank Hanson Ph 972 9879 can be contacted for urgent pastoral matters.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE "THE STAR WITHIN"

10th February 6.30pm for coffee/tea and simple refreshments. The service starts at 7pm. Held in the Common Room on Level 2.

We begin the season of Lent using Ash Wednesday to connect with our origins, with the planet and with each other. By thus renewing our deep connection with the natural environment, we hope we will be helped to spend the next 40 days more aware of our interaction with the world.

REFLECTIONS AND GATHERINGS FOR LENT AND EASTER 2016

During Lent, Lenten Reflections will occur each Wednesday evening, (February 17th, 24th, March 2nd, 9th, and 16th) in the Green Room of the St Andrew’s Centre. They begin at 6.30pm with half an hour of coffee/tea and simple refreshments. The reflection begins at 7pm including biblical readings, poetry, silence and discussion revolving around a character within the passion narrative leading up to Jesus’ trials. A finish at 8pm is the aim.

Palm Sunday 20th March, 10am, musical Gathering: ‘Palm and Passion.’

Maundy Thursday, 24th March, 6.30pm. The Gathering will take the same format as the Lenten Reflections but also include communion.

Good Friday 25th March, 10am. Gathering in the church reflecting on those present with Jesus at the cross.

Easter Sunday 26th March, 10am. Easter Day Celebration in the church including communion.

HENRY & KEITH'S WEDDING 20TH FEBRUARY 4.00PM

All are welcome. If you have received an invitation you are also invited to the reception. Please do RSVP to Henry or Keith as soon as possible to assist with

seating & catering. Henrykeith@outlook.co.nz or Henry Ph: 021 148 9009

Keith Ph: 021 083 33153. Or see us after the service on Sunday.

BOOKS FOR SALE TODAY

Margaret Pannett has books at her home (top of Dixon St steps) for sale today between 1 – 4pm. Funds raised will go to St Andrew’s and Downtown Community Ministries. Note that regretfully there is no parking in Percival/Dixon Streets.

WRESTLING WITH GOD - BY LLOYD GEERING - A BOOK REVIEW

I have had this book lying around for ages. I decided to have a go at reading it over these Christmas Holidays. This included carrying it on a 4 day tramp when weight was at a premium.

Once I started it I found it riveting. It was of high interest to me in three different areas.

Firstly as a biography of Lloyd's life. From a boyhood in New Zealand and Australia to schooling and University years then marriage and the ministry - and later the great controversies over theological issues. It has been a life full of joys and successes but also sorrows and strains and controversy. And Lloyd is very open about all of this - and I would say fair.

The second was the way the book details the story of the Presbyterian Church and also Christianity in general in both New Zealand and the western world over the last hundred years.

And thirdly was the way the book describes Lloyd's personal theological evolution over that same period - which matched and later helped to lead the development of a progressive Christianity in New Zealand. As Lloyd says - the theological ideas he was communicating were not new and had been developing in other parts of the world for 50 years or more already.

Lloyd is a remarkable communicator and a remarkable New Zealander. This book gives a deep insight into a major and important part of our New Zealand history as well as being a fascinating personal story.

You may have gathered by now that I think you may enjoy reading it.

And don't forget the many other small books we have by Lloyd on a wide variety of topics. I am now reading one of them - the short 4 chapter book - "Creating the new ethic".

• Mike Wespel-Rose

CHRISTIAN WORLD SERVICE 2015 CHRISTMAS APPEAL.

Great news! $1169.10 was given in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day offerings (excluding envelopes sent directly to CWS). CWS have acknowledged our donation and are very grateful. Thank you everyone for your support.

Wider Church and Community News...

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TPPA

If you wish to keep up-to-date with developments please check the following websites; “Its Our Future” http://itsourfuture.org.nz/what-is-the-tppa/ ,or the The Combined Trade Unions also have TPPA information on their website. www.union.org.nz/ Go to www.itsourfuture.org.nz for details of ways you can be involved.

FA PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING

FA (Food Addicts in recovery Anonymous) is a program based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are no dues, fees, or weigh-ins at FA meetings. FA is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addition. There will be a free public information meeting held on Tuesday 2nd February from 7pm at St Andrew’s on The Terrace. For further information contact them on Ph 972 7524 or email fanewzealand@hotmail.com

RE-STOKE THE FIRES - TĀWHIRITIA NGĀ AHI

ILGA Spiritual Gathering - Thursday 10 March 2016

@St Peters Willis Street - 6pm

An opportunity for the LGBTIQ Community and our Allies to gather and celebrate shared faiths and spirituality in a safe and prayerful environment. St Peters has been at the forefront of inclusive support and worship for over 50 years, honouring all sectors of society - not least the LGBTIQ community. ILGA offers this time and space for you to come and be as you are, and share time together in a safe and appropriate atmosphere. Everyone - of all faiths and none - is warmly invited on that evening and/or participate in the planning, and individuals or groups who would like to share in the planning, singing, music, talking, or just being.

If you would like to be part of this event, please email Mani at mani.mitchell@xtra.co.nz or Graham at brgeem@gmail.com

PROGRESSIVE SPIRITUALITY NZ CONFERENCE

Friday 6th to Sunday 8th May at St Paul's Presbyterian Church,

89 Tennyson Street, Napier.

"Common Ground. Faith as Resistance to Ego, Orthodoxy, and Empire".

Keynote speaker Rev Dr Robin Meyers.

"Let our resistance be of love".

Other speakers include Jo Randerson, and Rev David Clark MP. For further information please visit www.progressivespirituality.co.nz