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
20 November 2012
03 November 2012
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 –
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
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 –
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 –
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 –
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 –
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
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 1483-1546Wherever 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.Please Pray For
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.
- 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.
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 –
- Best multi-camera direction for “A Gala Concert” featuring Dame Kiri Te Kanawa with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and
- Best popular documentary for “Rhodes, Actor Singer”
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
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
17 October 2012
LCNZ Update 17 October 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
Staying in Touch: Hearing and Speaking
Kia ora koutou my dear friends. Last week I heard but I had trouble speaking; last week I received but I couldn’t send. “Sounds like email/internet connectivity problems there, Mark” I hear you saying. And you’d be right! Whilst in Adelaide for meetings last week, due to what we might call ‘technical difficulties’, I was able to receive all in-coming emails, but none of the ones I wrote and ‘sent’ went!
Eventually, on the last day I was there, I found a way to send.
Receiving and sending; hearing and speaking … this reminded of the message I preached at Pastor Joe Kummerow’s installation at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland a few weeks back. I preached on the healing of the deaf and mute man in the gospel according to St Mark (Mark 7:32-35), under the theme, Touching Ears, Touching Tongues, Touching Lives.
I encouraged pastor and people together to be open (Ephphatha) to hearing and speaking the gospel of Jesus … to hear God speak his love for us in Christ, and having heard, to proclaim this love to the world.
And may I encourage you – whoever you are / wherever you are – to be open (Ephphatha) to how God might be speaking into your life/lives … that your ears and eyes and hearts might continue to be open to what the Spirit of Jesus is saying … that mouths and lives also may be open to proclaim the good news of Jesus to others.
On Sunday the people of God at St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West heard the great news, that Pastor Jim Pietsch had accepted the call of God through his people to be their new pastor … and in keeping with the encouragement of the psalmist they clapped! A long vacancy extending back to July 2011 is about to come to an end. Pastor Jim will come to us from the Melbourne North West Regional Ministry Multipoint Parish in Victoria, where he has been pastor since November 2006. Pastor Jim intends relocating to Wellington in January next year with installation set for some time in February.
During the vacancy we have been grateful to God for providing locum ministry through the following pastors – Norm Bergen, Robert Wiebusch, John Koch, and Colin Hartwich. Pastor Brian Schwarz will start his locum ministry at the end of November through to the beginning of January.
I spent last week in Adelaide attending a College of Presidents’ meeting, being involved in interviews with the graduating class of Australian Lutheran College (ALC / The Seminary), and attending a General Church Council meeting. While I still find elements of these meetings somewhat overwhelming, I also continue to grow in my understanding of a church whereby the love of God comes to life in places and ways way beyond our LCNZ experience. It is also exciting for the College of Presidents to have opportunity to interview and speak with graduating pastors and their wives. Graduation and ordination is set down for the second weekend in December in Adelaide.
A message from our editor, Dan:
The brand new 2012 Lutheran World Service (LWS) Gifts of Grace for our Lutheran family is hot off the presses and fresh on the website!
In Gifts of Grace this year, you’ll find ducks (10 of them), chickens (a whole farm), Seed Vouchers (including ground-nuts), fishing gear for South Sudan PLUS a dozen more gifts. There’s a ‘hot’ Mystery Gift, as well as our famous Lutheran Long Drop Loo. Buy gifts online.
Gifts start at only $5 (for a Rooster), and six gifts are under $12. That means Gifts of Grace are a perfect way to get kids and grandkids and Sunday Schools thinking about others at Christmas! LWS have created a two minute promo clip for Gifts of Grace. Watch it on YouTube but beware! The jingle will stick in your head forever, as will its star – the world’s cutest piglet!
Last year, more than $518,000 of life-changing aid was given through LWS Gifts of Grace, and was delivered by our Lutheran teams and other partners across Asia and Africa.
Gifts of Grace is a wonderful way we can come together as a Lutheran Church, help others, and live the values of love and service in a very practical way. I hope you can use it in your ministry.
Longest Lutheran Lunch: 28 October
Church Workers Conference
Next week the pastors and lay church workers of the LCNZ will meet in Christchurch for the final Church Workers’ Conference of the year. The middle day will be set aside for guided spiritual retreat (I’ll report on that next time around). Please pray for us as we travel, meet together, talk, study, pray and worship.
National Office Shift
Most of the boxes are packed and we’re almost set to go. New administrator, Robert Hagen has overseen the preparation-for-relocation process so far, and has done thorough planning for when the time comes for us to move into the new office. The shift will happen on Friday 26th October.
And to Close, Listen to this from Harrison Street Community Church, Whanganui
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. I do believe we are beginning to cook with gas. First free soup night at HSCC was great. We got visitors who came for tea and stayed and I got to see the members of my congregation talking and interacting with people from our area. It’s about relationships. Praise God we are on the move.
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
Staying in Touch: Hearing and Speaking
Kia ora koutou my dear friends. Last week I heard but I had trouble speaking; last week I received but I couldn’t send. “Sounds like email/internet connectivity problems there, Mark” I hear you saying. And you’d be right! Whilst in Adelaide for meetings last week, due to what we might call ‘technical difficulties’, I was able to receive all in-coming emails, but none of the ones I wrote and ‘sent’ went!
Eventually, on the last day I was there, I found a way to send.
Receiving and sending; hearing and speaking … this reminded of the message I preached at Pastor Joe Kummerow’s installation at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland a few weeks back. I preached on the healing of the deaf and mute man in the gospel according to St Mark (Mark 7:32-35), under the theme, Touching Ears, Touching Tongues, Touching Lives.
I encouraged pastor and people together to be open (Ephphatha) to hearing and speaking the gospel of Jesus … to hear God speak his love for us in Christ, and having heard, to proclaim this love to the world.
And may I encourage you – whoever you are / wherever you are – to be open (Ephphatha) to how God might be speaking into your life/lives … that your ears and eyes and hearts might continue to be open to what the Spirit of Jesus is saying … that mouths and lives also may be open to proclaim the good news of Jesus to others.
There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly. (Mark 7:32-35)We pray with the psalmist:
- Lord, open my lips (and my ears and my heart), so that my mouth will declare your praise. Amen. (Psalm 51:15)
On Sunday the people of God at St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West heard the great news, that Pastor Jim Pietsch had accepted the call of God through his people to be their new pastor … and in keeping with the encouragement of the psalmist they clapped! A long vacancy extending back to July 2011 is about to come to an end. Pastor Jim will come to us from the Melbourne North West Regional Ministry Multipoint Parish in Victoria, where he has been pastor since November 2006. Pastor Jim intends relocating to Wellington in January next year with installation set for some time in February.
During the vacancy we have been grateful to God for providing locum ministry through the following pastors – Norm Bergen, Robert Wiebusch, John Koch, and Colin Hartwich. Pastor Brian Schwarz will start his locum ministry at the end of November through to the beginning of January.
- Lord God, we thank you for speaking by your Holy Spirit into the heart of Pastor Jim, and we thank you that he heard your call to serve your people in Wellington and the Wairarapa, and that he has answered ‘yes’. Watch over Jim as he concludes your ministry through him in Melbourne and as you prepare him to come to us. Thank you for watching over your people in Wellington and the Wairarapa during this vacancy, and for sustaining them by the ministry of your grace. Amen.
I spent last week in Adelaide attending a College of Presidents’ meeting, being involved in interviews with the graduating class of Australian Lutheran College (ALC / The Seminary), and attending a General Church Council meeting. While I still find elements of these meetings somewhat overwhelming, I also continue to grow in my understanding of a church whereby the love of God comes to life in places and ways way beyond our LCNZ experience. It is also exciting for the College of Presidents to have opportunity to interview and speak with graduating pastors and their wives. Graduation and ordination is set down for the second weekend in December in Adelaide.
- Lord God, shepherd of the sheep, thank you for providing pastors for your church. Thank you for the ministry of Australian Lutheran College in shaping and forming men for pastoral ministry. Thank you also for the leadership of our church – at National and District level. Continue to bless their work for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
A message from our editor, Dan:
Hi everyone.
I am writing to let you know the theme of the December edition of the Olive Tree. The theme 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.”)
All articles should be emailed by the 15th November to Dan.
Happy writing and God Bless.
Dan CarswellGifts of Grace
The brand new 2012 Lutheran World Service (LWS) Gifts of Grace for our Lutheran family is hot off the presses and fresh on the website!
In Gifts of Grace this year, you’ll find ducks (10 of them), chickens (a whole farm), Seed Vouchers (including ground-nuts), fishing gear for South Sudan PLUS a dozen more gifts. There’s a ‘hot’ Mystery Gift, as well as our famous Lutheran Long Drop Loo. Buy gifts online.
Gifts start at only $5 (for a Rooster), and six gifts are under $12. That means Gifts of Grace are a perfect way to get kids and grandkids and Sunday Schools thinking about others at Christmas! LWS have created a two minute promo clip for Gifts of Grace. Watch it on YouTube but beware! The jingle will stick in your head forever, as will its star – the world’s cutest piglet!
Last year, more than $518,000 of life-changing aid was given through LWS Gifts of Grace, and was delivered by our Lutheran teams and other partners across Asia and Africa.
Gifts of Grace is a wonderful way we can come together as a Lutheran Church, help others, and live the values of love and service in a very practical way. I hope you can use it in your ministry.
Longest Lutheran Lunch: 28 October
Church Workers Conference
Next week the pastors and lay church workers of the LCNZ will meet in Christchurch for the final Church Workers’ Conference of the year. The middle day will be set aside for guided spiritual retreat (I’ll report on that next time around). Please pray for us as we travel, meet together, talk, study, pray and worship.
National Office Shift
Most of the boxes are packed and we’re almost set to go. New administrator, Robert Hagen has overseen the preparation-for-relocation process so far, and has done thorough planning for when the time comes for us to move into the new office. The shift will happen on Friday 26th October.
And to Close, Listen to this from Harrison Street Community Church, Whanganui
Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. I do believe we are beginning to cook with gas. First free soup night at HSCC was great. We got visitors who came for tea and stayed and I got to see the members of my congregation talking and interacting with people from our area. It’s about relationships. Praise God we are on the move.
… I reckon Pastor Phil’s excited about something. And so he should be. A church cooking with gas … the Spirit (= breath, wind, gas) stirring in his people … reaching out and connecting with their community … touching people with love of Jesus.Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
… yes Phil, along with the rest of, we’re excited too! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! … or could that be Holy! Holy! Holy!
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
02 October 2012
LCNZ Update 2 October 2012
Nga mihi o te ra
Greetings of the day…
The National Office of the LCNZ is about to shift to a new location. Please note the following:
Physical Address after 26th October
Lutheran Church of New Zealand
Molesworth House
101 Molesworth Street
Thorndon
Wellington 6011
Postal Address – effective immediately
Lutheran Church of New Zealand
P.O. Box 12470
Thorndon
Wellington 6144
Email Addresses
President: president@lutheran.org.nz
Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM) Administrator: lsm@lutheran.org.nz
Ma te Atua e manaaki
God bless…
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
Greetings of the day…
The National Office of the LCNZ is about to shift to a new location. Please note the following:
Physical Address after 26th October
Lutheran Church of New Zealand
Molesworth House
101 Molesworth Street
Thorndon
Wellington 6011
Postal Address – effective immediately
Lutheran Church of New Zealand
P.O. Box 12470
Thorndon
Wellington 6144
Email Addresses
President: president@lutheran.org.nz
Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM) Administrator: lsm@lutheran.org.nz
Ma te Atua e manaaki
God bless…
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
24 September 2012
LCNZ Update 24 September 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
Wellington / Wairarapa Extend Call
At a meeting at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Wellington yesterday, Sunday 23rd September, Pastor Jim Pietsch – currently serving the Melbourne North West Regional Ministry Multipoint Parish in Victoria – was called to be Pastor of St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West. Please ask the Lord of the church to bless Jim as he listens to God speak through his Spirit and as he discerns God’s will with respect to this call. And pray for the members at St Pauls and St Francis as they continue to wait for a new pastor.
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
Wellington / Wairarapa Extend Call
At a meeting at St Pauls Lutheran Church in Wellington yesterday, Sunday 23rd September, Pastor Jim Pietsch – currently serving the Melbourne North West Regional Ministry Multipoint Parish in Victoria – was called to be Pastor of St Pauls Wellington and St Francis Mauriceville West. Please ask the Lord of the church to bless Jim as he listens to God speak through his Spirit and as he discerns God’s will with respect to this call. And pray for the members at St Pauls and St Francis as they continue to wait for a new pastor.
- Lord God, we pray in the words of the psalmist: lead us in your truth and teach us, for you are the God of our salvation; for you we wait all day long. By your Holy Spirit instruct your servant, Jim, as he considers the call to serve your people in Wellington and in the Wairarapa; reveal to him the way he should choose. Amen. (Ps.25:1,5,12)
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
21 September 2012
LCNZ Update 21 September 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
Partnership in the Gospel
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, since I last wrote to you. I’ve experienced great joy as President as I have participated in and shared in moments, conversations, events, etc. where partnerships have been established and celebrated; partnerships that, God-willing, will strengthen and enhance our witness to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus.
Let me tell you all about it!
Partners in the Gospel in Auckland
On Sunday 9th September around 170 people gathered at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland to welcome Pastor Joe and Julie Kummerow and their children (Lucy, Emily, Nicholas and Alexander), and to see Joe installed as Pastor of the Auckland Lutheran Parish. There was great joy as both Joe and the congregation committed to a partnership in the gospel that will see the love of God in Jesus Christ continue to be proclaimed through the various ministries of that parish.
Our sung prayer after we’d called ‘Naumai; haere mai’ (welcome) – as the Kummerow family entered the church at the beginning of worship – was that this pastor and these people would be one, bound in love for ever, growing close together day by day; growing as God fills them with his life.
We pray for you Joe and Julie and te tamariki o te whanau Kummerow (your family), that you settle in well to life and ministry here in New Zealand, and that joy will be in abundance as you hear Jesus speak to you and as you open your hearts and lips and lives to share him with Auckland.
Over 40 people gathered at the call of the Holy Spirit at Foxton Bible Camp last weekend (14-16 September) for a Kogudus Retreat under the theme – Prayer : Growing in a relationship; not mastering a technique. And we were blessed as we were drawn close to the Father God’s heart. Under the capable and gentle leadership of Sharolyn Mollet, the Spirit stirred in us as we heard stimulating presentations, and were given opportunity to meet in small groups and to pray intentionally for each other.
The adage that a family that prays together stays together is true for our church also, and is God’s plan and purpose for us.
I want to highlight the blessing for me personally and for four other members of your Council of Synod (COS). We were placed in our own small group. What a blessing this was as we read scripture together and talked, as we discussed matters pertaining to our role as servant leaders of the National Church, and as we prayed for the Church and for the Lord’s will to be done through us and in us. And what a wonderful moment when the five of us were invited by Retreat Chaplain, Pastor Phil Husband, to stand together as one during Sunday worship, surrounded by the people of the Church praying for us.
It was also a joy to welcome the participation of sisters and brothers in Christ from other church denominations as well (remember, it’s all part of this relational thing when you belong to Christ!).
On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of ‘introducing’ the members of St Martin Marton and St Johns Halcombe to Sharolyn and Dennis Mollet. Of course, most of these folk know each other already. But on Wednesday evening, we marked the start of a new partnership in ministry.
Sharolyn and Dennis have heard the Lord’s call to offer themselves for specific pastoral ministry in Marton and Halcombe, where it is hoped that, God-willing, Dennis might eventually offer himself as an SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) for these two congregations. At this stage we’re just beginning the journey … exploring and discerning God’s will; it’s not formal yet. However over the next few weeks and months, Sharolyn and Dennis will meet regularly with the folk at Marton and Halcombe, so that together they can hear the call of God to be partners in the ministry of the Gospel.
It’s been said that behind every good church there’s a good administration (well, there’s a saying that goes something like that, anyway). During this past week we have welcomed a new part-time administrator to the LCNZ National Office. Robert Hagen comes to this position with great skills and with a real desire to assist our church in attaining real efficiency in administration. Welcome Robert!
So on Tuesday past, we gathered as a team for the first time – Wayne Drogemuller (Treasurer who has also kept the administrative home fires burning since August last year / thanks Wayne!), Robert Hagen (new LCNZ administrator), Anna Kroehn (Lutheran Support Ministries administrator), Petrus Simons (who has done wonderful work sorting through files and folders and stuff), and yours truly.
We opened our day together in the name of the God of relationships – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and then spent the day talking together and working out how best we could function in such a way that the Lord’s ministry through the LCNZ might be supported and blessed.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1 3-6)
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
Partnership in the Gospel
It’s been an exciting couple of weeks in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, since I last wrote to you. I’ve experienced great joy as President as I have participated in and shared in moments, conversations, events, etc. where partnerships have been established and celebrated; partnerships that, God-willing, will strengthen and enhance our witness to the saving power of the gospel of Jesus.
Let me tell you all about it!
Partners in the Gospel in Auckland
On Sunday 9th September around 170 people gathered at Mountainside Lutheran Church in Auckland to welcome Pastor Joe and Julie Kummerow and their children (Lucy, Emily, Nicholas and Alexander), and to see Joe installed as Pastor of the Auckland Lutheran Parish. There was great joy as both Joe and the congregation committed to a partnership in the gospel that will see the love of God in Jesus Christ continue to be proclaimed through the various ministries of that parish.
Our sung prayer after we’d called ‘Naumai; haere mai’ (welcome) – as the Kummerow family entered the church at the beginning of worship – was that this pastor and these people would be one, bound in love for ever, growing close together day by day; growing as God fills them with his life.
We pray for you Joe and Julie and te tamariki o te whanau Kummerow (your family), that you settle in well to life and ministry here in New Zealand, and that joy will be in abundance as you hear Jesus speak to you and as you open your hearts and lips and lives to share him with Auckland.
- Heavenly Father, we thank you for calling Joe to be a steward of your holy mysteries and for giving him to this parish as its pastor. Fill him with your Holy Spirit, so that he may tenderly care for your people and give freely of himself to them. Help him to proclaim the gospel clearly and lead your people boldly. Watch over Julie and the children also, as they settle into the routine of home life and school life. As this parish is led by Pastor Joe let it hold firmly to the word of life, rejoice in your grace, and shine brightly as a light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Over 40 people gathered at the call of the Holy Spirit at Foxton Bible Camp last weekend (14-16 September) for a Kogudus Retreat under the theme – Prayer : Growing in a relationship; not mastering a technique. And we were blessed as we were drawn close to the Father God’s heart. Under the capable and gentle leadership of Sharolyn Mollet, the Spirit stirred in us as we heard stimulating presentations, and were given opportunity to meet in small groups and to pray intentionally for each other.
The adage that a family that prays together stays together is true for our church also, and is God’s plan and purpose for us.
I want to highlight the blessing for me personally and for four other members of your Council of Synod (COS). We were placed in our own small group. What a blessing this was as we read scripture together and talked, as we discussed matters pertaining to our role as servant leaders of the National Church, and as we prayed for the Church and for the Lord’s will to be done through us and in us. And what a wonderful moment when the five of us were invited by Retreat Chaplain, Pastor Phil Husband, to stand together as one during Sunday worship, surrounded by the people of the Church praying for us.
It was also a joy to welcome the participation of sisters and brothers in Christ from other church denominations as well (remember, it’s all part of this relational thing when you belong to Christ!).
- Lord of relationships, thank you for relating to us in such loving ways and for inviting us to into relationship and partnership with you through the gift of prayer. Thank you for the blessing that Kogudus was and is to so many in your Church. Amen.
On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of ‘introducing’ the members of St Martin Marton and St Johns Halcombe to Sharolyn and Dennis Mollet. Of course, most of these folk know each other already. But on Wednesday evening, we marked the start of a new partnership in ministry.
Sharolyn and Dennis have heard the Lord’s call to offer themselves for specific pastoral ministry in Marton and Halcombe, where it is hoped that, God-willing, Dennis might eventually offer himself as an SMP (Specific Ministry Pastor) for these two congregations. At this stage we’re just beginning the journey … exploring and discerning God’s will; it’s not formal yet. However over the next few weeks and months, Sharolyn and Dennis will meet regularly with the folk at Marton and Halcombe, so that together they can hear the call of God to be partners in the ministry of the Gospel.
- Lord, you surely know the plans for your people – plans to give us a future with hope. Please prosper your plans and purposes for the partnership in ministry that is beginning between Sharolyn and Dennis at Marton and Halcombe. Amen.
It’s been said that behind every good church there’s a good administration (well, there’s a saying that goes something like that, anyway). During this past week we have welcomed a new part-time administrator to the LCNZ National Office. Robert Hagen comes to this position with great skills and with a real desire to assist our church in attaining real efficiency in administration. Welcome Robert!
So on Tuesday past, we gathered as a team for the first time – Wayne Drogemuller (Treasurer who has also kept the administrative home fires burning since August last year / thanks Wayne!), Robert Hagen (new LCNZ administrator), Anna Kroehn (Lutheran Support Ministries administrator), Petrus Simons (who has done wonderful work sorting through files and folders and stuff), and yours truly.
We opened our day together in the name of the God of relationships – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and then spent the day talking together and working out how best we could function in such a way that the Lord’s ministry through the LCNZ might be supported and blessed.
- Lord God of relationships, please bless the partnerships in ministry that exist in our National Office. Keep those partnerships and friendships strong, that we may be a blessing and support to your church. Amen.
- Wednesday 17th October and Wednesday 24th October
- 7.30pm at Harrison Street Community Church (ending by 9.30pm)
- Attendance at Team Member training is a pre-requisite for this training
- RSVP to Anna Kroehn, LSM Administrator if you are planning on attendin
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1 3-6)
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.
Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
05 September 2012
LCNZ Update 5 September 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
In the Family
Friends – I have been informed of the death of Trevor Wishnowsky, saint and child of God, member of St Johns Lutheran Church Halcombe, who was called to be at home with his Lord yesterday morning. May you all, along with Barbara and her family be encouraged by what Jesus – Lord of life and death says to us:
Friday 7th September
11.00am Funeral Service at St Lukes Lutheran Church, Palmerston North
2.00pm Committal at St Johns Lutheran Church, Halcombe
Kogudus Retreat … Prayer – growing in a relationship; not mastering a technique
You are warmly invited to the Kogudus Retreat on Prayer on 14th – 16th September 2012 at Foxton Bible Camp. The retreat seeks to deepen your walk with the Lord through worship, teaching, discussion and prayer ministry. Kogudus is an Estonian word that means Christian fellowship. The retreat format provides an environment of encouragement in which you can ask and discuss questions, share what you have already learned and just simply grow in exercising your faith. The retreat begins meeting by 6pm on the Friday evening to start with a meal and conclude at 2pm on the Sunday. In between there is a mixture of teaching, prayer, good food, laughter, opportunity for a walk, fun, and fellowship.
Yesterday I did two things with respect to the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill which passed its first stage with a conscience vote in Parliament last week:
I hope to provide you with some information that might be helpful to you as you consider communicating with your local MPs on the matter.
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.
+Mark
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在
Grace and peace to you from God
In the Family
Friends – I have been informed of the death of Trevor Wishnowsky, saint and child of God, member of St Johns Lutheran Church Halcombe, who was called to be at home with his Lord yesterday morning. May you all, along with Barbara and her family be encouraged by what Jesus – Lord of life and death says to us:
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)In asking you to pray for Trevor’s family, I also need to ask you to pray specifically for his son-in-law, Lawrence Satherley who ended up in hospital later in the day. I don’t have details to share of the circumstances surrounding Lawrence’s hospitalisation.
- O God of grace and mercy, we thank you for your loving-kindness show to Trevor who, having finished his course in faith, now rests from his labours. Give to Barbara and her family and to all who mourn comfort in their grief and a sure confidence in your loving care that. casting all their sorrow on You, they may know the consolation of Your love. Bring us at last to our heavenly home that with Trevor we may see You face to face in the joys of paradise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday 7th September
11.00am Funeral Service at St Lukes Lutheran Church, Palmerston North
2.00pm Committal at St Johns Lutheran Church, Halcombe
Kogudus Retreat … Prayer – growing in a relationship; not mastering a technique
You are warmly invited to the Kogudus Retreat on Prayer on 14th – 16th September 2012 at Foxton Bible Camp. The retreat seeks to deepen your walk with the Lord through worship, teaching, discussion and prayer ministry. Kogudus is an Estonian word that means Christian fellowship. The retreat format provides an environment of encouragement in which you can ask and discuss questions, share what you have already learned and just simply grow in exercising your faith. The retreat begins meeting by 6pm on the Friday evening to start with a meal and conclude at 2pm on the Sunday. In between there is a mixture of teaching, prayer, good food, laughter, opportunity for a walk, fun, and fellowship.
- 14th – 16th September 2012
- Foxton Bible Camp
- Register online at http://goo.gl/vkYjP
Yesterday I did two things with respect to the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill which passed its first stage with a conscience vote in Parliament last week:
- I provided all pastors of the LCNZ and the Council of Synod (COS) with a copy of the letter that The President of the Church, Dr Michael Semmler, sent to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs in the Australian Parliament in March of this year. While this was written for the Australian context, it also has relevance for us here in New Zealand.
You can check this out in more detail from the LCA website at http://www.lca.org.au/lca-says-no-to-same-sex-marriage.html - I also read from Dr Semmler’s letter during a discussion on the Marriage Amendment Bill that we had as part of the National Church Leaders meeting in Wellington yesterday, and these comments were appreciated.
I hope to provide you with some information that might be helpful to you as you consider communicating with your local MPs on the matter.
Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.
+Mark
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa
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