Celebrating Lutheran Women of New Zealand
Inviting former members of Lutheran Women of New Zealand and all Lutheran Women to a day of celebration, reminiscence and thanksgiving led by Dr Pauline Simonsen. Come along for a day of fun and fellowship with Christian women.
Theme: Jesus - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Saturday 8th March, 9.45am-3.00pm
St Luke’s Lutheran Church Palmerston North
$10 registration fee
Lunch, morning & afternoon tea provided
Registration Forms available from manawatulutheran@inspire.net.nz
12 February 2014
06 February 2014
Waitangi Day 6th February 2014
Kia tau ki a koutou te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
A Tui Sings at Dawn on Waitangi Day
I’m writing this, having just come from the Dawn Service at the Marae on the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi. Despite the persistent drizzle and the early hour of the day, hundreds gathered ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tamaiti, ko te Wairua Tapu; in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, to pray for God’s continued blessing on those for whom this beautiful place called Aotearoa, is home.
Political leaders, community and iwi leaders, together with representatives of the Christian Church in Aotearoa were invited to pray. Even though some of the prayers managed to include a degree of political comment, most prayed in the spirit of the words of our National Anthem … God of nations, at Thy feet; help us live with each other in the bonds of Your love.
This day we commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) which is the founding document of our nation. It is an agreement entered into by representatives of the Crown and of Māori iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes). It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed on the 6th February 1840. The Treaty was a broad statement of principles upon which the British officials and Māori chiefs made a political compact or covenant to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand to deal with pressing new circumstances. Like many treaties, it is an exchange of promises between the parties to it. (Taken from What is the Treaty? from New Zealand History online, Nga korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa, History Group, Ministry for Culture and Heritage)
The Treaty and Waitangi Day are ideally a celebration of the coming together of people – where Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori New Zealanders) became one.
I have written before that we Christians live by a Treaty of unity too; one that was signed in blood some 2000 years ago. St Paul writes –
Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, and he reconciled all things to himself through him – whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies with him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. (Colossians 1:19-22, CEV)
As our nation continues to seek to understand and live by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in order that we may more genuinely meet and live in bonds of love, I believe we Christians who have been reconciled – brought back into unity with God the Father, back into unity with each other – are invited – no, charged – to be agents for love and unity –
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-17)
As the service came to an end and the day broke through the mist over Te Ti Bay, a tui began to sing from one of the large pōhutukawa trees near the Marae. In this year when we also celebrate that the ‘new song’ of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in Aotearoa for 200 years, maybe we were being reminded by the tui, that we who are church – Christ’s Body in this place, the ones who have received the new song – are also called to sing the song of love into the lives of others.
Yesterday, I was honoured to be welcomed on to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi along with the New Zealand opposition parties, where we listened to passionate speeches from local iwi – Nga Puhi – and equally passionate responses from the politicians in the wharenui (meeting house) about child poverty, deep sea oil drilling in Northland (Nga Puhi region), education, health etc. Afterwards I walked the beautiful coast between Waitangi and Paihia in gentle warm spits of rain. This is a most beautiful part of Aotearoa. There were the usual protests and disruptions yesterday, but my prayer is that all peoples of Aotearoa will learn to live together in peace and aroha matching the beauty of this place.
Later this morning I have been invited to assist in leading the inter-denominational service on the lower Treaty Grounds.
Tomorrow, I will also be attending the 7th New Zealand Christian Leaders Conference in Paihia. On the agenda for presentation and discussion –
I invite you to pray –
He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua He maungārongo ki te whenua He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou Whakatōngia to wairua tapu Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā Amine
Honour and glory to God Peace on Earth Goodwill to all people Lord, develop a new heart Inside all of us Instil in us your sacred spirit Help us, guide us In all the things we need to learn today
Amen
Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou; the Lord be with you.
+MARK
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
Bishop of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Pihopa o te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
A Tui Sings at Dawn on Waitangi Day
 |
| One of the few extant copies of the Treaty of Waitangi |
Political leaders, community and iwi leaders, together with representatives of the Christian Church in Aotearoa were invited to pray. Even though some of the prayers managed to include a degree of political comment, most prayed in the spirit of the words of our National Anthem … God of nations, at Thy feet; help us live with each other in the bonds of Your love.
This day we commemorate Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) which is the founding document of our nation. It is an agreement entered into by representatives of the Crown and of Māori iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes). It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed on the 6th February 1840. The Treaty was a broad statement of principles upon which the British officials and Māori chiefs made a political compact or covenant to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand to deal with pressing new circumstances. Like many treaties, it is an exchange of promises between the parties to it. (Taken from What is the Treaty? from New Zealand History online, Nga korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa, History Group, Ministry for Culture and Heritage)
The Treaty and Waitangi Day are ideally a celebration of the coming together of people – where Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori New Zealanders) became one.
I have written before that we Christians live by a Treaty of unity too; one that was signed in blood some 2000 years ago. St Paul writes –
Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, and he reconciled all things to himself through him – whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies with him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. (Colossians 1:19-22, CEV)
As our nation continues to seek to understand and live by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in order that we may more genuinely meet and live in bonds of love, I believe we Christians who have been reconciled – brought back into unity with God the Father, back into unity with each other – are invited – no, charged – to be agents for love and unity –
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-17)
As the service came to an end and the day broke through the mist over Te Ti Bay, a tui began to sing from one of the large pōhutukawa trees near the Marae. In this year when we also celebrate that the ‘new song’ of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed in Aotearoa for 200 years, maybe we were being reminded by the tui, that we who are church – Christ’s Body in this place, the ones who have received the new song – are also called to sing the song of love into the lives of others.
Yesterday, I was honoured to be welcomed on to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi along with the New Zealand opposition parties, where we listened to passionate speeches from local iwi – Nga Puhi – and equally passionate responses from the politicians in the wharenui (meeting house) about child poverty, deep sea oil drilling in Northland (Nga Puhi region), education, health etc. Afterwards I walked the beautiful coast between Waitangi and Paihia in gentle warm spits of rain. This is a most beautiful part of Aotearoa. There were the usual protests and disruptions yesterday, but my prayer is that all peoples of Aotearoa will learn to live together in peace and aroha matching the beauty of this place.
Later this morning I have been invited to assist in leading the inter-denominational service on the lower Treaty Grounds.
Tomorrow, I will also be attending the 7th New Zealand Christian Leaders Conference in Paihia. On the agenda for presentation and discussion –
- 200 years on – Secularism in Aotearoa New Zealand. At the first sitting of New Zealand’s parliament in 1854 a resolution was passed that “in proceeding to carry out the resolution of the House to open its proceedings with prayer, the House asserts the privilege of a perfect political equality in all religious denominations, and that, whoever may be called upon to perform this duty for the House, it is not thereby intended to confer or admit any pre-eminence to that Church or religious body to which he may belong.” When he was crowned as the first Maori king at Ngaruawahia in 1858, Potatau called on his people to hold fast to faith in God. How are these historical events relevant to the issue of secularism? To what extent is it true that Aotearoa New Zealand is a secular country? What is meant by this? How might we become less secular?
- 200 years on – Marriage and Whanau in Aotearoa New Zealand. The passing of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill in April 2013, and the evidence of declining marriage numbers over the past 30-40 years, have been a cause of increasing concern for many people in New Zealand. The Church has a responsibility to be involved in this issue not only to seek the wellbeing of society, but as a witness to the ways of God and the difference God makes in people’s lives. This will involve a double approach, both promoting marriage within Christian communities and working with other community groups to develop strategies for encouraging healthy marriages and recapturing the importance of marriage” (extract from Towards a Strategy for Building a Healthy Marriage Culture, NZ Christian Network discussion group, 2013) How important is marriage in 21st century Aotearoa New Zealand? What does the Church need to do to build a healthy marriage culture?
I invite you to pray –
He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua He maungārongo ki te whenua He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou Whakatōngia to wairua tapu Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā Amine
Honour and glory to God Peace on Earth Goodwill to all people Lord, develop a new heart Inside all of us Instil in us your sacred spirit Help us, guide us In all the things we need to learn today
Amen
Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou; the Lord be with you.
+MARK
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
Bishop of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Pihopa o te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
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