Greetings

The March edition of the Mingalaba newsletter, shares the latest news about the Ricebowl Mission, our Church's Global Mission partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Myanmar. Read Mingalaba

Tēnā koutou katoa

Jill Kayser is an undoubted taonga of our Church. She is a person of great integrity, remarkable resilience and amazing vision. The following article is written by Jill for this year’s national Children’s Day on Sunday 5 March.

Over the last twelve months the Presbyterian and Anglican Schools’ offices have been collaborating on a Christian contemplation curriculum website.

The website is now live and can be found at www.ccc.net.nz

There are many resources available to New Zealand schools from within the mindfulness stream which have either a Buddhist or secular framework, explains Rev Sharon Ross Ensor from the Presbyterian Schools' Resource Office.

Dear colleagues and friends

I have been advised that the Very Rev John Murray died this morning (Friday, 17 February) at a hospice in Kapiti. 

We pause and acknowledge John’s life and the many contributions he made.

We express our love, sympathy and support - and our prayers - to Shirley and the family.

John was born in November 1929, and attended St Clair School, followed by Westminster College, then undertook MA studies at Otago University.

He attended the Theological Hall as a special student in 1952.

The 2016 minutes of the General Assembly held at St David Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, from Tuesday 15 November to Saturday 19 November 2016 are now online. Read them here.

Greetings to you all as we look forward to a fine Waitangi weekend.

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

I begin with a traditional Maori karakia which I pray for and over the whole Church:

He hōnore, he korōria ki te Atua
He maungārongo ki te whenua
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Hangā e te Atua he ngākau hou
Ki roto, ki tēnā, ki tēnā o mātou
Whakatōngia to wairua tapu
Hei awhina, hei tohutohu i a mātou
Hei ako hoki i ngā mahi mō tēnei rā

Congratulations to Rina Rakuraku who will be installed as the spiritual leader, the Moderator of Te Aka Puaho, the Maori Synod of the Presbyterian Church on Friday 3 February at Te Maungarongo Marae, Ohope.

Rina (Marina) Rakuraku is of Tuhoe and Ngati Porou and Kahungungu descent, and has Scottish, English and Spanish roots. She was raised in Waimana and has been a Maori resource teacher at Paroa School in Whakatane.

Her uncle, former Moderator, the Very Rev Tame Takao, had a hand in her decision to take the role of Moderator on.

To Whom It May Concern,

Kia ora, me nga mihi nui ki a koutou hoki.

Turakina Maori Girls’ College was closed in January of this year, after 110 years of service, and the students were obliged to make alternative arrangements for the continuation of their education.