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Resources

Lay Preaching

Are you a lay preacher?

Do you preach regularly or once in a while?

Are you a member of the Lay Preachers’ Association?

Would you like the support of other trained lay preachers?

Would you like to know more about training and resources for preachers?

The New Zealand Lay Preachers’ Association welcomes new accredited members from any of the five negotiating churches.

Their task is to encourage and support Lay Preachers in the conduct of worship and the proclamation of the Gospel in Aotearoa New Zealand. They work with the churches to help them provide and publicise training programmes and events and continuing education. They issue Membership Certificates to preachers accredited by their own denomination, and Long Service Certificates to those who have completed over 25 years of service.

The executive for the Association is currently in Wellington but will transfer to the Waikato in the new year. The incoming president is Mary Rose, 2/15 Matai Cres, Putararu, 07 883 8769. She is happy to answer any queries about training options or the work of the group.

To join this support network and receive information about training events and resources as well as their magazine “The Preacher”(four per year) please contact the treasurer David Davis, 1/63 Fraser Cres, Upper Hutt, telephone 04 9715002,
davdav(at)paradise.net.nz.

He can tell you the membership options or send you a sample copy of “The Preacher”.

Giving Sunday

David Clark from St Lukes Remuera has been having a special Sunday once a year to explain giving for the last 5 or 6 years. There are a number of features to this that may help others to plan these important occasions:

A small brochure is prepared outlining who we are as a community, our aims and values, and how being part of the community of faith is contributing to its work.

Sometimes a theme is used such as the work outside the parish both in the Auckland community and in the wider church or for a milestone time when the past is related to the present.

Recognize clearly that people’s circumstances change and invite them to review their giving for the current circumstances. Acknowledge that some may have to drop their level of giving. Recognize people’s real circumstances and avoid guilt trips.

Explain about automatic giving and the envelope system. Some young people have never known the mysteries of regular envelope giving. St Lukes now have more automatic transactions than envelopes.

Acknowledge that people can’t always come every Sunday and that is fine . Automatic giving means you can still regularly support the work of the community even if you can’t attend.

Avoid any sense of “We’ll fall apart if you don’t give more”.

Look at other ways to raise funds too.

Keep it all low key and avoid old words with mixed connotations such as stewardship. Keep it friendly and sensible.

Explore modern tithes and proportions of income that are affordable.

Suggest the possibility of a special gift on a person’s birthday totalling $1 for each year of life.

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Resources for Worship and Study

Preaching Notes and Prayer Kit 8

Covering the period October 26-November 23 (Pentecost 20- Last Sunday after Pentecost). Written by Rev Warren Deason with Meditations by Anna Johnstone. Both are from Albany on the North Shore. ($8 plus postage)

The preaching notes are a big help to anyone needing to prepare a service whether they are very experienced or novices in the area.
Preaching Notes and Prayer Kit 8

Preaching Notes and Prayers Kits Kit 1

Preaching Notes and Prayers Kits Kit 1 is the first in the series for the new lectionary year of Luke. and covers the period Nov 30 2003-Jan 4 2004 (Advent 1-Christmas 2)

The new year's kits will be written by a wide variety of people including: the Revs Brian Williscroft, David Grant, Lawrie Hampton, Margaret Martin, Ian McCallum, Philippa Horrex, Shirley Fregusson, and Bob Eyles.

preachers - both ordained and lay preachers

parishes without a stipendiary minister

as study material for groups

as material for a team preparing for worship to spark ideas

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The kits will all be available on the web or in hard copy from this office and may be pre ordered-please enquire.
Preaching Notes and Prayers Kits Kit 1

Year of Luke Lectionary and Calendar

This booklet is useful for those preparing worship or for people who want to study the Bible systematically. $4 plus postage.
Year of Luke Lectionary and Calendar

Cain and Abel: An Old Story Raising Todays Issues

$4 plus postage. Rev Robyn McPhail subtitles her work 'Material for local church people to get their teeth into'.

Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand