Parish Clerk Allen Little 06 367 5900 Email: vision@inspire.net.nz

February 2018

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There weren’t many people at the Ohau monthly market in January. It was the same Saturday as the Levin A&P Show. That afternoon we saw Lois wearing a judge’s badge at the Produce competitions room at the show, so that explained why she wasn’t at her usual knitted animals market stall.

Ohau had less than half the usual stalls, and an even lesser proportion of customers. We purchased some excellently priced vegetables and then wandered into the half empty hall. The sole guitarist was quietly strumming a tune on the stage, and I think he spotted my Beatles’ t-shirt in the very sparse crowd because he then started playing the tune ‘Here. There, and Everywhere’ (a quiet McCartney number) and I was severely tempted to go to the microphone and sing because I knew all the words by heart. Of course I didn’t and the moment was soon over because ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ is a short song.

Which leads me into reflecting on how life’s moments and opportunities are short, and yet a lifetime is an adventure which does lead us here, there, and everywhere. Jeanette and I have just been here in Levin one year. A year ago we were unpacking and arranging our rooms and furniture at the parsonage and so we didn’t get to last year’s A&P Show. Now we do not know exactly where we will be living in a year’s time, but we will have moved on. Since before coming to Levin Uniting Parish to a Half Time Ministry position I have been seeking additional Half Time employment. It had not come along until an attractive Full Time position popped up not far away at Manawatu Regional Parish (Methodist). I enquired and was wanted, and wanted immediately! We do need a full time income in these years leading up to retirement, and so I will go. I have insisted on starting on a Half Time basis there, and continuing here in Levin Uniting Parish on the existing Half Time basis, but there will be a shift over to full time in that Parish about half way through the year (the date is still under discussion). I would like to be everywhere, but eventually it has to be here or there. It is therefore a case of making the most and best use of our time while we are with you. In your lifetime you are influenced by those you have spent most of a lifetime alongside, by ministers who stayed as long as 15 years, by memorable schoolteachers who made their impact in one year in their class-room, and by people you saw or met for just one day, just one hour. We have all been influenced in our lives by Jesus Christ, whose lifetime was two millennia past. The gospels say that he went about here, there and everywhere, and changed people’s lives forever in the brief moment when they encountered him. I promise no such miracles while we remain here in Levin a few more months, but we do pray that these precious times will preserve some outstanding memories. May God’s many blessings be with us all. Rev Ian Boddy.

CONTACTS: Office Phone/Fax: 368 9392 87 Oxford Street Levin 5510 Email: levinuniting@xtra.co.nz

Minister Rev. Ian Boddy 06 368 8308 Email: jimboddy@xtra.co.nz

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Website www.levinuniting.church

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16: 9 ...the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what re requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12: 2

HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE

CHRISTMAS CAROLS

An ordinary worker, can easily be replaced; By robots or computers... things without a face. I heard they made a parts-store once Automatic as could be With zillions of conveyor belts And drawers you couldn't see There were kilometers of cables and computers pulling strings With robots at the Keyboards, stamping and mailing things I heard it was efficient, but (although no one will say) It only costs a million bucks a day! They once had working drivers gather data every place Sort it, and deliver it just right. They've got this job well sorted now, they've got the whole thing fixed Vans and human drivers, in the process, have been nixed! Yes, that saves a lot of wages Automation works all day It's sad about the children who get hurt along the way. There's paperless transactions, savings every day The cost of electronics though, (you never get it cheap) But the bonus is... no working folk to keep! It just shows that with injections Of huge amounts of cash. The worker's only left, with taking out the trash! Now they're making service stations, With pumps on fuel cards, ruled remotely, worked by someone who is hidden somewhere else When you struggle from your car Not a soul from near or far To assist you in your struggle, ( in case its fuel you want to smuggle) And your hearing aid mismangles The instructions that are angled From the corner of a distant sloping roof. Its so simple To remember To infallibly remember That seven digit code, They sent you last November! Lord you pray please send to help me A human, not a robot worker please! And as for public transport... They’re always looking round For ways to get the driver off the bus They seem to think it's drivers Who are making all the fuss. But on special school-bus routes Where they tried a robot [twice] The robot blew a fuse, It went out like a light! They analyzed it carefully But couldn't let themselves Describe their robot like a man in Mid - life -crisis! They will pursue the matter At the cost of working folk And I'm looking very anxious Just in case some clever fellow Writes a scientific paper on how to robot me! Poem by Robert Allan.

For the past 6 years [or so], what is known as the Wednesday House Group has met fortnightly in the homes of members, to study ‘environmental issues and the church’ or ‘ecotheology’. For the first 2 years, we studied an excellent book by Bruce Sanguin [a minister of the United Church of Canada]. We have discussed articles in the Methodist ‘Touchstone’ and last year, we looked at sections of ‘The Sins of Scripture’ by John Shelby Spong. He has written many books, this one was interesting to our group because it treats environmental issues, the status of women and children… For some years, our group had to behave almost as a secret society, but in the ministry of Ian and Jeanette, a more open, engaging and enquiring approach has changed parish life to the extent that I sense new people may be interested in the group. While I was in Havelock North [1991 – 98] St Colum-ba’s had a very active Environmental House Group which studied many aspects of ecotheology and even revegetated a stream flowing along the town boundary. That house group still operates and is even growing in importance, as the Church realizes that God loves the world and not just people! This year, our Levin group faces change – Neill has shifted to New Plymouth, Harvey and Janet Brown have gone to Auckland, Ian and Jeanette Boddy are leaving mid-year and Eunice is not well, so there is room for new people’.

I have found another book: ‘Practicing Reverence, an ethic for sustainable earth communities’ by Ross Smillie [another minister of the United Church of Canada], that the group may decide to study.

So, if you are interested in grappling with some of the problems our world [and church] faces, please talk with Bob [368 8813] or any member of the group We will start meet-ing in February. Bob Eyles

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, "Everyone who thinks you're stupid, stand up!" After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up. The teacher said, "Do you think you're stupid, Little Johnny? "No, ma'am, but I hate to see you standing there all by your-self!"

HOUSE GROUP

For the past 4 years we have been bringing Christmas joy into the Levin CBD in the week leading up to Christmas Day. Each day we have different people join us for a carol or 2. We enjoy seeing the smiles and that they join in as they pass us. This picture was just a portion of one day in 2017

SERVICES FOR FEBRUARY

4th— Communion Rev. Ian Boddy

11th Rev. Bob Eyles

18th Rev. Ian Boddy

25th Manuila Tausi

INTERVIEW WITH DOUG & EILEEN BOLITHO Written: Jillian McKenzie

I met with both Eileen and Doug Bolitho on 23 January 2018 to update their individual original interviews (done in September 2009). However I feel it is better to combine their interviews as couple.

Both Eileen and Doug were born in the South Island – Eileen in Dunedin, and Doug in Christchurch but he says his roots are in Reefton, West Coast.

One of Doug’s classmates was Richard Rushton at Waitaki Boys School in Omarau. Doug’s family moved to Otautau near Invercargill, and Doug went to Southland Boys High School. In the Otautau Methodist Church at aged about 14 or 15, he said with a smile, that he had his “arm twisted to play the harmonium”. He also took Sunday School there whilst still in his teens. From an early age Doug’s mother in particular, but the wider family, influenced him in his Christian faith. He went to Sunday School Bible Class

and Easter Camps. His friends were other Bible Class students and they fellowshipped together. Doug even met his wife Eileen, through a Bible Class Easter Camp in Dunedin. Later they were married and had 3 children, 1 girl and 2 boys (separately). Doug didn’t do much more with music until he went to Med School in Dunedin, when other students were learning to play pipe organs. Doug decided to go along too and he took lessons at First Church for 2 years.

Eileen’s family attended a Dunedin Methodist church. She went to Sunday School, Bible Class and Girl’s Brigade and taught Sunday School for several years. After leaving school she went to Teachers’ College and on graduating taught Standard 1 and 2 at the school where she had been a pupil.

After Doug and Eileen were married they spent some time in England while Doug did further medical study qualify-ing in Paediatrics and Obstetrics. They returned to NZ in 1971 and settled in Levin where Doug worked as a GP for 25 years and a further 10 years in Horowhenua Hospital gaining experience in Geriatrics before retiring. Once their children were all at school, Eileen worked part-time as a teacher’s aide at Levin East School and later in the Special Needs Class at Waiopehu College.

Eileen was captain of the Girls Brigade at St John’s for several years and was also the Area Treasurer for Girls Brigade – an area that covers Danniverke, Horowhenua, Palmerston North and Feilding. She also served as Parish Steward for St Johns’ for over 10 years. In 1981 Eileen became a Justice of the Peace and for 36 years has served on the Court bench for traffic offences, remand and deposition hearings, and as a result she also has had to com-plete a number of legal and law courses. Eileen became a Marriage Celebrant at the same time as she became a JP and has done about 300 weddings since then, with quite a few from the United Parish. She is still very actively involved in these two areas. In 1984 Eileen was elected to the Levin Borough Council where she served 2 terms before the Council restructured and became the Horowhenua District Council, then did one more term.

A big focus of Eileen’s life has been her extended family with 2 Aunts living to their 90s and her Mother living to over 100, her children and grandchildren, but she has still found time to sing in St John’s Methodist Choir for over 30 years, she was in a local singing group called Levin Concordia, and the Levin Uniting Parish Choir. Eileen has been involved with other church groups such as APW, the morning and evening fellowship groups, plus a study group.

Doug has been in St Johns’ Methodist choir for 25 years; plus since the merger of the two churches Doug has been LUP choirmaster and plays the organ. Choral music and singing has always touched Doug deeply. He said that it still gives him a sense of Christianity and of Christ’s peace. Doug said his Christian faith has been steadily maturing along with him

Eileen’s reply to “What does being a Christian mean to you” was: “it gives you strength for each day and to face what comes your way. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live without Christianity. It gives you meaning and direction to life.”

The latest phase of Eileen and Doug’s life is down sizing and selling their home to move to a Rest Home villa. We wish them well with this move.

During January, the Gilmour Lounge had a ‘face lift’ that is the ceiling has been painted and new wall-paper put up. (after 3 old layers were stripped off first) We have also ‘found’ some ‘new’ curtains for the exit doors (which hopefully by now someone is short-ening them for us). We hope you will like the fresh new look. Thank you to David Emmott with a bit of help from Paul Kirkby.

GILMOUR LOUNGE REFRESHED

“Suriname” “All god’s creation is very good!”

A service prepared by World Day of Prayer Committee.

You are invited to join in worship and fellowship at your local church.

Offerings will be used to support projects in Nicaragua, Guyana and New Zealand

as well as to contribute towards local and international World Day of Prayer

Date Time What Where

Thursday 1st 10am Women's Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Saturday 3rd 8am-11.30am Monthly Market Hall complex

Sunday 4th 10am Communion Worship Church

Tuesday 6th All day Waitangi Day Office closed

Thursday 8th 7.30pm Frist Choir Practice in 2018 Gilmour Lounge

Tuesday 13th 1.30pm Women's Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Wed 21st 7pm Parish Council Gilmour Lounge

Tuesday 27th 7.30pm Women’s Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Sunday 4th 10am Communion Worship Church

Levin Uniting Parish What’s coming up

February DOOR DUTY: 4th—Maurice & Faye Waldrom 11 & 18th—Maurice & Faye Waldrom 25 Feb & 4 March— ?? This only works if people put their hands up!

Cuppa Time after Worship for February: Feb 4 Mary & Lindsay Mackay Feb 11 Heather Haines & Yvonne Symonds Feb 18 Eileen & Doug Bolitho Feb 25 Helen Hutchings & Murray Easton March 4 Helen & Paul Kirkby

February 2018

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP NOTICES FOR FEBRUARY

Irritations and administrative headaches in hot weather -

Why does someone keep stealing the drawing pins on the hall and lounge boards? Why does someone keep stealing the light-bulbs! Who doesn’t take off their dirty shoes/boots before coming in and putting dirt all over our carpet? Who keeps spilling food and drink on the carpet

World Day of Prayer

Giving last 8 weeks: Budgeted: $719.80 Adults attended 3 Dec $1093.90 92 10 Dec $634.80 74 17 Dec $740.00 100 24 Dec $755.50 73 31 Dec $464.50 52 7 Jan $1160.70 80 14 Jan $606.40 70 21 Jan $635.50 68 28 Jan $698.80 77 Total Budgeted: $6,478.20 Total Received: $6,789.90 Over:$311.70 The budgeted amount was included in this years budget that you approved at the AGM. The automat-ic payments have its own budgeted amount & is not included in this figure. Only the envelope/open combined Levin/Waitarere given amounts. Please consider changing to an automatic payment—this is a constant amount, especially if you are unable to attend church every week.

Morning T.C.F: (Tea, Coffee & Fellowship) Meet on Thursday 1st at 10am in the Gilmour Lounge. Afternoon Group: Meet on Tuesday 13th at 1.30pm in the Wesley Lounge. Evening Group: Meet on Tuesday 27th at 7.30pm in the Gilmour Lounge.

Can you spare 1/2 hour on Sunday Evenings? From 5.45pm the community evening meal is served and we need people to help to do this. Talk to Jack or Maurice. Thank you This is EVERY SUNDAY we would love to see you.

Every

Sunday

10am Worship

4.30pm Lifepoint

6pm Community

Meal

7pm Service

Levin &

Waitarere

Gilmour Lge

Hall

Hall

Every

Tuesday

12pm Prayer with

Jack

Wesley

Lounge

Every

Thursday

7.30pm Choir

Practice

Gilmour

Lounge

If you know of someone who is not well, PLEASE let the office know! I will get someone to get in contact

Prayer Chain: If you would like someone to be added to the Prayer

chain, please let Elizabeth in the office know.

Would you like to be part of the Prayer Chain? Contact the office for more info.

Friday 2nd March @ 10am Queen St Chapel

CHRISTMAS LUNCH

BYE FOR NOW CHRISTINA

What a great turn out! Just over 50 people came for our Christmas Lunch on Sunday 17th December 2017. As the service had been held in the hall, it took a few minutes to get everything organised, but with plenty of willing helpers, not a problem. There was a lovely selection of food to choose from and there was even desert. We would like to thank Ruth & Richard Rushton for organising and running this event, and I think it was her family in the kitchen as well! And the ladies who brought salads etc.

On Sunday 17th December 2017, we said farewell to Christina Butland who is off to her new life in the South Island. We have asked that she keep in touch. She was very touched with the card people signed.

They got to sit down for a bit, hope they ate as

well as the rest of us.

NAOMI TAUSI

NEW HALL USER: DIY Natural Cleaning.

2nd Wednesday of the month 10.30—11.30am

Are you interested in : Reducing the toxins in your home? Using more natural products I your household cleaning regimes? Using more natural products in your skin/body care? Come along and enjoy a Make & Take class Bring your own containers to put your finished product in, Or you can purchase glass bottles and containers at a small cost. Contact Mary for more information & to book your place in the class. doTERRA Essentials Oils will be used in the products.

‘a personal reflection by Allen Little From time to time we see Amish people portrayed in movies and think them quaint because of their apparent dress sense and lifestyle. The Amish Mennonites began migrating to Pennsylvania which was regarded as a place of religious toleration. Their migration from Europe was a reaction to religious wars, poverty, and religious persecution common in the Scandinavian region. The Amish are a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss Anabaptist origins. They are closely related to, but distinct from, Mennonite churches. Regardless of the way they are portrayed in our media, the Amish have won public respect for their hard working, systemic disposition and commitment to their community values. In the Horowhenua’s 2013 Census it showed some 11631 people or 38.6% of the population had no religion. With 13731 or 45.6% claiming to be Christian. In the religious summary it shows a variety of small faiths. The thing is whoever we are we belong to a community and we live, work or play together. The Amish people stand out in their local districts. Here in Levin we have people who dare to be different and stand firm on their beliefs. Amongst the 13731 ‘Christians’ there will be a broad spectrum of belief, insight and experience. Sadly some will point finger and think the Church divided. For this reason we need to witness to unity in our diversity celebrating the things we share in common one with another. Perhaps the nearest sect we have in New Zealand to the Amish, would be Gloriavale Christian Community based at Haupiri on the West Coast. This Amish like community has a population of about 600. They dare to be different and are often maligned or ridiculed in the media. At Levin Uniting Church in common with other main line denominations, drawing from the 13731, we dare to be different, celebrating Christmas, commemorating Easter and Loving one and other in the name of Jesus Christ, who we confess as Lord.

Naomi started her Master of Education program in 2003. It was put aside when the twins (Mose and Miliama) were born in 2005 and another 2 children in 2008 and 2010. She decided to complete her program in 2017 and graduated in December 2017

Car Rally Saturday 17th February Meet at 2.45pm sharp for briefing in the Gilmour Lounge

$10 per car It is expected to take approx. 1hr 20m to complete the course. You will be getting out to gather your answers. Ends with a BBQ at Ian & Jeanette's. Take your phone/camera for some fun shots!

Get your teams together now!