LCNZ Update 20 July 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

Get Cheering
A couple of weeks back on a lovely crisp winter’s Saturday morning, I was working in our garden planting the first of the new roses. Through the clear winter air I could hear cheering from a sports game at the local park. It could have been midget rugby, or football or hockey. Whatever it was, the parents / spectators were in full voice encouraging their children … kick it, tackle, run … try!!

In a few days’ time we’ll be cheering for our heroes … for the black singlet and the silver fern as Kiwis go for gold at the London Olympics. Even though they’ll be running, throwing and rowing around the other side of the world, if you’re anything like me, there’s something pretty special about cheering our athletes on and encouraging them to do their best.

I’m looking forward to conducting the rite of Holy Baptism for a young child in 3 weeks’ time … the rite of initiation and incorporation into Christ that sets all the people of God on the journey – the race of life through to eternity. And one of the special things we pastors get to do during the rite of baptism is to ask the spectators whether they’ll cheer this new little runner on –

Members of X congregation: Receive N, whom God has given to us as our brother/sister in Christ. Pray for him/her and be a good example to him/her.

We don’t have to wait for a baptism to take place to offer the ministry of encouragement. On Sunday I preached in a couple of our congregations and I was absolutely delighted that during worship a leader in one of the congregations offered love and encouragement to a new young member of that particular congregation. “You belong to this family; consider us your sisters and brothers,” the young man was told. Wow! What wonderful encouragement.

And just last week … the ministry of encouragement in faith and life in Christ was given to about 28 of our young people at the LCNZ National Youth Camp held at Foxton Beach during the second week of the holidays. (Here, I might just record our appreciation as a church to all those who planned the camp and looked after our young people during the week – especially to Pastor Lee Kroehn and his wife, Anna).

What opportunities are you aware of that God is giving you to encourage someone in their life-long journey (race) with Jesus. Who are you going to cheer on?

May the writer to the Hebrews give you encouragement too –

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Back to my roses. When I put them in the ground they were just bare sticks it seemed, but I’ve been checking on them every day and guess what? I’ve noticed they’re growing fresh, young leaves. I think I’ll have to set up a roster with my girls to keep going out and checking (encouraging) my roses when I’m away.

Get the picture?

• Father God, thank you for loving us through your Son Jesus, and thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit who encourages us and cheers us on as we journey through life to eternity, looking to Jesus. Open our eyes and ears and hearts to the opportunities that exist for encouraging and cheering on others. Amen.

Thanks For Cheering Us On – Karen & John
This Sunday marks the end of the locum ministry provided by Dr John Koch and his wife Karen to the members (runners in the race) of St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West. We thank them for their ministry of love and wish them safe return to their home in Adelaide. At the same time we’re thankful to God that Pastor Rex Mickan continues to cheer on the folk at Mountainside. Pastor Colin Hartwich will be the next locum pastor at Wellington / Wairarapa.

• Thank you Lord God for providing pastors for your church and especially for those who come and fill in during vacancies – Pastor Rex Mickan and Robyn, and Dr John Koch and Karen. Thank you for their ministry of encouragement among us. Amen.

Cheering the Chinese
Next weekend will be a very exciting weekend for the Lutheran Church of New Zealand as we gather to cheer on Vicar Tat Tsui and the members of Botany Lutheran Church. We need as many spectators as we can gather to offer encouragement and love to Tat and our Chinese sisters and brothers in this congregation as Tat is ordained as a Special Ministry Pastor (SMP). And if you’re in Auckland the evening before, make sure you come along to the concert that the members of Botany have organised to celebrate this wonderful occasion –

Saturday 28th July 7.00pm
Nightingale Concert – Celebrate the Word of God through music
All Saints Anglican Church
Corner of Cook Street and Selwyn Road, Howick

Sunday 29th July 11.00am
Divine Service including the Ordination of Tat Ming Tsui as an SMP
Botany Lutheran Church
150C Harris Rd, East Tamaki

• Thank you Lord God for watching over Tat and Irene, and the members of Botany Lutheran Church during this time of preparation and affirmation of call on Tat to become a pastor for this congregation. Give us joy as we cheer you for your provision of a pastor, and as meet to celebrate next weekend and encourage our sisters and brothers in life and ministry. Amen.

A Race Run and Finished
On Monday morning Betty Ennis – mother of Janine Lipsys (wife of Pastor David, Christchurch), completed her earthly race and was welcomed into the arms of Jesus in eternity. Please keep Janine and David and all their families in your hearts and in your prayers. I am informed by Pastor David that Betty’s funeral is being planned for 11.00am on Friday 27th July at St Lukes Lutheran Church, Palmerston North.

• God of peace and joy, we thank you for your grace to Betty and to all your people who have finished the course of their lives in faith and now rest from all their work. Comfort Betty’s family in their time of mourning, for you are the only source of true comfort, and in your love you long to comfort us. Care for us and remind us that you are always near. Bring us, and all who have fallen asleep in faith, to perfect joy and fulfilment in your eternal glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Media Prayer Day – Sunday 5th August … Praying Across NZ and the World
Christian Broadcasting Association (CBA) writes –

We’ve been in touch with more than 1,700 churches across NZ … and now will have people praying around the world. Phil Guyayn (CBA Managing Trustee) has just returned from the United States, where he visited Karen Covell who heads up the Hollywood Prayer Network. Karen mobilises tens of thousands of Christians around the world to pray for the ‘world’s most influential mission field’ … Hollywood, the epicentre of the western world’s media and entertainment industry. Karen is asking her vast network of intercessors to join us in prayer on Sunday 5th August. It’s exciting and encouraging to know that when we pray on Media Prayer Day, we’ll be joined by brothers and sisters in the faith around the planet.

What else can you do?

• Please remind/encourage everyone in your circle of influence to pray on the day. Invite them to engage by visiting www.mediaprayerday.com
• Please encourage others to view and share the 3-minute YouTube video.
• Please encourage participation on our FaceBook page

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

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

LCNZ Update 22 June 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

Up the River … (Without a Paddle?) … Peace; Be Still
During this past week the Pastors and Church Workers gathered at Harrison Street Community Church (St John’s Lutheran) in Whanganui for the second of our annual Church Worker Conferences. Despite being small in number, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity for sharing, mutual support and encouragement, worship, prayer, study, and just generally some time away from the coalface of our ministry situations in order to be refreshed and recharged.

On Wednesday afternoon, we left the hustle and bustle of city life behind and drove up the picturesque Whanganui River Valley road through the communities of Atene (Athens), Koroniti (Corinth), and Ranana (London) to the quietness, remoteness and solitude of Hiruhurama (Jerusalem).

Hiruhurama was once an important kainga (fishing village) on the Whanganui River in New Zealand where a Roman Catholic mission was established in 1854. Hiruharama was the site where, in 1892, Suzanne Aubert (better known as Mother Mary Joseph) established the congregation of the Sisters of Compassion. They became a highly respected charitable nursing and religious order. A convent remains on the mission property as well as a beautiful weatherboard church. Well-known New Zealand poet James K. Baxter and many of his followers formed a community at Hiruhurama in 1970 and Baxter is buried there.

Before we left this beautiful place, Pastor Lee Kroehn (Manawatu) led our closing devotion and prayers for the day in the church – Hato Hohepa (St Joseph’s) – and read the following from the gospel for this coming Sunday –

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)

In this gorgeous location … up the river … with some of feeling at times as if we’re up the river without a paddle or two due to the pressures and demands of ministry … together with our Lord speaking to us, we were able to be still and to experience the peace of Jesus. It was, as some of us agreed, a most spiritual experience (to use a very clichéd phrase).

• Lord Jesus, please speak peace into our lives and say “be still” to the storms when they gather around us. Remind us that you are in the boat of our lives (paddling up the river) with us. Amen.

Memorial Service: Pastor Allan Heppner
Pastor John Davison (Hamilton / Bay of Plenty) reports that about 41 people gathered at St Matthew Hamilton recently to give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Pastor Allan Heppner. One couple travelled from Te Kuiti. Debra and Rochelle Heppner, together with Allan’s parents-in-law Buster and Joan Kells were also present. John said that it was a blessing for everyone concerned.
· Gracious God, we thank you for the memories you give us of those who were special to us and a blessing to our church. We continue to thank you for Allan and ask you to be close with your peace and stillness to those who grieve for him. Amen.

Graduate Debrief
On Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th, together with the other Presidents of the Church, I participated in the Graduate Pastor debrief in Adelaide. Included in the class that graduated at the end of 2010 were our own Pastor Chris (Ernst) Janetzki and his wife Haidee from Upper Moutere / Hope. These two days gave the graduates a wonderful opportunity to share their “highs and lows” with their colleagues and to receive love, counsel and support from the Presidents of the Church. I was very impressed with the calibre of this group of young pastors, and was taken especially by the ways in which each was intentionally engaging in the ministry opportunities and locations in which they’d been placed.

Chris and Haidee are no exception; they are a wonderful blessing to our church here in Aotearoa-NZ, and especially in the communities of Hope and Upper Moutere. They need our love and support as they continue to grow in ministry and serve the Lord of the Church.

• Thanks Lord for the young and energetic Graduate Pastors in our church, and thanks especially for Chris and Haidee who you’ve given to us here in NZ. Watch over them and bless them in their ministry and life, and bring Chris and Haidee back to us refreshed after their time in Australia. Amen.

Naumai; Haere Mai
Welcome to Dr John Koch and his wife Karen. John has begun a 6 week locum ministry at St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West. It was great to welcome John and Karen to our Church Workers conference during the week too.

• Thank you Lord God for providing pastors for your church and especially for those who come and fill in during vacancies – Pastor Rex Mickan and Robyn (Mountainside) and Dr John Koch and Karen (Wellington/Wairarapa). Bless their presence and their work among us, and watch over the families and friends they leave behind in Australia to be here. Amen.

Childsafe
Just a wee reminder … ChildSafe training takes place at Harrison Street Community Church (St John’s Lutheran Church), 98 Harrison Street, Whanganui … tomorrow (Saturday 23rd June) from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Annual Leave
I am taking 3 weeks annual leave from today until Friday 13th July. During this time if you need to contact someone from the National Office, please do the following:

• Email lcnz@clear.net.nz or phone (04) 3852540, or
• In an urgent / emergency situation contact the Vice President of the church, Pastor John Davison on 027 5078897

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

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

LCNZ Update 1 June 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

Time to Tell the Stories
I get the opportunity some days to either drive our 7-year old daughter to school or to pick her up from school and drive her home. She’s a talker, and during that 11km trip I get to hear quite a bit, especially about what’s going on at school and the new things she’s learning. I get to hear her stories.

At the moment she’s telling me a lot about the phases of the moon and the constellations of the stars. I’m hearing about Matariki (the Maori name for the group of stars also known as the Pleiades star cluster referred to as the traditional Maori New Year). And this morning on the way in I heard about her cross country running … if you’re good enough you get chosen for the Eastern Zone, and if you do well there, then it’s the Wellington regionals, and from there the nationals … and from there? Well, she worked out, that would be international … the Olympics. And then she quickly added, “Mum (who’s a teacher at her school) said we might be learning about the Olympics next term.”

I’m getting ready for more stories.

Friends, I like to think that we’re entering a season of the church year where we really get excited about telling the stories … and in particular the story of God’s amazing love for everyone in Jesus Christ. Since the beginning of the church year (Advent) we’ve been caught up in something wonderful – God revelation of himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ – his birth, his ministry, his suffering and passion, his death, his glorious resurrection, his ascension to the right hand of God, and most recently the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This is the story of God’s loving engagement with you and me, and with his creation.

If you like, we’ve been included in God’s story of love, and now, with the promise of and out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, we are told that we will have everything needed to tell the stories of God (you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth).

Question: can you and your church community be as excited about telling the story of God as my 7-year old is telling me about what’s going on at school? I hope you can, by the power of the Spirit, and so we pray similarly to last time …

• Lord, bless us all as we desire to act for you under the influence of the Spirit and tell the amazing stories of God’s love for all people. Amen.

Taking Faith Home
In order to tell the stories of God’s love, we need to be constantly reminded of them – ideally every day. There is a wonderful resource available on-line called Taking Faith Home which I know some congregations are downloading and making available each week. This resource links Sunday worship (and the stories) with household faith formation Monday to Saturday. It’s designed to help households and families live, share and celebrate faith together each and every week.

You can sign up to receive this free at http://www.formingfaith.com/6.html - go to the bottom of the page and sign up. And I’d like to encourage pastors and parish office staff to check this out and print it in your regular weekly bulletins.

• Thank you Lord God for making resources available to us and to your church, so that we might be nurtured in our faith in you and equipped to tell the stories of your love. Amen.

Memorial Service: Pastor Allan Heppner
A Memorial Service for Pastor Allan Heppner will be held at 7:30pm on Wednesday 13th June at St Matthew Lutheran Church – 27 Abbotsford Street, Whitiora, Hamilton 3200.

• All welcome to come and share with family and friends to give thanks to God for the life of Pastor Allan.
• The service will be followed by a time of fellowship with supper.
• Please bring a plate if you are able.

Correction to Manawatu Address
Please note this correction to the address for the Manawatu Lutheran Parish:
P.O. Box 47
Palmerston North Central
Palmerston North 4440

Haere Ra; Haere Mai
Last Sunday marked the completion of Pastor Martin Schirmer’s locum ministry at Mountainside Lutheran Church and the North Shore. Thanks Martin and Liz for your time with us and for your ministry of love and pastoral care for the people of Auckland. Haere ra / farewell.

And welcome to Pastor Rex Mickan and his wife Robyn, who begins his locum ministry in Auckland this coming weekend. To you we say Haere mai / welcome, and God bless.

Retired seminary lecturer, Dr John Koch will start a 6 week locum ministry at St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West in mid-June. We look forward to welcoming John and Karen to New Zealand too.

• Thank you Lord God for providing pastors for your church – and in our case, here in the LCNZ – those who will come and fill in during vacancies. Bless their presence and their work among us, and watch over the families and friends they leave behind in Australia to be here. Amen. 

From Council of Synod
What follows is a brief dot-point summary of some of the discussions had at the recent Council of Synod (CoS) meeting at St Pauls Christchurch last weekend (this summary courtesy of Pastor John Davison, Vice President).

• Thanks for prayer, encouragement, expressions of sympathy to Pastor Mark with the recent death of his father.
• Need to focus on the “joy of the Lord.”
• Vicar Tat Tsui approved for ordination on 29th July, 2012.
• Pastor Joe Kummerow acceptance of the call to Mountainside.
• The President’s support team is in place.
• CoS members will attend the next Kogodus II Prayer Retreat at Foxton on 14th-16th September, 2012.
• National Youth Camp at Foxton , 9th-13th July, 2012.
• National Prayer Network being developed.
• Church Workers Conference will be held in Whanganui from 19th-21st June, 2012.
• Twenty/20 Administration Workshop valued and appreciated.
• Presidents pastoral e-mail updates are appreciated. (To subscribe to this list, send an email to itofficer@lca.org.au giving the email address you need included.)
• Insurance issues were discussed.
• Tax deductibility of donations from NZ to Australian Lutheran World Service. This would be an expensive and complex process to set up. Suggested that anyone wishing to donate and receive tax deductibility use local (NZ) agencies which do similar work as ALWS.
• Salaries for Special Ministry Pastors (SMPs).
• LCNZ Salaries Advisory Council needs new members with financial skills.
• Grants approved for Mountainside, The Olive Tree, Whanganui and for SMP travel for training.
• LCNZ National Office Task Force options.
• Thanks were expressed to Katharina Borszik for contribution to COS and Twenty/20 training as she and her Daniel prepare to depart for a two year stint in Dubai.
• Gateway Gift major grant applications need to be in by the end of July.

• Almighty God thank you for the varied gifts of the members of the Council of Synod, and that through this council you provide for the on-going care of your church in New Zealand. Continue to help this council – and all our committees and task forces – to act on every opportunity for fruitful service. Send your Holy Spirit that everything we think, say, and do may be for the common good of your church and the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

At the conclusion of our meeting on Saturday afternoon, we conducted a Rite of Farewell and Blessing for Katharina. During this rite there was opportunity for each of us to thank Katharina and to affirm publically with thanks the way that God has used her in ministry here in the LCNZ. We prayed for Katharina and Daniel that the Lord would continue to use them and bless them for ministry in Dubai.

Later in the afternoon we were taken on a tour around some of the worst affected earthquake areas of Christchurch.

We shared an evening fellowship meal with the members of St Pauls and then engaged in some dreaming and visioning for how God might want to use St Pauls Christchurch to continue telling his story of love in their city and community. On the Sunday morning most members of CoS were able to join St Pauls for worship and I was privileged to preach.

Thanks Christchurch for a wonderful weekend, and thanks for the little shake-up (or two) while we were with you. May the Spirit of God continue to shake (stir up) within you a desire to instruments of his love and healing.

Finally
Could pastors and parish office secretaries please consider doing the following:

• Cutting and pasting most/all of this regular update and including it in whatever weekly or regular bulletin/newsletter you provide for your people?
• Encouraging your members to sign-up to this update by sending an email to itofficer@lca.org.au?

Nga mihi nui.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

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

LCNZ Update 21 May 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

Mountainside Call Accepted
Yesterday morning it was announced to the Auckland Lutheran Parish that Pastor Joe Kummerow had accepted their call to be pastor at Mountainside Lutheran Church. There is great excitement in Auckland and in the Kummerow family as they now look forward to forming a new partnership in ministry. No dates for the Kummerow family shift to New Zealand or for Pastor Joe’s installation have been set yet, but watch this space … I’ll certainly let you know.

• Heavenly Father, thank you for providing shepherds for the sheep, and thank you for leading Pastor Joe to accept your call to be the pastor of your people in the Auckland Lutheran Parish. Watch over Joe and Julie and their children as they now prepare to leave their home and their friends in Wodonga and shift to New Zealand. Continue to fill him with your Holy Spirit so that the desire to tenderly care for your people in Auckland and give freely of himself to them may grow. And when he comes to Auckland, help him to proclaim the gospel clearly and lead your people boldly, so that the people of Mountainside will hold firmly to the word of life, rejoice in your grace, and shine brightly as a light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wellington/Wairarapa Call
Pastor George Samiec, an Australian pastor serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England has been called to St Pauls Wellington / St Francis Wairarapa.

• Heavenly Father, please reveal your will for Pastor George and his wife Charlotte as they consider this call, and watch over and care for the members of St Pauls and St Francis as they wait. Amen.

Tat Tsui Approved for Ordination as an SMP
During the College of Presidents meetings in Adelaide this past week, the College approved Tat Tsui for ordination as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) for Botany Lutheran Church. Tuesday 15th was an exciting day for Botany and for the LCNZ as God affirmed his call on Tat, and as I received word from Joe that he was accepting the Auckland call.

• Continue to pray for Botany Lutheran Church and for Tat and his wife Irene as they now prepare for Tat’s ordination.

The ordination date is Sunday 29th July at Botany, preceded by a concert organised by Botany Lutheran Church on Saturday 28th July at All Saints Anglican Church, Howick (more details to come).

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

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

LCNZ Update 10 May 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

Act-ing Under The Influence Of The Spirit
I love the weeks after Easter day. The Easter Eggs (ooohhh, I love those marshmallow ones!!) and the Hot Cross Buns might well and truly be gone from the shop shelves, but in the church we just keep on celebrating the best thing that’s ever happened – God coming to earth in the form of His Son, dying on the cross, destroying the power of sin, death and the devil and rising again – and he shares that with each one of us by virtue of our baptism.

And I love the Bible readings we’re having in Sunday morning worship at the moment too, especially the readings from Acts. What wonderful and inspiring writing this is from Luke … stories of Jesus’ resurrection power taking shape in that post-Easter period of time and amongst post-Easter disciples … the Holy Spirit’s presence, the boldness the believers had in proclaiming Christ, conversions to Christ because there is “no other name”, baptisms, etc.

If you or your church wants to be inspired for ministry and mission in the power of the Holy Spirit, read the Acts of the Apostles, and pray, ‘Holy Spirit, come.’

And as we read and listen to these ‘acts’, we’re also getting ready and excited, and being inspired for the Lord to invite us again to receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us so that we may be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

All in all, it’s a great time to be church.

• Lord, bless us all as we desire to act for you under the influence of the Spirit! Amen.

Call News
Mountainside, Auckland:

• Continue to pray for Pastor Joe Kummerow and his wife Julie and their children as they continue to seek the Lord’s will with regard to the call to the Auckland Lutheran Parish. Joe also holds another call (to a congregation in South Australia).

Wellington / Wairarapa:

• Pastor Vince Gerhardy declined the call to St Pauls Wellington / St Francis Wairarapa. A call has now been sent to Pastor George Samiec, an Australian pastor serving in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England. Please pray also for George and his wife Charlotte as they receive the call material and discern God’s will for them.

Approval Sought For Ordination As An SMP
On Sunday 29th April, the members of Botany Lutheran Church (our Chinese congregation in Auckland) voted overwhelmingly to ask the Church to ordain Vicar Tat Tsui as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) in Botany. It was an exciting day for Botany and for the LCNZ as God affirmed his call on Tat. The Council of Synod have received Botany’s request, and have now made application to the College of Presidents and the General Church Council of the LCA/NZ for Tat to be ordained.

• Please continue to pray for Botany Lutheran Church and for Tat and his wife Irene as they now wait for approval to be given. There are exciting ministry opportunities in this place and amongst the Chinese; pray that the Holy Spirit would move amongst them and inspire them to be witnesses to the end …

Thank You From Allan Heppner’s Family
Debra, Eloise, Daniela and Rochelle and the extended Kells and Heppner families would like to thank you for the love and support you have shown to us and Allan on his journey to heaven. Allan was a much loved husband and dadda and we miss him every day. We have been overwhelmed by the number of cards and emails that have been sent to us. Please accept this thanks as our reply. I love the Lord for he heard my voice (Psalm 116.1).

• Compassionate God, the strength of all who suffer, bring hope and peace to Debra, Eloise, Daniela and Rochelle, and also to Buster and Joan and their extended family. Amen.

Appreciation For Faithful Service
On Saturday 25th May, the Lutheran Laymen’s League will at its AGM, thank God and honour Buster Kells for his many years of dedicated service to the ministry of the LLL in New Zealand. The church also thanks you Buster and Joan for your love for the Lord and his Church.

• Lord God, we pray that you would guard the life of Joan and Buster, and that you would watch over them as they go out and come in, now and forever. Amen.

From Palmy To Nelson
This Sunday the people of the Manawatu Lutheran Parish will thank to God and pray his blessing on Amy and Terrence Brinkman as they shift from Palmerston North to Nelson. For the last 3 years Amy has been Parish Worker in the Manawatu. Amy – thanks for your wonderful, Spirit-infused ministry in Palmerston North and Feilding. Thanks also for your presence at and contribution to our Church Workers conferences over those years and for the other ways you served our church, especially at our National Youth Camps.

• Lord God who provides all good things, we thank you for Amy and Terrence – for their presence and their ministry in our church. Be with them as they move from Palmy to Nelson; to their new home and their new place of work. As they have been a blessing to us, make them a blessing to others in their new community and their new place of worship and ministry. Keep us united by your Spirit, and help us to remember each other in our prayers. Let nothing ever separate us from your love in Christ Jesus, so that we may meet again as your children in our eternal home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please Note These New Contact Details
Vicki Wood, Office Administrator:
Manawatu Lutheran Parish
250 Church Street
Palmerston North

manawatulutheran@inspire.net.nz
Phone: 06 357 0030

Postal Address:
PO Box 4248
Palmerston North 4442

Some Meetings
Another round of meetings on both sides of the Tasman are about to kick-off:
Anglican/Lutheran Dialogue - 11th May Feilding
Finance Advisory Committee - 12th May Wellington
College of Presidents - 14th-16th May Adelaide
Lutheran Support Ministries - 19th May Wellington
Lutheran Laymen’s League - 26th May Palmerston North
Council of Synod / Gateway Gift Trust Board - 25th-26th May Christchurch

• Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church which is your body, by whom we have been chosen as ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation, direct us, we ask, in all our doings with your most gracious favour. Let all our plans and purposes be in accordance with your holy will, our aim only that we may serve you and the people of your church faithfully. Enlighten all who participate in these meetings with the Holy Spirit as we consider together the opportunities and the responsibilities of the church in these times. Inspire our minds, assist our wills, and strengthen our hands that we may not falter or fail in the work you have given us to do, to your honour and glory. Amen. (From The Minister’s Prayer Book).

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

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

LCNZ Update 26 April 2012

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

Jonah Kroehn – He’s Alive
Friends … I’ve just been made aware that perhaps the use of my rather cryptic language in speaking about the baptism of Jonah Kroehn made it seem as if Jonah had died as well.

I’m really sorry if I’ve confused or worried anyone.

My intention of course was to simply acknowledge that in Holy Baptism one does die to sin and is raised to newness of life in Christ Jesus (check Romans 6) … and that’s why I referred to his baptism as a dying and rising all in one.

Jonah is well and truly alive!

Kogudus
I also forgot to mention that a Kogudus Retreat is taking place in Ngaruawahia this weekend called – Prayer: Growing in a Relationship, not Mastering a Technique. Please pray for blessing at and through this event.

Botany Lutheran Church
This Sunday I will participate in worship and preach at Botany Lutheran Church. After worship, the congregation will meet to vote on whether to make application for Vicar Tat Tsui to approved for ordination as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP). Two weeks ago Pastor Martin Schirmer and I conducted a colloquy with Tat, and a report on that still needs to go to the College of Presidents. Please continue to pray that God will bless this process and provide Botany with the pastor-shepherd they need.

Fruit That Will Last
The National Office has a box filled with hundreds of copies of a booklet entitled – ‘Fruit that will last.’ It is a guide to making one’s will. Inserted in it is a list of all aspects of the work of the Lutheran Church to which you might make a bequest. Of course, you can also make bequests to your local congregation.

To LCNZ congregations: If you would like to draw your members’ attention to the importance of making a will and how we should go about it, please let us know and we will send you the required number of copies of the booklet. We would like to hear from you by 15th May.

From the booklet –

A gift to your church is a gift of eternal value … producing fruit that will last. Your gift will make it possible for others to hear the good news of Jesus Christ, and to follow you to eternal life. A gift to your church is a gift that lasts. It continues to make a difference in the world.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 25 April 2012

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

Anzac Day
I have just come home from singing in the choir at the ANZAC service in a packed Wellington Cathedral. Apparently numbers at Dawn Services and commemorations are up again throughout New Zealand; more and more it seems – especially the young – are acknowledging the sacrifice made by so many through many conflicts in order that our nation and other nations might live in peace. We let scripture affirm a great truth as we commemorate – no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).

My Father – Maurice Whitfield (A personal comment from our family)
Over the last week especially, my family and I have been blessed by the great comfort offered by the truth that our dear friend, Jesus lay down his life for my father. A week ago today, Dad was called to his heavenly home, aged 86 years and 2 days.

My wife Leanne wrote in an email to some –

Although we are sad to lose a loving father and granddad, we feel at peace, knowing that his suffering is over. He has been in poor health for some years, but in the past few weeks, he had deteriorated further, and when he was discharged from hospital the last time, about 10 days ago, he went to a nursing home at Bulls. We were at Marton on the weekend, and visited him twice. Both visits were rather emotional, as he was struggling to breathe, and had strong pain from an unknown origin. We had a family party (a very quiet party!) in the nursing home lounge with a birthday cake for him and Charlotte on Saturday. We felt that he could not live for much longer.

Last Wednesday morning, just after 5am, he peacefully breathed his last and passed from life to life everlasting. We are so thankful that through his witness to strong and committed faith, we are left with the sure hope of seeing him again at the end of our own lives. He has laid a foundation of faith for our whole family ... such a blessing.

So last Saturday we gathered at St Martins, Marton with about 230 others to celebrate the love of God in Dad’s life and in ours. We sang, we laughed, we prayed, we heard God speak his amazing love to us through his Word … and above all we thanked God that he loves us so much that he lays down his life – through his Son Jesus – in order that we might live at peace and in freedom into eternity. We continue to rejoice in the release and healing Dad now has from his earthly suffering, and in the gift of eternal life he received at his baptism which he now enjoys in all fullness in the presence of his Lord.

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

A little additional note … we appreciate the many expressions of love that we have received from people throughout New Zealand and from other places in the world.

A Dying and Rising … All In One
In the same way that my Dad died and now lives eternally through baptismal grace, Jonah Kroehn – son of Pastor Lee and Anna Kroehn (Manawatu) has also died and been raised in Christ. Last Sunday at Hope Valley Lutheran Church in South Australia (I think that’s where it was), Jonah was, as scripture says, buried with Jesus by baptism into death and raised to walk in newness of life with Christ (Romans 6). Our prayer is that Jonah will continue to grow in this beautiful baptismal grace.

Haere Mai Martin & Liz; Haere Ra Bob & Lynette
The LCNZ continues to be blessed through the locum ministries of pastors from across the ditch. Just before Easter Mountainside and the North Shore welcomed Pastor Martin Schirmer and his wife Liz, and St Pauls Wellington welcomed Pastor Robert Wiebusch and his wife Lynette. We’re so grateful for these ministries and especially over the Easter weekend. Bob and Lynette have since returned to Australia; Martin and Liz are here for a little longer.

Which Brings Me to Calls
On Sunday 1st April St Pauls Wellington called Pastor Vince Gerhardy from Caboolture in Queensland, and last Sunday (22nd April), Mountainside called Pastor Joe Kummerow from Wodonga in Victoria. Please continue to pray for the Spirit’s leading and guidance as these pastors consider their respective calls to serve in the LCNZ.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand