Home » News » Bush Telegraph » Issue archive » April 2002 » Update

Update

Christ is risen!

Over the Christmas holidays and since our family has been taking time to watch videos. We've been encouraged by the use of videos in the worship we share. There is a scene from The Piano where a grand piano - a focus of the movie - is pushed off the waka carrying it. The rope tied to the piano tangles around the character's ankle and she is pulled deep into the water. She struggles, eventually is freed, swims to the surface, and takes a massive breath - a heart-pumping moment. An image for resurrection - freedom from what overwhelms and pulls people down.

Chocolat is a story of grace, including excluded people, building relationships. O brother where art thou is a movie of three prison escapees supporting each other and includes a wonderful baptismal scene. Paying it forward (as distinct from paying it back) reflects the story of Jesus but in the life of a boy. Bagger Vance, for golfers, portrays a companion of spirit.

Worship and friends keep introducing us to supposedly secular music conveying insights into the gospel. Geoff Bell used a Bob Seeger song about "the rock" in devotions recently. I've just finished reading a great book "Focus on Leadership - Servant Leadership for the 21st century" put out by the Greenleaf Centre. It includes articles by Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, Max DePree and the like. Many parts of it draw deeply on Jesus' life and teaching.

None of these are avowedly Christian or aimed at "the Christian market". They are expressions of what I read recently in the Pope's letter to the Roman Catholic Church in Oceania - Ecclesia in Oceania (November 2001): "The Word made flesh is foreign to no culture ... The Gospel is not opposed to any culture as if in engaging a culture the Gospel would seek to strip it
of its native riches and force it to adopt forms which are alien to it. It is vital that the Church insert herself fully into culture and from within bring about the process of purification and transformation ... so the Christian faith welcomes and affirms all that is genuinely human, while rejecting whatever is sinful." (www.vatican.va)

The Moderator

Our Moderator Rob Yule returned to work after Easter and after his period of illness. He is about to visit the Christchurch area and is having to monitor his activity. Its been a tough time for Christene and Rob, and he has appreciated the many expressions of encouragement.

Hospital Chaplaincy

Submissions have been made to government and statements released by the Moderator in support of further government provision for hospital chaplaincy.

Council of Assembly - Directions - Priorities for the Service Team

The Council thanks all those who responded to what was called the draft strategic plan. A letter of appreciation is being sent to all who responded. Council recognised the document was less a "a strategic plan" and more a list of priorities for the work of the employees and task groups of the Church. It also listed priorities for Assembly spending over the next three years.

The final document is posted on the web at ... Please contact us if you would like a copy of the document.

The Council will adopt a budget at the end of April. At the beginning of May advice will be sent to Presbyteries/UDCs and parishes of the National Services Levy and Mission and Ministry Fund targets.

Year Book 2002

The Year Book is at the printer and will be distributed shortly.

Lay workers

It is extremely important employees of parishes have employment agreements which comply with the Employment Relations Act. This includes lay workers of all kinds - not ministers of word and sacrament. Unfortunately you cannot rely on Appendix E-19 in the Book of Order which does not comply with the Act. The best information including a model employment agreement is on the Presbyterian website www.presbyterian.org.nz/financeand admin/employment/employementinfo.php, or the relevant information can be posted by contacting us.