Anglican Life Magazine Dec/Jan 2014/2015

AnglicanINVITING / FORMING / SENDING / SERVINGanglicanlife.org.nz

He Oranga Mihinare

ISSUE THIRTY THREE – DEC/JAN 2014/15

Diocese of Christchurch

Bus Helps to Strengthen Communities Deeper Camp Faith & Hail

An Unconventional Wedding

Faith Changes Approach to Work

Tough Living on the Way to Jericho

AnglicanLife Issue 33

Contents ISSUE 33Dec/Jan 2014/15

AnglicanLife is published bi-monthly by the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch.

ISSN 2253-1653

Editor – Fiona Summerfi eld

Contributing Writer – Megan Blakie

Contributors

+Victoria Matthews, Anna Pickersgill-Brown, Sammy Mould, Lyndon Rogers, Cathy Maslin,

Gillian Southey, Mandy Caldwell, Susan Alderman, Jan Hill, Michael Earle, Gillian Perano, Lois Griffi ths,

Richard Rendle, Phiippa Rodley, Rachel Smith, Louise Weller, Louise Landess,

Advertising Enquiries Ivan Hatherley – [email protected]

Editorial Enquiries – [email protected]

Design – www.baylymoore.com

Printed by – Toltech Print

Sustainability – AnglicanLife is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.

Advent & Christmas at The Transitional Cathedral, Latimer SquareFurther details at www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz | [email protected] | (03) 3660046

ADVENT CAROL SERVICE ~ Sunday 30 NOVEMBER 7.30PM

CONCERT TO FAREWELL BRIAN LAW ~ SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 7.30PM

SERVICE OF NINE LESSONS & CAROLS ~ Sunday 21 DECEMBER 7.30PM

CHRISTMAS DAY ~ 8AM (HC), 10AM (CHORAL EUCHARIST) AND 5PM (CHORAL EVENSONG)

CHRISTMAS EVE ~ 11.15pm carol singing, 11.45pm the 1st eucharist of christmas

CAROL RECITALS ~ TUES 16, WED 17, THURS 18 DECEMBER AT 12.05PM (CHORISTERS)CHRISTMAS EVE at 6pm (choir)

CHILDREN’S SERVICE WITH ANIMALS ~ TUESday 23 DECember 3PM

Cover Image: Louise Weller with some of her Kids Coach kids learning what it means to be a caring community.

BISHOP’S ADDRESS: 01

CURRENT EVENTS 02

DIALOGUE: An Unconventional Wedding 07

WORKPLACE: Faith Changes Approach to Work 08

FEATURE: Bus Helps to Strengthen Communities 10

LIFESTYLE: BYO Pub Closes as Creator Retires 14Tough Living on the Way to Jericho 16

CULTURE: Holiday readings 17Finding Songs for Worship 19

CLOSING ESSAY: Rolling out the Welcome Mat 21

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Copyright Mandy Caldwell Photography

EDITORIAL

How will you respond to the Love of God in Christ?

WORDS: BISHOP VICTORIA MATTHEWS PHOTO: MANDY CALDWELL

“At the heart of all that matters is a love that will not let us go.”

“When you became incarnate to set us free:You humbly accepted the Virgin’s womb.”

Those words are part of the Te Deum, a hymn of praise that has been part of Christian worship from the early Christian centuries. In the Anglican service of Morning Prayer according to the Book of Common Prayer, it was recited or sung daily. In a New Zealand Prayer Book, we read it on Tuesday morning. But the message is eternal.

That one verse proclaims the message of Christmas: that God so loved the world that the Creator of heaven and earth became one of us in order to set us free from sin and death. To become incarnate, to take on flesh as a human person, Jesus resided in the womb of the Virgin Mary, His mother.

It is all quite miraculous isn’t it? Yet at its heart is the love of the Creator and Redeemer for the creation. At the heart of all that matters is a love that will not let us go. Furthermore, this Divine Love called Jesus invites us to put on Christ and be as Christ one to another, so that the freedom we have received through the Cross and Resurrection of Christ might be shared with all people.

This Christmas there will be many gifts exchanged, beautiful decorations displayed and numerous exchanges of ‘Merry Christmas’. In addition to that very public celebration, I invite you to pause and reflect on the love that caused the first Christmas to happen. Light a candle and breathe deeply as you remember that God did not need to care. God chose to care and to care so much that God’s only begotten Son came into the world to save us. Remember and give thanks. Remember and decide how you will respond to the love of God in Christ by making this earth a safer, more just and peaceful place for God’s people everywhere.

2 AnglicanLife Issue 33

LOCAL / NATIONAL / WORLD

Current events Take a Spiritual BreakWORDS: ANNA PICKERSGILL-BROWN

Summer holidays are just around the corner, now is the time we book our accommodation, our leave and begin to sort any other details for our holidays.

May I encourage you to take four days of your holiday to attend the E4 Summer Camp at Hanmer’s Alpine Adventure Holiday Park. Accommodation abounds in the town.

The mornings are full of worship, teaching, friendship and fun, afternoons are your own and evenings are back into teaching and worship. Programmes run for all ages and registrations are filling fast.

Register via the website; eventbrite.co.nz, search, E4 Summer Camp or Facebook; Efour summer camp.

Come along and be encouraged, energised and equipped to enlarge the kingdom of God. You will be blessed.

Baptisms bring Joy2014 has seen some baptisms of new Christians at St Martins’, Spreydon. In one service an adult, a teenager and a child were baptised.

The service was particularly joyful and many friends and family came to support the new Christians. The service and message so moved the congregation that another supporter became a Christian and there are going to be more baptisms shortly.

All these people had become Christians through experiencing the work and love of the Canterbury Kids Coach Programme. The theme of this programme is building community.

Read more about the Canterbury Kids Coach programme on page 10.

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Deeper Camp: Faith & Hail WORDS: SAMMY MOULD & LYNDON ROGERSPHOTOS: RACHEL SMITH

Group photo!

Deeper Camp 2014 was held in the middle weekend of the school holidays with 80 young people and youth leaders gathering at the beautiful Glentui Meadows. A hail storm, snow on the ground on Saturday morning and nor’ west winds on Sunday meant the Canterbury spring weather gave campers much entertainment. This was especially true during outdoor activities such as team building games and a walk to a waterfall/bush bash.

The theme of camp was ‘WHO You Know’, with each speaker touching on a different aspect of what it means to be a disciple. Phil Trotter opened the camp with, ‘Our relationship with our self’. Emily Spence spoke on Saturday morning about ‘Loving our planet’. Rachel Smith spoke on Saturday night about ‘Our relationship with God’ and followed with Taize. Josh Taylor spoke on Sunday morning about ‘Loving Our Neighbours’ and Spanky Moore wrapped everything up with his unique, sung, electronic communion service.

There were also five workshops people could choose on Saturday afternoon; Mentoring with Martin Kariuki, Dealing with Pain lead by Andy Spence, Electronic Worship: How to, with Lukas Theilman, Careers and Strengths with Sammy Mould and Making Change in Your School/Church with Lyndon Rogers.

The annual camp is aimed at encouraging high school aged young people to go deeper in their faith and relationship with God. Feedback from young people and youth leaders was overwhelmingly positive, with many loving

the camp so much they would like to see it a day longer next year.

Deeper Camp 2015 will be held in the middle weekend of the September School Holidays at Waipara Riverside Park.


CURRENT EVENTS

Build Hope for TomorrowWORDS: GILLIAN SOUTHEY

With so many people struggling through war and disaster, Christian World Service is asking churches to give their full support to this year’s Christmas Appeal. Launched on the fi rst Sunday of Advent, it highlights partner groups strengthening local communities to respond to an uncertain future.

On the low lying Ha’apai Island group, women of Ama Takiloa have helped each other get through a diffi cult year. Rocked by cyclone and now drought, they have grown stronger through adversity. Together they have repaired and expanded the demonstration gardens to grow food for their communities. Working on the garden they found the energy needed to repair their own homes and gardens and get through the months since last January’s Cyclone Ian.

Lola fi nds it hard to talk about the fear she felt when the cyclone struck. Terrifi ed, she immediately began to pray with her

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family. During a break in the storm, they ran to their neighbour. Her mother-in-law’s house next door was blown away and her son cut himself on submerged glass when he went to collect her from the family home where she was sheltering.

Lola says they were thankful to be alive but did not have energy to fi x their broken house. Eventually they got a tent from the army. About two months later and with support from other members of Ama Takiloa she fi nally felt calm enough to begin the rebuild. Through the training programme organised by Ama Takiloa she has learnt new gardening skills and found much needed support.

Rainfall has been low in recent months and Ha’apai is very short of water having lost many rainwater tanks in the storm. In July Lola’s bed sat in a pool of water whenever it rained, now the bed is high and dry and drought is threatening one of their few successes - a lush and productive home garden.

Helping people overcome poverty and seek justice is the work CWS has been doing for 69 years as part of the churches’ commitment to diakonia.

Please support the 2014 Christmas Appeal so groups like Ama Takiloa can do more in the communities where they live. Worship and other resources are available at: christmasappeal.org.nz

Thank you for your gifts.

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Overall winner, Pukehamoamoa Primary School, near Hastings. If every child was to be free from poverty their ‘puzzle’ would all fit.

Rev’d Jolyon White speaking at the Big Picture Exhibition Launch at Parliament.

Secondary School winner, Whangarei Girls’ High School, artwork entitled: Life is like an Ocean.

Big Pictures In Parliament Exhibition

Early November saw the opening of a Parliamentary Exhibition displaying entries in the Big Picture Competition. The national competition was run by the Diocesan Social Justice Unit and supported by Child Poverty Action Group and Unicef NZ. The object of the competition was to draw attention to child poverty solutions in New Zealand.

The Parliamentary event was hosted by, Green Party co-leader, Metiria Turei, and National MP, Alfred Ngaro. Some of the students who had entered the competition also attended and spoke about what the competition meant to them. Pleas to the politicians included; asking not to regard child poverty as invisible because it wasn’t obvious, for politicians to know child poverty was a man-made condition, that it wasn’t the child’s fault and to correct the problem was a matter of justice. There was not enough room to hang all the entries in the exhibition.

All the artworks and their explanations can be viewed online: thebigpicture.org.nz


CURRENT EVENTS

Vicar, Eight Years after Joining FaithWORDS & PHOTO: CATHY MASLIN

On Sunday 1st November the Rev’d John Shoaf was inducted as the Vicar of St Mary’s, the Parish of Timaru.

The greatest gift God gave us was his son. In this precedence one of the best gifts a parish can receive is the gift of a follower of Jesus, to guide and encourage. And so the Warden’s of Merivale ‘passed on’ to St Mary’s, John and his wife Melissa, a “true treasure”, given with “love and joy”.

Imagination and a new hope for the future came through as main themes in the service. Held in the Craighead Diocesan School Auditorium, people were asked by the South Canterbury Archdeacon, Ven. Peter Carrell, to employ their imagination as projections of parts of St Mary’s Church were used as the points of focus.

The Very Rev’d Michael Brown, after letting out a few secrets such as Rev’d John’s impromptu ukulele playing, talked frankly about how due to circumstances St Mary’s has been forced into a position of “mowing lawns”. A phrase he used to describe a church whose efforts are put into keeping things going.

The congregation of St Mary’s has had several years of upheaval, being displaced from their church in central Timaru due to the earthquakes, and going through the process of seeking a permanent Vicar. Many comments were made informally before and after the induction expressing

gratitude to the Rev’d Chris Rodgers and his wife Adrienne, now living in Oamaru, who supported them during this transition.

The Very Rev’d Michael Brown charged St Mary’s to “re-establish their gathering and focus energy on building a living future today”. Warden, Murray Gibson, participated in encouraging Rev’d John to preach the Gospel in Timaru, while his grandchildren, Yuna and Yoshi Gibson, brought water asking him to join with them in efforts to bring others to faith in Christ.

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An Unconventional WeddingPHOTO: GILLIAN PERANO

Church-based youth worker, Lynda Davies, and South African-born, Schalk van der Merwe, who is an electrical engineer compliance tester, took an unconventional approach to their wedding on 22 October. For starters, they organised everything in only 5 1/2 weeks. Megan Blakie talks to Linda about the couple’s big day.

Why such a short time for preparations?I was of the mindset that ‘hey, we’ve decided to get married, let’s just do it.’ I’m very impatient!

How did you and Schalk meet? He goes to church at St John’s Latimer Square, which is where I used to go before starting work at St Barnabas [in Fendalton]. Three or four years ago we served on a youth-camp together, so got to know each other a bit more. In the middle of last year something sparked….

Why did you organise your wedding yourself?I could put more of ‘me’ in it: to do things that were special to us.

What sort of ‘me’ things did you incorporate?At the ceremony I was barefoot, because I love it! A friend offered me her wedding dress; she was delighted to be able to lend it to me. I looked round at other dresses to buy but I really preferred hers. It was altered so I could lace it up the back. I think I’m the third or fourth person to wear the dress.

Did you have flowers?No. The groomsmen had a rose and a piece of rosemary. I thought herbs would make lovely bouquets for me and my bridesmaids.

MEGAN BLAKIE WITH LYNDA DAVIES

Dialogue

I bought a whole lot of living herbs from the supermarket. I had a mixture of rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage and bay branches.

What sort of ceremony did you have?We had the service at St Christopher’s [Avonhead] and a big, catered afternoon tea. As well as having friends and family we did an open invite to St John’s and St Barnabas’. We had to guess numbers! There were around 250 people. When [the bridal party] went off for photos, a group of friends packed up the afternoon tea and set up all the tables for the evening meal [for family and close friends].

How did your family react to all your plans?It was interesting working with everybody’s expectations. I kept reminding everybody that actually it’s about me and Schalk making those promises before God and people - that’s the bit that matters; everything else is a minor detail.

“It’s about me and Schalk making those promises before God and

people - that’s the bit that matters; everything else is a minor detail.”


FINANCE / CAREER / STEWARDSHIP / ETHICS

WorkplaceFaith Changes Approach to Work

Cathy Maslin talks to Nurse Practitioner, Sharon Hansen, about her faith and work. Sharon lives with her husband Richard and they have three children.

WORDS & PHOTO: CATHY MASLIN

When Kathryn Starky introduced faith nursing into her parish of Temuka, Sharon says it really made her question what she does for a job.

“I get paid for my work yet I thought there are many others who do exactly the same thing without being paid. I questioned how much faith I actually had.”

The result of her questioning was deciding, “It’s not just about money but what you bring that’s from your faith that is most important.”

For Sharon two things stood out, compassion and kindness. She had heard many accounts from people who had consulted medical professionals and felt they were either not listened to or judged.

As a result Sharon makes a conscious effort to listen to people and not to judge, even when treating people she might not naturally relate to. “It’s not for me to judge, that’s God’s job,” she says.

She reminds herself constantly to

be compassionate and sends ‘text’ style prayers throughout the day; asking for help in hard situations, or simply for the strength to get through a demanding day.

Sharon doesn’t push her faith onto others but is open about it and willing to talk if engaged by people in her workplace. If someone challenges her on an issue, “I say what I think but emphasise I don’t

speak for the church or others. If they are interested, I say they are welcome to come to church and find out for themselves.”

She says, “Being a Christian is not easy in this world when many people are so scathing. People don’t allow you to have your belief - they act as if what you say is not true, or you have no intelligence, or you have been naively sucked in.”

For Sharon, her career came before the development of a deeper understanding and involvement with Christianity.

Two life-defining events drew her back towards God. The first was the death of a person close to her and she recalls, “I thought don’t take God away. If there is no God, what is there?”

The second was her own experience as a ward nurse and events, which instilled a sense of God’s presence that went beyond an everyday explanation. “Spiritual things happened,” says Sharon.

“One lady I treated was going in for

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“It’s not just about money but what you bring that’s from your faith that is most important.”

routine heart surgery. There was really no risk yet she was sure her time was up. She was absolutely convicted of this. ‘After I am gone’, she would say. Her main angst was about getting her dog a home. And she was right, she never made it through the operation.”

“All nurses talk about these things,” says Sharon.Sharon started going to church again despite being scared she might, “be made to

wear plain clothes, give up her money and be holier than thou.” A small group Bible study, which led to a family based service, enabled her to “explore

faith in a safe environment.” A mentor was also important for Sharon. For her these aspects were instrumental to the deepening of her relationship with God.

“Faith is the one surety you have, everything else is unsteady. When I go to church I come away again reminded I am on solid ground,” says Sharon.

From her church community she values the people who do not define her by the job she does but treat her like any other person. Sharon also treasures those who offer prayers of support and encouragement.

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Sharon shared a scripture for nurses, which she is drawn to time and again as a reminder of how to interact with patients and all people:

1 Corinthians 13: 1-8

“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.”


FEATURE

Bus Helps to Strengthen CommunitiesMegan Blakie talks to Louise Weller about her team helping local communities to look after each other.

WORDS: MEGAN BLAKIEPHOTO: LOUISE WELLER

A stationary bus is transporting kids to a new way of seeing the world.

Canterbury Kids Coach is the brainchild of Louise Weller and is thirty percent funded by the Christchurch City Council. The converted six-metre-long bus parks up in various streets in the Christchurch suburb of Hoon Hay to provide afterschool programmes and support for families.

“We’re there to build community, to strengthen the community, to make a difference to the community,” says Louise, who is a parishioner of St Martin’s in Spreydon and a captain with Church Army New Zealand. Church Army New Zealand is an Anglican evangelistic organisation.

“We want the children to develop a good biblical worldview, a solid worldview, so when they leave us they’ll have tools they can use in a practical sense,” says Louise.

Three days a week the bus pulls up to a selected neighbourhood street for an hour and a half after school. With parental consent, primary school age children (5 to 12 years) can board the bus for all or part of that time. Louise and members of her team offer a programme of on-board learning activities for the kids to participate in. Sometimes the parents come along too.

“All of our programmes are values based,” says Louise. “We don’t want to fill the kids with a whole lot of information. We want

to give them life skills they can put into practice.” Puppetry, games, and talks are standard fare, and revolve

around a different theme each week. As well as addressing issues such as safety, health, care of property, and crime protection, the main focus is on teaching the children - and via them, their families - what it means to be a caring community.

“We normally sing and do lots of games to teach a message. Last week the theme was co-operation,” says Louise.

The interior of the bus has been modified to give it a lounge-feel and provide space for the kids to relax and play. Apart from the driver’s seat and a couple of front-row seats, the existing fit-out has been replaced with soft seating laid out in a u-shape. There’s a table and white board, and a curtain transforms the driver’s area into a puppet stage.

“We call it our learning centre,” says Louise, “but we’ve made it really homely.”

She and a team of eight men and women run Canterbury Kids Coach. Most are volunteers. A minimum of two team members must be aboard the bus each time it goes out into the community.

Sharlene Knight, who grew up in Hoon Hay, knows the suburb well, is Louise’s ‘2 IC’ and shares the management of the programme. Unfortunately for Louise and the rest of the team, Sharlene is considering embarking on a new career option.

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“Two families who live on the same street had been ‘at war’ with each other. The Kids Coach team played a huge part in making peace between the two families.”

Sharlene Knight (at left) and Bernard Weller (Louise’s husband, at back) with a busload of children from one of the streets in the neighbourhood.


FEATURE

“The kids and mums absolutely adore her,” says Louise. “She’ll be missed by them and us.”

With Sharlene’s likely departure from the programme, Louise is seeking more volunteers to help out. Training and support will be provided.

During the school term, the bus visits the same few streets on a weekly basis. This is so that Louise and the rest of the team can make strong connections with the community. Their goal is to contact every family in a street during a six-month period, before moving on to another street in the neighbourhood.

To enable as many children as possible to access the programme and benefi t from it, each child is restricted to one bus visit per week. A total of about 2000 visits were recorded last year.

Families are also encouraged to attend a Friday night programme, called X-Site, which is held at Rowley Resource Centre in Hillmorton. It is followed by a youth programme, called Y-Zone, for children aged 10 years and over. A music time for toddlers is also offered, which is often frequented by grandparents as well as mums.

“For many, this is ‘church’,” says Louise.A holiday programme is offered at the resource centre during the second week of

school holidays, to help alleviate holiday stress for parents. The Canterbury Kids Coach team primarily work in lower socio-economic areas, where some families are unable to afford outings during the holidays.

“For some of the families we meet there’s no understanding of what it means to get up at seven in the morning and go to work; the kids [in that situation] have no idea that’s normal,” says Louise.

“The tee-shirts we wear all say ‘Building Community’ and this is what the city council wants us to be doing. …They want to see the local community starting to take care of itself. We’re pushing for that to happen all the time.”

Within the past few months, Louise and her team have witnessed a very tangible outcome that helps illustrate the positive infl uence the programme is having.

Two families who live on the same street had been ‘at war’ with each other. The Kids Coach team played a huge part in making peace between the two families.

“That kind of thing we’re dealing with all the time,” says Louise. Canterbury Kids Coach is the second bus-related project that Louise has instigated.

About ten years ago she partnered with a Baptist church in west Christchurch to offer a similar programme.

She was involved in that partnership for about three years before embarking on her theological studies at Laidlaw College in Auckland and becoming a captain with the Church Army.

Anyone interested in volunteering or helping support the bus-related project can contact Louise through contacting Church Army New Zealand or by emailing [email protected]

Louise Weller

Sharlene Knight interacts with Mr Ed Bee during one of the bus-based after-school sessions for school children

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FAMILY / SOCIAL JUSTICE / ENVIRONMENT / SUSTAINABILITY / SPIRITUALITY

LifestyleBYO Pub Closes as Creator Retires

Michael Earle shares the story of Rev’d Mary Giles’ pub that has been running for the last 3 1/2 years.

WORDS: MICHAEL EARLE

Like a multi-faceted diamond, church in mission includes many aspects. For Rev’d Mary Giles, it was about being there for her broken community in Christchurch’s Heathcote Valley after the earthquakes that have devastated our city since 2010.

The only church in a semi rural valley community of a couple of thousand people, including orchardists, artists, self employed and the retired, St Mary’s had just celebrated its 150th anniversary with the local community.

Located immediately below the epicentre of the major earthquake on February 22nd (2011), the church physically became the heart of the valley. This was in spite of some later uncertainty about the future of the parish, due to the proposal in the Diocesan Strategic Plan.

Like every other affected community, locals were shell shocked, emotionally drained and frightened from their damaged homes and more rockfall. All the local community facilities had been damaged: the bowling and cricket clubs, the dairy and library - and the local pub.

Mary instinctively sensed locals needed to meet and talk about their different experiences in a safe place, exchange practical ideas to help each other out, and a place to act as a distribution hub for incoming gifts of food, clothing, nappies and generators.

The recently refurbished church hall had survived with little damage, so in Mary’s words, “I just did it. I didn’t even think about it, it just seemed the right thing to do.”

And so the church hall was transformed into the village hub, a gathering place where people could meet safely, where children

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could have the freedom to have a good time, yell and scream, where food could be shared and where neighbours could bring their own drinks. Community notice boards were erected around the valley spreading the invitation to families and everyone: ‘Come – Chat - Meet – Get Information’.

And so the BYO Pub was born, meeting initially every Friday and Saturday night from 5.30-7.30pm, then just Fridays. A local business donated sausages and musicians appeared like Lyttelton’s, Eastern band. It continued to evolve, meeting basic community needs of the time:“A place of refuge.” “Space where strangers became friends.”

“Where we laughed, cried, bitched, moaned and shared both good and tragic times…..where we could shed our layers and reveal our real personalities.”

“It was better than sitting at home frightened.”

Kids were even heard asking their friends in the school playground whether they were going down to the Pub that night: “See you there!” Some evenings up to 150 came along and a solid core remained. Even John Campbell came and joined in with a Live broadcast on TV3. It was national coverage of a good news story about church in community.

The Pub acted as a catalyst for other local initiatives in bringing the community together, eg. a community garden in the church grounds, the Heathcote Village Project, and other post quake community building activities.

It built on the good relationship that previous clergy had developed with the valley community. But it was Mary’s vision, permission, encouragement, mad ideas, sense of humour and love in Christ that

spoke of Mary’s role as a community facilitator, “encouraging us to make things happen.”

The local kindergarten teachers reminded those gathered that Mary and Christopher had themselves been forced out of their damaged, red-stickered vicarage and had to live in a small caravan beside the broken Mount Pleasant church building.

Reflecting on the occasion, Mary shared, “This was the best thing I’ve done in my ministry”. She says it enabled neighbours to gather together, care for each other, provided opportunities to show practical love in action, broke down barriers and helped a shaken community pick themselves up off the floor. It all came from a moment of impulse, trust and grace, ”We just did it”. There was no time for strategic thinking.

What were the outcomes? Bums on church pews only increased marginally, more joined in community carol services, but many new seeds in relationship building have been sown.

A final word left in a thank you book reveals the lasting legacy: “You’ve left an incredible mark on this church, the congregation and the parish. You’ve changed it from a church to a place of love and community – a real church.”

Note: As the BYO Pub had no licence, it was re-branded SAS - Saints and Sinners!

Michael Earle was working for the Diocese as a part time Earthquake Liaison Officer in the aftermath of the February 2011 earthquakes, when he first found out about the BYO pub. His work at that time was generously funded by the Roslyn parish in Dunedin.

underpinned the Pub.When the Pub closed with Mary’s

retirement recently those gathered publicly, thanked Mary and her husband Rev’d Christopher Heath for the difference they had made in the valley over their six-year ministry.

As one woman commented, “You’ve been instrumental in breaking down people’s view of a split between the secular and spiritual, showing people that love, acceptance and journey is what faith is about.”

Ruth Dyson, the local MP, praised Mary’s leadership as a lifesaver in the community and paid tribute to the love and support she gave to so many.

Sara Templeton, chairperson of the Hagley Ferrymead Community Board,


LIFESTYLE

Tough Living on the Way to Jericho Lois Griffiths shares how her trips to the Holy Lands have left their mark.WORDS: LOIS GRIFFITHS

When travelling eastward on the busy, modern divided four-lane highway running down the steep hill from Jerusalem on your way to Jericho, if you were to look out the window, you’d be shocked by the poverty.

In November 2011, my husband Martin, and I were taken on a tour organised by ICAHD (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions), to meet the Jahalin Bedouin people who live just off the highway. We learned their story.

As ICAHD’s, Itay Epshtain, and Abu Khamis of the Jahalin people explained, in the early 1950s, they were forcibly transferred from their native Negev Desert and moved to the Hebron hills. But after 1967, they were forcibly removed once more and dumped by the busy highway, left to subsist as an ‘unrecognised village’, with no electricity, no water, no school and no clinic. The settlement, for Jews only, on a nearby overlooking hill, has water and power and even a swimming pool. These, once self-sufficient, people were forced to sell most of their animals - their livelihood - and depend on UN charity to survive. The hope for the Jahalin was for their children to become educated.

But there was no school. The only way children could get to a school was to cross the highway, dodging fast-moving traffic and then hail an expensive taxi to take them to Jericho. After four children were killed and another five injured, the community leaders realised they would

have to build a school themselves. They were aided by an Italian NGO,

Vento di Terra, and local NGOs, including Pax Christi Jerusalem. Vento di Terra contacted another Italian aid group, Architettura Cooperazione, ARCo, who design and build low-cost eco-structures in remote, poor areas.

They knew they would have to build structures that could be considered non-permanent, using unconventional materials. The plan ARCo decided on, was to build the school using old tyres filled with sand to serve as bricks, and to hold them in place with mud, sealed with used cooking oil.

In 2009 the Khan Al-Ahmar School opened. The PA (Palestinian Authority) provided teachers. At last, some 80 children could attend school safely. The Khan Al-Ahmar school was awarded a prize for its academic standards.

Children proudly showed us their school when Martin and I visited the Jahalin again in 2012. We were offered cups of tea as we listened to Abu Khamis sharing his concerns. The school, within one month of opening, was threatened with a demolition order.

In New Zealand we try to follow closely what is happening via, jahalin.org.

The most recent report is that Israel has renewed its intention to remove all Bedouin that are in the way of the settlements expanding. As the people of Vento di Terra say, “Chi Demolisce una Scuola Demolisce il Futuro” (Whoever demolishes a school demolishes the future).

Visiting Palestinians is a life-changing experience. I’ve heard other people say that too. I often think of the children we’ve met over there, including the Jahalin children, when I see New Zealand children on their way to school or playing in the nearby park. We are so lucky to live in a country where it is taken for granted that every child will have easy access to good schooling.

Lois Griffiths used to teach overseas before settling in New Zealand. Her husband, Martin, taught at Christ’s College and sang in the cathedral choir for ten years. These days they lead a very active, retired life including broadcasting, Earthwise, a weekly community radio programme on plainsfm96.9, with interviews on the environment and peace with justice.

17

CultureFILM / MUSIC / LITERATURE / WEB / FOOD / EVENTS

A Sublime MomentWORDS: JAN HILL

They’ve been chosen to bring forward the offeringone each side of the unwieldy basketgiftsfor the needy

a hymn is sung down the aisle they comethese six-year-oldscrabwise over the sea-blue carpetto stand at the altara solemn matching pair

one, transfixedsees his father before him transfiguredin priestly white

Holiday reading

he glances at the shining chaliceson the lace-clothed tablesees himself there how funny he lookspear-shapednudges his friend but he toois caught upin the mysteryhis dark eyes on the priest

a prayer is saidthe boys carry the basket round the altar tableonto the chancel stepand set it downgood work well done

a small boy returningflings his arms aroundthe cream linen skirts of his father

walks back to his seatunselfconscious

it’s what we do in churchwe love each other


CULTURE

Ode to St Faith’s Stone Church, New BrightonWORDS & PHOTOS: SUE ALDERMAN

Seagulls still perch on the old stone Church,but gone are the days when was heard God’s praise.

We’ve locked the doorsfenced all around stones lie in the grasswhere they fellto the groundthe pews are empty

the pulpit toothe air is still the mood, subdued.No praises, nor prayersno communion shared.

Boarded up windowshave shut out the light song books lie scattered,the organ stands quiet,no joyful sounds made, dust and silence pervade.

Our once sturdy, stone buildingstands lonely and brokenand waits for the words re its future be spoken.

But in the old wooden hallacross the driveIf you watch you will see people daily arriveThe Church now stronger,following God’s planhelping our neighbours,woman and man.

Living stones have ariseneven stronger with purposewith love in our heartsOur God is here with us.

Images of inside St Faith’s after two years before doing some cleaninglayers of dust cover everythingshelves in the vestryspilled to the floorbroken china, glass stonework cracked and crumbled hymn books, prayer books,tossed down lie where they fell stained glass windows taken awayboarded up windowslight dim silent and stillcapturing the momentsof the earth’s giganticseismic seizures.

19

Finding Songs for WorshipWORDS: RICHARD RENDLEPHOTO: PHILIPPA RODLEY

Are you looking to introduce contemporary hymns and songs into your services steeped in the tradition of the great, old hymns? The good news is that increasingly, the songs are there to explore doing this.

Our morning congregation is made up of older people and families. A few years ago I found myself as the sole musician ably supported by a group of singers, and tasked with finding new songs as we have a tradition of using contemporary music. During this time the late Bishop Maurice Goodall loaned me a DVD, “There is a Hope”, featuring Stuart Townend. These songs are brilliant and over time I have taught all fourteen songs on the DVD/CD to our morning congregation.

What is the X factor these songs have? They have strong melodies, singable keys, inspired lyrics and sound theology. Stuart Townend, often in collaboration with others, and frequently teaming up with Keith and Kristyn Getty, is writing songs that are genuine, contemporary hymns for congregations. That is their aim and they test their compositions out with congregations before releasing the final version. The songs are closely aligned with traditional hymn structure and have very little syncopation. However the tunes, lyrics and chord progressions are very much 21st century.

It is important that songs are in singable keys. This is the downside of the great traditional hymn tunes. They are written for four-part harmony and the tune is in the soprano line, which is often unachievable by many of us mere mortals. Much of contemporary Christian music whether it is from solo singer/songwriters, Christian rock groups or big bands with an audience of thousands, needs to be transposed to a singable key. They are not written or performed with congregational singing in mind. But from them, there is the occasional gem. The popular Bless the Lord O my Soul (10,000 reasons) is a good example. Even this song we transpose from the published key of G to E.

Townend/Getty compositions are a great place to start if you want to open your congregation to the idea of contemporary songs. Examples are ‘Come People of the Risen King’, ‘Behold the Lamb’

“What is the X factor these songs have? They have strong melodies, singable keys, inspired lyrics and

sound theology.”


(Communion Hymn), ‘There is a Hope’, You’re the Word of God the Father (Across the Lands), ‘In Christ Alone’ ‘How Deep the Father’s Love for Us’ and many more.

To listen to the songs, google Stuart Townend or Keith Getty on YouTube. The sheet music is available as a digital download from www.weareworship.com for about NZ$3. You need to register on this website to download but you also have access to two free songs each week (mp3, sheet music and chord sheets).

Our Parish Profile back in 2002 made reference to music being an integral and vitally important part of worship, allowing the freedom to worship God. The goal is for the music to be focused, sincere, passionate and not performance-like. This is still the feeling about worship in our parish today.

In choosing new songs I keep in mind the Townend/Getty qualities, the people in the congregation and the Profile philosophy.

The free songs from weareworship.com are worth consideration. But my guess is that I would take only one in ten of these songs to the music practice for critical appraisal by the other singers and musicians. If they pass this filter we usually introduce a new song pre-service to test our competency up-front and to help the congregation get familiar with it.

A feature that has emerged recently is the formula that requires the inclusion of a bridge or mid-section in a song. While for a few this is almost the highlight of the song, frequently it is the more difficult part.

There is also a trend to write new tunes for old songs. Generally they are not as good as the original, great hymn tunes. It is hard to

The Christmas Song Selection ConundrumAt Christmas most people, especially those who make Christmas their one off church time, expect to sing traditional carols, but there are contemporary Christmas songs being written which you might like to explore for the Sundays around Christmas:Like a Candle Flame Graham Kendrick 1988Joy has Dawned Upon the Earth Stuart Townend and Keith Getty 2004

understand why for something new, the composers use lyrics with the most archaic language.

If you use contemporary songs in services be aware that they are copyright protected. To legitimately use this music your church should be a member of Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) nz.ccli.com. You pay an annual fee dependant on your congregation numbers. Recording your song usage with CCLI allows funds to be distributed to the artists (for many of whom this is their income) and publishers.

I would be delighted to come and share music with any church interested.

Likewise any dinosaur rockers who would like to jam on the great rock’n’roll songs of the 60s – 80s contact me.Richard Rendle ([email protected]) - infamous guitarist/singer, Parish of Burnside-Harewood

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21

Rolling out the Welcome MatWORDS: LOUISE LANDESSPHOTO: PEARL, LIGHTSTOCK.COM

CLOSING ESSAY

A while ago a story was doing the rounds on Facebook, which told of how a very dishevelled man, reeking of booze and looking totally down on his luck shuffled into church and sat down. As people started to move away from him, it was obvious that his presence made them feel uncomfortable and that they would rather he was not there. Some cast him dirty looks as they muttered and mumbled about what on earth he was doing in their church. He sat there on his own for the whole service, without anyone in the congregation making the effort to talk to him, let alone make him feel welcome so you can imagine their surprise when at the end of the service, it turned out in fact to be their very own vicar in disguise conducting a very revealing exercise.

Now, while that story may seem a little extreme, it’s a pertinent reminder of how easy it can be to fall into our own routines at church and forget what it’s like for those stepping into our congregations for the first time.

The Goldilocks syndrome - who is sitting in MY chair?An example a little closer to home - I was recently talking to a friend of mine who shot into an unfamiliar church just as the service was starting. Spotting an empty seat at the back near the sound desk, she sat down. Immediately she became aware

of the sound engineer venomously hissing “Who moved the Reserved sign?” as he glared at her with narrowed eyes. While she understood that she must have taken ‘his’ seat, it was hardly the welcome she had hoped for.

Spotlight on a strangerThere’s also the other extreme. Picture this. For the first time in years I’m going to church purely to support a friend who is preaching.

”Good morning and welcome,” says the woman at the door who greets me with a friendly smile. As someone who is reasonably reserved among strangers and somewhat averse to small talk, I appreciate the warm, but low key welcome

In the foyer people are mingling and chatting. Plenty of eye-catching information is on display for me to browse, and overall, the place has a positive, vibrant buzz. I am thinking that church seems different from how I remember it and perhaps, I could imagine myself returning again soon.

Hearing the band start up, I quickly make my way towards the main church to take my seat, but discover that firstly, I must get past the ‘Official Welcome Stand’ and someone with a big book, a roll of sticky labels and a marker pen.

“No thanks,” I say as she insists I need a name badge.

“OK, then, I’ll just write your name in the book so that the vicar can welcome you from the pulpit.” At that point, I had the urge to run straight back out the door.

Use different strokes for different folksSo with these anecdotes in mind, I’d encourage you to check in with your Welcome Team and your fellow parishioners. Ask they be mindful that we each come to church for different reasons and with varying expectations, and to be open and ready to respond to different people in different ways.

Finally, be sure that your welcomers are also farewellers. After all, it’s nice to hear “It was lovely to meet you. We’re glad you came,” and even nicer to say, “Welcome back, it’s nice to see you again.”

Louise Landess is a freelance business writer who maybe popping into visit an Anglican Church near you.

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Anglican Life Magazine Dec/Jan 2014/2015