LCNZ Update 3-6 February 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

In the Bonds of Love We Meet
So we sing in our National Anthem as we gather at the feet of the God of Nations. The coming weekend is a long weekend as our nation celebrates its national day, Waitangi Day on Monday. It’s a day that means a variety of things to Kiwis and so it’s observed in various ways … a day off, a sleep in, a picnic at the beach, catching up with friends.

The day commemorates the Treaty of Waitangi which is the founding document of New Zealand. 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 The Treaty in brief from New Zealand History online, Nga korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa, History Group, Ministry for Culture and Heritage)

Different understandings of the Treaty have long been the subject of debate and have sadly given rise from time to time to protest and tension which have boiled over especially on Waitangi Day during official celebrations.

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. However, ideal desired unity sadly at times has given way to disunity.

We Christians live by a Treaty of unity too; one that was signed in blood some 2000 years ago. St Paul writes:

Colossians 1:19-22
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. (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:

Colossians 3:12-17
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.

And so we may well sing for the sake of our nation and the Lord’s church:

God of Nations at Thy feet … in the bonds of your Christ-enabled love we meet. Hear our voices we entreat. Amen.

I encourage Pastors and Worship Leaders to pray for our nation during worship this Sunday.

Twenty20 Administration Workshop: 17th/18th March, Wellington
Our Church is offering support to your congregation by providing training in in the areas of Finance, Governance and Administration. The first two workshops were held in 2011. The Administration workshop will be held in March.

The information and skills you learn from this workshop will help you and the ministry of your congregation.

Please see the details below and note that the workshop will be held on a Saturday and a Sunday, in order (hopefully) to make it easier for you and some others from your church to attend:

What: Twenty20 Administration Workshop
Where: Wellington, National Office of the LCNZ
When: 17th and 18th March 2012 (Sat + Sun)

Why Participate?
Here is a comment from one of the participants from the last workshop in Wellington:

"While not directly involved with governance in the church I attended the 2 day Governance Workshop in Wellington. Governance sounded like it could be a rather dry topic but I went with an open mind and it was actually really interesting to learn about principles of governance which were applicable to not only church but the workplace. Should I be involved with any governance in the future I've now got a solid foundation to help me along!" (Simon, Auckland)

And words from John Henderson, who presented the governance workshop, can be found here.

Prayer Points
Continue to pray for:

• Pastor Matthew Wilksch, Sandra and their family as they consider the call to Auckland Lutheran Parish.
• Pastor Allan Heppner, Debra and their family. Allan has been diagnosed with an extensive aggressive non-curable cancer and has begun treatment.
• LCA Executive Officer of the Church Trevor Ruthenberg who is standing as the Liberal National Party candidate for an electorate in the Queensland parliamentary election on 24th March. Trevor is well-known to many of us in the LCNZ; he has visited and encouraged us, met with and spoken to many groups, attended summits and visioning events, and has addressed our synod. He’s been an inspirational sort of a bloke! Thanks.
• Pastor Milton Fritsch and Pastor Wayne George as they are installed into their new parishes this coming Sunday.

Installation Of LCNZ President
Sunday 12th February at 2.00pm at St Pauls Lutheran Church Wellington (afternoon tea to follow)
 
Meetings
The first round of LCNZ meetings for 2012 are about to begin – Finance Advisory Committee (4th February), Lutheran Support Ministries (11th February), Gateway Gift Trust Board and Council of Synod (17th & 18th February). Please pray for these meetings and the elected leaders of our committees, councils and boards. These meetings take place for one main reason: to support the ministry of our church and its congregations as it seeks to make Jesus and his love know to New Zealanders.

Church Workers Conference: Palmerston North
Next week (Tuesday 7th – Thursday 9th) the Church Workers of the LCNZ meet for their first conference for 2012 at St Lukes in Palmerston North. These conferences offer the opportunity for:

• Sharing the joys and challenges of ministry
• Worshipping together
• Praying for each other
• Studying scripture together
• Relaxing together
• Discussing matters of LCNZ ministry

We invite your prayer covering for this meeting.

Olive Tree: Next Issue
A message from our new editor of the Olive Tree, Dan Carswell – Hi everyone. Don't forget the 15th of February is the deadline for articles for the next issue of the Olive Tree. The theme is 'new things Christ is doing in our church' and is based on the text from 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. In the love of Jesus, Dan Carswell. Dan’s email is dcars1976@gmail.com.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 30 January 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

New Life – Growth – Strength – Peace
I love the uniquely New Zealand symbol of the koru – that’s why I’m using it in this update. The koru is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Māori art, carving and tattoos. The circular shape of the koru helps to convey the idea of perpetual movement while the inner coil suggests a return to the point of origin.

As a January and the holidays come to an end and the New Year continues to unfurl, we find ourselves waking each morning again to the various regular (sometimes mundane) routines of life – work, school, meetings, schedules, timetables … work, school, meetings etc.

It’s different however for us Christians. When we wake each morning and start the new day, we’re invited to go back to the point of origin – our baptism. Some might say that going back to the same thing each day is a bit routine; a bit mundane. Not when water and the Word of God are involved. Like the koru, baptism brings new life, growth, strength and peace. Indeed each new day (or routine day for that matter), we are being created anew in Christ and we are being prepared for new opportunities for love and service in his name.

Na ki te mea kei roto i a te Karaiti tetahi, he mahinga hou ia: kua pahemo nga mea tawhito, na kua hou nga mea katoa.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Enjoy the regular daily baptismal routine of being made new!

Talking of New
On Saturday Pastor David & Janine Lipsys moved into their new home in Christchurch. David and Janine’s old home was significantly damaged in the original earthquake (Sept.2010) and suffered further damage with each successive major quake. I was talking to David last week, and he said that both he and Janine were excited about moving to their new home in a more stable suburb of Christchurch. We wish you many blessings and happiness, and an increased sense of safety and wellbeing in your new home.

We continue to pray God that you will do a new thing in Christchurch – viz. bring about healing and restoration of lives, city infrastructure, business and commerce, etc., and also that the earthquakes would come to an end.

Mountainside Call New Pastor: Pastor Matthew Wilksch
Yesterday morning I had the pleasure of leading worship, preaching and conducting a call meeting at Mountainside for the Auckland Lutheran Parish.

At the call meeting the parish resolved to call Pastor Matthew Wilksch (currently serving at Bridgewater in South Australia) to be their pastor. As the whole congregation affirmed the call to Pastor Matthew, we prayed – Lord God Heavenly Father, we pray for Pastor Matthew, that he may be sensitive to your will and to our ministry needs and vision here at Mountainside as he considers submitting himself to our call and to the visitation of your Holy Spirit. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. I invite you to pray for Matthew’s wife Sandra and their 4 children as they also consider this call.

Installation Of LCNZ President
A reminder to you all that you are warmly invited to attend my installation as President of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand:

• Sunday 12th February at 2.00pm at St Pauls Lutheran Church Wellington (afternoon tea to follow)
• Preacher: Dr. David Stolz (Past Vice President of the LCA/NZ, Past President of the LCA Victoria/Tasmania)
• The Rite of Installation: Rev. Mark Lieschke (President of the LCA New South Wales)
• Congregations (especially within easy reach of Wellington) should be letting the National Office know of numbers intending to attend

Interim Pastors
As I write this, Pastor David Wundersitz and Barbara have probably touched down in Auckland. They have come to serve in interim ministry at Mountainside during February and March. Welcome! The Auckland people have been looking forward to your arrival, and we certainly pray joy and blessing during your time here in Aotearoa-New Zealand.

Manse Blessing
On the Friday evening just passed, over 70 people gathered at the new LCNZ President’s manse in Khandallah in Wellington to seek the blessing of God on this home. Enough members of the Anglican Cathedral choir were present in order for us to enjoy 4-part singing as part of the blessing rite. And then we ‘warmed’ the home for the next few hours.

Olive Tree: Next Issue
A message from our new editor of the Olive Tree, Dan Carswell – Hi everyone. Don't forget the 15th of February is the deadline for articles for the next issue of the Olive Tree. The theme is 'new things Christ is doing in our church' and is based on the text from 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. In the love of Jesus, Dan Carswell. Dan’s email is dcars1976@gmail.com.

Installations
Two pastors with LCNZ connections will be installed into new parishes next Sunday (5th February). Pastor Milton Fritsch who served at Mountainside in Auckland will be installed as pastor in the Ipswich Lutheran Parish in Queensland. Graduate Pastor Wayne George will be installed as pastor in the Greenock Lutheran Parish in South Australia. Please pray for these men and their families as they journey and serve in ministry where the Holy Spirit has called them to journey and serve.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 20 January 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua / grace and peace to you from God.

In the two weeks since the beginning of the year, I have spent a lot of time in the garden here at the new manse – looking out over the backyard, thinking what will go where and what might look nice over there, weeding, planting native seedlings, digging holes in the ground, cementing posts into those holes, building the raised vegetable garden boxes that have their foundations attached to the posts in the holes, planting the lettuces, cutting a platform into the side of the steep hill in the backyard for a garden bench with a view out across the suburb, more weeding, planting the kowhai tree (something I feel I need to do having come from a farm known as ‘The Kowhais’ – I realise that probably should be ‘Nga Kowhai’).

It’s been what I like to think of as a time of trying to capture a vision for the garden – what it might become; a time for working out what can be done in order to build on what’s already in place.

And it’s a lot of fun!

My prayer is that as I continue to move forward into the presidency of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ), and as you move forward with me into this partnership in ministry, that together we will dream the dreams and capture a Godly vision for our church.

I say ‘Godly’ vision, because the vision does not originate in or get visualised by us; rather, by the Spirit’s working, we perceive and receive a vision that originates from and is given by God.

If we seek Him with all our heart we will find Him and we will know the plan He has for us –

Jeremiah 29 ¹¹For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Installation Of LCNZ PresidentPlease continue to know that you are warmly invited to attend my installation as President of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand:

• Sunday 12th February at 2.00pm at St Pauls Lutheran Church Wellington (afternoon tea to follow)
• Preacher: Dr. David Stolz (Past Vice President of the LCA/NZ, Past President of the LCA Victoria/Tasmania)
• The Rite of Installation: Rev. Mark Lieschke (President of the LCA New South Wales)

Letters of invitation have been sent out to all LCNZ parishes and congregations.

Manse Blessing
On the evening of Friday 27th January we will be conducting a short Rite of Blessing for the new manse in Khandallah, followed by what will probably be a slightly longer (I imagine) House Warming event. We will commit this home and all those who will live here to the care and protection of the Lord with a prayer along the lines of Joshua’s prayer – that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

LCNZ Call News
On Monday Pastor Michael Jarick informed me that he had declined the call to St Pauls Wellington / St Francis Mauriceville West. Mountainside in Auckland will be conducting their call meeting on Sunday 29th January, and Wellington/Wairarapa will resume the call process. Please continue to pray that the Lord would reveal to the LCNZ the pastors he wishes us to call to ministry here. 

Interim Pastors
We are so grateful for the interim ministry of Pastor Norman Bergen and his wife Kay who are serving Wellington and the Wairarapa during January and February. Norm and Kay have settled in well, although our Wellington non-summer is testing Kay a little. God continue to bless you both as you serve amongst us. Pastor David Wundersitz and Barbara are coming to Mountainside during February and March, and, should we need interim ministry in any of these places after March/April we have willing pastors ready to come and serve.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Special Update - Christchurch Earthquakes

Kia ora koutou,

Some of you will be aware that Christchurch was hurt by two large earthquakes this afternoon (Friday 23.12.2011).

I emailed Pastor David Lipsys and here is his reply which he is happy for me to send out as a special update.

Once again we are called upon to cry to our Lord Jesus - the Prince of Peace - for his mercy and protection of those we know in this city and region, and indeed for all in Christchurch and Canterbury

Peace and love to you all.

Mark

Begin forwarded message:

From: David Lipsys
Date: 23 December 2011 7:09:28 PM NZDT
To: 'Mark Whitfield', 'Judy Calder'
Subject: RE: are you ok?

Hello Mark

Janine and I are OK; more liquefaction and flooding at our current home (can't get motor-bike up the flooded and more cracked driveway now), and more cracking in walls/floors. And some more broken household things that fell down/over. We haven't been past our new home yet, but hopefully it's OK! Electricity and phones/internet just back on now.

No word of any damage or injury to congregation members; Janine and I just home from checking on an elderly couple without any family to keep an eye on them, and they are a bit shaken, but OK. They had stuff fall down and out of kitchen cupboards again, again, again, again ...

I was out on my motorbike going to/from visiting a rapidy weakening 93 year old lady with terminal cancer in a hospice; on way felt shakes, saw power poles and traffic lights swaying wildly, and people rushing out of shops screaming. Starting to become ho-hum commonplace here!

Thanks for your concern,
DAVID & JANINE

P.S. We're waiting for our lovely cat, Morris, to return home; he was here after the earliest quakes when Janine got home, but has since vanished/run away! :-( :-(

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Whitfield
Sent: Friday, 23 December 2011 3:16 p.m.
To: Judy Calder; David Lipsys
Subject: are you ok?

Just checking in with you all -

Didn't want to clog up phone lines but wanted to see if you're ok. What a terribly sad thing for you on the eve of Christmas. We simply hope and pray that you've come thru ok, and thanks to God that at this stage there's only been one reported injury.

Blessings from the Prince of Peace and calm.

Mark

LCNZ Update 21 December 2011

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua / grace and peace to you from God.

Is There Any Room In Your Inn?
As I write this, Leanne, the girls and I are surrounded by boxes stacked all around the house. The removal guys have been here for two days now, and what has been our home (Myrtle we called her) for the last almost 11 years doesn’t look anything like home anymore. I’m finding it all a little bit unsettling. As much as it’s exciting to be going to a lovely new manse, I feel somewhat in no-man’s land … even a little bit homeless, albeit for a very short time, I know.

2000 years back the Son of God and his Mum and Dad found themselves somewhat homeless on the night that he was to be born. Of course, they were visitors to town and as we know there was no room in the inn. Thank God for the animal shed out the back and the feed-box filled with straw!

Each Christmas time I have this renewed sense that Jesus would delight to find a home … but not in an inn or in a stable or in a manger … but in our hearts.

As we have prayed during the 4 weeks of Advent – Come, Lord Jesus, Come – now is the time to open our hearts so that where meek souls will receive him still, the dear Christ enters in.

My prayer for you, for your family and for those you love is that you too will have real joy in receiving the Prince of Peace who is Jesus. Join me in praying with Pastor Martin Luther –

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee. Amen.

Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come)
Luke 2:1-18
Martin Luther 1535
Geistliche Lieder Leipzig 1539

National Office Christmas Break
The National Office will close for the Christmas break at midday of Wednesday 21st December and will re-open in early January (date to be advised).
I will lead Christmas worship in Marton on Christmas morning.
I will then be on leave from 26th December – 17th January 2012.
Vice President, Pastor John Davison will be on call during this time.
Administrator Wayne Drogemuller will possibly be back in the National Office a little earlier in the New Year
This has been a challenging year, and many of you have kindly journeyed with us through the difficult road to presidency. We hope and pray for better times in 2012, and we thank you again for your friendship, support and love for us in Christ.

Please now accept my love and the love of my family (Leanne, Chelsea, Brittany and Charlotte) as we wish you and your family blessing and joy this Christmas, and happiness in the New Year.

Ngā mihi mō te Kirihimete.

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

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 16 December 2011

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua / grace and peace to you from God.

O Come, O Come Immanuel

O come, O come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The writings of the prophet Isaiah inspired the hymn “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.” Long before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied about the Saviour God would send, implanting in the hearts of God’s people a longing for Immanuel. Hundreds of years before Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, Isaiah wrote, “The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 7:14). Though it was hard for the people in Isaiah’s day to imagine or understand how God would actually become a human, they began to long for this Messiah who would be “God with us.” They looked forward to the day when God would fulfil all his promises by coming to live with them.

We identify with them in their longing for God to fulfil his promise to send Jesus when we sing “O Come, O Come, Immanuel.”

To understand what this song is saying, we have to understand some of Israel’s history. Remember that at one time God’s people were slaves in Egypt and God brought them out, led by Moses. They wandered in the wilderness for forty years before finally entering into the land God had promised them. But God’s people sinned and rebelled, and after a while, one part of the country was carried off into exile to Assyria and another to Babylon. Living far away from home, the people of God longed for him to come and rescue them from their captivity. As they sat in exile, many undoubtedly remembered the prophetic words of Isaiah. A child was coming who would save Israel – the Lord’s presence in the flesh.

We sing of their longing in the first verse: O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

When we sing the verse “O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer …,” it reminds us of Zechariah’s prophecy: “The morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death” (Luke 1:78-79). In other words, Zechariah likened the coming Messiah to the rising sun, shining light upon the dark world (cf. John 1:1-5).

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

This song stirs in us a longing for Christ to come to fulfil his promises. The words prepare our hearts to truly celebrate Christmas when it comes. We are preparing for Christmas by purposefully nurturing in our hearts and in our homes a sacred longing for Christ to come. Singing this song reminds us that the birth of Christ was not a surprising turn of events in history; it was the long-awaited fulfilment of God’s promise to his people. As we sing it, we are encouraged that as he came before, he will come again! When he comes again, we’ll hear a shout from the throne of God, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them” (Revelation 21:3). When he comes back, all the longings we sing about will be fulfilled. Finally and forever we will enjoy Immanuel – God with us.

You are the God of history and time is in your hands,
so we know that you can be trusted to accomplish everything you intend in the world
and in our lives in your perfect timing.
So come, O come, Immanuel. Amen. 

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Daily Family Devotions for Advent
by Nancy Guthrie.

What’s Happening With the LCNZ President?
This last Wednesday Judy Calder (Council of Synod chair) and Dr David Stolz (representing President Michael Semmler) and I had a teleconference meeting to discuss where things are at with regard to my assuming the office of LCNZ President.

Since the middle of October I have been receiving specialised help from my GP and from my Spiritual Supervisor, and I’m delighted to report to you that the three of us believe that I am well enough to be installed as your President early next year.

I still have an on-going health issue with my throat and a very persistent cough, and so I have been referred to a respiratory specialist for further investigation.

In my pastoral letter to our Church Workers this week (which hasn’t been posted to them yet; sorry guys), I wrote the following –

As well as greeting you this Christmas, I am writing to let you know that I will be formally accepting and assuming the office of President of the LCNZ in the New Year, with an installation date set for Sunday 12th February at St Pauls in Wellington, most likely at 2.00pm.

As you are aware, the journey to the presidency for me and my family has been a tough one. However, all the way, we have been sustained by the love of God and by an awareness of the love such people as yourself have had for us … so thank you for your prayers and your support.

So, please set aside Sunday 12th February, and come on down to Wellington for a party … oh, and an installation as well. I’m looking forward to it!
 
Pastor Called To Wellington/Wairarapa
At a call meeting last Sunday at St Pauls Wellington, Pastor Michael Jarick – currently serving as a College Pastor in Queensland – was called to be pastor of St Pauls and St Francis (Mauriceville West). Please pray for Michael as he considers this call, and for the people of St Pauls and St Francis as they wait for his answer, and for God to provide them with a pastoral shepherd.

Continue also to pray for God’s people at Mountainside in Auckland as they continue to prepare to call a pastor.

All Together Seven (The White Book?)
Time for a new songbook – the last one came out over 4 years ago. Robin Mann wants songs to hear, writers to check out, song-books to explore. Community songs, ones you’ve heard in church or on CD. Send emails, CDs, print music to Robin Mann, 54 Currawong Crescent, Modbury Heights SA 5092 or by email.

ALWS Christmas Gifts Of Grace On The Way
Fishing nets. Footballs. Small start-up business loans. Pigs. The famous Lutheran Long Drop Loo. Yes, it’s ALWS Gifts of Grace time again. More than 20 unique gifts, starting from just $6, with many gifts under $20. Last year more than 10,000 Gifts of Grace brought joy to the people who gave them AND received them – here in NZ and in Australia, and in the developing communities where they were delivered. If you need catalogues, or would like to buy Gifts of Grace go to www.alws.org.au/grace.

Prayer at the National Office
Every Friday morning at 9.30am, the Staff of the LCNZ National Office takes time to read God’s Word together and to pray. Anyone is welcome to submit prayer requests to the email below, and if you’re in the neighbourhood, please feel free to pop in and join us.
 
National Office Christmas Break
The National Office will close for the Christmas break at midday of Wednesday 21st December and will re-open in early January (date to be advised).
My family and I will be shifting to the president’s manse from 19th – 22nd December.
I will lead Christmas worship in Marton on Christmas morning.
I will then be on leave from 26th December – 17th January 2012.
Vice President, Pastor John Davison will be on call during this time.

Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou / the Lord be with you!

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 9 December 2011

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua / grace and peace to you from God.

Advent Week Two: Hoping For Hope
These devotional / meditation thoughts are sourced from ‘Devotions for Advent’ (New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishers)

Advent is a time of hope; the spirit of eager anticipation pervades the senses. Even in the refuge of your own home, the season is inescapable as carollers dismiss the social inhibitions that dominate the other eleven months of the year. But when tragedy, depression, or loneliness steals your joy, you can almost resent the hope that others have. When we think our hope unfulfilled, we adjust our expectations. We take on new causes, reconsider our optimism, or sometimes become leery of new endeavours. We can even become angry with God, feeling desolate or abandoned. But even if we lose our hope in God, he will never give up on us. God doesn’t share our limited perspective, and that is one of the reasons that the hope of Advent isn’t dependent on how we are feeling. It can be comforting to rely on the one who gives us hope, even when the light of that hope doesn’t seem to penetrate our temporary darkness.

“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
—Isaiah 40:1

“Christianity has always been the hope of God through Jesus played out in the lives of real people living in real circumstances.”
—Doug Pagitt

Investment Opportunity In Whakatane
The manse in Whakatane is currently on the market. We wanted to let the wider church know in case anyone was looking for an investment opportunity in this area. The manse is newly refurbished and has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and the price is negotiable.

Ordination
The Lord of the harvest has given the LCA seven more labourers to send out into his harvest. What a joy it was to see these men ordained last Sunday 4 December. In God’s grace they accepted without reservation the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God. They promised to uphold the public teaching and practices of the LCA and placed themselves under the oversight of the Church. The Confessional assent and vows were not made in their own strength. As restored children of God, in his love, in the faith he gives and in the resurrection of his Son, our Lord Jesus, they publicly announced their promises. Their commitment to God’s Word and the Confessions of the Church because the latter are a correct exposition of the Word of God (Thesis of Agreement IX 4) assures the Church which has supported them and continues to pray for them that they will join us in teaching and pastoring and searching the Scriptures for truth, as the source for our faith and lives.

The graduate assignments for 2012 are:

• Jade Bauer to Whyalla SA
• Wayne George to Greenock SA
• Steven Hibbard to Gilgandra/Dubbo NSW
• Sean McMaughan to Natimuk VIC
• Greg Page to Holy Cross Murray Bridge SA
• Harry Pickett to Lameroo SA
• Wing Wah Tso to NSW District (in preparation to assist the ministry to Chinese communities in Sydney)

National Office Christmas Break
The National Office will close for the Christmas break at midday of Wednesday 21st December and will re-open in early January (date to be advised) –

• My family and I will be shifting to the president’s manse from 19th – 22nd December.
• I will lead Christmas worship in Marton on Christmas morning.
• I will then be on leave from 26th December – 17th January 2012.
• Vice President, Pastor John Davison will be on call during this time – phone 07 839 5768.
• I’ll try and provide more details in next week’s update.

All Together Seven (The White Book?)
Time for a new songbook – the last one came out over 4 years ago. Robin Mann wants songs to hear, writers to check out, song-books to explore. Community songs, ones you’ve heard in church or on CD. Send emails, CDs, print music to Robin Mann, 54 Currawong Crescent, Modbury Heights SA 5092 or by email.

Call Information
Extended

• Michael Jarick Grace Lutheran College QLD to Hermannsburg NT
• Andrew Ruddell Rainbow VIC to Hamilton VIC
• Jon Goessling Glynde SA to Tatachilla College SA
• Adam Eime Henty NSW to Tabor VIC
• Brian Keller Eudunda SA to Southern Yorke Peninsula SA

Accepted

• Andrew Koehler Gladstone QLD to Good Shepherd College Palmerston NT
• Greg Fowler Endeavour College Mawson Lakes SA to Tuggeranong ACT

ALWS Christmas Gifts Of Grace On The Way
Fishing nets. Footballs. Small start-up business loans. Pigs. The famous Lutheran Long Drop Loo. Yes, it’s ALWS Gifts of Grace time again. More than 20 unique gifts, starting from just $6, with many gifts under $20. Last year more than 10,000 Gifts of Grace brought joy to the people who gave them AND received them – here in NZ and in Australia, and in the developing communities where they were delivered. If you need catalogues, or would like to buy Gifts of Grace go to www.alws.org.au/grace.

Bach Cantata Vespers
Singing the Faith – part three of a three part series exploring the heritage of Lutheran music – J.S.Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and the “Confessional Revival”This Sunday evening – 11th December, 5.00pm – St Pauls Lutheran Church, 12 King Street, Mt Cook, Wellington

Prayer At The National Office
Every Friday morning at 9.30am, the Staff of the LCNZ National Office takes time to read God’s Word together and to pray. Anyone is welcome to submit prayer requests, and if you’re in the neighbourhood, please feel free to pop in and join us.

Jean King Books
There are a few copies of Jean King’s book, The Lutheran Story – a Brief History of the Lutheran Church in New Zealand 1843-1993 available at the National Office. If you’re interested in getting a copy, please contact the National Office.

Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou / the Lord be with you!

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand