LCNZ Update 8 February 2013

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

St Johns Halcombe to Close
Dear members of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) and friends, in recent weeks I have been meeting with members of the small congregation of St Johns Halcombe to discuss their future.

In recent years numbers have declined steadily. The congregation numbers about 7 and so while this was a sad decision to make, we believe it is a wise decision.

I recently wrote the following to the members of the Council of Synod -

While this is quite a sad announcement to make to you, I believe that God has good and new things in store for us in the LCNZ … good and new things that even come out of a dying and closure such as St Johns. I am incredibly grateful to our Lord for the way he opened the hearts of these people to be open to change, closure … and open and welcoming towards me, as I broached the subject with them. The members of this small congregation have displayed amazing grace during these weeks of conversation; thank God for that.

Judy Calder, chair of the Council of Synod writes the following -

St Johns Halcombe was for a very long period a central place in the Lutheran Church. Historically it has been very important and it has contributed well to the church.

The date for the Closing Service has been set for Sunday 2nd June 2013. We have already formed a small organising committee to prepare for this day of thanksgiving to God, and we will inform you of details in connection with this service as plans and decisions are made.

Our plan will be to acknowledge how God has blessed many people through the ministry of St Johns over the years - the members of St Johs, the community of Halcombe, and the wider Lutheran Church.

Our God is a God of seasons - seasons that include life and death. i encourage us all not to consider the closing of St Johns so much as a death as much as it is a celebration of the life of grace that God has brought to bear on and through this congregation.

I was sent these words in an article to read -

The gospel of John describes a sad scene of scared, grief-stricken, and disappointed disciples. A few days after the resurrection, these disciples are hiding out in a house behind locked doors. Jesus appears among them anyway on that first Easter evening, and his first words to them are, "Peace. At ease. Just breathe. Receive the Holy Spirit." 

When it is closing time in any congregation, inevitably there is grief about what comes to an end—with disappointments and with uncertainties about what will happen next. And yet these are precisely the conditions that Jesus entered into on that first Easter evening. 

If what happened then still happens now, a congregation’s closing strains our Easter credulity that it is actually an ending at all. Disciples that linger long enough in the dark with God eventually come to find the end to be but a beginning. And that being in the darkness with God sheds a whole new light on things. The body of Christ is truly ever dying and rising again.

Meetings
The season of meetings for 2013 has already begun. The Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM) and the Finance Advisory Council (FAC) have already met. I attended a Mission Directors meeting in Melbourne last week. This coming week I will be attending College of Presidents and one day of the General Church Council (GCC) as well as a whole host of other meetings sandwiched in-between. The LLL Board meet at Botany on the 16th February and COS and the Gateway Gift Trust Baord will meet on the 1st and 2nd March.

Please pray for those involved in serving on committees and boards and councils.

Next Issue of the Olive Tree
Just a reminder about the first edition of the Olive Tree for 2013. The theme is Discipleship and how we are reaching out to others around us. The text is Matthew 4:18-20 ... As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Please send your stories and articles to Dan by the 15th of February.

Upper Moutere Fire
Some of you may have heard that fire destroyed part of the Moutere Hills Community Centre and Upper Moutere on the 21st January. More information is available at these websites -

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8206697/Fire-crews-rush-to-battle-Moutere-blaze
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/8212986/Moutere-community-undaunted-by-blaze
http://nelsonweekly.co.nz/fire-guts-moutere-community-centre/

eNews ... President's Page / LCNZ Updates
Please encourage others to sign up for the regular updates on news around the LCNZ and beyond. It's as simple as going to http://www.enews.lca.org.au and following the instructions.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki; God be with you …

+MARK

LCNZ Update 30 January 2013

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

To Proclaim Good News to the Poor
Happy New Year everyone! I hope that 2013 has started really well for you and that over the last few weeks since Christmas, you’ve had some time to relax with family and friends … at the beach or the bach (pronounced batch; meaning holiday house for the non-Kiwis reading this), at the cricket (didn’t the Black Caps do well … eventually!!), bush walking, or just spending some lazy days at home.

Just 4 weeks ago our God became flesh and made his dwelling among us in the person of his Son Jesus. Why? So that God through his Son might proclaim good news to the poor (you, me, everyone!) … release, freedom, sight … his favour and kindness (Luke 4).

My prayer is that just as you welcomed and received his love again at Christmas you will open your hearts to welcome and receive it all year through. And one more thing … why not tell someone else this good news of Jesus … especially someone who needs to hear it?

The Spirit of the Lord who is upon you (Luke 4) assures you of his support.

And there my friends is the simple and exciting mission for you, for us, for the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) for the rest of 2013 and beyond … through to eternity. Together, let’s proclaim the very best good news there is!

Servant of Christ Award
As mentioned in a previous LCNZ Update, Buster Kells of Palmerston North was chosen to receive a Servant of Christ award at the end of last year. However, for health reasons at the time, Buster and his wife Joan were unable to travel to Adelaide to receive the award.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of preaching at St Lukes in Palmerston North and presenting Buster with his award. I invite you all to thank God for Buster’s servant-heart and his contribution to life and ministry in the LCNZ.

It’s an ideal opportunity for you to identify others who serve in loving and humble ways in your own congregations and to say thanks … to them, and to God!

I also had the pleasure of opening an extension to the Community Room at the Lutheran Homes in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon.

Lutheran Support Ministries – Workshop with Shannon Hood
Last Saturday your Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM) team spent the day in a workshop directed by Shannon Hood. Shannon helped lead the LCNZ through its Summit in mid-2010, and if any of you remember that day, you’ll remember that it was a day charged with high energy, great ideas, passion for the Lord’s church, and a desire to see the LCNZ grow in understanding its role in bringing about the Kingdom of God in Aotearoa-New Zealand and throughout the world.

Shannon has now come back to help us work through a process of engagement with you – the church – so that the Spirit-inspired initiatives that came out of the Summit aren’t lost or forgotten, but rather that they might be engaged with, put into action and become a rich blessing to us and the Lord’s mission.

Nau Mai; Haere Mai
We welcome two servants of the Lord back to ministry in the LCNZ – welcome Pastor Norm Bergen and Kay. Norm and Kay have arrived for a second stint of ministry with the people of St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Wairarapa. They will be with us until early April. Norm and Kay – the Spirit of the Lord is upon you also; thank you for coming back to proclaim the good news of Christ in our midst.

At the same time we say thanks to God for his gift to us of Pastor Brian Schwarz and Janet, who served in Wellington over the Advent-Christmas-New Year period.

Childsafe Training Dates
Team Member Training

• Manawatu (St. Luke's Lutheran Church)
• Monday 4th and 11th February, 7:30pm - 9:30pm.
• Auckland (Mountainside Lutheran Church)
• Saturday February 16th. 9am start. Lunch and morning tea provided. Safe Place training provided from 2:30pm. 5pm end.

Team Leader Training

• Manawatu (St. Luke's Lutheran Church)
• Sunday March 3rd 12:30-5pm. Lunch and afternoon tea provided. Please RSVP.

Combined Team Leader and Coordinator Training

• Auckland
• Prelude to Church Workers Conference, with an emphasis on the training of pastors. Lay people welcome. Starts Monday March 4th, 1pm start. Finishing by 5pm. Concludes on Tuesday March 5th at 10am, finishing by 12pm.

Retirement Of Rev Trev
Pastor Trevor Jurgens (Hawkes Bay) has announced his retirement, effective from the end of April this year. I met recently with Trevor to thank him and to thank God for his ministry over many years. We also discussed the date when Trevor would preach and administer the sacrament for the last time in the Hawkes Bay. That service will be held on Sunday 7th April in the late afternoon, and we would love as many people to come to that service to thank Trevor and Jeanette, and to honour God for allowing his Spirit to anoint Trevor to proclaim Christ. (More details to follow)

There’s a Lot More to Upper Moutere Than Just the Peckhams Cider
I really en-joy the Peckhams Cider on tap at the Moutere Inn in Upper Moutere, but that joy is nothing compared to the joy I had of visiting the Spirit-anointed people of Upper Moutere and Hope, together with their Pastor, Chris Janetzki, this last weekend.

The main purpose of my visit was to conduct a review with Pastor Chris – a recent graduate from Australian Lutheran College (the seminary) – as he completed the first two years of ordained ministry. Six members of the parish were invited to reflect on various aspects of the ministry they share with Pastor Chris and especially to focus on affirming his strengths in ministry and identifying ‘growth areas.’ We met for 3 hours on Saturday morning and were filled with gratitude to God for the way he has established and blessed this pastor-people relationship.

Things are going well – there is a beautiful church-community connection, there are young families an kids involved in worship and the life of the church, there is a real desire to reach others with the love of Jesus … and what a privilege for me to announce to the people of this parish on Sunday morning that Pastor Chris’ call could be regularised – i.e. changed from the status of graduate pastor to regularly called pastor.

Bushfire Update – Australia (from the LCA President’s Page)
Bushfires are always a concern in the summer months across Australia. This year has already seen some dreadful fires, particularly in NSW and VIC.

The Victoria District Office reports that the Gippsland area is slowly getting under control, with several LCA members in the area among those who have had extensive damage to properties, although there haven’t been fatalities. The Sale and Traralgon townships have respite centres set up, which Pastor Stephen van der Hoek has been visiting.

In the NSW District the District Office reports that so far there has only been one member who has suffered property damage in the Wagga Wagga area. The fires did come within 5kms of St Paul’s at Henty. Specific Ministry Pastor Melvin Salzke (Cooma NSW), who is also Senior Deputy Captain of his local CFS brigade and has been on the front line fighting the fires reports ‘In recent weeks we have seen on-going extreme fire weather and an extraordinary number of destructive bushfires across Australia, with a significant number very large and causing massive damage and loss. Demand on volunteers has been very high and the usual availability of outside help has not been there. Fire fighters have been stretched to the exhausting limit, and suffered financial loss away from their work and businesses. In our local area we have had one of those major fires, covering an area of over 120 sq km straddling the Kybeyan range with areas of the North and South perimeters inaccessible steep terrain.‘

Please keep in your prayers not only those who have lost property and livelihoods from the fires, but also fire-fighters and emergency workers who continue to battle the blazes and support those affected.

Mission Directors to Meet
On Thursday 31st and Friday 1st I will be attending my first Mission Directors meeting together with Mission Directors from other Districts. I’m excited to be attending this meeting in Melbourne, and I hope that my future engagement with the other Directors will only seek to inspire and equip me for leading and encouraging you in the mission that God has given to us all … to go and make disciples of Jesus … to proclaim good news to the poor … you know the story don’t you; the Spirit is upon you after all.

In Your Prayers

• The Manawatu Parish (Feilding and Palmerston North) as they prepare to call a new pastor. I met with their leadership group on Tuesday to begin the call process.
• For Pastor Lee, Anna, Jonah, Imogen and Jonah, as they conclude their ministry and time in the Manawatu and prepare to shift to Adelaide.
• The Marton parish as we continue to work towards an Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) arrangement for them.
• The outcomes of the LSM workshop with Shannon Hood this Saturday.
• For teachers and students as they go back to school in coming days and weeks.
• For those affected by fires, both here and in Australia.
• Pray for the ChildSafe training taking place in coming weeks.
• For all servants of Christ.
• Thank God for his Spirit that draws you to Christ and that empowers you for sharing the Christ story with others. 
• Pray that the LCNZ will continue to grow in its passion for proclaiming the good news.

Me te aroha nui ki a koutou katoa; lots of love to you all.

+MARK

LCNZ Update 28 December 2012

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

Call News
I write to inform you that last Sunday, Pastor Lee Kroehn announced to the members of the Manawatu Parish  that he had accepted the call to St Johns Lutheran Church in Unley, Adelaide, South Australia. I won’t write  much here, but will rather save it until the time draws closer for Lee, Anna, Owen, Imogen and Jonah to leave  New Zealand. Suffice it to say that we commit them to the Lord’s continued protection and care as they  complete ministry with us here in the LCNZ and as they prepare to return “home” to begin the same ministry of  God’s love come to life in Adelaide. Thank you Lee and Anna, together with your children, for sharing life and  ministry with us here.

Continue to pray for them, and pray also now for the members of the Manawatu Parish as they begin seeking the Lord’s will with regard to a new pastor.

Ma te aroha o te Karaiti; with the love of Christ

+Mark
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa

LCNZ Update 21 December 2012

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

All My Heart This Night Rejoices
Today I attended the funeral of an elderly man whose earthly life had been transformed into the life that endeth never, simply and profoundly because he belonged to and was loved through life and death, and into life again by the one born in the manger. He was a friend of Jesus; Saviour of the world. You too are invited again to kneel at the manger; to receive Jesus as your friend and Saviour, and to hear him invite you to share eternity with him –

Hark! a voice from yonder manger
    Soft and sweet,
    Doth entreat:
Flee from woe and danger.
Children, from all ills that grieve you
    You are freed;
    All you need
I will surely give you.

And you may reply –

Dearest Lord, Thee will I cherish,
    Live to Thee,
    Die to Thee;
Thus I shall not perish,
But in life that endeth never,
    Joyfully,
    Peacefully
Dwell with Thee for ever.

Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen Paul Gerhardt 1607-1676 (LHS-24)

I pray that this Christmas it will dawn on you once again, how blessed you are to belong, by your most holy baptism, to the God whose love comes to life in Christ, born at Bethlehem. Because of this baby … swaddling clothes and all that stuff … oh yes, and a cross … because of this one – Immanuel – you will dwell with Him for ever. May your heart rejoice this Christmas and always.

Christmas Worship Throughout Aotearoa
Wherever you are – except way up north or way down south (or out at the Chatham Islands) – there is a  Lutheran Church waiting to welcome you to Christmas worship.

Check this out –
Mountainside, Mt Wellington, Auckland

• Christmas Eve, 6.00pm (with Children’s presentation) and 11.00pm (Carols and Readings)
• Christmas Day, 10.00am

North Shore, Auckland

• 23rd December, 5.00pm, Carols and Readings

Botany Lutheran Church, Botany, Auckland

• No Christmas Eve service – will be joining with Mountainside.
• 22nd December, 7.00pm, Carol, drama and Christmas dinner (yum yum)
• 23rd December, 10.00am, Carol and Lessons, Holy Communion
• Christmas Day, 10.00am, Carol, reading and lesson, Holy Communion

St Matthew Hamilton – 27 Abbotsford Street, Whitiora, Hamilton

• 21st December, 7:30pm, German Readings and Carols Service
• 23rd December, 10:00am, Lessons and Carols Service
• Christmas Day, 9:00am, Divine Service with Holy Communion (H.C. liturgy set to carol tunes)

Tauranga Lutheran Fellowship – Community Centre, Carmel Country Estate, 11 Hollister Lane, Ohauiti, Tauranga

• 23rd December, 10:00am, Divine Service with Holy Communion (H.C. liturgy set to carol tunes)
• Please note there is no service on Christmas Eve or Day

Kawerau Lutheran Church – 256 -258 River Road, Kawerau

• 23rd December, 7.00pm, Divine Service
• Please note there is no service on Christmas Eve or Day

Whakatane Lutheran Church – 27-29 Hinemoa Street, Whakatane

• 23rd December, 9.30am, Divine Service
• Christmas Day, 9:30am Divine Service

Marton/Halcombe

• Christmas Eve, 7.30pm – St Johns Lutheran Church, Kimber Street, Halcombe – service led by Bethney Stafford
• Christmas Day, 10.00am – St Martins Lutheran Church, 94 Pukepapa Road, Marton – service led by President Mark Whitfield

St Lukes Palmerston North

• Christmas Eve, 7.00pm
• Christmas Day, 10.00am – Contemporary Worship with Holy Communion
• 30th December, 10.30am – Combined Worship

Trinity, Feilding

• 23rd December, 9.00am
• Christmas Day, 9.00am – Worship with Holy Communion

St Pauls Wellington

• 23rd December, 10 a.m.
• Christmas Eve, 7 p.m.
• Christmas Day, 10 a.m.
• 30th December, 10 a.m.
• 6th January, 10 a.m.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church/The Wetlands Chapel, 130 Burwood Road, Christchurch

• 20th December, 7:30pm – Scandinavian Christmas: Informal Multi-Language Worship with Scandinavian Society, supper after.
• 23rd December, 10am – Advent 4: Informal Inter-Generational Worship (Faith Inkubators) with Holy Communion, morning tea after. 
• Christmas Eve, 7:30pm - Traditional Christmas Readings & Carols, with Holy Communion.
• Christmas Day, 9:30am – Informal Jesus’ Birthday Celebration (including birthday cake!), with quake-displaced Emmett Street Church.
• 30th December, 10am – Christmas 1: Contemporary Worship (without Holy Communion), morning tea after.
• 6th January, 10am – Epiphany: Traditional Liturgical Worship (without Holy Communion), morning tea after.

Church Organ Available
Mountainside Lutheran Church have an Allen Digital organ available to any parish/congregation in the LCNZ. Keith Duncan writes –

The Allen 225 in Mountainside is now surplus to the parish requirements. I have been asked to approach you to determine whether any other parish in the LCNZ would be interested in the Allen. Allen Digital Organ – MOS series 2, Model 225, manufactured 1981-82. Full 2 manual AGO console with moving stop tabs – 32 note pedal board.

National Office Closed During Christmas / New Year
21st December – 8th January 2013 Office closed
21st December – 30th December President Mark on call
1st January – 8th January President Mark on leave – please call Vice President, Pastor John Davison on 07 8395768 during this time in emergencies

Ngā Mihi O Te Kirihimete
My wife Leanne, and children – Chelsea, Brittany and Charlotte, together with me, thank you all for your aroha and support throughout 2012. Many of you have been the means by which God’s love has come to life in our lives just when we needed it, and we thank you for that.

May Jesus – Saviour, friend of sinners, Son of God, Prince of peace, baby in a manger (etc.) – be Immanuel (God with you) now and throughout 2013.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete; Christmas greetings and blessings to you all, from the Five Welly Whitfields.

Me te aroha nui ki a koutou katoa; lots of love to you all.

+Mark
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa

LCNZ Update 1 December 2012

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

Rhythms of Life
My youngest daughter, Charlotte (7) and I have a rhythm to Thursday afternoons between about 4:05pm and 5:30pm. It goes a bit like this –

4:05pm

• I collect Charlotte from her after-school sports program.

4:05+5 seconds pm

• Charlotte reminds me that its “treat day.”

4:15-20pm

• We go to New World supermarket at Chaffers and Wakefield Street to buy soup and ciabatta bread for evening meal.
• Once the soup and bread are in shopping basket, we head down the confectionery aisle. Charlotte chooses her ‘treat’ … usually a chocolate-covered licorice log thing.

4:25pm

• We drive home and as we pass the stadium, we always have a little conversation about the next cricket or rugby game that’s advertised on the big signs, and we always try and beat each other to spot the next train on the suburban line that goes past our street. We usually always invent new spoonerisms as we drive up the gorge to our home, and make each other laugh.

4:30pm

• We arrive home and Charlotte asks if I’ve checked for mail. She checks for mail, and then we head inside. She unpacks her bags, finishes any left-over lunch, turns the TV on to Disney Channel, while I make myself a cuppa and then fall asleep reading the suburban paper in the comfy chair near the sunny window.

5:30pm

• I get the soup cooking and thinly slice the ciabatta bread, in readiness for a family that will now come and go in dribs and drabs through until about 8:45pm.

That’s just one little piece of the rhythm of our lives; I’m sure you have rhythm in your lives too!

I’m writing this on the eve of the beginning of a New Year. Sunday is Advent Sunday which marks the beginning again of the rhythm of life called the Church Year. Once again – just as each Thursday afternoon is ‘once again’ for Charlotte and me – we embark on a familiar journey which will have us (1) prepare for the first advent/coming of Jesus Christ, (2) his birth, (3) his ministry on earth, his suffering, death and resurrection, (4) his ascension into heaven, (5) his provision of the Holy Spirit, and (6) that post-Pentecost period when we as Church are empowered and inspired and encouraged to fulfil our baptismal calling to proclaim the mighty acts of the one who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).

So, “Happy New Year” to you all! I pray that as the year unfolds, you again will be embraced by the rhythm of the salvation story that God tells through various sections (chapters and movements). And can I suggest that every day of this New Year you allow yourself to be embraced by an even more ‘personal’ rhythm of life … a rhythm that begins (and ends) with these words – in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit – a rhythm that begins new each morning as we remember whose we are, and who it is that we serve.

• Stir up your power, O Lord, and come, that by your protection we may be rescued from the threatening dangers of our sins, and saved by your mighty deliverance; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Prayer for Advent Sunday)

100th Anniversary of Ordination: Hamuera Te Punga
On Sunday 16th December at 11.00am at Halcombe Lutheran church, Pastor Trevor Jurgens will lead a service to celebrate the 100th year since Hamuera Te Punga was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in South Chicago, USA. During the service the congregation will be invited to sing the Halcombe Lord’s Prayer (bring your best voices; it goes up real high towards the end!) which was brought to Halcombe by Hamuera's wife, Lydia.

• Thank you Lord God, for your gift to this church of Pastor Hamuera Te Punga. Thank you for calling him to be a shepherd and overseer to care for your flock. Thank you also for his whanau who continue to worship and serve you through the Lutheran Church of New Zealand. Amen.

50th Anniversary: Harrison St Community Church/St Johns Whanganui
On Sunday 9th December, our sisters and brothers in Whanganui will be gathering in worship, thanksgiving and fellowship to celebrate God’s faithfulness to them over the past 50 years. There is much to thank God for. Just the other day, Pastor Phil sent me the following email –

This is a small thing for a big church but for us it is cause for a celebration. We are having a small ceremony to welcome a family into our church. First time in years. We are also moving to two tables at communion. We have gone from 12 to up to 21. Keep praying we are working really hard and at times it is difficult to find time but God will find a way. Cheers and blessings Phil.

Praise God for this, and let me suggest that you send a greeting and a message of encouragement to Whanganui on this special day.

• Heavenly Father, continue to fill this congregation with your gracious presence, and build up your people through your gospel as they continue to gather here and call on you. Give them the joy of your salvation as they gather to thank and praise you at this anniversary time. Amen.

Nau Mai; Haere Mai: Janet and Pastor Brian Schwarz
We welcome Janet and Brian to New Zealand for a short stint of locum ministry in Wellington and the Wairarapa. Thank you so much for your willingness to come and at such a busy time of the Church Year too. We hope and pray that you will enjoy your time with us, and that your ministry amongst us will be a blessing both to you and the people of God you serve.

• Thank you Lord God for providing pastors for your church and especially for those who come and fill in during vacancies. We thank you for Janet and Pastor Brian. Give them joy in their time of ministry amongst us. Thank you for their ministry of encouragement among us. Amen.

Servant of Christ Award: Buster Kells
Buster Kells from St Lukes Palmerston North is to be a recipient of the Servant of Christ award for 2012. For health reasons however, Buster and Joan were not able to travel to Adelaide in November for Buster to receive his award. Plans however are being made for a special event to coincide with worship at St Lukes Palmerston North in late January when I will read the citation to Buster and present him with his award. There is also a plan to acknowledge this during LCNZ District Convention in June next year. The full citation (which will be read in all LCNZ congregations on Advent Sunday) reads –

Servant of Christ Award 2012 – Citation for Albert Joseph (Buster) Kells
A journey begins with a single step, but sometimes even a long journey does not take us far from where we began. The value and significance lies not in the distance covered but in the quality of the journey itself. Buster Kells has lived and served in Palmerston North, New Zealand, all his life. Since his baptism as an infant in 1934 he has been a member of St Luke’s Lutheran Church. He graduated from Palmerston North Boys’ High School as Dux Ludorum in 1952, receiving the Hanney Cup for all round excellence in sport and scholarship. Also an accomplished musician, he played the piano for school dances. After further study he worked throughout his life as an accountant and stockbroker in the city of his birth. Buster married Joan in 1957 and they have four children.

A natural leader, Buster never sought the limelight, but he was glad to be able to serve by providing administrative and financial expertise to his Church. In the faithful following of his vocation Buster has served Christ and his people. His record of 35 years as a member and the administrator of the Lutheran Homes Trust Board in Palmerston North speaks of someone who, in the Lord’s name and with a minimum of fuss, does what needs to be done for the sake of those in need. He was for many years a member of the New Zealand Lutheran Laymen’s League Board and the Church Council and Finance Council of the LCNZ. He also served as a member of the LCA’s General Church Council.

His service in St Luke’s Lutheran Church covers most aspects of congregational life, from small group leader to chairperson and treasurer, to organist and choir director. He also found time to be on the cleaning roster and filled the role of the local LLL promoter and treasurer. Simply put, Buster is ready and willing when something needs to be done. He has a true servant’s heart. Even after he handed to others the reins of the elected leadership of the congregation, he remained willing to serve by helping with other projects including the St Luke’s Centenary in 1982, the 125th anniversary celebrations in 2007 and the Church Building Committee in 1986 and 1987. A gifted speaker, for decades he was a natural choice for MC at parish social events.

Buster has played an encouraging and supportive role for all his pastors down through the years, as well as LCNZ presidents and other leaders, being happy to share his knowledge and wisdom and to be a sounding board in regard to the issues of the day. His pastor Lee Kroehn writes –

Buster is a hard-working, faithful member who has served both his local parish and the wider church with enthusiasm and integrity. His love for the Lord is evident in all that he does for both the church and the community.

In the Manawatu Buster is well known and respected as a Christian whose name is synonymous with the Lutheran Village independent living units which stand as a model of Christian involvement in the community. Through the efforts of Buster and others, the Lutheran Village enjoys a very positive relationship with both the community and the government, culminating in the national award of ‘Residential Trust of the Year’ in 2004. A steadfast and humble witness to his faith, Buster is also a Justice of the Peace and was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for community service in June 2005. He has also served on the Palmerston North Hospital Board.

Upon the recommendation of the Honours Committee, the Lutheran Church of Australia recognises Buster as a fitting recipient of the Servant of Christ award. He represents all those who faithfully hear their Lord’s call and use their gifts and talents as Servants of Christ through their vocations in both church and society.

• We thank you gracious Father for Buster and for his servant-heart and work in the Manawatu parish and in the LCNZ. We commend him and his wife, Joan, to your continue grace and love. Amen.

Call News
Please continue to pray for Pastor Lee, Anna, Owen, Imogen and Jonah Kroehn, as they continue to wrestle with the call Lee has received to Unley / Concordia College (Adelaide). Pray also for the folk in the Manawatu Parish as they journey with Lee and Anna through this call process.

• Lord God, pastor and keeper of the flock, reveal your will for Pastor Lee. Amen.

College of Presidents / Ordination
This coming week I head to Adelaide for the final College of Presidents meeting for the year, and also to attend the Service of Ordination for graduates from Australian Lutheran College, which will be held at Concordia College on Sunday 9th December. Graduate placements are as follows –

Perry Hart to Waikerie South Australia
James Leach to Brinkworth South Australia
Dean Mills to St Michael’s Hahndorf/Bridgewater South Australia
Sam Modra to Tabor Victoria
Ken Schultz to Alice Springs Northern Territory
Tim Spilsbury to Whyalla South Australia
Kees Sturm to Coonalpyn South Australia

• Heavenly Father, bless these men in the ministry of your gospel. Make them faithful pastors, patient teachers, and wise counsellors, so that your people may be gathered for praise and strengthened for service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Visit of LCA Business Manager
Next week, the Business Manager of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA), Debbie Venz will be in Wellington, working with our new LCNZ Administrator, Robert Hagen. Debbie will assist Robert in understanding the administrative processes and connections between the LCNZ and the LCA.

• Lord God, thank you for calling people into tasks of administration and management in your Church. Thank you for Debbie and Robert; bless their work of support for your church. Amen.

Competition Winner
Jonathan Stolk from Whanganui supplied the winning entry in the colouring competition to supply a new title page for the LCNZ Directory which picks up on our synodical theme – Where Love Comes to Life. Congratulations Jonathan! Your prize is prize a family pass for 2 adults and 2 children to a movie of your choice.

• Gracious Father, thank you for Jonathan, and for his gift to our church of a new drawing for the cover of our directory. Thanks for all the good things that you have blessed Jonathan with … especially his talent on the football field too. Keep him, and his Mum and Dad (Margreet and Adrian) safe in the love of your dear son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Council of Synod
The report from last weekend’s Council of Synod (COS) meeting will appear in the next issue of The Olive Tree, due out before Christmas.

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
Secretary – New Zealand National Church Leaders Meeting (NCLM)

LCNZ Update 20 November 2012

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

Call News
While I was visiting the Manawatu Lutheran Parish and preaching / leading worship on Sunday, I informed the members of Trinity (Feilding) and St Lukes (Palmerston North) that their Pastor, Lee Kroehn has received a call to St Johns Lutheran Church and Concordia College in Adelaide.

And so I invite you, the LCNZ whanau to pray for Lee, Anna, Owen, Imogen and Jonah as we did on Sunday morning during worship, that God would reveal to them his plans and purposes; his will –

Lord God, we pray for Pastor Lee and Anna, and Owen, Imogen and Jonah as they seek your will with regard to the call you have placed on Lee to consider pastoral ministry at St Johns and at Concordain College. We pray in the words of the psalmist, that you would lead us in your truth and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation; for you we wait all day long.

And so, by your Holy Spirit we pray that you would lead your servant, Lee into your truth as he considers the call to serve your people in Adelaide; reveal to him the way he should choose. Give Lee and Anna especially, your peace and a sense of your closeness to them as they wrestle with this call.

And watch over your people in the Manawatu Parish during this time of consideration and discernment. Keep all of us safe and guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus, in whose name we pray. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Amen.

100th Anniversary of Ordination: Hamuera Te Punga
On Sunday 16th December at 11.00am at Halcombe Lutheran church, Pastor Trevor Jurgens will be leading a service to celebrate the 100th year since Hamuera Te Punga was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in South Chicago, USA. During the service the congregation will be invited to sing the Halcombe Lord’s Prayer (bring your best voices; it goes up real high towards the end!) which was brought to Halcombe by Hamuera's wife, Lydia.

Council of Synod Meets this Weekend
Please pray for your Council of Synod (COS) as it meets this weekend in Wellington. We have important work to do; most importantly, to focus on the mission opportunities that the Lord has given the LCNZ. In that respect it is my hope to engage COS even more intentionally on the matters raised at the LCNZ Summit in July 2010. This Summit offered enthusiasm, energy and vision for a church moving forward and growing; it provided impetus for us as Church to be faithful to God’s call to be salt and light in the world. Pray for us so that we will remain focused on the privileged task at hand.

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
Secretary – National Church Leaders of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 1 November 2012

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

Shifting, Packing, Unpacking, Moving On
Two days ago, the father of one of my wife’s teaching colleagues died. Later that same day we heard that Leanne’s uncle’s mother had died in the USA. At the same time we were hearing of the destruction of life and property to the people of the Caribbean, and of the impending destruction that super-storm Sandy would wreak on the USA. Back here in Godzone, the harrowing stories of survival for some – at least for some short hours after the February 2011 Canterbury earthquake – are being retold as the inquest into the collapse of the CTV building in Christchurch unfolds, and the questions are asked as to why those that survived the initial quake could not be rescued in time.

And I’m unpacking boxes again. That’s right … my third shift and unpack in a year! This time I’m unpacking and setting up in the new LCNZ National Office in Thorndon, Wellington.

Why am I writing this?

The prayer in the Funeral Rite of the Church says this – As we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, prepare us all for the world to come.

There’s something quite plain and straight-forward about those words … a reminder of the transitory nature of life here on earth … but at the same time an affirmation in our cry for help (prepare us) that there is one who has already prepared us for eternity (the world to come). There is something quite plainly non-permanent about life here on earth. It is a lot of shifting, packing, un-packing, moving on.

It can be quite unsettling … except for one thing: the absolute certainty of the faithfulness of God towards his people.

In these days of celebration/commemoration – Reformation Day / All Saints Day – we are reminded of the all-sufficient grace of God for all people, and in the face of change and uncertainty, we can say with the psalmist –

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. “Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations; I am exalted in the earth.” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. (Psalm 46)

Or as dear Martin would sing –

A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon,
our faithful helper in all need, no matter what may happen.

Though hordes of devils gather here, all eager to devour us,
we tremble not, we do not fear, they cannot overpower us.

Despite all foes, the Word shall stand against all their endeavour;
God's gifts and Spirit, close at hand, shall be with us forever.
Though they cause distress, take all we possess,
though they hurt and kill, we are victorious still;
the kingdom's ours forever. 

Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott Martin Luther 1483-1546

Wherever you are my friends … whatever you’re packing or unpacking in life … if things are changing and moving for you, let the prayer conclude –

As we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, prepare us all for the world to come. And when our last hour comes, support us by your power, and take us home to your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

100th Anniversary Of Ordination: Hamuera Te Punga
On Sunday 16th December at 11.00am at Halcombe Lutheran church, Pastor Trevor Jurgens will be leading a service to celebrate the 100th year since Hamuera Te Punga was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in South Chicago, USA. During the service the congregation will be invited to sing the Halcombe Lord’s Prayer (bring your best voices; it goes up real high towards the end!) which was brought to Halcombe by Hamuera's wife, Lydia.

Safe Place Team Leader Training - Whanganui
This week, Anna Kroehn completed Team Leader training in Whanganui, and by all accounts (well, the one I got from her husband Lee) there was great engagement from those participating. Thank you Anna for this blessing that you (and Lee) bring to our church.

LCA/LCNZ Youth Forum
From the 5th to the 7th of November a group of young LCA members from all over Australia and New Zealand gathered together in North Adelaide to speak about current issues facing the church. This was an initiative of the LCA’s Board for Youth and Family Ministry (BYFM). The forum, called 'Have a Voice, covered topics like: the way the LCA works through Synod, the future of the LCA, worship, human sexuality and the opportunity refugees are for our church. The young people showed a true passion for the church and its future. They were energised and enthused to hear how our church is dealing with issues that they face as members of the LCA and LCNZ. While the forum was hard work, the youth also had a fantastic opportunity to relax at The Beach House in Glenelg on Saturday evening on the waterslide, dodgem cars and arcade games. The two New Zealand representatives who attended the forum were Rachel Nelson from Palmerston North and Chelsea Whitfield from Wellington. Both young ladies spoke confidently and competently concerning the LCNZ within the context of the forum. Resulting from the forum, BYFM will discuss recommendations made by the young people and present the to the LCA General Synod in Adelaide next April. (Lee Kroehn)

From the President of the Church, Dr Michael Semmler

In 1667 John George II, the Elector of Saxony, ordered the first REFORMATION FESTIVAL. The chosen date for the celebration was 31st October, the anniversary of Luther’s famous posting of the 95 theses. Luther chose the eve of All Saints Day (Nov 1) to post the theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517 to take advantage of the larger crowds who would be expected to gather for worship at this ancient celebration. With the rediscovery of the ramifications of the doctrine of justification, that is, the good news of salvation by grace through faith for Christ's sake, a reformation took place across the church in many parts of the world. It is our heritage to this day. Celebrate the grace of God in Christ who delights in having mercy on us.

Installation gf the Director of Lutheran Media Ministry
Pastor Richard Fox will be installed as the Director of Lutheran Media Ministry on Sunday 2nd December 2012.

Short Term Research Grants Available
Do you need some basic research into some aspect of your congregation or church ministry? Is there something you need to know which could benefit you and others involved in similar ministries? Australian Lutheran College is providing a limited number of $5,000 grants for short-term research projects as part of the launch of the new Australian Lutheran Institute for Theology and Ethics (ALITE). For more information contact the Director, Rev Dr Stephen Hultgren at alite@alc.edu.au. Information will also appear on the ALITE website. See www.alite.alc.edu.au after 9th November.

Appointment of LEA Research Officer at ALITE
Dr Mark Worthing has been appointed Research Officer for Lutheran Education Australia through the new Australian Lutheran Institute for Theology and Ethics at Australian Lutheran College.

The Lutheran – Sneak Preview Each Month
You are encouraged to use the new ‘sneak preview’ monthly promotional resource for The Lutheran. It can be easily shared with congregation members, family and friends, or embedded into your congregation’s website. This resource, as well as pew-bulletin inserts and a PowerPoint slide for the current edition, is available from the ‘Promote Us’ page on The Lutheran’s website (www.thelutheran.com.au) from the 1st of each month. It’s also very easily ‘shareable’ from the ‘We Love The Lutheran’ Facebook page.

General Synod Agenda, Proposals and Board Reports Due
Agenda and Proposals: the following LCA bodies may submit proposals for inclusion on the agenda: congregations, LCA boards, standing committees and commissions, General Pastors Conference, General Church Council and it’s Executive, District Synods, Districts Church Councils and Pastors Conferences. Board Reports: reports are to be no more than four pages (approximately 2500 words). Financial reports are to be one page only and should be for the three years ending 31st December 2009, 2010 and 2011. Provision will be made for full reports and financial reports to be posted on the Synod website if required. All reports and proposals must be emailed to the Synod Secretary at debbie.venz@lca.org.au by 15th November 2012.

Please Pray For

• Sharolyn and Dennis Mollet’s granddaughter, Sophie who was to undergo planned open-heart surgery this week. This has now been postponed and hopefully will happen next week. Pray also for Sophie’s parents – Sheree and Ricky.
• Buster Kells who has recently spent some time in hospital. He’s home now.

Jesus, what a friend we have in you, and what a privilege it is to carry our cares and concerns to you. We lift to you your friends, Sophie and Buster, and their families, and all who are unwell at the moment, and we ask you to take and shield them in your loving arms. Grant them fullness of health in your good time and according to your gracious will. Amen.

Church Workers Meet in Christchurch
Last week 9 of the LCNZ Church Workers gathered in Christchurch for the final Church Workers’ conference of the year. On the middle day of the conference we were guided in a spiritual retreat which saw us do a number of things designed to help us ‘retreat’ into the gracious presence of God … we slowed down … we sat for long moments of silence … we listened to scripture being read to us … we walked the beautiful wetlands near to St Pauls Lutheran Church in Burwood, Christchurch … we worked in groups of three on an interesting exercise to create visual expressions of ‘situations’ in life real to us at the moment and how God might be speaking into those ‘situations’ … we were ministered to by the gentle breath of the Spirit of Jesus.

We welcomed two people to their first LCNZ Church Workers’ Conference – Ben Grulke, who is the new parish worker in the Manawatu. Nau mai, haere mai Ben; it’s great to have you working alongside us in Kingdom work. And we also welcomed Pastor Joe Kummerow (Mountainside) to his first conference. Great to have you on board too Joe … and thanks for going along with the time-honoured tradition we have … viz. the new kid on the block takes the minutes!

We prayed in our closing service –

Bless our church as it ministers the gospel of our suffering Saviour. Uphold our President Michael and District President Mark. Guide our College of Presidents as they assign graduates into the ministry, and give patience to those parishes who are in the call process. Watch over our Council of Synod so that it may administer the affairs of your Church in such a way that pastors, church workers and members are inspired, equipped and encouraged in the ministry of the Gospel. Open our hearts to hear your call to serve here in your church in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer. Amen.

Next Edition of the Olive Tree
The theme of the December edition of the Olive Tree is “What does Christmas means us in the LCNZ.” It would be great to get stories from local congregations on how they celebrate the story of the birth of Jesus. The text comes from Mathew 2:1&2 (When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”). Please submit articles to Dan by the 15th November at dcars1976@gmail.com.

Longest Lutheran Lunch: Story Time
More than 100 congregations across Australia and NZ joined in this year's Longest Lutheran Lunch. Visit www.lca.org.au/longest-lutheran-lunch.html to see an amazing photo from Warracknabeal (Victoria), hear tales of wood-fired pizza and Barossa reds (of course!), and witness a community lunch enjoyed with a local Uniting Church in Australia!

Here’s what happened in some of the LCNZ congregations –

• Upper Moutere
• Was an outreach event with over a dozen visitors
• Had food from 10 different countries of heritage
• Held a ‘Mighty Fortress’ building contest for children
• Was visited by Martin Luther during the worship service
• Christchurch
• Coincided with Christchurch’s annual Neighbourhood Week, thus qualifying for some City Council funding ($150)
• We hand-delivered 1,000 invitations to letter boxes of homes around our church centre in the EQ-damaged suburb of Burwood
• From noon to 3pm, a steady stream of neighbours and church members enjoyed the free sausage sizzle, fizzy drinks and ice-cream cones, plus the HUGE bouncy castle for kids
• We sponsored the Covenant Players drama group to provide all-ages friendly, gospel-centred street theatre periodically throughout the afternoon
• Mountainside, Auckland
• God blessed us with a beautiful spring day, as the members and friends of Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland, NZ, gathered to share fellowship and hospitality with our community and with each other.
• Within half an hour of our Reformation Day worship service ending, we had set up long rows of tables lined by chairs. Many hands helped to cover the tables with paper, set out carafes of juice and water, and organise the food.
• Lunch was ready, and we formed a long line to be served with long bread rolls filled with lettuce and carrot, ham, egg salad, cheese and tomato, with potato salad and rice salad on the side. It took some time to serve around 90 people, but it was worth waiting for. Dessert of cup cakes, fruit salad and ice cream followed.
• Mountainside members had invited friends to come along, and we invited residents in the neighbouring streets by offering them a voucher for a free lunch. We felt happy and blest to be able to share our hospitality in this way. Praise God for his generosity to us all.
• Hamilton/Bay of Plenty
• About 30 people from Tauranga, St Matthew – Hamilton and Kawerau attended the Divine Service with Holy Communion followed by the Longest Lutheran Lunch in Tauranga
• The Sermon Text was the Gospel lesson for Reformation Day, John 8:31-36, and the thought to take away from the sermon, “None of us like to be exposed. … The only exposure we need is to faith, grace and the Word of God. With these we need fear no other kind of exposure
• Between the savoury and desert we treated to a visual and oral presentation “Wandering to Wittenberg” by Jill Hobden. Jill had recently been in Wittenberg when Pr Norm Bergen preached there as part of the English ministry provided in Wittenberg for tourists.
• Summerset Retirement Village, Palmerston North
• 25 people attended more than half the guests have lived a LONG time 80+
• 2 guests attend International Pacific College (IPC) having come from Japan and one of them – Tuk – entertained between main and dessert with the violin
• We worshipped after our lunch of sausage rolls, savouries, sandwiches, fresh fruit salad, meringues and whipped cream
• It was a very interdenominational group that enjoyed food, fellowship, faith
• We had a truly blessed time – one lady who has always said ”no” to joining us for a meal – enjoys coming to worship – this time came for the meal and that was a special of this day for me.
• Whanganui
• Pastor Phil writes – we had a great evening for our Longest Lutheran afternoon / evening tea. It was a great evening in Whanganui, where we were able to share an evening meal with our friends from Marton. We had the team out delivering some flyers around the neighbourhood and also had another 8 people come in and join us for the meal. We were a little low on food so rang for pizza’s and you should have seen the look on the delivery guys face when I told him I was trialling a new form of communion wafer and could he leave them up the front. Priceless. All in all we had 45 people to our dinner. Catering for this many was a good warm-up for when we celebrate our congregation’s 50th anniversary on the second Sunday in December. More info to follow.

LCNZ Administrator Nominated for Awards
The LCNZ’s new administrator, Robert Hagen has been nominated for the New Zealand Television awards to be held in Auckland this weekend, in the following categories –

1. Best multi-camera direction for “A Gala Concert” featuring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and
2. Best popular documentary for “Rhodes, Actor Singer”

We congratulate Robert and wish him every blessing as he and his wife, Jill head up to Auckland to enjoy the experience of the awards this weekend.

National Office Shift
The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful new location from which to function as the National Office of the LCNZ. Again, we thank Robert and Gerhard (Hoppe) for overseeing the shift which went very smoothly last Friday. Most of the boxes are unpacked and we’re settling in nicely. Please come and visit if you’re in town. Our address again – Level 1, Molesworth House, 101 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington.

Bach Cantata Vespers Begin 6th Year of Ministry to Wellington & NZ
The Bach Cantata Vespers on Saturday 10th November will mark the beginning of the 6th year of this unique-in-New Zealand music ministry to the people of New Zealand. Some interesting statistics from the past 5 years to ponder and to praise God for –

• 24 Bach Cantata Vespers since the first one on Reformation Day, 2007
• 65 people (singers, instrumentalists and preachers/speakers) have been involved in the ministry, plus countless others from St Pauls who assist
• The average attendance at each service is 70, with a highest attendance of 150 for this year’s Good Friday Vespers
• A variety of people attend – from other churches and some with no church or faith connection
• One of New Zealand’s leading choral ensembles, The Tudor Consort has sung for a Vespers

We invite you to thank God for this ministry and pray for his continued blessing of it … and we invite you to attend the next Vespers – Saturday 10th November at 5.00pm.

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