The AWSC Council held its first meeting of 2020 in early March in Morrinsville. This is the home and parish of Council member, Revd Val Riches. Apart from Council business it was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy Waikato warmth , to join in the weekly shared meal at St Matthews, to be part of the World Day of Prayer and to visit Café Frock, home and studio of the famous designer Annah Stretton. Hui.The Council discussed the three hui in 2019, which were all very successful and productive. From the strength of the tikanga hui, the Council began planning for ...
Read more
Who is Kitty O’Meara? Kitty is a retired teacher and chaplain, who lives in Madison, WI, USA. She spoke to Oprah magazine. "I was getting kind of sad. There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t help my friends. I was very worried about them. My husband said: ‘Write. Just write again,’" O'Meara recalls. So, she did. "I just kind of sat down and wrote it," O'Meara says matter-of-factly, crediting "spirit" with the process. "I saw the maps of the receding pollution over China and Europe. I thought, ‘There you go. There’s something of blessing in all suffer-ing.' And I ...
Read more
The editorial Committee met just before the shut down for COVID-19. There are over 40 stories which have been crafted and contributed to this publication. Inspite of the restrictions, we are still keeping to the timeline. The proof reader is hard at work, the designer is coming up with ideas, and we are collecting in the last of the beautiful photographs. We plan to launch the book in late October 2020. ...
Read more
Manaakitanga - may we value it into the future- without the need of a crisis! That is a key message from the on-line panel discussion led by Waikato's Religious Diversity Centre trustee, Marc Rivers, on Monday 6 April 2020. From his Spirit of Work series: ‘Resilience in times of change: Spiritual principles that apply to our current crises’. During an uplifting online Zoom discussion panel, four speakers from different professions and different spiritual back-grounds responded to questions concerning the challenges of the present pandemic, the tools and approaches they have drawn on to deal with those challenges, and the major ...
Read more
Time to Listen to our Fear - Sande Ramage Kali the Labrador, my closest living being, is in COVID19 lockdown with me. She’s the leader here because, like her wolf ancestors, she lives out of instinct, attuned to unseen forces and energies. But if I pay attention, she gives me clues about how to be in service to an inner authority, rather than kowtowing to external systems I’ve absorbed from family, religious, political or cultural groups. Understanding where our individual source of authority arises from becomes even more important when we are living isolated lives, watching the virus trample borders ...
Read more
Our life has its seasons, and God has the reasons, Why spring follows winter, and new leaves grow for there’s a connection With our resurrection That flowers will bud after frost and snow, So there’s never a time to stop believing, there’s never a time for hope to die, there’s never a time to stop loving, these three things go on. There’s a time to be hurting, a time to be plucking, A time to be saving, a time to spend, A time to be grieving, a time to be dancing, A time for beginning, a time to end, But there’s never a time to stop believing, there’s never a time for ...
Read more
This is what the living God asks of you: Only this,to act justly - to love tenderly - to walk humbly with your GodMicah 6:8 If you often find yourself searching for a prayer and Bible reading for a meeting or prayer group, or just for yourself, this book will be a gift. Each two page spread contains a theme, a gathering invitation to ‘sit quietly in the presence of God’, a short Bible passage, a reflection for ‘breaking open the word’, some questions for responding, and a blessing. Printed with generous white space and a wonderful variety of art ...
Read more
The Revd Dr Jenny Dawson describes her Spiritual Direction training, in Australia. Why does she go to remote Kincumber four times a year? Is it because I just love learning?Is it because I know I need more skills to offer the people who come to me for spiritual direction?Is it because I have had some formation, enough to know the riches of experiencing more?Is it because, like many of my friends, I have a child living in Australia and want to have opportunities to visit?is it because I won Lotto so have lots of money to spend on travel? All ...
Read more
The Importance of the Ephesians 4 Gifts for the Mission of the Church -An article (based on my 3 min talk) written for the AWSC newsletter following the 2019 Hui,Tikanga Pakeha But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers. (Ephesians 4:7,11) This scripture clearly indicates that these gifts are for each one of us. Jesus modeled each of these gifts perfectly. He then spread these gifts among his body calling us to work together to fulfill his mission. Unfortunately much teaching ...
Read more
The strongest call from this hui for me was the message we as kin are called to be peacemakers, co- creators with God and that loving leaders are a very powerful thing. A reflection on 2019 Hui by Jenny Campbell He iti he pounamuIt may be small but it is very precious Renewing friendships and forming new relationships was a highlight for me as women shared from their strengths and vulnerabilities. The fun activities at the beginning to build connections did just that and set the scene for much laughter, thought provoking and stimulating talks by leaders and varied worship ...
Read more