LUTHERAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND UPDATE

Pitopito Kōrero o te Hāhi Rūtana o Aotearoa

2nd August 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

SITTING AT THE LORD’S FEET AND LISTENING

Almost two weeks ago, I set off to my first Bishops’ Retreat with the Sunday Gospel for Pentecost 9 (21st July) ringing in my ears and in my heart. You know the story … Martha distracted and busy; Mary sitting listening to Jesus.

Not that the regular College of Bishops’ meetings are distracting, but there was something very special and wonderful about the 4 days I spent with the other Bishops in retreat just out from the CBD of Brisbane; we weren’t distracted by the usual business and time constraints of meetings and agendas, and yet we were able to talk business – issues of faith, life, the church, God’s mission – in a relaxed manner.

Every year the Bishops of our church meet for 3-4 days of retreat. This year we were served well by our chaplain, Pastor Tim Jaensch (retired President of LCA QLD), who led us each morning in worship and in Bible study on the Letter to the Hebrews.

And like our own Church Workers’ Conferences here in the LCNZ, we listened to each other tell his story, or rather the story of God’s faithfulness in each of our life and ministry journeys.

We sang, we prayed, we walked through bush on the side of Mt Cootha in balmy 22deg warmth … and occasionally someone said or did something very funny, and we laughed!

In my two years of this Presidential-now-Episcopal journey, I’ve not sensed affirmation from God as I did during these days.

We also had time to get to know our new Bishop, John Henderson, and to offer him our love and support.

From the retreat I shifted about 3kms closer to the CBD of Brisbane to the QLD District Offices to meet for two days with the other three District Mission Directors. Again, I was encouraged, affirmed and inspired by our time of meeting together to be intentional with God’s mission of the gospel here in the LCNZ.

During my time in Brisbane I visited St Peters College, Indooroopilly for the first time and played a quick tune on the organ in the chapel, we were introduced to some of the 80 staff who work at the QLD District Offices, we walked along the South Bank of the Brisbane River, and we sipped cider and chatted.

But most of all … we sat quietly and heard Jesus speak … directly through his Word … and through those who he has placed alongside each of us to share the ministry journey.

LET’S SEE HOW THEY’RE DOING – THE ACTS 15:36 TOUR

Just a wee reminder to all pastors and leaders in LCNZ congregations to keep preparing your people for the “Acts 15:36” (let’s see how they’re doing) Tour in September. I believe that while I was away on leave, or shortly after, while I was in Brisbane, the survey and associated information was sent out and made available to you.

You all have the dates when Shannon Hood and I will be visiting ‘your place, so I encourage you to set aside the time when we will be at ‘your place’ and be prepared to be there when we visit, so that you can be part of God’s exciting future for his Church.

THE LAST FEW WEEKS; THE NEXT FEW

Leanne and I had the privilege of attending the Installation Service of Bishop John Henderson along with about 350 others (and many more, possibly including you via the web) at St Michaels, Hahndorf (near Adelaide) on Sunday 14th Adelaide.

We also had opportunity to have a meal with members of the former congregation we served in Adelaide, Immanuel Lutheran Fellowship (Novar Gardens).

We also enjoyed 3 days holiday on the beautiful Wairarapa Coast … without TV, and then I headed to Brisbane.

Tomorrow a new round of LCNZ meetings begins – Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM) in Wellington, and the Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) in Auckland. I encourage you to pray for these meetings, and particularly for the new people on the committees.

I am also visiting the Hamilton – Bay of Plenty parishes (GO THE CHIEFS!!) this weekend. I’ll be preaching in Tauranga on Sunday morning and then attending a meeting to discuss the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that holds the Hamilton – Bay of Plenty parishes together. I ask for your prayer covering for this meeting as well, as we review and plan for the future.

On the following weekend (10th and 11th August), I’ll be attending a regular LLL Board meeting in Christchurch and a farewell lunch for Ahi Allen, and then flying to Auckland to worship at Botany on Sunday morning, and assist in conducting a Review of Ministry for Pastor Tat and the congregation there. Pastor Brian Shek, Coordinator of Asian Ministry in the LCA is assisting me in this review process. Again … that’s right; I’m going to ask for prayer … please pray for blessing on all involved in this review process.

Our third Council of Synod (COS) meeting for the year and the first for the new COS members will be held on the 23rd and 24th August at Mountainside.

IT’S ALMOST LONGEST LUTHERAN LUNCH TIME AGAIN

Jonathan Krause, well-known to us in the LCNZ, and volunteer co-ordinator of the Longest Lutheran Lunch, writes –

Who say’s there’s no such thing as a free lunch? The crowd was hungry. They’d been out all day, and night was approaching. They’d enjoyed what they’d heard, but now the tummy rumbles were turning into tonguey grumbles. People really were hungry … not just for food, but for Jesus’ message of life. (Though they may not have known that yet.)

5000 people. Five loaves of bread. Two fish. Doesn’t really add up, does it?

Enter Jesus. First he cared that people were hungry. He wanted them fed. Second, he wasn’t put off that the resources at hand seemed too small for the task. Third, well you know the story … the baskets left over prove this meal was not only FREE, people left full and content!

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE 2013 L O N G E S T LUTHERAN LUNCH – PLEASE DO SO BY 30 AUGUST!

This year’s Longest Lutheran Lunch is on Sunday 27 October … or not. (It can be whenever it suits your congregation best.

This is our third annual Longest Lutheran Lunch. With more than 100 congregations taking part in each of the first two years, we’ve proved this is a great way for your people to have fun and fellowship … but more importantly to look up from the hymn-book to the him and her who live next door, are friends at work, who were members once then drifted away, who are family but don’t normally come to church, who are doing it tough and maybe just like the idea of a free lunch and a chance to chat.

Register your event at www.longestlutheranlunch.org

LUTHERAN WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND REUNION

From Vicki Wood, Past President of the Lutheran Women of New Zealand (LWNZ)

To Pastors, Women’s Fellowships/Guilds and Past Members of LWNZ

I have been approached several times from interested persons enquiring of the possibility of holding a Lutheran Women of New Zealand Reunion.

I would appreciate it if you could forward this letter to your Women’s Fellowship/Guild, Parish Fellowship or any past members of Lutheran Women of New Zealand you have in your congregations.

This letter is to enquire if there would be sufficient interest in holding a Reunion of Lutheran Women of New Zealand.

We have envisioned a one day event held in Palmerston North (10am – 3/4pm?) with the invitation for participants to stay over and worship the next morning. This event could include a Devotional Worship time, catered celebration lunch, time for fellowship, reminiscing and reflection and in the tradition of Lutheran Women of New Zealand, a time for fellowship/learning/teaching around the Word of God.

If interest is sufficient, we plan to hold this reunion early 2014, possibly March/April.

Please can you express your interest by replying to Vicki at manawatulutheran@inspire.net.nz or at PO Box 47, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4440 before 30th September 2013.

Any further suggestions or ideas would be appreciated and taken into consideration.

WARRAMBUI INTERNSHIP 2013

Warrambui is a unique Lutheran retreat and conference centre near Canberra. Warrambui’s mission is to serve; to impact the lives of people through the power of the Holy Spirit by being a loving, vibrant and growing community with a heart for Jesus.

The Warrambui Internship Program encourages its interns to focus on the cross of Jesus Christ in all things, not looking at what they can gain but what they can give.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23).

Internships are offered each year for 12 months for up to six young people to come and serve, grow and be discipled. Interns help in the operation of Warrambui and are involved in food preparation, teaching programs to school children, general maintenance, and serving the needs of 5000+ customers throughout the year.

Interns are given opportunities for spiritual and personal development led by an Intern Coordinator and Warrambui Senior Staff.

If you’re aged 18-24, and wish to know more about this exciting opportunity, contact the Intern Coordinator for an information pack: Phone: +61 (02) 62201000 Fax: +61 (02) 62201001 or Email: internship@warrambui.com.au

Applications close 27th September 2013.

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