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A local SUCCESS STORY

This story about the way a resource can be used and adapted came to us recently. Lorna is a Presbyterian worshiping in a small community church.

“I attend (and am quite involved in) the local Anglican community here in Matakana, and about eight months ago the lay members became responsible for planning and conducting the fifth Sunday services. As the fifth Sunday in November was the first Sunday in Advent, we decided to use the Advent/Christmas theme for that day. I wrote to the APW distributor asking for a catalogue and explaining why, and she kindly sent me several resources all from your Courses and Resources department.

We chose a New Zealand Christmas order of service, and although we are a small outpost of the Warkworth parish, we are blessed with excellent readers. These good folk read Susan Jones’ reflections plus nativity readings superbly, and it proved to be a very moving service. Word got around and we repeated the service at Warkworth just before Christmas, where it seemed to be equally as effective.

At the Warkworth service there was a guest organist who was so impressed with the structure of the Christmas presentation he suggested that the same framework be used for a Palm Sunday evening service in Warkworth which went ahead under his direction.

And because we also, back in Matakana, had found the theme so effective, we used it again for the fifth Sunday in February this year, this time with the theme New Beginnings, and using some of Joy Cowley’s poems from her Psalms trilogy. Again it was most enthusiastically received. A happy follow-on effect of all this has been more people offering themselves for readings and brief homilies, and a decided increase in church attendance, especially on fifth Sundays!

I wanted you to know how much this particular resource was appreciated, and used many times in various forms, giving people much blessing and food for thought.”

Resources for Special Days

You can find more help at www.ucanz.org.nz under calendar where the ecumenical calendar of special days in the Church year are listed.

Refugee Sunday July 4
Refugee and Migrant Service
PO Box 11236
Manners St
WELLINGTON

National Bible Sunday July 18
The Bible Society
Private Bag 27901
Marian Square
WELLINGTON

Maori Language Week July 18-25
Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Maori
PO Box 411
WELLINGTON
04 471 0244

Churches Education Day September 12
CEC
PO Box 9049
WELLINGTON

Horses

Dakota tribal wisdom says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount. In churches, however, it seems that we often try other strategies with dead horses, including the following:

buying a stronger whip

changing riders

saying things like "This is the way we always have ridden this horse"

appointing a committee to study the horse

arranging to visit other sites to see how they ride dead horses

increasing the standards to ride dead horses

appointing a tiger team to revive the dead horse

creating a training session to increase our riding ability

comparing the state of dead horses in today's environment

change the requirements declaring that "This horse is not dead"

hire contractors to ride the dead horse

harnessing several dead horses together for increased speed

providing additional funding to increase the horse's performance

purchase a product to make dead horses run faster

form a quality circle to find uses for dead horses

revisit the performance requirements for horses

say this horse was procured with cost as an independent variable
and our favourite:

promote the dead horse to a supervisory position.

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Resources for Worship and Study

<typohead type=3>Preaching Notes and Prayers Kits</typohead>

Preaching Kit 5 - Day of Pentecost to Pentecost 5 for 30 May – 4 July 2004
Day of Pentecost - Pentecost 5 is now available. It was written by the Rev Dr Philippa Horrex of Wanganui. $4 plus postage.

Preaching Kit 6 – Pentecost 6-11 for 11 July – 15 August has been written by the Very Rev Neil Churcher of Dunedin and is now available both in printed form ($4 plus postage ) and on our web page.

As with all the preaching notes, which cover every Sunday and special day of the Church year, these are based on the three year Common Lectionary readings. They are suitable for both lay and ordained preachers or can be used by groups either preparing worship or wanting to do some Bible study.

The notes contain exegetical material on each of the lectionary readings, preaching suggestions and prayers. These and other lectionary resources are available on www.presbyterian.org.nz in the “Find a Resource” section.

<typohead type=3>Being Part of the Story</typohead>

This resource for confirmation preparation and service has material for study and a variety of resources for a service of recognition. It is suitable for any age group, and looks at what faith means for them. It was prepared by the Rev Doug Rogers, Methodist minister in a Uniting congregation in Lower Hutt. $9 plus postage (also on the website).

<typohead type=3>Baptism Liturgy</typohead>

This kit contains a range of resources for each part of a baptism ceremony and also contains a booklet Christian Baptism - God’s Gracious Invitation. It is useful for giving to parents so that they can select what they like and help compile a service tailored to their needs. $9 plus postage.

If you are seeking a resource for a particular occasion please feel free to ask. Verity Doak is in the office on Tuesdays and can help - phone 04 381 8294 or email verityd(at)presbyterian.org.nz

Refugees need your help…

<typohead type=1>…Remember them on Refugee Sunday</typohead>

I was a stranger and you welcomed me…I was in prison and you visited me…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to the least of my brethren you did it to me…

<typohead type=2>What is Refugee Sunday?</typohead>

On June 20th, hundreds of churches around New Zealand will celebrate the contribution refugees have made to our society. It is also a time for reflection on the difficulties faced by refugees as they seek to make a new life for themselves and their families in a new land.

This year, Refugee Sunday coincides with the United Nations World Refugee Day. By observing Refugee Sunday on 20th June, you are joining in a world-wide day of reflection and action aimed at improving the lot of displaced people throughout the world.

<typohead type=2>How can I help refugees on Refugee Sunday?</typohead>

Celebrate Refugee Sunday in your local church on 20 June 2004 with prayers, hymns of liturgies which highlight the plight of refugees and displaced people.

Publicise Refugee Sunday in your parish newsletter and tell your friends in other churches.

Take a collection to support the work done by RMS in helping refugees making a new life for themselves in this country.

'Welcome the stranger' in your community by organising an event with friends, family and refugees from your area.

Pray for the plight of uprooted and displaced people throughout the world.