願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
Up the River … (Without a Paddle?) … Peace; Be Still
During this past week the Pastors and Church Workers gathered at Harrison Street Community Church (St John’s Lutheran) in Whanganui for the second of our annual Church Worker Conferences. Despite being small in number, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity for sharing, mutual support and encouragement, worship, prayer, study, and just generally some time away from the coalface of our ministry situations in order to be refreshed and recharged.
On Wednesday afternoon, we left the hustle and bustle of city life behind and drove up the picturesque Whanganui River Valley road through the communities of Atene (Athens), Koroniti (Corinth), and Ranana (London) to the quietness, remoteness and solitude of Hiruhurama (Jerusalem).
Hiruhurama was once an important kainga (fishing village) on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was established in 1854. Hiruharama was the site where, in 1892, Suzanne Aubert (better known as Mother Mary Joseph) established the congregation of the Sisters of Compassion. They became a highly respected charitable nursing and religious order. A convent remains on the mission property as well as a beautiful weatherboard church. Well-known New Zealand poet James K. Baxter and many of his followers formed a community at Hiruhurama in 1970 and Baxter is buried there.
Before we left this beautiful place, Pastor Lee Kroehn (Manawatu) led our closing devotion and prayers for the day in the church – Hato Hohepa (St Joseph’s) – and read the following from the gospel for this coming Sunday –
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)
In this gorgeous location … up the river … with some of feeling at times as if we’re up the river without a paddle or two due to the pressures and demands of ministry … together with our Lord speaking to us, we were able to be still and to experience the peace of Jesus. It was, as some of us agreed, a most spiritual experience (to use a very clichéd phrase).
- Lord Jesus, please speak peace into our lives and say “be still” to the storms when they gather around us. Remind us that you are in the boat of our lives (paddling up the river) with us. Amen.
Pastor John Davison (Hamilton / Bay of Plenty) reports that about 41 people gathered at St Matthew Hamilton recently to give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Pastor Allan Heppner. One couple travelled from Te Kuiti. Debra and Rochelle Heppner, together with Allan’s parents-in-law Buster and Joan Kells were also present. John said that it was a blessing for everyone concerned.
· Gracious God, we thank you for the memories you give us of those who were special to us and a blessing to our church. We continue to thank you for Allan and ask you to be close with your peace and stillness to those who grieve for him. Amen.
Graduate Debrief
On Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th, together with the other Presidents of the Church, I participated in the Graduate Pastor debrief in Adelaide. Included in the class that graduated at the end of 2010 were our own Pastor Chris (Ernst) Janetzki and his wife Haidee from Upper Moutere / Hope. These two days gave the graduates a wonderful opportunity to share their “highs and lows” with their colleagues and to receive love, counsel and support from the Presidents of the Church. I was very impressed with the calibre of this group of young pastors, and was taken especially by the ways in which each was intentionally engaging in the ministry opportunities and locations in which they’d been placed.
Chris and Haidee are no exception; they are a wonderful blessing to our church here in Aotearoa-NZ, and especially in the communities of Hope and Upper Moutere. They need our love and support as they continue to grow in ministry and serve the Lord of the Church.
- Thanks Lord for the young and energetic Graduate Pastors in our church, and thanks especially for Chris and Haidee who you’ve given to us here in NZ. Watch over them and bless them in their ministry and life, and bring Chris and Haidee back to us refreshed after their time in Australia. Amen.
Welcome to Dr John Koch and his wife Karen. John has begun a 6 week locum ministry at St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West. It was great to welcome John and Karen to our Church Workers conference during the week too.
- Thank you Lord God for providing pastors for your church and especially for those who come and fill in during vacancies – Pastor Rex Mickan and Robyn (Mountainside) and Dr John Koch and Karen (Wellington/Wairarapa). Bless their presence and their work among us, and watch over the families and friends they leave behind in Australia to be here. Amen.
Just a wee reminder … ChildSafe training takes place at Harrison Street Community Church (St John’s Lutheran Church), 98 Harrison Street, Whanganui … tomorrow (Saturday 23rd June) from 9.00am to 5.00pm.
Annual Leave
I am taking 3 weeks annual leave from today until Friday 13th July. During this time if you need to contact someone from the National Office, please do the following:
- Email lcnz@clear.net.nz or phone (04) 3852540, or
- In an urgent / emergency situation contact the Vice President of the church, Pastor John Davison on 027 5078897
God be with you.
+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
