願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
Partnership in the Gospel
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, since I last wrote to you. I’ve experienced great joy as President as I have participated in and shared in moments, conversations, events, etc. where partnerships have been established and celebrated; partnerships that, God-willing, will strengthen and enhance our witness to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus.
Let me tell you all about it!
Partners in the Gospel in Auckland
On Sunday 9th September around 170 people gathered at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland to welcome Pastor Joe and Julie Kummerow and their children (Lucy, Emily, Nicholas and Alexander), and to see Joe installed as Pastor of the Auckland Lutheran Parish. There was great joy as both Joe and the congregation committed to a partnership in the gospel that will see the love of God in Jesus Christ continue to be proclaimed through the various ministries of that parish.
Our sung prayer after we’d called ‘Naumai; haere mai’ (welcome) – as the Kummerow family entered the church at the beginning of worship – was that this pastor and these people would be one, bound in love for ever, growing close together day by day; growing as God fills them with his life.
We pray for you Joe and Julie and te tamariki o te whanau Kummerow (your family), that you settle in well to life and ministry here in New Zealand, and that joy will be in abundance as you hear Jesus speak to you and as you open your hearts and lips and lives to share him with Auckland.
- Heavenly Father, we thank you for calling Joe to be a steward of your holy mysteries and for giving him to this parish as its pastor. Fill him with your Holy Spirit, so that he may tenderly care for your people and give freely of himself to them. Help him to proclaim the gospel clearly and lead your people boldly. Watch over Julie and the children also, as they settle into the routine of home life and school life. As this parish is led by Pastor Joe let it hold firmly to the word of life, rejoice in your grace, and shine brightly as a light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Over 40 people gathered at the call of the Holy Spirit at Foxton Bible Camp last weekend (14-16 September) for a Kogudus Retreat under the theme – Prayer : Growing in a relationship; not mastering a technique. And we were blessed as we were drawn close to the Father God’s heart. Under the capable and gentle leadership of Sharolyn Mollet, the Spirit stirred in us as we heard stimulating presentations, and were given opportunity to meet in small groups and to pray intentionally for each other.
The adage that a family that prays together stays together is true for our church also, and is God’s plan and purpose for us.
I want to highlight the blessing for me personally and for four other members of your Council of Synod (COS). We were placed in our own small group. What a blessing this was as we read scripture together and talked, as we discussed matters pertaining to our role as servant leaders of the National Church, and as we prayed for the Church and for the Lord’s will to be done through us and in us. And what a wonderful moment when the five of us were invited by Retreat Chaplain, Pastor Phil Husband, to stand together as one during Sunday worship, surrounded by the people of the Church praying for us.
It was also a joy to welcome the participation of sisters and brothers in Christ from other church denominations as well (remember, it’s all part of this relational thing when you belong to Christ!).
- Lord of relationships, thank you for relating to us in such loving ways and for inviting us to into relationship and partnership with you through the gift of prayer. Thank you for the blessing that Kogudus was and is to so many in your Church. Amen.
On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of ‘introducing’ the members of St Martin Marton and St Johns Halcombe to Sharolyn and Dennis Mollet. Of course, most of these folk know each other already. But on Wednesday evening, we marked the start of a new partnership in ministry.
Sharolyn and Dennis have heard the Lord’s call to offer themselves for specific pastoral ministry in Marton and Halcombe, where it is hoped that, God-willing, Dennis might eventually offer himself as an SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) for these two congregations. At this stage we’re just beginning the journey … exploring and discerning God’s will; it’s not formal yet. However over the next few weeks and months, Sharolyn and Dennis will meet regularly with the folk at Marton and Halcombe, so that together they can hear the call of God to be partners in the ministry of the Gospel.
- Lord, you surely know the plans for your people – plans to give us a future with hope. Please prosper your plans and purposes for the partnership in ministry that is beginning between Sharolyn and Dennis at Marton and Halcombe. Amen.
It’s been said that behind every good church there’s a good administration (well, there’s a saying that goes something like that, anyway). During this past week we have welcomed a new part-time administrator to the LCNZ National Office. Robert Hagen comes to this position with great skills and with a real desire to assist our church in attaining real efficiency in administration. Welcome Robert!
So on Tuesday past, we gathered as a team for the first time – Wayne Drogemuller (Treasurer who has also kept the administrative home fires burning since August last year / thanks Wayne!), Robert Hagen (new LCNZ administrator), Anna Kroehn (Lutheran Support Ministries administrator), Petrus Simons (who has done wonderful work sorting through files and folders and stuff), and yours truly.
We opened our day together in the name of the God of relationships – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and then spent the day talking together and working out how best we could function in such a way that the Lord’s ministry through the LCNZ might be supported and blessed.
- Lord God of relationships, please bless the partnerships in ministry that exist in our National Office. Keep those partnerships and friendships strong, that we may be a blessing and support to your church. Amen.
- Wednesday 17th October and Wednesday 24th October
- 7.30pm at Harrison Street Community Church (ending by 9.30pm)
- Attendance at Team Member training is a pre-requisite for this training
- RSVP to Anna Kroehn, LSM Administrator if you are planning on attendin
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1 3-6)
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
