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LCNZ Bishop’s Page

BISHOP'S PAGE - LUTHERAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND UPDATE

Pitopito Kōrero o te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa

7th December 2013

Kia tau ki a koutou te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua

願 父 神 所 賜 的 恩 惠 和 平 安 與 你 們 同 在

Grace and peace to you from God

NOTE FOR LCNZ PASTORS, PARISH/CONGREGATIONAL SECRETARIES -

Please cut and paste as much of this update into your regular weekly bulletins, newsletters, and parish magazines, and regularly invite people to subscribe to regular LCNZ UPDATES / Bishop’s Page by going to www.enews.lca.org.au

O COME, O COME IMMANUEL

As I write these words to you, the world has just heard that Nelson Mandela – anti-apartheid revolutionary, politician, philanthropist and one-time President of South Africa – has died at the age of 95.

An English newspaper wrote this –

  • Nelson Mandela saved his country. Mandela, the prisoner for 27 years; Mandela, the masterly politician; Mandela, the healer and conciliator; Mandela, the tough negotiator, prepared to go to the brink – this Mandela was the man who rose to the level of events and guided South Africa’s miraculous rebirth. (The Telegraph, Saturday 7th December 2013 – http://www.telegraph.co.uk)

Mandela was seen by many – especially those oppressed by years of apartheid – as something of a saviour; a messiah. His people had waited for him … and waited some more … and eventually he came as healer and conciliator; as peacemaker.

O come, O come … we waiting people cry in these days; not just in Advent, but throughout the earthly sojourn … O come, Immanuel and ransom captive Israel … come and be God with us … come and heal and make peace … come and save us from the apartheid (segregation) that embeds itself in our beings in the form of sin, and that has cut us off and isolated us from you, O God … and from each other.

The same newspaper that I quoted from above also said this –

  • Nelson Mandela, in a moment of supreme crisis, saved his country. He did so by generosity and indomitable will. He was the kind of man who comes upon this earth but rarely. (The Telegraph)

You and I are waiting in these days for one who comes to save his people from the supreme crisis of sin and death. We are waiting for one who is generous in love; for one who comes by the Divine indomitable will and intention of the Father God, to love us back through manger and cross to himself.

  • Thank you, coming Lord Jesus, for the gracious and servant ministry of Nelson Mandela to his people; to your people. O come, O come Immanuel; serve us with your grac and save us. Amen.

LCA / LCNZ ORDINATION SUNDAY

Tomorrow (Sunday 8th December), five men will be ordained as pastors in the Lutheran Church of Australia, including the LCNZ at a Service to be held at St Pauls Lutheran Church, Blair Athol in Adelaide. The names of the men together with their first call are –

  • Levi Graham – Rainbow, Victoria
  • Joshua Muller – Eudunda South Australia
  • Michael Rudolph – Newcastle, New South Wales (LifeWay Lutheran Church)
  • Stephen Cronau – Central Eyre Peninsula, South Australia
  • Andrew Dockerill – Wodonga, Victoria

They will receive this admonition as they are ordained –

  • Since you have this ministry by the mercy of God, care for God's people, bear their burdens, and do not betray their confidence. Give and receive comfort as you serve within the church. So discipline yourself in life and teaching that you give no offence. And be confident, for God has called you, and your labour in the Lord will not be in vain.

It will be a privilege for me as Bishop to lay hands on the ordinands as we pray for them –

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

COLLEGE OF BISHOPS

The Ordination Service comes at the end of the final round of meetings for Bishops in Adelaide. It’s been a busy year – General Pastors’ Conference, General Synod, the retirement of President Michael Semmler, the election and installation of Bishop John Henderson, together with the regular meetings, both face-to-face here in Adelaide and the monthly teleconferences.

I believe by the grace of God, I am continuing to grow into the role of Bishop of the LCNZ and into finding my place within the College. I acknowledge here the love and support of the other Bishops of the Church, including once again, the pastoral manner with which retired President Mike Semmler cared for me in the early stages.

Here’s something to look forward to (well, I hope you’re going to look forward to it) … the Bishops are coming to New Zealand! That’s right; next year in June the College of Bishops plans to hold its annual retreat in New Zealand. It is also my plan to give opportunity for each of the Bishops to preach in a congregation of the LCNZ on the Sunday before the retreat starts.

BOARD FOR LOCAL MISSION

Sharolyn Mollet represented the LCNZ at the first meeting of this new board recently (21st-23rd November) in Adelaide. This board was established by General Synod in April this year to focus on and support local (local = Australia and New Zealand) ministry opportunities and initiatives. I also intended being at this meeting, but due to other matters that needed my attention, I was unable to go. I haven’t had an opportunity to sit and talk much with Sharolyn about how things went, but I gather it was a good start to this new board. We pray that it will be a real blessing to the church and to us in our local contexts as we are given opportunities to share the gospel of the Coming One.

OLIVE TREE

The final issue of The Olive Tree is due out in the next week or two. Included in this issue will be more information on the follow-up to the Acts 15:36 Tour, plus lots of other good stuff. During the year we established an editorial team for The Olive Tree to work with Dan – Jill Hagen, Alison Preston, Jacinth Gutla, and Leanne Whitfield. We thank God for your willingness to serve in this way.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS - SEMINARS IN THE LCNZ

During the month of February next year, the Director of Reconciliation in the LCA / LCNZ, Pastor Bruce Zagel and his wife Kathy will be conducting Blessed are the Peacemakers seminars throughout the LCNZ. Pastor Bruce writes –

  • Blessed Are the Peacemakers is a Bible study seminar on reconciling relationships and resolving conflict. In this engaging presentation, you see how God’s ministry of reconciliation can be lived out in daily life. You learn practical ways to apply your Christian faith in family, business, church, and even business and legal conflicts. Since all children of God are called to be peacemakers, this seminar is appropriate for every Christian. Church leaders with responsibilities for teaching and assisting others in their conflicts will find the seminar especially helpful for assisting others in responding to conflict in a biblically faithful manner.
  • As Christians living in a sinful world, we often respond to conflict in worldly ways. Although we may know better, we often respond to conflict by trying to escape or by attacking others. When we do, relationships are damaged and the witness of the church is weakened.
  • In Blessed Are the Peacemakers, participants learn how to change this problem. You study key Bible passages and acquire tools for applying the basic principles in everyday conflicts. You will be challenged to live, proclaim, and cultivate lifestyles of reconciliation in the family, workplace, and church.
  • As people practice new ways of addressing conflict, conflict does not disappear. In fact, initially you may have to deal with more conflict. As people become more sensitive to God’s call for peace, they stop covering up the conflict that already exists. They begin to discuss and resolve their differences more honestly and constructively, and old unresolved issues are brought to light and dealt with. They likely will need guidance from church leaders as they struggle to use new skills. These requests for help become opportunities for discipleship. As a result, time and energy wasted on escaping from conflict or attacking others is redirected to glorifying God, serving others, and growing more like Christ, giving a living witness to the unbelieving world.
  • Blessed Are the Peacemakers covers the following topics – (1) understanding conflict from a biblical viewpoint, (2) identifying worldly and godly responses to conflict, (3) describing three opportunities for Christians in conflict, (4) how to confess your faults without justification, (5) how to forgive others as God forgave you, and (6) how to achieve genuine reconciliation.

The schedule is as follows –

  • Saturday 1st February, 8.30am-3.30pm – St Pauls Christchurch
  • Monday 3rd February, 6.00pm-10.00pm – St Pauls Wellington
  • Monday 10th February, 6.00pm-10.00pm – St Lukes Palmerston North
  • Monday 17th February, 6.00pm-10.00pm – Botany Lutheran Church Auckland

Information on how to register will be included the next issue of The Olive Tree.

VISIT OF PASTOR MICHAEL STEICKE TO THE LCNZ

Pastor Michael Steicke, son of Pastor Lance Steicke has returned to the land of his childhood for a few weeks. Mike and his wife, Leanne are here as part of their Rest and Refreshment leave. During their visit Mike is preaching in various places –

  • Sunday 22nd December, 9.00am and 10.30am – St Lukes Palmerston North
  • Sunday 5th January, 9.30am – Whakatane
  • Sunday 12th January, 10.00am – Mountainside Auckland
  • Sunday 19th January, 10.00am – St Matthew Hamilton

Nau mai; haere mai Mike and Leanne; it’s lovely to have you back in NZ! Enjoy your time of rest and refreshment, and thanks so much for preaching on those four Sundays as well.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION

Together with Pastor Mike Steicke and a few others, I am about to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my ordination. I invite you to thank God … not for me, but for his faithfulness to me and for his provision to the church of pastors and prophets and shepherds and teachers and musicians and flower arrangers and coffee serves and cleaners etc.

BRIEF NEWS ITEMS

The Council of Synod (COS) met last weekend. A large part of our meeting was spent doing more work on developing a sense of direction and vision out of the Acts 15:36 Tour. Members of COS ate together at a nice restaurant in Khandallah on the Friday evening and then enjoyed coffee, dessert and relaxed conversation in the Whitfield home.

Cantor, Rick Erickson (Holy Trinity Lutheran New York City), who visited Wellington in May this year, informs me that his choir will be singing two Christmas carols by New Zealand composers during their Christmas services this year.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS WEBSITE – www.redboots.com.au is a Christmas website where you can watch a movie, read a story, play games and music, send e-cards, or find recipes to cook yummy Christmas food.

HAPPYLAND ONLINE ADVENT CALENDAR – back by popular demand, our Happyland Online Advent Calendar is here again with a new look this year! We are putting together so much fun and inspiration in the lead up to Christmas, remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season! Go to www.happyland.com.au.

HAPPYLAND STORIES DVDS HAVE ARRIVED! You can purchase Lutheran Media’s 'Happyland Stories' DVD for only $10. Contact them by filling in your details at the following link – click here: http://lcaenews.cmail2.com/t/t-l-gyklht-fttjtjll-n/. Stories include Master Chef, Life Saver, Forgiven, It's Possible and You are Special. T hey come with printable colouring-in pages and are the perfect gift this Christmas!!

FACE TO FACE – you can tune into www.facetoface.org.au for your Christmas message on Blue Christmas, What is Christmas?, and Three Wise Men and a Baby.

Kia noho a Ihowa ki a koutou; the Lord be with you.

+MARK

Pastor Mark Whitfield BTh MSM

Bishop of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand / Pihopa o te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa


Visit the Lutheran Church of New Zealand website

PO Box 12470, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

P: +64 (0)4 3852540 E: admin@lutheran.org.nz W: www.lcnz.org.nz

 
Visit the Lutheran Church of Australia website

197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006

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