Anglican Life Dec/Jan 2013/2014

ISSUE TWENTY-SEVEN – DEC/JAN 2013/14

Diocese of Christchurch

The Ministry of TourismCursillo Prompts Spiritual Growth

Knowing your Neighbour

Fans come first for Anberlin

AnglicanINVITING / FORMING / SENDING / SERVINGanglicanlife.org.nz

He Oranga Mihinare

1AnglicanLife Issue 27

WORDS: +VICTORIA MATTHEWS PHOTO CREDIT: MEGAN BLAKIE

God’s Call

The Transitional Cathedral had a taste of what it would feel like to have a very full church for worship when 760 people attended the 2 November ordination service. Four new deacons: the Rev’ds Mary Minson; Josh Taylor; Sam Knight and Stephanie Robson and four new priests: the Rev’ds Katrina Hill; Shirley Hawke; Steve McNabb and David Farmer were greeted enthusiastically by the large congregation. An excellent sermon by Dean Lynda Patterson was both instructional and helpful for all.

Ordination to the sacred ministry requires a certain courage and boldness in the Diocese of Christchurch these days. Most of those just ordained are serving in parishes that do not have the use of their church and some of the parishes meet completely outside the parish boundaries. However the call of the Gospel never changes and the mission of Jesus Christ is as urgent and compelling as ever.

One other outcome of the Canterbury earthquakes is the celebration of new pipe organs in various restored churches. St Paul’s Papanui has a lovely instrument and recently I was pleased to bless the new organ at St Michael and All Angels. One organ stop of the new restored and remade organ at St Michael’s was retrieved from the largely lost organ in

www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz | www.cardboardcathedral.org.nzCathedral Worship and Events | Details on our website

ChristChurch C a t h e d r a lTransitional

THE TRANSITIONAL CATHEDRAL , Latimer Square

SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER: 8.15pm Advent Carol Service

please see our web site for details of all ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES and to download a copy of “CATHEDRAl ExTRA”

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER: 7.00pm Installation of Dean lynda Patterson

SUNDAY 22 DECEMBER: 7.00pm Festival of Nine lessons and Carols

CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Holy Communion; 10am Festival Eucharist; 5pm Festal Evensong

CHRISTMAS EVE: Choir Carol Recital (Time tbc); 11.15pm Carol Singing; 11.45pm Eucharist

St John’s Latimer Square. St Michael’s fondly calls it their evangelical stop. Anglicans are not always good at sharing but we may be learning to celebrate what we have in common thanks to the struggles almost every parish faces.

It is not insignificant that these wonderful events are happening during All Saints-tide in the Church Year. The saints we celebrate in our calendar

lived in many different ages and nations yet all heard the call of God to step out boldly as disciples of Christ and as those empowered by the Holy Spirit. As parishes are faced with tough questions about the future of their buildings and ministry, it is important to remember that nowhere in the New Testament are we called to form a cosy club of comfortable Christians. There is no such thing as cheap grace although we have all received the free grace of God through the blood of the

Bishop’s Address

EDITORIAL

Contents ISSUE 27December 2013, January 2014

BISHOP’S ADDRESS - God’s Call 01

CURRENT EVENTS 02

PHOTO ESSAY - Reminders of God’s Love 06

FEATURE: The Ministry of Tourism 09

DIALOGUE: Cursillo Prompts Spiritual Growth 12

LIFESTYLE: Knowing your Neighbour 14

WORKPLACE: Fans come first for Anberlin 16

CULTURE 18

CLOSING ESSAY: Christmas beyond the Babe 20

AnglicanLife is published bi-monthly by the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch.

Editor Fiona Summerfield

Contributing Writer Megan Blakie

Contributors +Victoria Matthews, Paul McDonald, Glenda Hicks, Louise Landess, Gillian Southby, John Day, Karen

Jefferson, Sophia Sinclair, Mandy Caldwell, Alistair Kinniburgh, Margi Memory, Russell Standeven,

Christine Allan-Johns, Stephanie Day, Lyn Smith, Jacob Stanley, Fayne and Alana Wilson, Lucy Summerfield, Chris Purdie, Rosalyn Deane

Advertising Enquiries Ivan Hatherley – [email protected]

Editorial Enquiries [email protected]

Design – www.baylymoore.com

Printed by – Toltech Print

Sustainability – AnglicanLife is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.

Cover - St James’ Franz Josef where services are held at 3pm to fit in with tourist bus

arrivals and adventure activities

Cross. This All Saints-tide, Advent and Christmas we need to hear afresh the call to sacrificial giving as well as deep and abiding thanksgiving. This may take the shape of celebrating the tradition of gift giving very differently this year, or deciding to sign up for a month long mission trip overseas. Remember the words of Mary to the Archangel Gabriel: “Here I am the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to thy word”.

However you decide to respond to God’s call upon your life, do it for the love of Jesus and in gratitude for what God first has given you.

“This All Saints-tide, Advent and Christmas we need to hear afresh the

call to sacrificial giving as well as deep and abiding

thanksgiving” www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz | www.cardboardcathedral.org.nzCathedral Worship and Events | Details on our website


THE TRANSITIONAL CATHEDRAL

‘the history of christianity in ten objects’ series of sermons starts in october

the full weekly schedule of services has resumed

please see OUR web site for details and to download a copy of “cathedral Extra”

1AnglicanLife Issue 27

WORDS: +VICTORIA MATTHEWS PHOTO CREDIT: MEGAN BLAKIE

God’s Call

The Transitional Cathedral had a taste of what it would feel like to have a very full church for worship when 760 people attended the 2 November ordination service. Four new deacons: the Rev’ds Mary Minson; Josh Taylor; Sam Knight and Stephanie Robson and four new priests: the Rev’ds Katrina Hill; Shirley Hawke; Steve McNabb and David Farmer were greeted enthusiastically by the large congregation. An excellent sermon by Dean Lynda Patterson was both instructional and helpful for all.

Ordination to the sacred ministry requires a certain courage and boldness in the Diocese of Christchurch these days. Most of those just ordained are serving in parishes that do not have the use of their church and some of the parishes meet completely outside the parish boundaries. However the call of the Gospel never changes and the mission of Jesus Christ is as urgent and compelling as ever.

One other outcome of the Canterbury earthquakes is the celebration of new pipe organs in various restored churches. St Paul’s Papanui has a lovely instrument and recently I was pleased to bless the new organ at St Michael and All Angels. One organ stop of the new restored and remade organ at St Michael’s was retrieved from the largely lost organ in

www.christchurchcathedral.co.nz | www.cardboardcathedral.org.nzCathedral Worship and Events | Details on our website


THE TRANSITIONAL CATHEDRAL , Latimer Square

SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER: 8.15pm Advent Carol Service

please see our web site for details of all ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES and to download a copy of “CATHEDRAl ExTRA”

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER: 7.00pm Installation of Dean lynda Patterson

SUNDAY 22 DECEMBER: 7.00pm Festival of Nine lessons and Carols

CHRISTMAS DAY: 8am Holy Communion; 10am Festival Eucharist; 5pm Festal Evensong

CHRISTMAS EVE: Choir Carol Recital (Time tbc); 11.15pm Carol Singing; 11.45pm Eucharist

St John’s Latimer Square. St Michael’s fondly calls it their evangelical stop. Anglicans are not always good at sharing but we may be learning to celebrate what we have in common thanks to the struggles almost every parish faces.

It is not insignificant that these wonderful events are happening during All Saints-tide in the Church Year. The saints we celebrate in our calendar

lived in many different ages and nations yet all heard the call of God to step out boldly as disciples of Christ and as those empowered by the Holy Spirit. As parishes are faced with tough questions about the future of their buildings and ministry, it is important to remember that nowhere in the New Testament are we called to form a cosy club of comfortable Christians. There is no such thing as cheap grace although we have all received the free grace of God through the blood of the

Bishop’s Address

EDITORIAL

Contents ISSUE 27December 2013, January 2014

BISHOP’S ADDRESS - God’s Call 01

CURRENT EVENTS 02

PHOTO ESSAY - Reminders of God’s Love 06

FEATURE: The Ministry of Tourism 09

DIALOGUE: Cursillo Prompts Spiritual Growth 12

LIFESTYLE: Knowing your Neighbour 14

WORKPLACE: Fans come first for Anberlin 16

CULTURE 18

CLOSING ESSAY: Christmas beyond the Babe 20

AnglicanLife is published bi-monthly by the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch.

Editor Fiona Summerfield

Contributing Writer Megan Blakie

Contributors +Victoria Matthews, Paul McDonald, Glenda Hicks, Louise Landess, Gillian Southby, John Day, Karen

Jefferson, Sophia Sinclair, Mandy Caldwell, Alistair Kinniburgh, Margi Memory, Russell Standeven,

Christine Allan-Johns, Stephanie Day, Lyn Smith, Jacob Stanley, Fayne and Alana Wilson, Lucy Summerfield, Chris Purdie, Rosalyn Deane

Advertising Enquiries Ivan Hatherley – [email protected]

Editorial Enquiries [email protected]

Design – www.baylymoore.com

Printed by – Toltech Print

Sustainability – AnglicanLife is printed on recycled paper using vegetable-based inks.

Cover - St James’ Franz Josef where services are held at 3pm to fit in with tourist bus

arrivals and adventure activities

Cross. This All Saints-tide, Advent and Christmas we need to hear afresh the call to sacrificial giving as well as deep and abiding thanksgiving. This may take the shape of celebrating the tradition of gift giving very differently this year, or deciding to sign up for a month long mission trip overseas. Remember the words of Mary to the Archangel Gabriel: “Here I am the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to thy word”.

However you decide to respond to God’s call upon your life, do it for the love of Jesus and in gratitude for what God first has given you.

“This All Saints-tide, Advent and Christmas we need to hear afresh the

call to sacrificial giving as well as deep and abiding

thanksgiving”

32 AnglicanLife Issue 27

LOCAL / NATIONAL / WORLD

Current eventsWorking Together for the Freedom of Others

Following the February 2011 earthquake, leaders of churches from across the city got together to talk and pray about ways of working together.

WORDS: GLENDA HICKS PHOTO: CHRIS PURDIE

This year leaders of this group discerned a call from God for Christian churches to expand their vision outwards and join together in making a difference to a global need. CFAST was born! (www.cfast.org.nz)

When ministers of three Lincoln churches agreed at a Te Raranga event earlier this year to co-operate in fundraising for the CFAST (Churches for Abolition of Sex Trafficking) project, they did not foresee the amazing outcome of this vision. All five Lincoln churches ended up working together to put on the ‘Weddings Past and High Tea’ event in September. Compère, Jan Marie Cooke, kept a team of volunteer models busy on the catwalk presenting an amazing display of bridal wear spanning 80 years.

Over 100 wedding dresses were loaned. Forty-five businesses and individuals donated items for the ‘Grand Auction.’ There was a vintage car display, and a ‘high tea’ provided by church members and the Lincoln Lionesses Club. The generous response from church people and the wider community was extremely

heart-warming. As well as supporting Hagar and Nvader agencies, (www.nvader.org & www.hagarinternational.org), the venture more than realized our aims to enhance awareness of the extent of modern-day slavery and also provide a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment for the community. At our October Minister’s Association meeting we were delighted to hand over cheques for $8,205 each to leaders of Nvader and Hagar agencies.

Ad

A Priestly MarkWORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE PHOTO: FAYNE AND ALANA WILSON

A tattoo of an Ethiopian angel has been creating a bit of a stir in the West Coast town of Hokitika.

When Noeleen Tainui and other members of the local Association of Anglican Women decided to produce a Calendar Girls-style calendar featuring ‘under-dressed’ local older women, they invited priest Vivien Harber to take part.

“I’m lurking behind a parasol, but what everybody’s fascinated by is that I have an Ethiopian angel tattooed on my shoulder,” says Vivien about her month’s photo.

South African born Vivien got the tattoo before coming to New Zealand about eight years ago. “When I left Africa

I decided I need an African mark on me,” she says.

The tattoo is based on the face-with-wings paintings of angels in the 17th century churches in Gondar, Ethiopia.

“When you go in [to the churches], you can almost hear them! They’re wonderful,” says Vivien about the cherubs.

The calendar, called ‘In Celebration of Older Women’ is a fundraiser for the All Saints parish and is a “runaway success” according to Vivien. The age range of the 16 women featured is 59 to 97, with a combined total of 1260 years.

SOME FACTS FROM CFAST WEBSITE• People trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are enslaved. • There are more people in slavery now than at any other time in history.• It is one of the largest sources of income for organised crime, earning traffickers more than $32 billion annually.• The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation.• Due to the hidden and illegal nature of human trafficking, gathering statistics on the scale of the problem is difficult.

Handing over the cheques from left: Pastor Charles Yu (Lincoln Chinese church); Ken Lord (Executive Director, Hagar); Phyll Harris (Lincoln Union church); Sara Scott Webb (Hagar Field-Worker); Daniel Walker (Executive Director, Nvader); Kim Peters (Lincoln Baptist Church); Glenda Hicks (Lincoln Anglican Church). (Absent was Fr Frank Kelly from Lincoln Catholic Church)

“How very good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity …… for there the Lord commands his blessing…”

(Psalm 133: 1,3b)


LOCAL / NATIONAL / WORLD

Current eventsWorking Together for the Freedom of Others

Following the February 2011 earthquake, leaders of churches from across the city got together to talk and pray about ways of working together.

WORDS: GLENDA HICKS PHOTO: CHRIS PURDIE

This year leaders of this group discerned a call from God for Christian churches to expand their vision outwards and join together in making a difference to a global need. CFAST was born! (www.cfast.org.nz)

When ministers of three Lincoln churches agreed at a Te Raranga event earlier this year to co-operate in fundraising for the CFAST (Churches for Abolition of Sex Trafficking) project, they did not foresee the amazing outcome of this vision. All five Lincoln churches ended up working together to put on the ‘Weddings Past and High Tea’ event in September. Compère, Jan Marie Cooke, kept a team of volunteer models busy on the catwalk presenting an amazing display of bridal wear spanning 80 years.

Over 100 wedding dresses were loaned. Forty-five businesses and individuals donated items for the ‘Grand Auction.’ There was a vintage car display, and a ‘high tea’ provided by church members and the Lincoln Lionesses Club. The generous response from church people and the wider community was extremely

heart-warming. As well as supporting Hagar and Nvader agencies, (www.nvader.org & www.hagarinternational.org), the venture more than realized our aims to enhance awareness of the extent of modern-day slavery and also provide a wonderful afternoon’s entertainment for the community. At our October Minister’s Association meeting we were delighted to hand over cheques for $8,205 each to leaders of Nvader and Hagar agencies.

Ad

A Priestly MarkWORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE PHOTO: FAYNE AND ALANA WILSON

A tattoo of an Ethiopian angel has been creating a bit of a stir in the West Coast town of Hokitika.

When Noeleen Tainui and other members of the local Association of Anglican Women decided to produce a Calendar Girls-style calendar featuring ‘under-dressed’ local older women, they invited priest Vivien Harber to take part.

“I’m lurking behind a parasol, but what everybody’s fascinated by is that I have an Ethiopian angel tattooed on my shoulder,” says Vivien about her month’s photo.

South African born Vivien got the tattoo before coming to New Zealand about eight years ago. “When I left Africa

I decided I need an African mark on me,” she says.

The tattoo is based on the face-with-wings paintings of angels in the 17th century churches in Gondar, Ethiopia.

“When you go in [to the churches], you can almost hear them! They’re wonderful,” says Vivien about the cherubs.

The calendar, called ‘In Celebration of Older Women’ is a fundraiser for the All Saints parish and is a “runaway success” according to Vivien. The age range of the 16 women featured is 59 to 97, with a combined total of 1260 years.

SOME FACTS FROM CFAST WEBSITE• People trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are enslaved. • There are more people in slavery now than at any other time in history.• It is one of the largest sources of income for organised crime, earning traffickers more than $32 billion annually.• The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation.• Due to the hidden and illegal nature of human trafficking, gathering statistics on the scale of the problem is difficult.

Handing over the cheques from left: Pastor Charles Yu (Lincoln Chinese church); Ken Lord (Executive Director, Hagar); Phyll Harris (Lincoln Union church); Sara Scott Webb (Hagar Field-Worker); Daniel Walker (Executive Director, Nvader); Kim Peters (Lincoln Baptist Church); Glenda Hicks (Lincoln Anglican Church). (Absent was Fr Frank Kelly from Lincoln Catholic Church)

“How very good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity …… for there the Lord commands his blessing…”

(Psalm 133: 1,3b)

www.andrewswift.harcourts.co.nz


CURRENT EVENTS

Hats off to a Job Well DoneWORDS: LOUISE LANDESS

A Celebratory LunchWORDS: FIONA SUMMERFIELD

Change in Approach for South Canterbury Anglican CareAfter 60 years, Anglican Care South Canterbury has shut its building doors and is rethinking its role in the community to shed some light on what for many of us is a mysterious unknown.

WORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE & FIONA SUMMERFIELDOn a quiet Wednesday spring evening, without a hi-viz jacket in sight, a small gathering came together for a special hardhat service to give thanks for, and say thanks to all those involved with the building of our Transitional Cathedral.

A short, simple service and a yarn over burgers and beers seemed like the perfect nod to everyone who used their skills, knowledge and expertise to create this wonderful building. From the architect Shigeru Ban who generously shared not only his vision, but his plan, to the project managers, engineers, builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, labourers, volunteers and every other willing body who put in the hard yards that enable us to congregate and worship God together in the central city once again.

To all who contributed, we say a heartfelt cheers!

St Luke’s in Little Akaloa is going to reopen on the 29th December.The church is part of the Parish of Akaroa/Banks

Peninsula and it is the first heritage stone church in the Diocese to be repaired.

“We are going to use the occasion as a fund-raiser, so the lunch will be $20 a head and for that they will get the opportunity to fill a deliciously fresh roll with ham and the choice of several salads. The first glass of wine will be supplied,” says Peoples’ Warden Allison Craw.

Bishop Victoria will conduct the official reopening. St Luke’s is a category 1 listed historic building and is unusual because it is the earliest known example of a Pakeha designer using decorative Maori motifs. It is extensively decorated with painting, carving and leadlighting inspired by Maori art. The church was consecrated in December in 1906.

“The building has closed … but I want it really clear that Anglican Care South Canterbury hasn’t closed: we continue to exist,” says Indrea Alexander, chairperson of the Anglican Care South Canterbury divisional committee and member of the Anglican Care Trust Board.

“What we will be doing is undertaking initiatives within the community,” she says.

The agency’s premises in Dee Street, Timaru, closed at the end of October and all but one of its social service programmes has been wound up. Six staff – including counsellors, a community worker and administrative staff - lost their jobs in the closure.

The successful children’s loss and grief programme, called Oceans, is the sole remaining service and is being run at Marchwiel. The Marchwiel Op Shop is now managed by the local shared ministry parish there and the Salvation Army has taken over the running of the agency’s food bank.

The Anglican Care South Canterbury divisional committee spent five months reviewing the agency before coming to its decision. During that time Struan Duthie was appointed as interim manager. Mid-Canterbury social services were not part of this review.

“It’s been emotionally challenging for the divisional committee and for the staff: big change impacts in a big way on people,” says Indrea.

At the recent annual general meeting of Anglican Care South Canterbury, representatives from parishes were told about some of the unexpected factors influencing the division’s decisions and given an outline of key future directions.

Local parishes will have the opportunity to access a contestable fund that will be set up to promote parish-driven social service and social justice initiatives.

A Social Justice Researcher is to be employed to help identify key social issues in the region, with a view to forming an advocacy and education position.

“We seek to develop a strong social advocacy heart,” says

Indrea. “For us [the divisional committee] it was trying to pin ourselves down to what is achievable and what serves our community best.”

Anglican Care South Canterbury, in its various forms, has been part of the Timaru social service landscape since 1953. It was originally known in the Diocese as the South Canterbury Auxiliary of the Social Service Council and has also been known as The Counselling Centre.

The agency moved into a quake-safe building in Dee St last year. The premises are up for sale.

OCEANS PROGRAMMEThe Oceans Programme is co-ordinated part-time by Matt Cameron. It is a South Canterbury designed programme that was developed out of the Australian Seasons children’s grief and loss programme. It has been running for over ten years in South Canterbury. The program is for any child or young person in the South Canterbury area who is experiencing the pain or loss of someone they love either by separation or death. It is a peer support programme with two trained facilitators supporting each ten-week course. Matt, who is a trained primary teacher and counsellor says they get a lot of positive feedback from the participants as they “can see they are not alone in the emotions they feel”. He says the skills of talking about emotions are something the participants can use throughout their lives. Matt also works as a tennis coach and teacher so he is regularly in schools and understands the issues of grief, having lost his father when he was six.Currently the course only operates in Timaru but Matt is hoping to offer the course in other places around South Canterbury to cut down on travelling times for participants.

“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” - Vicki Harrison


CURRENT EVENTS

Hats off to a Job Well DoneWORDS: LOUISE LANDESS

A Celebratory LunchWORDS: FIONA SUMMERFIELD

Change in Approach for South Canterbury Anglican CareAfter 60 years, Anglican Care South Canterbury has shut its building doors and is rethinking its role in the community to shed some light on what for many of us is a mysterious unknown.

WORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE & FIONA SUMMERFIELDOn a quiet Wednesday spring evening, without a hi-viz jacket in sight, a small gathering came together for a special hardhat service to give thanks for, and say thanks to all those involved with the building of our Transitional Cathedral.

A short, simple service and a yarn over burgers and beers seemed like the perfect nod to everyone who used their skills, knowledge and expertise to create this wonderful building. From the architect Shigeru Ban who generously shared not only his vision, but his plan, to the project managers, engineers, builders, carpenters, electricians, plumbers, labourers, volunteers and every other willing body who put in the hard yards that enable us to congregate and worship God together in the central city once again.

To all who contributed, we say a heartfelt cheers!

St Luke’s in Little Akaloa is going to reopen on the 29th December.The church is part of the Parish of Akaroa/Banks

Peninsula and it is the first heritage stone church in the Diocese to be repaired.

“We are going to use the occasion as a fund-raiser, so the lunch will be $20 a head and for that they will get the opportunity to fill a deliciously fresh roll with ham and the choice of several salads. The first glass of wine will be supplied,” says Peoples’ Warden Allison Craw.

Bishop Victoria will conduct the official reopening. St Luke’s is a category 1 listed historic building and is unusual because it is the earliest known example of a Pakeha designer using decorative Maori motifs. It is extensively decorated with painting, carving and leadlighting inspired by Maori art. The church was consecrated in December in 1906.

“The building has closed … but I want it really clear that Anglican Care South Canterbury hasn’t closed: we continue to exist,” says Indrea Alexander, chairperson of the Anglican Care South Canterbury divisional committee and member of the Anglican Care Trust Board.

“What we will be doing is undertaking initiatives within the community,” she says.

The agency’s premises in Dee Street, Timaru, closed at the end of October and all but one of its social service programmes has been wound up. Six staff – including counsellors, a community worker and administrative staff - lost their jobs in the closure.

The successful children’s loss and grief programme, called Oceans, is the sole remaining service and is being run at Marchwiel. The Marchwiel Op Shop is now managed by the local shared ministry parish there and the Salvation Army has taken over the running of the agency’s food bank.

The Anglican Care South Canterbury divisional committee spent five months reviewing the agency before coming to its decision. During that time Struan Duthie was appointed as interim manager. Mid-Canterbury social services were not part of this review.

“It’s been emotionally challenging for the divisional committee and for the staff: big change impacts in a big way on people,” says Indrea.

At the recent annual general meeting of Anglican Care South Canterbury, representatives from parishes were told about some of the unexpected factors influencing the division’s decisions and given an outline of key future directions.

Local parishes will have the opportunity to access a contestable fund that will be set up to promote parish-driven social service and social justice initiatives.

A Social Justice Researcher is to be employed to help identify key social issues in the region, with a view to forming an advocacy and education position.

“We seek to develop a strong social advocacy heart,” says

Indrea. “For us [the divisional committee] it was trying to pin ourselves down to what is achievable and what serves our community best.”

Anglican Care South Canterbury, in its various forms, has been part of the Timaru social service landscape since 1953. It was originally known in the Diocese as the South Canterbury Auxiliary of the Social Service Council and has also been known as The Counselling Centre.

The agency moved into a quake-safe building in Dee St last year. The premises are up for sale.

OCEANS PROGRAMMEThe Oceans Programme is co-ordinated part-time by Matt Cameron. It is a South Canterbury designed programme that was developed out of the Australian Seasons children’s grief and loss programme. It has been running for over ten years in South Canterbury. The program is for any child or young person in the South Canterbury area who is experiencing the pain or loss of someone they love either by separation or death. It is a peer support programme with two trained facilitators supporting each ten-week course. Matt, who is a trained primary teacher and counsellor says they get a lot of positive feedback from the participants as they “can see they are not alone in the emotions they feel”. He says the skills of talking about emotions are something the participants can use throughout their lives. Matt also works as a tennis coach and teacher so he is regularly in schools and understands the issues of grief, having lost his father when he was six.Currently the course only operates in Timaru but Matt is hoping to offer the course in other places around South Canterbury to cut down on travelling times for participants.

“Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” - Vicki Harrison


Reminders of God’s LoveWe asked for photographs showing God’s love and from the photographs sent into Anglican Life, it is clear many of us see God’s love when we reach out to each other.

PHOTOS: MANDY CALDWELL, ALISTAIR KINNIBURGH, MARGI MEMORY, RUSSELL STANDEVEN, CHRISTINE ALLAN-JOHNS, LYN SMITH & ROSALYN DEANE

PHOTO ESSAY

Enjoying an International Night held at St John’s in Rangiora

Seniors Friendship Group, St Barnabas, FendaltonThe children’s worship space at Most Holy Trinity, Avonside in the Priest’s office on the floor, at the foot of the cross.

Baptism in the parish hall at St Barnabas, Fendalton

Paullina Verrier-Jones, Dianna Smith, and Clare Anstice sharing the love of Christ after the service at St Michael and All Angels

Jesse and Elizabeth Richards enjoying themselves taking part in a play at ‘Riccarton St James’ during a ‘Family Church @ 5’ service

A lovely lunch enjoyed by all at The Stables to celebrate the joining of St Peter’s and St John’s Churches in Timaru

Current tea towel fundraiser for a teachers’ house in Zimbabwe by St Martin’s, Spreydon


Reminders of God’s LoveWe asked for photographs showing God’s love and from the photographs sent into Anglican Life, it is clear many of us see God’s love when we reach out to each other.

PHOTOS: MANDY CALDWELL, ALISTAIR KINNIBURGH, MARGI MEMORY, RUSSELL STANDEVEN, CHRISTINE ALLAN-JOHNS, LYN SMITH & ROSALYN DEANE

PHOTO ESSAY

Enjoying an International Night held at St John’s in Rangiora

Seniors Friendship Group, St Barnabas, FendaltonThe children’s worship space at Most Holy Trinity, Avonside in the Priest’s office on the floor, at the foot of the cross.

Baptism in the parish hall at St Barnabas, Fendalton

Paullina Verrier-Jones, Dianna Smith, and Clare Anstice sharing the love of Christ after the service at St Michael and All Angels

Jesse and Elizabeth Richards enjoying themselves taking part in a play at ‘Riccarton St James’ during a ‘Family Church @ 5’ service

A lovely lunch enjoyed by all at The Stables to celebrate the joining of St Peter’s and St John’s Churches in Timaru

Current tea towel fundraiser for a teachers’ house in Zimbabwe by St Martin’s, Spreydon


The Ministry of TourismAfter taking their fill of adventure tourism and natural treasures, visitors to the West Coast are being encouraged to absorb some pioneer history and spiritual tranquility of the local churches. Dubbed the ‘pioneer churches route’, the circuit takes drivers to the four historic churches of Hari Hari, Whataroa, Franz Josef and Jacob’s River near Haast.

WORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE PHOTOS: FIONA SUMMERFIELD

“I was thirsty & you gave me something to drink”Christian World Service’s 68th Christmas Appeal: Share Water, Share Life begins on Advent Sunday.

WORDS: GILLIAN SOUTHBY PHOTO: CHRISTIAN WORLD SERVICE

Water is one of the most powerful symbols in Scripture, a gift of God for all people. What can we do when the supply of safe water is running low and water poverty reaches crisis levels?

In Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone, drought makes it tough to coax food from dry ground. Villagers live in fear of wild elephants that come looking for food and can wipe out the garden in minutes – or worse trample someone to death. Mrs Siththamma is worrying about the future.

CWS partner MONLAR, (Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform), has made a difference. Mrs Siththamma’s family has dug pathas to store water and built ridges against soil erosion. Planting drought resistant seed and live fences, growing more varieties of food, spreading organic manure and mulching with coconut husks have helped make the most of what little water they have. They belong to a village association enabling small, vulnerable farmers to learn and work together.

Small farmers are missing out everywhere. For some it is because big businesses use expensive irrigation systems that leave waterways dry and useless. For others it is the disappearance or contamination of wells. Changing weather patterns are adding to their inability to make a living off small plots of land when costs continue to climb. Drought is more frequent and rains more intense. Flooding ruins crops and no rain at all kills everything. Land that once produced food to eat is now growing fuel

to power automobiles. The need to look at water management is urgent but who will make sure poor people have their share?

MONLAR has big ideas. After years of pressure the Department of Agriculture has agreed to develop a national eco-agriculture plan. It is a sign of hope at a time when the rush to control water is intensifying.

Rainwater tanks, pumps, and conservation gardening techniques are some of the visible signs of how Christmas Appeal donations help sustain communities. It is only the beginning.

New Zealand Anglicans gave $57,000 to last year’s Christmas Appeal, Save My Place.

This year’s worship resources have been prepared by the Anglican Mission Team of the Diocese of Christchurch. Read them and more online: christmasappeal.org.nz

christmasappeal.org.nz0800 747 372

Water For all

member of the

Mrs Siththamma looking at her water hole at the end of the rainy season.

“The need to look at water management is urgent but who

have their share?”

FEATURE

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a service where at least two tourists haven’t wandered in and asked to sit,”


The Ministry of TourismAfter taking their fill of adventure tourism and natural treasures, visitors to the West Coast are being encouraged to absorb some pioneer history and spiritual tranquility of the local churches. Dubbed the ‘pioneer churches route’, the circuit takes drivers to the four historic churches of Hari Hari, Whataroa, Franz Josef and Jacob’s River near Haast.

WORDS: MEGAN BLAKIE PHOTOS: FIONA SUMMERFIELD

“I was thirsty & you gave me something to drink”Christian World Service’s 68th Christmas Appeal: Share Water, Share Life begins on Advent Sunday.

WORDS: GILLIAN SOUTHBY PHOTO: CHRISTIAN WORLD SERVICE

Water is one of the most powerful symbols in Scripture, a gift of God for all people. What can we do when the supply of safe water is running low and water poverty reaches crisis levels?

In Sri Lanka’s Dry Zone, drought makes it tough to coax food from dry ground. Villagers live in fear of wild elephants that come looking for food and can wipe out the garden in minutes – or worse trample someone to death. Mrs Siththamma is worrying about the future.

CWS partner MONLAR, (Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform), has made a difference. Mrs Siththamma’s family has dug pathas to store water and built ridges against soil erosion. Planting drought resistant seed and live fences, growing more varieties of food, spreading organic manure and mulching with coconut husks have helped make the most of what little water they have. They belong to a village association enabling small, vulnerable farmers to learn and work together.

Small farmers are missing out everywhere. For some it is because big businesses use expensive irrigation systems that leave waterways dry and useless. For others it is the disappearance or contamination of wells. Changing weather patterns are adding to their inability to make a living off small plots of land when costs continue to climb. Drought is more frequent and rains more intense. Flooding ruins crops and no rain at all kills everything. Land that once produced food to eat is now growing fuel

to power automobiles. The need to look at water management is urgent but who will make sure poor people have their share?

MONLAR has big ideas. After years of pressure the Department of Agriculture has agreed to develop a national eco-agriculture plan. It is a sign of hope at a time when the rush to control water is intensifying.

Rainwater tanks, pumps, and conservation gardening techniques are some of the visible signs of how Christmas Appeal donations help sustain communities. It is only the beginning.

New Zealand Anglicans gave $57,000 to last year’s Christmas Appeal, Save My Place.

This year’s worship resources have been prepared by the Anglican Mission Team of the Diocese of Christchurch. Read them and more online: christmasappeal.org.nz

christmasappeal.org.nz0800 747 372

Water For all

member of the

Mrs Siththamma looking at her water hole at the end of the rainy season.

“The need to look at water management is urgent but who

have their share?”

FEATURE

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a service where at least two tourists haven’t wandered in and asked to sit,”


FEATURE

“Once people have seen the glacier, jumped out of a plane and done all of those sorts of things, they say: ‘OK, now we’ll go to a [historic] church,” says Vivien Harber, team leader of Hokitika’s local shared ministry and priest-in-charge for the Ross-South Westland district.

To promote the circuit, a map is being produced and will be made available at local i-SITE information centres.

As funds permit, Vivien hopes the historic trail will be enhanced by additions such as signboards describing some of the history of the church buildings and surrounding communities.

“It’s a work in progress,” she says. A resurgence of interest in the buildings has been by the

“small but faithful” congregations and non-church-goers alike: prompted in part by uncertainty over the future of some of the churches. When, for instance, the Diocese suggested that St Peter’s at Jacob’s River be relocated to Christchurch after the Canterbury earthquakes, the local community made it clear they wanted to retain it. “The whole community went ‘growl’,” recalls Vivien.

As a result, the church building - which is Anglican owned but also used by the Catholic congregation and known by them as Our Lady of the River - was given a reprieve.

Vivien is pleased with the positive spin-offs from the suggested relocation of St Peter’s. It galvanised the community’s interest in the building, provided the impetus for people to meet together, and spurred plans for the building’s up-keep. “It was great because when the district growled at me I said ‘thank you, let’s all meet; it’s so hard to meet you guys because you’re all so busy.”

South African born and bred, Vivien has the distinction of having been ordained by Desmond Tutu in 1994, the year South Africa held its first post-apartheid elections and Nelson Mandela came to power. She worked in Cape Town as a school chaplain.

She immigrated to New Zealand about eight years ago, after her daughter and Kiwi husband moved to Hokitika. Vivien decided to base herself there and became part-time vicar of All Saints.

As a relative new-comer to New Zealand, let alone the Coast, she recognises the cultural significance of the district’s little churches, and is supportive of the community’s desire to maintain and to promote interest in them. She also believes they provide much needed places for people to connect with something spiritual.

“I think they’re important places for people to visit: at an

entirely cultural-tourism level as well as in terms of allowing this manifestly important moment when people can withdraw from things and have some time for spiritual replenishment – and for those people to know that we pray for them,” she says.

Tourists and local visitors are invited to write in visitors’ books or on noticeboards at the churches, and Vivien and the local church community take time during worship services to pray for note-writers and everyone else who has popped in.

“It’s amazing the little notes that are left, such as ‘thank you for the opportunity to have some quiet space’ or quite vulnerable people saying ‘I was going through a bad time and it was really important for me to sit here’. Some people are very obviously Christian – ‘what a glorious place to worship God’ and ‘I thank Jesus’ and that sort of thing – but you get a whole range of responses and they’re all deeply spiritual,” she says.

Locals often provide fresh flowers or ensure in other ways that the churches have a welcoming feel. Laminated prayers and an array of thought-provoking material are left for people to read and take away. For Christmas time, Vivien is getting someone to make little flax roses and will attach notes wishing recipients a Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas).

“The idea is that this is our ministry to the tourists, who come here looking for a certain kind of experience – and we’re offering them something different. Our part is that we commit to pray for the people who visit our churches,” says Vivien.

In the small township of Whataroa, about 30km northeast of Franz Josef, another church on the trail has just had a spruce-up. When a quote for painting St Luke’s was deemed unaffordable by the congregation, the local community rallied and volunteered its help.

“Somebody said ‘I’ll do this’ and somebody else said ‘I’ll do that’ and now this little church is looking spic and span. The outside’s all painted and the roof’s painted and there’s a new strip of carpet. It looks completely different,” says Vivien.

The population of Whataoroa is less than 500, but it was once a thriving farming and dairy area that supported the district during Okarito’s heyday of goldmining in the 19th century. The church houses a war memorial window to a local lad who died in World War I.

The third church on the trail is St James’ and St John’s in Hari Hari, which was once a bustling logging settlement but is now frequented by bushwalkers and birdwatchers, who enjoy its

protected forests.The most historically significant church in Vivien’s patch is St

James’ at Franz Josef. It has an Historic Place Category 1 listing. The distinctive board and batten building was built in 1931 on a boulder and concrete foundation, after plans for a building made of local river stones proved too expensive for the congregation of nine families during the Great Depression!

St James’ was built on land that was donated by residents at the time, including the two Graham brothers, who are two of New Zealand’s most notable early mountain climbers and guides.

“Because it’s a heritage listed building and the glacier is there, it’s one of the primary tourism sites in the district. People stop and go in,” says Vivien about the distinctive brown and white striped church set in the bush.

The church community there has also experimented ‘a lot’ with getting a suitable time for services. They now have a Sunday afternoon service once a month, at 3pm.

“That’s when all the buses have arrived and people have done their tourism thing and are at a loose end before tea! I don’t think I’ve ever had a service where at least two tourists haven’t wandered in and asked to sit,” says Vivien.

Afterwards she and other members of the congregation make a point of staying to chat to the visitors.

“Tourists say to me it’s the only chance they’ve had to talk to people who are not in the tourism industry - and how nice it is to talk to farmers and others”.

Ad


FEATURE

“Once people have seen the glacier, jumped out of a plane and done all of those sorts of things, they say: ‘OK, now we’ll go to a [historic] church,” says Vivien Harber, team leader of Hokitika’s local shared ministry and priest-in-charge for the Ross-South Westland district.

To promote the circuit, a map is being produced and will be made available at local i-SITE information centres.

As funds permit, Vivien hopes the historic trail will be enhanced by additions such as signboards describing some of the history of the church buildings and surrounding communities.

“It’s a work in progress,” she says. A resurgence of interest in the buildings has been by the

“small but faithful” congregations and non-church-goers alike: prompted in part by uncertainty over the future of some of the churches. When, for instance, the Diocese suggested that St Peter’s at Jacob’s River be relocated to Christchurch after the Canterbury earthquakes, the local community made it clear they wanted to retain it. “The whole community went ‘growl’,” recalls Vivien.

As a result, the church building - which is Anglican owned but also used by the Catholic congregation and known by them as Our Lady of the River - was given a reprieve.

Vivien is pleased with the positive spin-offs from the suggested relocation of St Peter’s. It galvanised the community’s interest in the building, provided the impetus for people to meet together, and spurred plans for the building’s up-keep. “It was great because when the district growled at me I said ‘thank you, let’s all meet; it’s so hard to meet you guys because you’re all so busy.”

South African born and bred, Vivien has the distinction of having been ordained by Desmond Tutu in 1994, the year South Africa held its first post-apartheid elections and Nelson Mandela came to power. She worked in Cape Town as a school chaplain.

She immigrated to New Zealand about eight years ago, after her daughter and Kiwi husband moved to Hokitika. Vivien decided to base herself there and became part-time vicar of All Saints.

As a relative new-comer to New Zealand, let alone the Coast, she recognises the cultural significance of the district’s little churches, and is supportive of the community’s desire to maintain and to promote interest in them. She also believes they provide much needed places for people to connect with something spiritual.

“I think they’re important places for people to visit: at an

entirely cultural-tourism level as well as in terms of allowing this manifestly important moment when people can withdraw from things and have some time for spiritual replenishment – and for those people to know that we pray for them,” she says.

Tourists and local visitors are invited to write in visitors’ books or on noticeboards at the churches, and Vivien and the local church community take time during worship services to pray for note-writers and everyone else who has popped in.

“It’s amazing the little notes that are left, such as ‘thank you for the opportunity to have some quiet space’ or quite vulnerable people saying ‘I was going through a bad time and it was really important for me to sit here’. Some people are very obviously Christian – ‘what a glorious place to worship God’ and ‘I thank Jesus’ and that sort of thing – but you get a whole range of responses and they’re all deeply spiritual,” she says.

Locals often provide fresh flowers or ensure in other ways that the churches have a welcoming feel. Laminated prayers and an array of thought-provoking material are left for people to read and take away. For Christmas time, Vivien is getting someone to make little flax roses and will attach notes wishing recipients a Meri Kirihimete (Merry Christmas).

“The idea is that this is our ministry to the tourists, who come here looking for a certain kind of experience – and we’re offering them something different. Our part is that we commit to pray for the people who visit our churches,” says Vivien.

In the small township of Whataroa, about 30km northeast of Franz Josef, another church on the trail has just had a spruce-up. When a quote for painting St Luke’s was deemed unaffordable by the congregation, the local community rallied and volunteered its help.

“Somebody said ‘I’ll do this’ and somebody else said ‘I’ll do that’ and now this little church is looking spic and span. The outside’s all painted and the roof’s painted and there’s a new strip of carpet. It looks completely different,” says Vivien.

The population of Whataoroa is less than 500, but it was once a thriving farming and dairy area that supported the district during Okarito’s heyday of goldmining in the 19th century. The church houses a war memorial window to a local lad who died in World War I.

The third church on the trail is St James’ and St John’s in Hari Hari, which was once a bustling logging settlement but is now frequented by bushwalkers and birdwatchers, who enjoy its

protected forests.The most historically significant church in Vivien’s patch is St

James’ at Franz Josef. It has an Historic Place Category 1 listing. The distinctive board and batten building was built in 1931 on a boulder and concrete foundation, after plans for a building made of local river stones proved too expensive for the congregation of nine families during the Great Depression!

St James’ was built on land that was donated by residents at the time, including the two Graham brothers, who are two of New Zealand’s most notable early mountain climbers and guides.

“Because it’s a heritage listed building and the glacier is there, it’s one of the primary tourism sites in the district. People stop and go in,” says Vivien about the distinctive brown and white striped church set in the bush.

The church community there has also experimented ‘a lot’ with getting a suitable time for services. They now have a Sunday afternoon service once a month, at 3pm.

“That’s when all the buses have arrived and people have done their tourism thing and are at a loose end before tea! I don’t think I’ve ever had a service where at least two tourists haven’t wandered in and asked to sit,” says Vivien.

Afterwards she and other members of the congregation make a point of staying to chat to the visitors.

“Tourists say to me it’s the only chance they’ve had to talk to people who are not in the tourism industry - and how nice it is to talk to farmers and others”.

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DIALOGUE

Cursillo Prompts Spiritual GrowthJenny Fischer talks to Megan Blakie about the impact of Cursillo on her life. WORDS & PHOTO: MEGAN BLAKIE

The Cursillo Movement has a somewhat low-key profile in the Diocese but for Linwood resident Jenny Fischer it has sparked huge spiritual growth.

The 37-year-old, who describes herself as ‘a married mother of a 7-year old daughter’, attended the residential discipleship course last year and was invited to be part of the organising team for the September one at Kaiapoi.

“Cursillo changed my life spiritually. It gave me the confidence to say, well if I can do this [course] for three and a half days with all these strangers, I can do other stuff,” says Jenny about her participation last year.

Since attending the course, Jenny has taken up the volunteer role of Children’s Co-ordinator at St Andrew’s at North New Brighton, in Christchurch. She also serves as a vestry person for the parish and helps plan and lead their worship.

Cursillo (pronounced ‘cur-see-oh’) is a Spanish word meaning ‘short course’. The movement originated in Majorca, Spain,

it wasn’t until last year that she heard the word ‘Cursillo’ again.

“All of a sudden the name popped up and I recognised that my grandmother had done it - or talked about it. I was asked to go and I thought why not?” she says.

Attending the course last year gave Jenny a “real buzz” and, in the months afterwards, she often found herself recalling things she’d learned there. However, when asked to help run this year’s course and present a ten-minute talk, she “freaked out”.

With the help and support of members of the Cursillo organising team, Jenny overcame her nerves, wrote and delivered her talk. She spoke on the topic of Christian study. Although the process was challenging, it allowed her to reflect on something that was happening in her own life and gain insight into the situation.

“Writing my talk involved a lot of thinking about forgiveness. It challenged me to look at [my situation] not through my eyes but God’s eyes and see a different perspective. I had to put the situation completely into His hands,” she says.

“Looking back I think being on the team was something I had to do; in another year’s time it wouldn’t have had the same impact,” she says.

during the 1940s and is now worldwide. It was introduced to Christchurch from the Wellington Anglican Diocese in 1996.

In New Zealand, Cursillo courses and gatherings are mostly held within the Anglican Church. The initial course is open to baptised men and women (both lay and ordained) and is offered at various times in a men-only, women-only and combined format.

“I’d encourage people to go. Never mind the fact you’ll make new friends, you’ll get a deeper understanding of who you are and of God and Jesus and what basically it’s [Christianity] all about,” says Jenny.

“But I can’t give too much away!” she adds, referring to the need to keep ‘mum’ about some of the pleasant surprises that happen during the weekend course. (Suffice to say, Cursillo is intended to be a microcosm of a loving and supportive Christian community – with some magical moments and often a good dose of laughter thrown in!)

Jenny first heard of Cursillo from her grandmother, who passed away 13 years ago. After her grandmother’s death – and “just because of the way I was” – Jenny took a six-year break from the Church. She reconnected in 2006, at the age of 30, but

“I’d encourage people to go. Never mind the fact you’ll make new friends, you’ll get a deeper understanding of who you are

and of God and Jesus.”

AnglicanLife Issue 23

Anglican Living’s aim in its re�rement villages and care homes is to enhance your quality of life within a Chris�an family environment. That means you can enjoy a comfortable and safe place to live, no ma�er who you are or what you believe. You’ll be part of a warm and welcoming community where you can be as social or as private as you want to be. You’ll also have access to the care and support you need from qualified professionals, and a chaplain if you wish.

Call Bishopspark on (03) 977 2320 or Fitzgerald on (03) 982 2165, ext .1www.anglicanliving.org.nz

Independent Living: One and two bedroom co�ages and apartments.Semi-independent: Studio Units with meals and linen provided, while you s�ll maintain your independence.24-hour Care: Rest home, hospital and secure demen�a care to meet your individual needs.

BISHOPSPARK24 Dorset St, Christchurch

Gracious re�rement village and rest home living adjacent to

Hagley Park, with nursing support when you need it.

FITZGERALD437 Armagh St, Christchurch

Care to the level you require in our rest home, demen�a care unit, or hospital, or independent living in an apartment, all in the midst of

lovely gardens.

Anglican Living offers...


DIALOGUE

Cursillo Prompts Spiritual GrowthJenny Fischer talks to Megan Blakie about the impact of Cursillo on her life. WORDS & PHOTO: MEGAN BLAKIE

The Cursillo Movement has a somewhat low-key profile in the Diocese but for Linwood resident Jenny Fischer it has sparked huge spiritual growth.

The 37-year-old, who describes herself as ‘a married mother of a 7-year old daughter’, attended the residential discipleship course last year and was invited to be part of the organising team for the September one at Kaiapoi.

“Cursillo changed my life spiritually. It gave me the confidence to say, well if I can do this [course] for three and a half days with all these strangers, I can do other stuff,” says Jenny about her participation last year.

Since attending the course, Jenny has taken up the volunteer role of Children’s Co-ordinator at St Andrew’s at North New Brighton, in Christchurch. She also serves as a vestry person for the parish and helps plan and lead their worship.

Cursillo (pronounced ‘cur-see-oh’) is a Spanish word meaning ‘short course’. The movement originated in Majorca, Spain,

it wasn’t until last year that she heard the word ‘Cursillo’ again.

“All of a sudden the name popped up and I recognised that my grandmother had done it - or talked about it. I was asked to go and I thought why not?” she says.

Attending the course last year gave Jenny a “real buzz” and, in the months afterwards, she often found herself recalling things she’d learned there. However, when asked to help run this year’s course and present a ten-minute talk, she “freaked out”.

With the help and support of members of the Cursillo organising team, Jenny overcame her nerves, wrote and delivered her talk. She spoke on the topic of Christian study. Although the process was challenging, it allowed her to reflect on something that was happening in her own life and gain insight into the situation.

“Writing my talk involved a lot of thinking about forgiveness. It challenged me to look at [my situation] not through my eyes but God’s eyes and see a different perspective. I had to put the situation completely into His hands,” she says.

“Looking back I think being on the team was something I had to do; in another year’s time it wouldn’t have had the same impact,” she says.

during the 1940s and is now worldwide. It was introduced to Christchurch from the Wellington Anglican Diocese in 1996.

In New Zealand, Cursillo courses and gatherings are mostly held within the Anglican Church. The initial course is open to baptised men and women (both lay and ordained) and is offered at various times in a men-only, women-only and combined format.

“I’d encourage people to go. Never mind the fact you’ll make new friends, you’ll get a deeper understanding of who you are and of God and Jesus and what basically it’s [Christianity] all about,” says Jenny.

“But I can’t give too much away!” she adds, referring to the need to keep ‘mum’ about some of the pleasant surprises that happen during the weekend course. (Suffice to say, Cursillo is intended to be a microcosm of a loving and supportive Christian community – with some magical moments and often a good dose of laughter thrown in!)

Jenny first heard of Cursillo from her grandmother, who passed away 13 years ago. After her grandmother’s death – and “just because of the way I was” – Jenny took a six-year break from the Church. She reconnected in 2006, at the age of 30, but

“I’d encourage people to go. Never mind the fact you’ll make new friends, you’ll get a deeper understanding of who you are

and of God and Jesus.”

AnglicanLife Issue 23

Anglican Living’s aim in its re�rement villages and care homes is to enhance your quality of life within a Chris�an family environment. That means you can enjoy a comfortable and safe place to live, no ma�er who you are or what you believe. You’ll be part of a warm and welcoming community where you can be as social or as private as you want to be. You’ll also have access to the care and support you need from qualified professionals, and a chaplain if you wish.

Call Bishopspark on (03) 977 2320 or Fitzgerald on (03) 982 2165, ext .1www.anglicanliving.org.nz

Independent Living: One and two bedroom co�ages and apartments.Semi-independent: Studio Units with meals and linen provided, while you s�ll maintain your independence.24-hour Care: Rest home, hospital and secure demen�a care to meet your individual needs.

BISHOPSPARK24 Dorset St, Christchurch

Gracious re�rement village and rest home living adjacent to

Hagley Park, with nursing support when you need it.

FITZGERALD437 Armagh St, Christchurch

Care to the level you require in our rest home, demen�a care unit, or hospital, or independent living in an apartment, all in the midst of

lovely gardens.

Anglican Living offers...


Knowing Your Neighbour is a Piece of CakeDo you remember how we called round to see our neighbours back in February and March 2011? Many of us are now aware that these connections have lapsed and we’re told that Christchurch people are regretting it.

WORDS: JOHN DAY PHOTO: JACOB STANLEY

FAMILY / SOCIAL JUSTICE / ENVIRONMENT / SUSTAINABILITY / SPIRITUALITY

Lifestyle

I wonder if you have new neighbours? Or are you moving house into one of the new sub-divisions? How would you like to be welcomed to your new neighbourhood?

After all, the Church should be about being good neighbours. Didn’t Jesus say to us love our neighbour? So how can we begin making connections and do just that? Ideas and resources are at hand!

Te Raranga (http://raranga.org.nz) emerged in the early weeks after the earthquakes. It is made up of church leaders passionate about connecting local churches together and serving our local neighbourhoods. Now all Christchurch’s 300 churches are connected to Te Raranga.

COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKESTEPHANIE DAY

Cake:170g soft margarine170g soft brown sugar3 eggs170g of self raising flour3 teaspoons of fairtrade instant coffee dissolved in 2 tablespoons of hot water

Preheat oven to 170CCream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy and then beat in 3 eggs, stir in the self raising flour and then fold the dissolved coffee gently through the mixture. Divide the mixture between two Victoria sandwich tins, that you have greased or put baking paper on the bottom. Cook for 20-25 minutes until cake springs back. Cooking time can vary with your oven so keep an eye of them and if they start smelling really good have check to see if they are done.

Icing:250g of icing sugar100g soft margarine2 teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in a little waterSieve icing sugar, beat in the margarine until light and fluffy. Then beat in dissolved instant coffee.

Assembly:When the cakes are baked, carefully remove from tins and when completely cold sandwich together with half the icing, use the other half of the icing on top. If you really want to go all out decorate the top with walnut halves.

“We can all buy a slice or bake a cake and say ‘Hi’ to our neighbour”

The first public event in the Transitional Cathedral was the Te Raranga Prayer Breakfast attended by Bishop Victoria and over 200 church leaders from forty different denominations and networks of churches.

Te Raranga, under the heading of The Neighbourhood Project, is inviting us to connect with our neighbours through the Summer of Fun and Knowing Your Neighbour.

SUMMER OF FUNAll local churches are invited to hold a community fun day, between December and March. Almost 40 churches ran one last year and we’re hoping for more

this year. Fifteen Christchurch Anglican Churches have already signed up to hold a Summer of Fun event and are being given a grant from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust of up to $1500 to hire in bouncy castles, clowns, the big BBQ trailer and the YMCA archery team!

We’re hoping that 66 Summer of Fun events will be held across the Waimakariri, Selwyn and Christchurch areas - local churches partnering with local organisations and groups and getting to know their neighbours better.

KNOWING YOUR NEIGHBOUR IS A PIECE OF CAKE! AUTUMN 2014To help us get to know our own next door we’re all invited to join in a simple idea: we simply say ‘hello’ to our next door neighbours and take them round a piece of cake!

Getting to know our neighbours is a piece of cake! We’re not saying ‘be best friends’ but just to know each other’s name. Remember how important that was in February 2011? So we can all buy a slice or bake a cake and say ‘Hi’ to our neighbour. Who knows where it might lead….or how much help we can offer and be given in times of crisis.

You could make a Piece of Cake Day at your church and take home cake, not for yourself but to the folks next door. One church is chatting with a celebrity chef about baking a special Neighbours’ Cake.

Knowing your neighbour is a piece of cake – it’s easy!

Contact Archdeacon John Day for more details [email protected]

Community Summer of Fun event in 2013


Knowing Your Neighbour is a Piece of CakeDo you remember how we called round to see our neighbours back in February and March 2011? Many of us are now aware that these connections have lapsed and we’re told that Christchurch people are regretting it.

WORDS: JOHN DAY PHOTO: JACOB STANLEY

FAMILY / SOCIAL JUSTICE / ENVIRONMENT / SUSTAINABILITY / SPIRITUALITY

Lifestyle

I wonder if you have new neighbours? Or are you moving house into one of the new sub-divisions? How would you like to be welcomed to your new neighbourhood?

After all, the Church should be about being good neighbours. Didn’t Jesus say to us love our neighbour? So how can we begin making connections and do just that? Ideas and resources are at hand!

Te Raranga (http://raranga.org.nz) emerged in the early weeks after the earthquakes. It is made up of church leaders passionate about connecting local churches together and serving our local neighbourhoods. Now all Christchurch’s 300 churches are connected to Te Raranga.

COFFEE AND WALNUT CAKESTEPHANIE DAY

Cake:170g soft margarine170g soft brown sugar3 eggs170g of self raising flour3 teaspoons of fairtrade instant coffee dissolved in 2 tablespoons of hot water

Preheat oven to 170CCream margarine and sugar until light and fluffy and then beat in 3 eggs, stir in the self raising flour and then fold the dissolved coffee gently through the mixture. Divide the mixture between two Victoria sandwich tins, that you have greased or put baking paper on the bottom. Cook for 20-25 minutes until cake springs back. Cooking time can vary with your oven so keep an eye of them and if they start smelling really good have check to see if they are done.

Icing:250g of icing sugar100g soft margarine2 teaspoons of instant coffee dissolved in a little waterSieve icing sugar, beat in the margarine until light and fluffy. Then beat in dissolved instant coffee.

Assembly:When the cakes are baked, carefully remove from tins and when completely cold sandwich together with half the icing, use the other half of the icing on top. If you really want to go all out decorate the top with walnut halves.

“We can all buy a slice or bake a cake and say ‘Hi’ to our neighbour”

The first public event in the Transitional Cathedral was the Te Raranga Prayer Breakfast attended by Bishop Victoria and over 200 church leaders from forty different denominations and networks of churches.

Te Raranga, under the heading of The Neighbourhood Project, is inviting us to connect with our neighbours through the Summer of Fun and Knowing Your Neighbour.

SUMMER OF FUNAll local churches are invited to hold a community fun day, between December and March. Almost 40 churches ran one last year and we’re hoping for more

this year. Fifteen Christchurch Anglican Churches have already signed up to hold a Summer of Fun event and are being given a grant from the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust of up to $1500 to hire in bouncy castles, clowns, the big BBQ trailer and the YMCA archery team!

We’re hoping that 66 Summer of Fun events will be held across the Waimakariri, Selwyn and Christchurch areas - local churches partnering with local organisations and groups and getting to know their neighbours better.

KNOWING YOUR NEIGHBOUR IS A PIECE OF CAKE! AUTUMN 2014To help us get to know our own next door we’re all invited to join in a simple idea: we simply say ‘hello’ to our next door neighbours and take them round a piece of cake!

Getting to know our neighbours is a piece of cake! We’re not saying ‘be best friends’ but just to know each other’s name. Remember how important that was in February 2011? So we can all buy a slice or bake a cake and say ‘Hi’ to our neighbour. Who knows where it might lead….or how much help we can offer and be given in times of crisis.

You could make a Piece of Cake Day at your church and take home cake, not for yourself but to the folks next door. One church is chatting with a celebrity chef about baking a special Neighbours’ Cake.

Knowing your neighbour is a piece of cake – it’s easy!

Contact Archdeacon John Day for more details [email protected]

Community Summer of Fun event in 2013

16 AnglicanLife Issue 27 17

WORKPLACE WORKPLACE

Fans come first for AnberlinFlorida-rockers Anberlin graced our shores in August for a sold-out concert at the Kings Arms Tavern in Auckland. Paul McDonald caught up with the guys before they took the stage at an incredibly intimate club show.

WORDS & PHOTO: PAUL MCDONALD

Tickets are taken, drinks are ordered and the gear is hauled up onto the stage as the fans try to find a good spot.

In the big scheme of things, their sole New Zealand concert is just another stop on the tour for Anberlin, a band who have just come from shows in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines before they head to Australia and then back to tour their homeland.

But the excitement in the air reminds you that this show means so much more than just another date on an extensive tour schedule. The crowd has waited four years to see Anberlin back on these shores, and they savour the moment as they sing along passionately and share an intimate time with the band in a crowded Auckland pub.

For a band who have toured the world extensively in their 12-year history, sometimes playing to thousands of people at festivals, an intimate club show with only a couple of hundred people is a rarity, but it is an opportunity that Anberlin thoroughly enjoy.

Lead vocalist Stephen Christian said he loved playing club shows because it gave him the chance to get to know his fans at a personal level.

“I think the bigger that a band gets, the bigger the chasm between the band and the fans becomes, so when you get a chance to play those intimate club shows it feels more up close and personal.”

“There’s just a different dynamic, instead of making a blanket statement at a festival, you can talk directly to the crowd, it’s really intimate and we enjoy it.”

In late 2007 Anberlin made the decision to step away from Christian label Tooth and Nail to sign on with major label Universal Republic and have now added three albums to their catalogue, ‘New Surrender’ (2008), ‘Dark is the Way, Light is a Place’ (2010) and ‘Vital’ (2012)

Their move to this label is one Christian said had given the band opportunities they could never dream of, working with great producers such as Brendan O’Brien and Neal Avron and it had swung the door wide open with international touring.

“We did a little bit, but we did a lot after signing with Universal [Republic].”

Even though they walked away from a Christian label to enjoy the benefits a major label brings, the lyrics in their latest albums tell you that the fire still burns brightly for these five musicians.

Christian said the band had received no retaliation for their faith since moving into this market, but he voiced his frustration about the stigma that sometimes is associated with Christian music.

“I think the worst thing that happens is that people prejudge all Christian music to be the same, or they don’t listen to the band because they are Christian.”

Christian believed it would actually be a selling point if a band were a different religion, much like the Buddhist faith of the Beastie Boys.

“With the Beastie Boys people are like, ‘Oh wow, cool, that’s interesting and exotic’, but Christians? No.”

Despite this frustration, the band are deeply aware they are very lucky not to suffer the persecution suffered by Christians around the world.

“I mean right now in Egypt, Christians are getting their churches

and houses burnt down, that’s literally happening today, yesterday, I mean the Muslim brotherhood is burning down churches and houses, so I don’t feel even remotely persecuted.”

While other artists in the mainstream market remind us constantly of ‘the dark side’ of the music industry, Anberlin remain a band who are dedicated to simply forming a personal connection with their fans.

Whether it be playing corn hole with them at meet and greet sessions, chatting

“I think the worst thing that happens is that people prejudge all Christian music to be the same, or they don’t

listen to the band because they are Christian.”

“I’m with the band!” – Anglican Life reporter Paul McDonald (centre) with Anberlin before their show in Auckland. L to R – Nathan Young, Christian McAlhaney, Deon Rezroat, Paul McDonald, Joey Milligan and Stephen Christian.

Front man Stephen Christian plays the keyboard during Anberlin’s sold-out Auckland show.

with them after shows when they are “beat and tired”, or even putting the microphone out for the crowd to sing along is what keeps the band connected.

They are a band about leaving a lasting memory for their fans, something they will never forget and will forever hold dear.

16 AnglicanLife Issue 27 17

WORKPLACE WORKPLACE

Fans come first for AnberlinFlorida-rockers Anberlin graced our shores in August for a sold-out concert at the Kings Arms Tavern in Auckland. Paul McDonald caught up with the guys before they took the stage at an incredibly intimate club show.

WORDS & PHOTO: PAUL MCDONALD

Tickets are taken, drinks are ordered and the gear is hauled up onto the stage as the fans try to find a good spot.

In the big scheme of things, their sole New Zealand concert is just another stop on the tour for Anberlin, a band who have just come from shows in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines before they head to Australia and then back to tour their homeland.

But the excitement in the air reminds you that this show means so much more than just another date on an extensive tour schedule. The crowd has waited four years to see Anberlin back on these shores, and they savour the moment as they sing along passionately and share an intimate time with the band in a crowded Auckland pub.

For a band who have toured the world extensively in their 12-year history, sometimes playing to thousands of people at festivals, an intimate club show with only a couple of hundred people is a rarity, but it is an opportunity that Anberlin thoroughly enjoy.

Lead vocalist Stephen Christian said he loved playing club shows because it gave him the chance to get to know his fans at a personal level.

“I think the bigger that a band gets, the bigger the chasm between the band and the fans becomes, so when you get a chance to play those intimate club shows it feels more up close and personal.”

“There’s just a different dynamic, instead of making a blanket statement at a festival, you can talk directly to the crowd, it’s really intimate and we enjoy it.”

In late 2007 Anberlin made the decision to step away from Christian label Tooth and Nail to sign on with major label Universal Republic and have now added three albums to their catalogue, ‘New Surrender’ (2008), ‘Dark is the Way, Light is a Place’ (2010) and ‘Vital’ (2012)

Their move to this label is one Christian said had given the band opportunities they could never dream of, working with great producers such as Brendan O’Brien and Neal Avron and it had swung the door wide open with international touring.

“We did a little bit, but we did a lot after signing with Universal [Republic].”

Even though they walked away from a Christian label to enjoy the benefits a major label brings, the lyrics in their latest albums tell you that the fire still burns brightly for these five musicians.

Christian said the band had received no retaliation for their faith since moving into this market, but he voiced his frustration about the stigma that sometimes is associated with Christian music.

“I think the worst thing that happens is that people prejudge all Christian music to be the same, or they don’t listen to the band because they are Christian.”

Christian believed it would actually be a selling point if a band were a different religion, much like the Buddhist faith of the Beastie Boys.

“With the Beastie Boys people are like, ‘Oh wow, cool, that’s interesting and exotic’, but Christians? No.”

Despite this frustration, the band are deeply aware they are very lucky not to suffer the persecution suffered by Christians around the world.

“I mean right now in Egypt, Christians are getting their churches

and houses burnt down, that’s literally happening today, yesterday, I mean the Muslim brotherhood is burning down churches and houses, so I don’t feel even remotely persecuted.”

While other artists in the mainstream market remind us constantly of ‘the dark side’ of the music industry, Anberlin remain a band who are dedicated to simply forming a personal connection with their fans.

Whether it be playing corn hole with them at meet and greet sessions, chatting

“I think the worst thing that happens is that people prejudge all Christian music to be the same, or they don’t

listen to the band because they are Christian.”

“I’m with the band!” – Anglican Life reporter Paul McDonald (centre) with Anberlin before their show in Auckland. L to R – Nathan Young, Christian McAlhaney, Deon Rezroat, Paul McDonald, Joey Milligan and Stephen Christian.

Front man Stephen Christian plays the keyboard during Anberlin’s sold-out Auckland show.

with them after shows when they are “beat and tired”, or even putting the microphone out for the crowd to sing along is what keeps the band connected.

They are a band about leaving a lasting memory for their fans, something they will never forget and will forever hold dear.


CultureFILM / MUSIC / LITERATURE / WEB / FOOD / EVENTS

Learn Some Church History on Your HolidaysThe New Zealand Church Missionary Society (NZCMS) is inviting Kiwis to rediscover, commemorate and celebrate God’s faithfulness in our nation’s history with a Summer of Pilgrimage.

WORDS: SOPHIA SINCLAIR PHOTO: ALI BALLANTYNE

Warning! This album is not for the faint of heart.

Christian, Georgia-based, metalcore titans, Norma Jean, have scaled the heights of success in the past few years.

The band have now released two records since they signed with major label, Razor & Tie in 2009, and with their latest release, ‘Wrongdoers’, it appears this old dog is not prepared to roll over and die just yet.

‘Wrongdoers’ takes the band’s signature no-nonsense sound and blends it with more melodic vocals, which previously have been used scarcely by frontman Cory Brandon-Putman.

The use of melodic vocals in Norma Jean’s particular style of metalcore can be a very delicate procedure at times, but the band have pulled it off with absolute precision.

The album twists and turns, with new elements around every corner, but still remaining true to the sound that has defined them over their previous five-efforts.

‘Wrongdoers’ is kind of an ironic title, because with this release, Norma Jean did it right.

PAULIE’S RATING 10/10

Norma Jean did it right Wrongdoers Norma JeanWORDS: PAUL MCDONALD

2014 marks 200 years since CMS missionary Samuel Marsden was invited by Chief Ruatara to share the gospel with Maori in New Zealand.

Author Keith Newman, Maori scholar Monty Soutar and Archbishop David Moxon are just a few of the contributing writers partnering with NZCMS for the Summer of Pilgrimage. Featuring significant historical people and places, the Summer of Pilgrimage seeks to encourage churches, groups and individuals to rediscover New Zealand’s spiritual history. These ‘story starters’ include the story of Kaiapoi Pa. This Canterbury site is where the South Island Ngai Tahu tribe first heard the gospel – via the son and nephew of their sworn enemy.

Like any nation, New Zealand’s story contains both good and bad elements. Unfortunately the stories of betrayal, war and tension tend to dominate our culture’s collective understanding of our past. You may be surprised to discover a wealth of stories detailing the gospel’s spread across New Zealand and the beginnings of our spiritual culture.

There are sites and stories relevant to the Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Manawatu, Gisborne, Waikato, Auckland and Northland Regions. Each site comes with a

map, directions and suggestions for key contacts in the area. NZCMS encourages churches to make a day of it and reflecting on what God has done in New Zealand.

CHOOSE• Visit: www.nzcms.org.nz/2014-pilgrimage and pick a story/site near you• Follow the links• Chat with the contact people

INVITE• Invite your friends• Go as a church group

VISIT• Share a meal at the site• Pray and worship there• Meet the locals

SHARE• Tweet about your experiences using the hashtag #pilgrimage2014• Upload the photos on the 2014 Facebook page• Write a blog post about your experience

What can you do?


CultureFILM / MUSIC / LITERATURE / WEB / FOOD / EVENTS

Learn Some Church History on Your HolidaysThe New Zealand Church Missionary Society (NZCMS) is inviting Kiwis to rediscover, commemorate and celebrate God’s faithfulness in our nation’s history with a Summer of Pilgrimage.

WORDS: SOPHIA SINCLAIR PHOTO: ALI BALLANTYNE

Warning! This album is not for the faint of heart.

Christian, Georgia-based, metalcore titans, Norma Jean, have scaled the heights of success in the past few years.

The band have now released two records since they signed with major label, Razor & Tie in 2009, and with their latest release, ‘Wrongdoers’, it appears this old dog is not prepared to roll over and die just yet.

‘Wrongdoers’ takes the band’s signature no-nonsense sound and blends it with more melodic vocals, which previously have been used scarcely by frontman Cory Brandon-Putman.

The use of melodic vocals in Norma Jean’s particular style of metalcore can be a very delicate procedure at times, but the band have pulled it off with absolute precision.

The album twists and turns, with new elements around every corner, but still remaining true to the sound that has defined them over their previous five-efforts.

‘Wrongdoers’ is kind of an ironic title, because with this release, Norma Jean did it right.

PAULIE’S RATING 10/10

Norma Jean did it right Wrongdoers Norma JeanWORDS: PAUL MCDONALD

2014 marks 200 years since CMS missionary Samuel Marsden was invited by Chief Ruatara to share the gospel with Maori in New Zealand.

Author Keith Newman, Maori scholar Monty Soutar and Archbishop David Moxon are just a few of the contributing writers partnering with NZCMS for the Summer of Pilgrimage. Featuring significant historical people and places, the Summer of Pilgrimage seeks to encourage churches, groups and individuals to rediscover New Zealand’s spiritual history. These ‘story starters’ include the story of Kaiapoi Pa. This Canterbury site is where the South Island Ngai Tahu tribe first heard the gospel – via the son and nephew of their sworn enemy.

Like any nation, New Zealand’s story contains both good and bad elements. Unfortunately the stories of betrayal, war and tension tend to dominate our culture’s collective understanding of our past. You may be surprised to discover a wealth of stories detailing the gospel’s spread across New Zealand and the beginnings of our spiritual culture.

There are sites and stories relevant to the Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington, Kapiti Coast, Manawatu, Gisborne, Waikato, Auckland and Northland Regions. Each site comes with a

map, directions and suggestions for key contacts in the area. NZCMS encourages churches to make a day of it and reflecting on what God has done in New Zealand.

CHOOSE• Visit: www.nzcms.org.nz/2014-pilgrimage and pick a story/site near you• Follow the links• Chat with the contact people

INVITE• Invite your friends• Go as a church group

VISIT• Share a meal at the site• Pray and worship there• Meet the locals

SHARE• Tweet about your experiences using the hashtag #pilgrimage2014• Upload the photos on the 2014 Facebook page• Write a blog post about your experience

What can you do?


CLOSING ESSAY

The Christmas Story Beyond the BabeKaren Jefferson reflects on Christmas for those that have no name.

WORDS: KAREN JEFFERSON PHOTOS: LUCY SUMMERFIELD

“I am sorry for what you are going through right now, especially as Christmas

approaches.”

Christmas time for those that grieve can be a particularly difficult, lonely and distressing time. The society of today holds some acknowledgement of how it might be for those that grieve, such as orphans, widows and widowers – terms commonly known to many in our communities. What about those that grieve amongst us that have experienced the end of a pregnancy, a death of a baby (ies), and or the heartbreaking rollercoaster of infertility? For this we have no common term or “label.”

Each year, in NZ 849 babies are born (2009), perfect yet still. Up to 1 in 6 couples experience fertility issues and 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. You may be surprised to really know how many people in our communities and church pews have or are walking this silent and sorrowful journey to parenthood – a far cry from the fable of joy and celebration we expect.

As a Bereavement Counsellor and more significantly a bereaved parent, I too can return to those weeks leading up to Christmas and my experience of being overwhelmed and at times angry at being saturated with births, babies and children that is focused on as we deliver and retell the Story of Christmas. But when I reflect on the Christmas story I find connections beyond the baby in the manger.

Like the Christmas story and Jesus’ birth, many of us grow up with the desire and dreams, from childhood, to become parents ourselves. We believe this to be one aspect of a Christian life, a blessing of God, the promise, not unlike Daniel’s dreams and prophecy revealing, with a little help from Archangel Gabriel, (one of the only angels to speak in the Bible and is guardian of conception, pregnancy and parenting), “A baby to be Born.”

The promise of a child and being parents can run extremely deep and we can invest much of our identities and self worth in becoming and achieving this role in our lives. When our experience, expectations and seeming failure in becoming a parent, just like everyone else is, we can grieve deeply, beyond any physical loss.

We grieve, for example, who that child would have made us and the parent we would have been. For many, these are the times where we forget the various additional roles we also have and play in our lives and our abilities to find joy, purpose, hope and love.

Along with the non-physical aspects of loss, we grieve our loss of control and safety in how we view the world. I can imagine that Zach and Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke and later Joseph and Mary, may have experienced such a sense when again Archangel Gabriel delivered the news to Zach that their infertility days were over, and when Mary conceived out of wedlock - totally random events with serious personal, family and societal implications. Not the usual way to become parents at all! How excluded, judged, fearful and uncertain these women may have felt being an elderly woman passed child bearing age and as an unwed mother. Yet they all, especially Zach and Joseph, held fast their sense of faith, love and hope – the essence of the Christmas story beyond the baby - and found their peace as individuals, their acceptance with the situation which did not mean they had to like it!

How do we support each other when we have faith that God knows all the desires of our heart, yet as human beings we still struggle with accepting the divine plan, including divine timing -“All things are possible with God and his timing”? When consumed and saturated with that which we desire greatly yet live without, how do we find our peace?

Is it possible to widen the focus of the Christmas story in your parish to acknowledge hope, faith, love and peace for those that grieve that, which does not have a name? Perhaps a specific service and resource options to acknowledge, honour and support them. Are we openhearted enough to meet each other where we are at in respecting, like Elizabeth, individuals need to retreat, remove and disengage at this time? Or Zach’s disbelief at what he was hearing, that he was unable to speak during this time. Mary and Joseph come to mind, in their concern and how they were

compelled to take action, journeying that uncertain and unknowing path to get to where they needed to be. What courage for our walk in this life!

On an individual level, as loving and compassionate beings with DNA to be in relationship and community with one another, are we mindful of the hurtful, unhelpful, dismissive actions and messages we can offer at such times in our discomfort? We try so hard to fix or remove pain and suffering with clichés that, though our intent is of good, really tell the griever that they are not understood and may minimize their grief and mourning. There are no right words to say. All that is really required is a heart to heart acknowledgement – “I am sorry for what you are going through right now, especially as Christmas approaches.”

Finally be familiar with your local community supports such as SANDS NZ or Pregnancy Loss Australia. Never be afraid to ask how someone is doing and how you can support the griever to seek options to make informed and personal decisions that are right for them at the time.

Hope, Love, Faith and Peace to you all. Karen Jefferson, used to worship at St. Aidan’s, Bryndwr, before moving to Australia where she works as a Bereavement Counsellor, www.karenjefferson.com


CLOSING ESSAY

The Christmas Story Beyond the BabeKaren Jefferson reflects on Christmas for those that have no name.

WORDS: KAREN JEFFERSON PHOTOS: LUCY SUMMERFIELD

“I am sorry for what you are going through right now, especially as Christmas

approaches.”

Christmas time for those that grieve can be a particularly difficult, lonely and distressing time. The society of today holds some acknowledgement of how it might be for those that grieve, such as orphans, widows and widowers – terms commonly known to many in our communities. What about those that grieve amongst us that have experienced the end of a pregnancy, a death of a baby (ies), and or the heartbreaking rollercoaster of infertility? For this we have no common term or “label.”

Each year, in NZ 849 babies are born (2009), perfect yet still. Up to 1 in 6 couples experience fertility issues and 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. You may be surprised to really know how many people in our communities and church pews have or are walking this silent and sorrowful journey to parenthood – a far cry from the fable of joy and celebration we expect.

As a Bereavement Counsellor and more significantly a bereaved parent, I too can return to those weeks leading up to Christmas and my experience of being overwhelmed and at times angry at being saturated with births, babies and children that is focused on as we deliver and retell the Story of Christmas. But when I reflect on the Christmas story I find connections beyond the baby in the manger.

Like the Christmas story and Jesus’ birth, many of us grow up with the desire and dreams, from childhood, to become parents ourselves. We believe this to be one aspect of a Christian life, a blessing of God, the promise, not unlike Daniel’s dreams and prophecy revealing, with a little help from Archangel Gabriel, (one of the only angels to speak in the Bible and is guardian of conception, pregnancy and parenting), “A baby to be Born.”

The promise of a child and being parents can run extremely deep and we can invest much of our identities and self worth in becoming and achieving this role in our lives. When our experience, expectations and seeming failure in becoming a parent, just like everyone else is, we can grieve deeply, beyond any physical loss.

We grieve, for example, who that child would have made us and the parent we would have been. For many, these are the times where we forget the various additional roles we also have and play in our lives and our abilities to find joy, purpose, hope and love.

Along with the non-physical aspects of loss, we grieve our loss of control and safety in how we view the world. I can imagine that Zach and Elizabeth from the Gospel of Luke and later Joseph and Mary, may have experienced such a sense when again Archangel Gabriel delivered the news to Zach that their infertility days were over, and when Mary conceived out of wedlock - totally random events with serious personal, family and societal implications. Not the usual way to become parents at all! How excluded, judged, fearful and uncertain these women may have felt being an elderly woman passed child bearing age and as an unwed mother. Yet they all, especially Zach and Joseph, held fast their sense of faith, love and hope – the essence of the Christmas story beyond the baby - and found their peace as individuals, their acceptance with the situation which did not mean they had to like it!

How do we support each other when we have faith that God knows all the desires of our heart, yet as human beings we still struggle with accepting the divine plan, including divine timing -“All things are possible with God and his timing”? When consumed and saturated with that which we desire greatly yet live without, how do we find our peace?

Is it possible to widen the focus of the Christmas story in your parish to acknowledge hope, faith, love and peace for those that grieve that, which does not have a name? Perhaps a specific service and resource options to acknowledge, honour and support them. Are we openhearted enough to meet each other where we are at in respecting, like Elizabeth, individuals need to retreat, remove and disengage at this time? Or Zach’s disbelief at what he was hearing, that he was unable to speak during this time. Mary and Joseph come to mind, in their concern and how they were

compelled to take action, journeying that uncertain and unknowing path to get to where they needed to be. What courage for our walk in this life!

On an individual level, as loving and compassionate beings with DNA to be in relationship and community with one another, are we mindful of the hurtful, unhelpful, dismissive actions and messages we can offer at such times in our discomfort? We try so hard to fix or remove pain and suffering with clichés that, though our intent is of good, really tell the griever that they are not understood and may minimize their grief and mourning. There are no right words to say. All that is really required is a heart to heart acknowledgement – “I am sorry for what you are going through right now, especially as Christmas approaches.”

Finally be familiar with your local community supports such as SANDS NZ or Pregnancy Loss Australia. Never be afraid to ask how someone is doing and how you can support the griever to seek options to make informed and personal decisions that are right for them at the time.

Hope, Love, Faith and Peace to you all. Karen Jefferson, used to worship at St. Aidan’s, Bryndwr, before moving to Australia where she works as a Bereavement Counsellor, www.karenjefferson.com

Phone 03 389 7999Ferry Park Chapel, 297 Ferry Road

Christchurchwww.belllambtrotter.co.nz

BELL, LAMB & TROTTERFUNERAL DIRECTOR LIMITED

Suzanne & Ian BellCanterbury owned and operated since 1872

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