Dear Friends
Even as I write this, Christchurch emergency workers are doing their utmost to rescue people trapped in fallen buildings and crushed cars.
Overnight we have received letters and notes from churches and individuals from around the world representing an outpouring of prayer and concern for the people of Christchurch.
A question we are being asked by many is 'what can we do?'
Martin Baker, the Assembly Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa has received the following letters of support for the church and people of Christchurch:
Dear friends,
As you may have now heard Christchurch suffered another damaging earthquake this afternoon. Let us join together urgently in prayer for the people of Christchurch and think about the practical help we can offer.
At this stage news is only slowly beginning to filter through but no doubt like you I am feeling shocked. I want to express our love for all the people of Christchurch and our deep concern for their safety and wellbeing.
There is a Census on Tuesday, 8 March 2011. Statistics New Zealand has urged the Church to encourage young people, Maori, Pacific and Korean churchgoers in particular to take part, and to make it known that legally everyone in New Zealand on 8 March, including tourists, must fill in a form. Information about the Census is available here in several languages including Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin and Cantonese.
The latest issue of Spanz magazine is now online. Our March issue looks at the potential of church opportunity shops for enterprise and evangelism.
The minutes from General Assembly 2010 are now available to download from the Church website. General Assembly 2010 was held from 11am Thursday 30 September to 5pm Sunday 3 October 2010, in Christchurch.
The 2011 Yearbook is being sent out over the coming week. If you do not receive a copy by 21 February and would like one, or if you discover any errors in the Yearbook details, please contact Sandra at Assembly Office 04 801-6000 or by email.
The latest issue of our monthly Bush Telegraph newsletter is now available online.
Our sister Church, the Uniting Church in Australia, has launched an appeal to help the victims of the Queensland floods. You can make a donation online.
General Assembly 2010 endorsed action against New Zealand’s drinking culture. We now have the chance to have our say on the Government’s proposed alcohol law changes, with a deadline for submissions to the select committee of 1 February 2011. Alcohol Action New Zealand has developed a summarised digest version of the Bill.
