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Hi sister,
The weather is cooling, trees are changing colours, and days are getting shorter. Christmas, summer holidays, and New Year feel long past, and Easter is fast approaching. Every year follows the same pattern. The rhythm of the seasons gives us security and peace because we know what to expect.
Each season has its own beauty and purpose. In church life, we also follow a rhythm of celebrations: Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. We walk in Jesus’ footsteps as we acknowledge His birth, life, and death—not in a forced religious way, but gently, as God leads us to reflect on what each aspect of His life means to us.
As Easter approaches, take time to reflect on what it means to you. Pause for a moment, get away for a day if you can, or set aside time to wonder about the Easter story.
Reflection Questions:
* What part of the story do you relate to?
* How do you feel knowing Jesus gave His life for you?
* What do you want God to do for you today?
Reflection Scriptures:
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him (John 4:9–10).
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10).
My prayer is that Easter will be a special time for you this year. As you embrace the Easter story, may you discover something new that brings hope and life.
Major Bronwyn Aldersley
Easter Resources
Two Exciting Opportunities!
Territorial Women's Fundraising Project
Every year Blue Mountain Adventure Centre (BMAC) runs a Women’s Adventure Weekend. These weekends have been life changing experiences for those who have attended. They are designed to help women connect, grow, and thrive. They experience outdoor activities that challenge the women and boost their confidence. Lasting friendships are built and spiritual journey’s deepened as women discover the incredible God-given potential within themselves. This is more than a camp—it’s a chance for women to celebrate and embrace the adventure God has for them!
So, we don’t want to keep it just within New Zealand. We want our Fijian sisters to be able to have the BMAC experience too, so we are taking it to them!
This is why we are asking for your financial support. The cost of the weekend itself, as well as the transport, in some cases from outer islands is significant.
We warmly encourage you to get behind this project in any way you can. Consider:
- Hosting a cake stall
- Organising a morning tea or shared lunch
- Running an event with entry by donation
- Adding a small fundraising activity to an already‑planned programme.
Usually a project would run for a whole year, but this year will be different. The Adventure Weekend is being held in May. Because of this earlier date, Women’s Ministries will continue to receive fundraising contributions until the end of June, giving all groups and corps enough time to participate fully. Every contribution, large or small, will help make this weekend possible for more Fijian women.
Precious Packages is still making a difference!
Two years ago our Territorial Fundraising Project, was Precious Packages, which supported families in Samoa who had babies arrive prematurely. Major Michelle Lee writes, "A lovely Samoan couple have just had triplets!!! Which is very rare here. So this morning we took some lovely gifts from our "Precious Packages" fund and visited them in hospital. The babies are in NICU as one is sick. Three beautiful baby boys!!!"
Thank you for your giving, it is still making a difference!
What have our women been up to?
Last year Johnsonville Corps ran a beautiful series of women’s wellness workshops that connected and encouraged so many women in their community.
Salvationist women in Tonga recently gathered for Women’s World Day of Prayer, International Women’s Day, and a Women’s Rally combined.
The day was filled with praise as ladies performed action songs. Their unity and enthusiasm shone brightly! The women were also blessed by the presence of kindergarten teachers and ADAC Women’s staff, whose participation enriched the day even further. The gathering concluded with warm conversation over refreshments.
How did you celebrate International Women’s Day?
Across the world, on the 8th of March, women came together to honour strength, unity, and the incredible impact women make every single day. In Samoa, our women celebrated together, joyfully… and with cake!
Sarah Foydce runs a craft and Bible study group at Hastings Corps.
She writes: “During the warmer months, we worked on a patchwork sampler quilt of blocks named after passages in the Bible such as Jacob's Ladder, Elijah and the Whirlwind, Joseph's Coat, Mary and Martha, the crucifixion, etc. I researched and wrote most of the studies for that, with help from several resources printed by Bible quilt designers, and we all learned so much about the relevant Bible stories.
During the winter we made a knitted version using a book called Biblical Bits for Knitwits, which used a similar idea of Bible study followed by making the block for those who wished to, while others chatted, did jigsaws, etc. It has been wonderful to see the ladies opening up, sharing experiences and knowledge, and supporting their fellow sisters in Christ.”
Have you got events we could share? We'd love to know what your women are up to! Let us know, by sending an email to WMSMRS@salvationarmy.org.nz .
Congress Knitting
If you were wandering through the Together Congress marketplace on Saturday afternoon, you may have noticed people knitting, perhaps even picked up some needles yourself. As hands moved and conversations flowed, square by square, something special was taking shape.
But what happened to that knitting once the Congress ended?
After Congress women from Hamilton, Wellington and Auckland kept the project going. They finished knitting the squares and sewed them together, turning many individual contributions into something whole and meaningful.
Now, that shared creation has travelled south to Invercargill. Wendy Sanson has passed the completed knitting on to Helen‑Marie Harwood from the Supportive Housing Team, who will ensure these special blankets reach people who will truly need and use them this winter.
What began as a simple moment of creativity at Congress symbolises what Together Congress was all about. Made by many, shared with others, it reflects what can happen when we journey and serve together.
In case you missed the latest resources...
The Women’s Bible Commentary (Carol A. Newsom, ed.) is a rich resource offering fresh and grounded perspectives on Scripture. Its strength lies in its intentional focus on women’s experiences, both in the biblical world and today. The contributors, all respected female scholars, highlight themes of justice, identity, and community, inviting readers to see how women’s stories shape the wider biblical narrative.
Each biblical book is treated with scholarly care...
This book presents an essential and energising account of how people can make a difference locally and globally. It offers a clear pathway for becoming effective global citizens who contribute to positive change.
In their number one New York Times best seller Half the Sky, Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn revealed the struggles faced by women and girls around the world and highlighted people and organisations working to expand opportunity. A Path Appears takes this further...
In case you missed our women sharing...
Thanks, sister, that's all from us for now. Let's keep connecting!
