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ANZAC: entwined historyINDABA PARISHES SHARING THEIR STORIES

EASTER LABYRINTH AT ST MATTHEWS

RETREATSALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO FLOURISH

WINTER 2015

In April it was five years since I was ordained as a bishop and installed as Bishop of Auckland. The time has gone very quickly and has held a number of challenges but a significantly

greater number of joys and opportunities. I feel good about being Bishop of this Diocese and about the people with whom I share that ministry in the Episcopal Team. I am at my happiest when I am in parishes and ministry units on a Sunday for worship. Thank you all for the support and encouragement I have received during these years.

A wonderful opportunity that is unlocked by my fifth anniversary is a period of sabbatical leave. I have been planning this over the last couple of months and will take the time allocated in two blocks. The first, this year, will be during July and August. I will be overseas for about five weeks with two main focuses. The first is to attend the “Palestine of Jesus” course at St George’s College in Jerusalem. The course offers current scholarship on the Gospels and a good amount of field trip time to the places of Jesus’ ministry. I have never visited Israel before so am looking forward to this time very much indeed.

BISHOP’S MESSAGE

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Find the Bishops on Facebook: Bishop Ross Bay / Bishop Jim White

NORTHLAND VOICES HELP COMMEMORATE ANZAC DAY IN ENGLANDBishop Kito in England for Anzac Day

FROM THE ARCHDEACONSUpdates from around the Diocese

EASTER LABYRINTHSt Matthew-in-the-City Holy Week labyrinth

GOING FURTHERA formative experience for young adults

INDABAHow Ministry Units have found the process

EXPLORING GOD’S LOVE THROUGH POETRYA review of Otherwise by John Dennison

RETREAT AND ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO FLOURISHRetreats at Vaughan Park

EARTHQUAKE STRENGTHENINGAn update for the Diocese

DIO NEWS BITESNews from around the Diocese

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The other part of my time will be spent in the UK. The main thing I wish to do while there is to meet with people in both England and Ireland who are involved in the Anglican-Methodist dialogue. The Churches in those provinces are a little further ahead than us in addressing the question of the interchangeability of ordained ministry between our denominations. This is one of my portfolio areas within the House of Bishops so it will be good to meet with some of those people and understand their experience and the approaches they have taken as we prepare to see what steps we can take on this in New Zealand.

Please forgive me for escaping part of our winter! Do hold me in your prayers during this time of refreshment for my ministry.

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The people of Walton-on-Thames in Surrey always remember the town’s entwined history with New Zealand on ANZAC Day. As you drive through the town you see a street sign entitled ‘New Zealand Avenue’ and a pub called ‘The Wellington’. These are hints at a long history that is only really comprehended when you stand amongst the graves of New Zealanders who died there.REV’D JAYSON RHODES

NORTHLAND VOICES HELP COMMEMORATE ANZAC DAY IN ENGLAND

The town’s graveyard is the burial site for 19 New Zealanders from World War 1. This year Bishop Kito Pikaahu was invited to preach at the Service of Commemoration at St Mary’s

Church. He also joined in the reading of the names of the New Zealanders buried in the graveyard.

Bishop Kito says he was conscious of the stories behind the names that were read during Evensong, “I walked through the graveyard before the service and was so aware of the history and the stories of so many wounded soldiers who had come to the town, many who died from artillery wounds and tuberculosis; they signed up but never came home.”

The town was the site of the first hospital for injured soldiers set up in England and it was exclusively for New Zealanders. The hospital received 2700 wounded and disabled soldiers over four years and closed in June 1919. Diaries tell how the town welcomed the soldiers and adopted them, taking them into their own homes for meals. Those connections are remembered with pride and the church is almost full with more than 250 people each ANZAC Day to remember the Kiwi visitors.

The previous day Bishop Kito had been at Hyde Park in London for the Dawn Service and had taken part in the Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey to

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“I walked through the graveyard before the service and was so aware of the history and the stories of so many wounded soldiers... they signed up but never came home.”

mark the landings on the Gallipoli Peninsula.“In the Abbey I prayed about citizenship and how the

centenary would be a reminder of how our nations joined together and how we would live out those bonds in the future. The flags in the Abbey of the UK, Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and Turkey were a reminder of that, even more powerfully was I reminded of that at Walton-on-Thames as we stood at the graves of those who gave their lives.”

Bishop Kito was accompanied by his wife Lynnore Pikaahu, and Chaplain Kerry Davis, a student at St John’s College. Lynnore also had strong connections to the town with men buried there who had served with her grandfather.

The graves take prominence as you walk in and Kerry Davis describes the actions of the community in remembering the New Zealanders as quite humbling. “In the town they respect

Previous page: Bishop Kito (on the far right) at the service held in Westminster Abbey.Top: Remembering the buried soldiers in the graveyard.Above: Sir Lockwood Smith places a wreath at the memorial in the graveyard of Walton-on-Thames.Left: From L-R Bishop Kito, Sir Lockwood Smith and Chaplain Kerry Davis

and honour our fallen as if they were their own.” Large stone memorials on each side of the entrance bear the names of the New Zealanders buried there. The names are of soldiers from Auckland, Otago, Wellington, captains, privates, corporals, a sergeant, a colonel and members of the Maori Battalion. There are 18 soldiers and one nurse named.

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Bishop Kito was not the only Northland voice at the commemorations. High Commissioner Sir Lockwood Smith, and his wife Lady Alexandra were grateful to see the familiar face of Bishop Kito from Northland as the ANZACS were remembered.

It was after the service that Lady Alexandra explained to the parishioners and community who were present that she was in essence ‘a product of the town.’ Her grandfather, George W. Maurice had been nursed back to health at the hospital after suffering extensive shrapnel wounds. He was nursed in the hospital for two months in 1919.

Bishop Kito offered waiata to close proceedings. The parishioners were enthralled as Sir Lockwood and Lady Alexandra joined in the singing with Pokarekare Ana and Po Atarau – Now is the Hour adding extra poignancy to the early evening service.

Local school principal Jonathan Insall-Reid is a New Zealander who comes to the service each year. “I get to sing the national anthem and when you are far away from home it is emotional and reminds you that you are a New Zealander.

Another New Zealander, Ann Candler says she always makes a point of going to the graves. She comes from Tuahiwi Marae

in North Canterbury and when she arrived in Walton she was not aware of the New Zealand connection. Her children have since been baptized at the church and she cherishes the links to New Zealand and the ANZAC service as a chance to see New Zealanders.

One of the readings for Evensong told of Lazarus being raised from the dead and emerging from the tomb. Bishop Kito described Lazarus as a person whose face has seen the glory of God and that the New Zealand ANZACs remembered at Walton had faces that had seen the reality of war. The service concluded with a prayer including an Act of Commitment to the faces of current and future generations that they would know the reality of peace.

Left: L-R; Lynnore Pikaahu, Lady Alexandra Smith, Chaplain Kerry Davis, Sir Lockwood Smith and Bishop Kito singing after the service at St Mary’s Church.Below: Bishop Kito on the left and Sir Lockwood Smith (on the right) at the Dawn Service in Hyde Park.Bottom: Bishop Kito at the Dawn Service at Hyde Park.

“In the town they respect and honour our fallen as if they were their own.”

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FROM THE ARCHDEACONS It was great to be back in parish ministry when I spent six

weeks in the Far North for the Rev’d Dino Houtas, Vicar at St Saviours, Kaitaia, who was on parental leave with the birth of

their second child. Great especially to support the ministry team and various

community facing activities and St Saviours vibrant youth programme. Ignite is a group of young people intentionally building relationships with their peers to help inspire teenagers find hope, purpose and direction through understanding the life and works of Jesus.

Feed My Lambs is a group of women who care and support young mothers and their children in order to give them the skills they need to raise their children in a healthy,

NORTHLAND REGION

The Venerable John Blundell

AUCKLAND CITY MISSIONDiane Robertson, CEO Ph: 09 303 9200Community assistance and support, crisis carecentres, emergency food, clothing, furniture, detoxification centre.

THE SELWYN FOUNDATIONGarry Smith, CEO Ph: 09 815 4782

Independent retirement living; rest home, hospital and dementia care, and community outreach services for older people.ANGLICAN TRUST FOR WOMEN & CHILDRENPhilip Beilby, CEO Ph: 09 276 3729 Email: info@atwc.org.nzResidential family care, family therapy, coun-selling, Family Start programmes, pre-school centres and school social workers.GRIEF AND LOSS SUPPORT SERVICESGlenys Knowles, Fieldworker Ph 021 146 1063, Email: galss1@xtra.co.nzPeer support programmes for children 5yrs+, teens and adults.MISSION TO SEAFARERSThe Rev’d Khaw Cheng Cheen, Chaplain Ph: 021 133 4426, Email: cheenkhaw@yahoo.com PO Box 465, Shortland St, Auckland 1142

Reaching out to older people, the young and disadvantaged through caring agencies, ministry units, hospital chaplaincies and community groups.

loving and caring environment. As a group of women, they are passionate to see other women’s lives transformed through the values imparted by Jesus, and to see their lives changed from a place of brokenness to a place of wholeness. The young mothers in the programme have found confidence in themselves, with their peers, and as mothers. They are

continually looking for financial support, pre-loved clothing, nappies, wet wipes, baby formula and other necessities

in raising babies and toddlers.As a Diocese we have a limited number of clergy

stipends in the Far North. This was an opportunity to cement an ecumenical clergy cluster with our Tai Tokerau partners. We now meet quarterly at St Stephen’s, Kaikohe, where collaboration and support is the key to the well being of rural ministry.

On the North Shore I have completed the future direction consultation for Milford Parish

as they prepare to start the appointment process for a new clergy person after the retirement of their

vicar, Rev’d Joyce Marcon. I am currently working with the vestry and ministry leaders of the Takapuna Parish

in a strategic mission and ministry plan, which they hope to implement by the end of the year.

The Rev’d Jordan Greatbatch is settling into his role as vicar of All Saints Birkenhead along with the neighbouring Mission District of Glenfield with the appointment of the Rev’d Bryan Haggitt as priest in charge. New ministry initiatives are beginning to unfold as the new leadership come to terms with their respective ministry units.

It has been a privilege to work with the ecumenical chaplains as chairperson of the Waitemata DHB Chaplaincy Committee which encompasses North Shore and Waitakere Hospitals as well as the Mason Clinic and Pitman House Forensic Psychiatry Service Units. We look forward to the completion of the new $1.3 million chapel at North Shore Hospital. It is anticipated that the blessing and dedication of the chapel will be at the beginning of Advent this year.

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“What a great life I have” went through my mind as I sat waiting to board the ferry to Waiheke Island on

a beautiful sunny day in autumn. The Local Shared Ministry Cluster group was meeting at Waiheke and 25 people travelled there to meet together. In addition to members of the cluster sharing some of the highlights of mission that are happening in each ministry unit, I presented some ideas and theological theories around the definition of mission and the praxis, or process, that is evoked by our theology. A few days later at the Cathedral Adult Education Retreat day I offered input on Anglican Spirituality and A New Zealand Prayer Book: He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa. In March I represented the Province as the Delegate from the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Polynesia at the 59th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York. Along with world

Last year in my synod report I wrote about the cluster meetings on the Coromandel and how I was hoping that we could work in a similar way in other areas in the Southern

Region of the Diocese. To this end we had a Mission and Ministry session at King’s College in Otahuhu. Gareth Walters, one of the chaplains at King’s College, and Megan Means, an enabler who works mainly in the south of the Diocese, were involved. They are members of the Mission and Ministry Oversight Group (M&M) and were involved in this afternoon session. We also heard Carolyn Welms’ presentation on SPACE, which provides support for young mums (and dads) in a safe, hospitable environment in our church halls and churches.

That cluster meeting happened on the 28th April. The next cluster meeting on 15th May was at Tairua on the Coromandel and Sarah Park our ministry educator took a session on Intercessions. We discussed our images of God and how we address God during intercessions. There were many other enlightening suggestions that were offered through discussion about how to write or not write intercessions. Other cluster meetings are planned for Tuakau and Mangere East. We will have a mid year gathering which will be more of a social event.

I attended the three tikanga Women’s Hui at Vaughan Park “Violence Prevention is our Church’s business” in May. House of Sarah representatives from Fiji were asked to lead sessions at the hui and they led with confidence and mana. The hui was a great chance to get to know others across the three tikanga. The hui finished with a Eucharist organised by the three tikanga, and different parts of the Eucharist from the prayer book were said in English, Maori and one of the Pacific Island languages. The weather was cold, but the walks on the beach were fabulous and the sunrise each morning was spectacular.

leaders from governments and civil society organisations, an Anglican Communion delegation of 20 women from around the world gathered to review the 1995 Beijing platform on the status of women – 20 years on. This experience was both inspirational and overwhelming. I endeavour to find the time, place and space to process and engage with many of you on the issues addressed at this event: Gender based violence; climate change; human trafficking and slavery; statelessness

and birth registrations; and gender equity with particular regard to education, participation in decision-

making, economic participation, and health and reproductive areas.

In addition to the above, over the past month or so, I have participated in many diverse activities including: A book launch at St John’s College; a colleague’s wedding and reception; a professional development session on conducting

interviews with the Diocesan Nominators group; an inaugural meeting of the Diocesan Health and

Safety Committee; vestry meetings; discussions on faculty applications and building projects; Cathedral

Client Group meetings re the building project; cluster group lunches/meetings; catching up with individual clergy; being involved in appointment processes; preaching and/or presiding at local parishes; Episcopal Team meetings and Eucharist; Diocesan Mission and Ministry Oversight Group meetings; leading open prayers at a Provincial Commission meeting on the Decade of Mission. I was chaplain at a provincial hui with the theme ‘Violence Prevention is Our Church’s Business’.

Every day is different and anything is possible. Well, almost anything! All of us who participate in ministry in our Diocese experience both the struggles and the celebrations, and it is a privilege. Thanks be to God.

CENTRAL REGION

The Venerable Carole Hughes

SOUTHERN REGION

The Venerable Sue McCafferty

As an episcopal team we have made some decisions this year. One is to be more collaborative in our approach, and others are to be prayerful, prophetic and act in partnership. I am hoping that this can be reflected in the Southern Region. I am excited about the possibilities for the region in the future, and look forward to sharing new developments in the future.

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The pews are moved back and the medieval style labyrinth is drawn and then laid with flat river stones. Candles sit on the outside stones.

Labyrinths are found in many religious traditions in various forms around the world. The labyrinth has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends, it is not a maze. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our lives. It can touch our sorrows and release our joys. People use labyrinths for prayer and meditation.

Vicar Helen Jacobi says “This was my first Holy Week at St Matthew’s and the labyrinth was a wonderful way for us to enter into Holy Week and be ready for the great three days of Easter. Every other week of the year the Church is busy with weddings and events, part of our ministry of hospitality; in Holy Week the only activity is prayer.”

This year more than 500 people from all walks of life, young and old, tourists and locals, walked the labyrinth. They were given a brochure to explain the labyrinth and encourage them to see the walk in as a time of release and letting go; the centre a time for receiving; the walk out as a time to focus on God at work in the world and their place in the world.

Volunteers were in the church all week to welcome people and keep an eye on the candles and replace them once they burnt out. In the evenings the St Matthew’s Voices sang plainchant and also rehearsed for the services later in the week. The evening walkers enjoyed this music very much.

This year’s brochure included this prayer from The Awkward Season – Prayers for Lent by Pamela Hawkins:

On the palm of your hand you write my name, O God.Through the pages of creation, my life unfolds.In the chambers of your heart, I have a home, O God,where every cry is heard, every tear seen,every thanks whispered in the dark or sung to the morningis known to you.And still I am slow to thank, to ask, to trust.O God, who is great and good,help me to pray.Amen.

Since 2009 St Matthew-in-the-City has installed a labyrinth in the church every Holy Week.

ST MATTHEW-IN-THE-CITY

HOLY WEEK LABYRINTH

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GOING FURTHER

2015 – A DELAYED REFLECTION

ALEX JOHNSTON

“The breadth of content and experiences was refreshing, enlightening and challenging.”

Back in February, I had the privilege of attending a camp called Going Further. It is a camp for young adults aged 18-30 about, as you can probably tell, ‘going further’ in discipleship. On a sunny Friday morning, around 60 young Presbyterians and Anglicans stepped onto the ferry from Auckland to head to the beautiful Orama community on Great Barrier Island for one pretty epic week.

Above: Some of the camp participants posing for a photo.

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spiritual disciplines such as morning and evening prayers, lectio divina (divine reading), and meditation; we got our hands dirty with creation care on the island; mixed in were small group discussions with our wise and experienced leaders, and lots of free time to just be.

All of this in a stunning, remote location with a pier to jump off, kayaking round the bays, bushwalks to waterfalls, lots of volleyball, and other activities on our doorstep. You start to get the idea.

The breadth of content and experiences was refreshing, enlightening and challenging. It was refreshing to see Church being bold and creative, yet grounded in Scripture. What would it be like, we wondered, if we could take that back to our own churches?

It was enlightening to try new things like morning prayers when many were still half asleep. We learned to practice and reclaim the spiritual discipline of meditation which has been practiced for 2000 years, but rarely cherished by the modern church.

It was a challenge to explore how to live out our faith in our own context, and not worry about what the hip, cool church down the road is doing, or what outdated practices in our own church need updating, but rather explore what God is already doing in our communities and to meet him there!

Exploring and experiencing these things with fellow Christians our own age was just the best. Awesome friendships were made, and there was an incredible sense of community, with plenty of laughs along the way. One of the experiences I will share of this is the team challenge to make a meaningful sculpture out of driftwood one evening on the beach in our small groups. Hilarity and questionable abstract art-critiquing ensued, but the sense of creativity and fun was certainly spirit-led, and followed up by acoustic worship and sharing of stories. It captured a sense of the community that was created on the camp. It really felt like God’s kingdom on earth.

For the young adult readers out there, definitely put Going Further in your calendar for next year, whatever stage of life or faith you are at, it is not something to be missed!

Alex Johnston is a 19-year-old student from Auckland and attends St Paul’s, Symonds Street Anglican Church.

Leaving the hustle and bustle of the city to spend some quality time in an idyllic location was motivation enough for me to go. But the camp was far beyond what I expected; God moved in

powerful ways and for me it was a deeply formative experience.Too often, young adult Christian camps are orientated mostly

around the head (theology and content), or mostly around the heart (Holy Spirit stuff), or mostly just on activities. It is a difficult balance to strike, particularly with a wide age group such as this. The thing I most appreciated about Going Further (apart from the awesome people) was the holistic and well thought out nature of the content:

We were blessed with the wisdom and passion of Kindra Green, a young pastor from San Diego who works with the refugee community there leading the main sessions, detailing her own experiences of discipleship and challenging our assumptions of the term; there was creative and integrated worship led by worship songwriter and Presbyterian minister Malcolm Gordon; we participated in habitation practices and

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The variety of Churches has increased greatly, and sometimes Churches prefer not to tell other Anglicans their distinctive stories. Synod meets for two and a half days. Most clergy keep in contact through clergy conferences, but only the bishops and the Diocesan Council have much idea about the inner workings of the diocese. In effect congregations are relatively independent until they run out of money. International trends and ideas are as likely to shape them as local ones, and since about 40% of most congregations do not have an Anglican background, they are less interested in Anglican traditions and protocols. The denomination is held together by the people who are employed by it (the full-time clergy) but even that is changing as more and more Churches move to other forms of ministry.”

Adopting an indaba process would allow Ministry Units to listen to, and learn about each other with no set outcome expected as indaba is a concept, not a programme.

In 2008 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, presented indaba to the Lambeth Conference when he introduced “middle sized groups for discussing larger topics” saying

“We have given these the African name of indaba groups, groups where in traditional African culture, people get together to sort out the problems that affect them all, where everyone has a voice and where there is an attempt to find a common mind or a common story that everyone is able to tell when they go away from it. This is how we approached it. This is what we heard. This is where we arrived as we prayed and thought and talked together.”

In presenting it to Synod Bishop Jim explained that the process had been adapted for the Auckland Diocese.

“What we have decided to do is adapt the Continuing Indaba process for our own diocese so that we can listen to one another, learn about each other, and celebrate who we are. We hope that we can come to some deeper understanding of our connection and belonging with one another in Christ and, perhaps, understand the challenges that we face together.”

The reaction to the concept of indaba for the diocese was varied. While many people were positive about the opportunity to get to know and share with other ministry units some were concerned about the time it would take.

Whenever something new is introduced to a group there will be sceptics and indaba was no exception. “An inward-looking event when we should be outward-looking” was the initial reaction of one person.

A process was outlined with Ministry Units working together in groups of three. Like all things done well good preparation is important and takes time. And, as with

INDABAAs the conversations have taken place across the diocese

closer relationships have developed between Ministry Units. The significance of these meetings has been

highlighted in many ways. One such symbol of the ‘joining’ of Ministry Units was when the Tuakau Local Shared Ministry team gave St Philip’s (St Heliers) and Holy Trinity (Devonport) a small amount of red Onewhero soil to take back to be spread around their church buildings.

Over the years the diocese has become congregationally focused. Parishes work independently and find their own solutions to problems so that they often have little awareness of what is happening in other parishes, especially those not directly neighbouring them.

Peter Lineham, Professor of History at Massey University explained some of the background of this change in focus of ministry units.

“Anglican Churches have never been as isolated as at the present day. The wonders of modern communication mean that we are connected with everyone on the globe, but meanwhile our local links have languished. Back in the 19th century, the diocesan synod lasted for a full week, including a garden party at Bishopscourt, and the lay and clergy representatives consequently spent a lot of time together. There were fewer Churches, and Anglicans were more isolationist in outlook, which nourished close links.

The Church Gazette, the predecessor to today’s The Anglican in its twenty-page issue each month included details of most parishes. Secular newspapers reported the annual meetings of parishes. Clergy exchanged pulpits. There were debates and differences between high and low Church, but they were not extreme. Despite the immense obstacles, bishops made their way round the parishes nearly every year.

Since then a lot has changed for the good. The magazines are a lot more readable, and they only report on significant events.

At Synod 2014 Bishops Ross Bay and Jim White introduced the concept of indaba: A process to allow us to understand the richness, diversity and challenges within the Ministry Units of the Auckland Diocese.

Above: Representatives from St Bride’s Mauku, St Luke’s Mt Albert and Holy Trinity Otahuhu.

organising anything there were challenges to be dealt with: finding five representatives; people being able to commit to an overnight stay; or organising three weekends to suit everyone. With thoughtfulness and consideration the challenges were conquered.

There is a Chinese proverb that says that the wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to a pitcher. Several of the triads showed their wisdom in adapting the suggested process to accommodate the representatives and their commitments.

The host of each meeting decided how to approach the time spent with their guests. People met and worked together in a variety of interesting and different ways that showed the character and diversity of the different Ministry Units.

Not all of the Ministry Units within the diocese took part in the indaba process but of those that did people have spoken of how positive they found the experience. It was described by one person as a “lively and warm exchange of ideas”.

Benefits that have come out of the meetings have been:• As ideas and experiences have been shared friendships

have developed between Ministry Units.• Learning from each other about the different ways that

Ministry Units handle similar situations and their varying approaches.

• There are now several parish Church congregations who understand more about how things are done in Local Shared Ministry and vice versa.

• Through sharing ideas discovering different ways of doing things.

WHAT NEXTBy the end of the three meetings many Ministry Units agreed

that they wanted to meet again, to build on the friendships that had been formed and to continue sharing and working together.

At a diocesan level regional meetings are being held with a chance for Ministry Units to share their thoughts and what people have learned from each other and discuss what might be next.

Lindsay Nash from Titirangi LSM summarised the sentiments of many by saying “So though indaba was all about us, it was a worthwhile, heart warming and educational event, reinforced by the overnight stay. It will lead, I feel sure, to other fruitful activities.”

This experience has been a way for the diocese to make discoveries and share how the Holy Spirit is working among us. It has been a way for us to be a little bit less congregationally focused and to be more aware of working together and this must be of benefit to us all as we see our communities changing.

SLIPPING THE MOORINGS

A challenge to the Church on the day of Pentecost was how Bishop Richard Randerson’s book was summarized at its launch in Auckland.

In the book, Slipping the Moorings; A memoir weaving faith with justice, ethics and community, Bishop Richard looks at changes in the Church and society during his 50 years as a priest and 20 years as a bishop

Dean Jo Kelly-Moore welcomed Bishop Richard back to Holy Trinity Cathedral, where he was Dean, saying it was fitting for the Feast of Pentecost to launch a book from one of her predecessors that challenged the Church and its role in the wider world.

Throughout the book launch and blessing the word challenge continued to be used, although Bishop Richard added he wanted people to read and enjoy the book with its personal memories and topics along with the Church being challenged to be more adventurous.

Rod Oram has written the foreword to the book. His hope was that the book, which he saw as providing wisdom and practical advice, gave a challenge, which was to live its contents.

Copies of Slipping the Moorings are available from Holy Trinity Cathedral or by emailing the author: randersonjr@paradise.net.nz Cost $30, or $25 for five or more, plus p&p when posted

Adopting an indaba process would allow Ministry Units to listen to, and learn about each other with no set outcome expected as indaba is a concept, not a programme.

Right: Representatives from St Francis’ Titirangi, St Mary by the Sea Torbay and St Peter’s Onehunga

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This collection beautifully explores our wretched existence and, as Dennison describes it, the “strangeness of God’s love”.

At first look the book is not an easy read, I had to stop and read sentences sometimes even a whole poem again. Dennison intends it to be that way.

Reading poetry requires concentration and that’s not a bad thing according to him.

Despite living in a fast paced and instantaneous world, he reminded us of the Bible’s command to us “…Be still…” (Psalm 46:10). He went on to say poetry “slows us down” and can help us “share in those spaces” of contemplating God through pausing life.

Indeed, Otherwise does just that; it forces you to stop all else and refocus on Him. It made me stop and appreciate the creativity we humans have, the need to create art or anything, as an outpouring of God’s creativity and the result of being made in His image.

At the same time, Dennison wants his poems to emotionally confront us. He wants his readers to be reeled into an argument with the words, as if they are to upset. The words should assault, and confuse our preconceived notions of poetry. So it is no surprise to see in the poem Pitched the line “across the hall blanks like a fart,” juxtaposed with “we are so otherwise, and elsewhere lies our hope”, the sweet and elegant words from which the book derives its title.

The poems of Otherwise are fine not only in their crafting, but are rich in maturity and well-travelled, ranging over a decade from Scotland to Dunedin. So while the writing of this book took a physical journey, the reading of it takes us on an emotional one.

While reading the poems I got the sense that there was much more to it than I could grasp, still through the poems I caught a glimpse of sceneries I have never seen and people I have never met.

As Dennison says, poetry is about feeling. When a poem is read it should generate a similar emotion in the reader; something that Otherwise achieves so sincerely.

Otherwise can be purchased from the Auckland University Press Website in print or ebook for $24.90.

John Dennison was born in Sydney in 1978. He has lived and studied in Dunedin and St Andrews and is now a university chaplain in Wellington where he lives with his family. His poetry has been published in New Zealand, Australia and the UK. This is the first published collection of his poetry.

Otherwise is the first published collection of John Dennison’s poetry. We spoke to Dennison about this book, which has been produced in the hopes of evoking emotion from its readers.

PITCHEDBY JOHN DENNISON

The night’s lateness comes down earlyand you’re relegated to the loo. Unlooked for,and all natural enough. But how surely

we lose our grip: the kids’ dooracross the hall blanks like a fart,surgent, unsignifying to the floor:

fear fear, shake shake! The intimate darkpitches and sheets as the motions go through(let the reader understand: our opaque art).

So much – there there – is what passes for you:The frame the (hinge) dear (hinge) values the shapeOf things to come? We know not what we do:

we are so otherwise, and elsewhere lies our hope.

RETREAT AND ALLOW YOUR SPIRIT TO flourishELIZABETH WITTON

Retreat: To withdraw or draw back

Withdrawing from everyday life to connect on a deeper level with God can be of benefit to anyone. Whether it is for a few hours, days, a week or longer, this time can

only help us to rekindle, renew and deepen our relationship with God. That is the value of a retreat.

Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat and Conference Centre is an ideal place to get away from the distractions of our increasingly busy lives. As soon as you walk through the doors there is a feeling of peace. This is the intention and something that the team led by Rev’d John Fairbrother have worked hard to achieve.

Hospitality comes first and is at the heart of everything that Vaughan Park does as they provide a sanctuary and safe place where people can just ‘be’. And it is something they do very well.

“This is a place where the human spirit can flourish. We seek to be an environment where creativity is both generated and encouraged. A person can make an expression on quite a personal level and community level,” John says

Over the years Vaughan Park has change and matured in its approach to the retreats it offers. A few years ago the focus was on providing a variety of themed retreats. Now it is more about

catering to what people want and what people have to offer. Many of the retreats

come from the leaders who approach Vaughan Park with

a particular concept.Retreats come in many guises. They

may be highly organised, have a

theme or they may be quite relaxed. Whatever the style they are for everybody.

I have been lucky enough to attend several parish run overnight retreats at Vaughan Park. They have all had different themes and included a variety of content including relaxation, discussions, learning, crafts, walks on the beach, meals (with not only the people on the same retreat but also others staying onsite) and prayer. No matter what we did there was always the space to ‘be’, to rest and to be restored.

In June I attended a Cultural Music Retreat, ‘Italian Music & Me’. This was one of several retreats led by the accomplished Italian guitarist and composer Gabriele Campani. Each of these events is a unique cultural and artistic experience, a journey of different expressions and feelings.

Different styles of music have different meanings to different people. Over Gabriele’s whole series people are provided with the opportunity to explore several different styles of music. These are not concerts but a chance to gain insight into the pieces from the commentary Gabriele gives throughout. You will learn about the genre and each piece, which in turn allows you to reflect on the music and the feelings and emotions it generates.

It was not what people would typically think of as a retreat but it does provide an opportunity to withdraw from your usual routine, a chance to reflect, gain insight and to be restored. A chance to be inspired in both mind and soul.

While a retreat is not a substitute for daily life and there is no magic formula for a good retreat they do offer a person time to pause, relax, clear the mind, reflect, rejuvenate, be inspired and to reacquaint with God. People do not regret going on a retreat but they may regret not going on one.

Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre has a regular programme of retreatsCULTURAL MUSIC RETREATS:

Tales from my acoustic guitar songbook – 9 AugustLatin Flavours – 6 September

POETRY AND THE INNER LIFE – 5 SeptemberSPRING INTO ADVENT – 28 NovemberFor further information go to www.vaughanpark.org.nz

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For some years the Auckland Council has been implementing the requirements of the Act by putting in place a process to ensure public buildings are strengthened to at least 34% of

the New Building Standard (NBS) within the next 10 to 30 years. The differing time periods were to accommodate different classes of buildings as well as heritage sites.

After the Christchurch quakes, central government decided to look again at the rules surrounding earthquake strengthening. The basis of the review was the findings of the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission and the submissions of the wider New Zealand public. Revised rules were announced on 10 May 2015. The main change to the earlier rule was to bring in risk zones for strengthening. The Auckland/Northland area is designated a low risk area and as a result the time allowed to complete assessments has been increased to 15 years and

Earthquake strengthening of public buildings has been the subject of much conversation ever since the tragic Christchurch earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. However, prior to that the Building Act 2004 detailed the level of strengthening and the time allowed for the upgrading of public buildings. GEOFF CLARK – DIOCESAN PROPERTY MANAGER

the strengthening is to be carried out over a maximum of 35 years. Government has confirmed that the minimum level of strengthening is to remain at 34% of the NBS.

Thames and the Hauraki Plains are seen as medium risk areas and will have 10 years to complete assessments followed by 25 years to complete any strengthening required. Waiuku and Pukekohe are confirmed as being within the low risk zone.

What does this mean for the ministry units of the Diocese? The Auckland Council has been undertaking Initial Evaluation Procedures on public buildings over the past few years and some church buildings have already been inspected and reports completed, but many still require to be processed. Obviously all of our churches and halls are considered to be public buildings and will be required to meet the minimum standard of 34% of NBS.

Diocesean Council may decide that some churches should be strengthened even further. It is likely that based on the Christchurch experience any building strengthened to 34% will remain largely in-tact during an earthquake and no casualties should result. It is also probable that buildings at 34% will not be recoverable and will need to be demolished. Diocesan Council and congregations might want a higher level of strengthening so that their church can be saved and repaired. Strengthening to 67% of NBS should achieve that.

The Diocesan Property Manager is preparing a report on earthquake prone buildings which will include information on likely strengthening costs for a variety of building types as well as recommendations on the way the Diocese approaches the problem. Diocesan Council will then begin its deliberations on what levels of strengthening are needed and how we achieve the desired results.

Of some comfort is the statistic that an earthquake in the Auckland region likely to cause fatalities will occur once every 7,400 years.

For further information contact the Diocesan Property Manager 027 496 1347, gclark@auckanglican.org.nz

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Above: Noel Derbyshire (Left) celebrates his graduation from Massey University with his supervisor Professor Peter Lineham.

DIO NEWS BITES

FILLING EMPTY BOOKSHELVES

The Rev’d Noel Derbyshire graduated with a PhD from Massey University in April this year. His thesis researched the Anglican Church in the post-Word War 2 period at

Parish, Diocesan and national levels in the context of major social change and tested widely held general assumptions about Church decline. Noel has had a lifelong interest in history and also has a keen interest in genealogy.

The Auckland Diocese is seeking to replace books eaten by white ants at the Bishop Patteson Theological College in Guadalcanal, Melanesia.

Father Aram Oroi, Dean of Studies at the College, has asked the Diocese for help and provided a list of the books that have been destroyed by ants and need replacing. The Diocese is seeking out sponsors to help restock the shelves.

Bishop Ross Bay and Bishop Jim White visited the College last during their visit to Melanesia as part of developing an ongoing relationship between the dioceses of Melanesia and Auckland.

If you would like to assist by buying a book Bishop Jim asks that you email him at jwhite@auckanglican.org.nz and he will send you a title of a book that can be donated.

Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat and Conference Centre

2015 ProgrammeLectures, Day and Music Retreats

For full details visit www.vaughanpark.org.nz

The Vaughan Park Sir Paul Reeves Memorial Lecture

in association with Massey University:

Professor David V WilliamsThe Treaty of Waitangi – the Magna Charta

of New Zealand: Rhetoric or reality?Tuesday 21 July, 7pm

Sir Neil Waters Lecture Theatre, Massey University, Albany Campus

Vaughan Park Residential Scholarship 2016: Applications close 3 September 2015

(09) 473 2600 or reception@vaughanpark.org.nz 1043 Beach Road, Long Bay 0630

ST THOMAS’ ETHNIC DIVERSITY

In May St Thomas’ New Lynn had a visit from Bishop Ross and were able to show him the work they have done on defining the origins of their congregation.The congregation is made up of a variety of ethnicities from all

around the world. Some are not fully conversant with the English language but all are fully merging into the Church family.

The congregation has found the exercise useful as it has encouraged members to interact with people they may have been reluctant to talk to before because of a language barrier.

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CHAIRS NEED A NEW HOMESt Francis Church, Tairua, has 20 nearly new chairs available for purchase. These comfortable,

stackable chairs are in a blue fabric.They have been hardly used as unfortunately they are too big for the church lounge. Would like to sell as a lot for $1300 – almost half price. Enquiries to Pat 07 864 8727.

SMALL HOPES IN GAZAThrough times of war and peace, Christian World Service (CWS) partner, the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) has made an important contribution to the lives of Palestinian refugees in Gaza for over 60 years. The devastating attacks on the territory a year ago have proved one of the biggest challenges in its rocky history.

With 1.8 million people packed into a tiny piece of land, it was not surprising that conflict between Israel and Hamas caused extensive damage. A year

later most buildings remain a mixture of ruins and hastily repaired shelters. One of those affected was the CWS-supported Shijaia clinic providing high quality primary healthcare for mothers and children. It is one of three clinics run by DSPR that have also provided psychosocial care for over 10,000 individuals last year. Parents asked for help with stressed children who were aggressive or withdrawn or wet their beds. The children were eager participants in the children’s forums, designed to make sure “kids could be kids”.

A vocational training programme offering courses in carpentry and furniture making, metal work, electricity, dressmaking and secretarial skills gave new opportunities to 205 students. In addition DSPR provides emergency help and educational loans for families in need.

It has been a hard year, but DSPR has stayed committed to the work of diakonia, loving service to others. While the overall situation remains tough, there are some stories of hope.

One mother struggling with chronic depression and violent mood swings came to the centre for counselling. The first step was to develop a plan which began with introducing her to a mother’s support group and doing physical exercise. Now she has taken up knitting and tapestry in order to contribute to the family finances.

Please support CWS to make hope happen: www.cws.org.nz

TRANSFER OF ST JOHN’S DRURY from the Anglican Diocese of Auckland to Te Tai Tokerau

Adecision was made to transfer St John’s Drury which has been one of the churches in the Papakura

Parish to the local Maori pastorate and a date was set for the 22nd March 2015.

Although tinged with sadness the celebration was about new beginnings. For those who had worshipped, been baptised, and married at St John’s it was a happy occasion. Anglican worship would continue to happen in this beautiful little building with so much history.

People packed into the small church, Maori and Pakeha alike. It was a great occasion to celebrate our bi-cultural heritage in Aotearoa/New Zealand and a significant historical event.

WHERE GULLS HOLD SWAYWhere Gulls Hold Sway is a book of poetry by Rev’d John Fairbrother. It is a collection of his poems written during his years working as Director of Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre. The book will be launched on July 15 and is available for $12 from Vaughan Park ph. 09 473 2600.