Te Motuhanga me te Whakanohoanga o Waitohiariki Quayle , hei Pihopa Tuarua o Te Ūpoko o te Ika/ Ordination and Installation of Waitohiariki Quayle as the Second Bishop of Te Ūpoko o te Ika. This wonderful event took place in Thursday 12 September 2019, at Rathkeale College , Masterton. Canon Dr Jenny te Paa– Daniel gave the Sermon Loving God, sanctifier, redeemer and giver of all life, may my words, thoughts and deeds be always acceptable unto you. Amen. E oku tino rangatira nga pou o te Hahi, nga kaiarahi, kaitonot-ono, rangatahi, kaiwawao me te katoa o te whanau whanui ...
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Val Riches describes her life as a Parish priest during Covid 19 lockdown. First week of lockdown I was faced with a funeral on the Friday – what could I do, what was expected of me? This was followed closely by Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter. This Easter I identified more with the disciples choosing to stay inside with the doors locked for fear of death and the beautiful moment when Jesus comes into their midst offering Peace. I hoped that had been something of a reality for us in our bubbles. All the Easter events usually required a ...
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The World Council of Churches says' We are conscious that flattening the Covid-19 curve has realized its own share of challenges, which emphasize the fissures in the way society is ordered. There has been an increase in internet usage in this season of Covid-19 isolative measures. How has that affected you? Has this been a blessing or an inconvenience? How are you communicating with your congregants and ministry partners? How has your region fared in dealing with the various add-on implications of flattening the curve – domestic violence, unemployment, food scarcity, mental health and suicide challenges, crime and violence, inability ...
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In every country, gender-based violence is a tragic reality. This violence is frequently hidden, and victims are often silent, fearing stigma and further violence. We all have a responsibility to speak out against violence, to ensure that women and men, boys and girls, are safe from rape and violence in homes, schools, work, streets – in all places in our societies. Thursdays in Black: Resistance and ResilienceThe campaign is simple but profound. Wear black on Thursdays. Wear a pin to declare you are part of the global movement resisting attitudes and practices that permit rape and violence. Show your respect for ...
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Revd Anne Priestley Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Matthew 13:33) Bread became one of the themes of life in lockdown. Even before Level 4 arrived, loaves were disappearing fast from supermarket shelves - flour and yeast likewise. But I’d managed to lay in basic supplies, because for medical reasons our little family went into lockdown early. I planned to bake most of our bread - and can report success! Beautiful loaves, golden brown, hot ...
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22 November 2020 Break the Silence Sunday is the church's commitment to speak out against violence in our families, homes, community and society at large. These service resources and suggested readings have been prepared by the members of the Christian Network - Talanoa and commended to the Fiji Council of Churches for their use. All churches are invited to use them. The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence runs from November 25 – the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women to December 10 – International Human Rights Day. It is a global campaign to ...
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The world came to a standstill, there were no social gatherings. This was one of the pinnacle principles in fighting the Corona Virus. But our lives revolved around having cultural family gatherings, visiting the sick and loved ones, going to church on Sundays, inviting our extended family for a meal… we were in a dilemma. We set up our home for Communion services, we made Palm crosses, we marched around the house with shouts of Hosanna- it was like nothing we have ever experienced before! The children and grandchildren practised action songs, family joined us by video call- the Corona ...
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16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign by the Christian Network – Talanoa Domestic violence, sexual offences, bullying, harassment and any kind of abuse are criminal acts against humanity and a violation of the rights of women and children. The Christian Network – Talanoa is an alliance of ecumenical partners and individuals convened by House of Sarah (HoS) of the Anglican Diocese of Polynesia in 2013 to talk with each other, share information and take collaborative actions to address violence against women. Beginning in 2013, the alliance had been focusing on breaking and removing the culture of silence ...
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A Covid-19 liturgy for young people. Lesley Mouat, Chaplain at St Matthew's, Masterton, prepared DIY chapel services for students at home during the lockdown, and sent them out through their school app. Be sure to watch the video! Put yourself into a space where you can be still and quiet for 5 to 10 minutes. If your parents will allow – light a candle (please remember to put it out carefully before you leave your chapel service) and settle into silence for a moment. A Pilgrim Song 131 God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king ...
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Akanesi Folau writes from Tonga of her family experience during the Covid-19 lockdown. On one afternoon, during the lock-down we were sitting down as a family for our family prayer and my eldest son was leading us into a bible verse, then we shared how it touches our lives and what message it gives us. Then there was an argument between us parents. My son intervened and spoke softly to make both sides happy in a Godly way, saying we are both right. Covid-19 taught us parents that having to listen and give space to our children for they are ...
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‘Perhaps we bless each other all the time, without even realizing it. When we show compassion or kindness to one another, we are setting blessing in train. There is a way in which an act of kindness done becomes an independent luminous thing, a kind of jewel box of light that might conceal itself for days or years until one day, when you are in desperate straits, you notice something at the floor at your feet. You reach for it and discover exactly the courage and vision for which you desperately hunger’. John O’Donoghue has written a whole book of ...
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