Ronald Edward Gibson

Transcription

1 Ronald Edward Gibson Ron Gibson was nurtured in the Mornington Methodist Church and Dunedin Methodism. Stories are still told of the antics of the two Gibson boys mischievous, energetic, and enquiring. That zest for living remained with Ron to the very end of his life. Brother Colin speaks of their mother s influence as an intensely loyal, devoted and practical churchwoman. He says that, in their different ways, both of their parents passed on the torch of an intelligent, hard-working, practical faith. By the time he was 21, Ron was an accredited lay preacher. And he kept on travelling mentally and spiritually. Not for him the fossilized creeds of the ancient past or the exhausted theology of sin and salvation, or even the hallowed traditions of the Methodist Church he served so devotedly. He read Leunig, Spong, Bultman, Bonhoeffer, Geering, Crossan, Borg, Brueggeman, Holloway. He preached Christ for our day and our times; he brought all his practical knowledge of management and people and flung it down in a challenge to what he saw as frozen traditions and archaic practices. Ron loved and respected people, especially those near to him. He gave to others unstintingly of himself, his ideas, and his energy. And he loved God as he loved his Church. His faith was intelligent, open-eyed, and progressive; it ran very deep Wherever he lived, he involved himself in the local church Methodist or Cooperating Parish more latterly in Karori Uniting Parish and Otaki Anglican Parish. In 2002, Ron accepted nomination to be Co-Superintendent of the Wellington Synod. He was catapulted in to district and national church leadership, with little preparation, and did not like all that he discovered. He took the leadership role in the synod seriously, paying pastoral visits to presbyters, and to lay leaders, working with the leadership across the Lower North Island to restructure three synods in to one. Ron was committed to a church that is inclusive and welcoming he fully supported the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers, and gave compassionate leadership in this regard. He would make special efforts to get alongside any individuals who he perceived to be needing extra care and attention whether in the Synod or at Conference. He was not always quite so compassionately disposed towards those who he perceived to be narrow or prejudiced in their outlook. In 2008 he assumed office as Vice-President of Conference, alongside President Jill van de Geer. Ron brought his inimitable style to the role, and enjoyed the opportunities and experiences that came his way. Charming, exasperating, energetic, convinced of his own rightness, thoughtful, passionate, impatient with the slowness of others to catch on, compassionate, generous, full of contradictions. This and much more is the man whose life and leadership we celebrate. We extend our loving sympathy to his beloved family Catherine, Margot and Jeff with their partners Mike and Penny, Sophie, Tristan, Nyere, Frank, Kate, and Jacinta, Colin and Jeanette. Many at Conference will recall the haunting strains of Ron s violin accompanying our singing of the hymn Nothing is lost on the breath of God. So let that be our song, to honour the contribution made by Ron Gibson to Te Haahi Weteriana o L - 1

2 Aotearoa, to give thanks for his gifts of compassionate and forthright leadership, of imagination, thoughtfulness, and vision, for his capacity for collegiality and friendship. His contribution his impulses of love, and care, for justice and peace and inclusion will live on in our memory and our love, and remain on the breath of God forever. Keith Clifton Griffith Supplementary Tribute Doreen Mavis Hill Doreen Hill who lived all her life in Christchurch, was a prominent women s leader in the life and work of Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa The Methodist Church of New Zealand. She died in her 83 rd year on December 27 th, 2010 and her life was celebrated and honoured at the Upper Riccarton Methodist Church, Christchurch by family and friends. Accredited as a lay preacher in 1951 at the age of 24 years she continued to preach around the parishes in the Canterbury region for nearly fifty years. Doreen served on many local, regional and national church committees and along with her loved husband Geoff she was part of the pivotal group of Methodist leaders who in the early 1980s engaged in critical power sharing conversations challenging the Methodist Church to pursue the obligations of the Treaty of Waitangi by making significant structural changes to the future form and functioning of Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa. Doreen was part of a group of church women who worked towards the formation of the New Zealand Women s Fellowship in the 1960 s. In 1982 Doreen was inducted as National President of the Methodist Women s Fellowship at its National Convention for a two-year term. With her husband Geoff being elected President of the Methodist Church in 1983, Doreen and Geoff undertook shared visits and duties around New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga in their respective roles. Between 1982 and 1991 this shared ministry continued as they both offered their considerable gifts in ministry at the Christchurch Methodist Mission and Durham Street Methodist Church. It was in 1986 Doreen headed a committee working with author Ruth Fry on a history of Methodist women in New Zealand entitled Out of the Silence. Contained within this collection was Doreen s own story of her significant ministry and leadership. Doreen s commitment to enhancing the care and wellbeing of people was not just confined to service within the local and Connexional church but found expression within the National Council of Women, and the organization of Marriage Guidance where she was active both as a trainer and tutor of counsellors. Doreen and Geoff also ran marriage enrichment courses in the 1980s and 90s which proved very popular as a means of strengthening relationships. At the celebration of her life following her death Reverend Dr Mary Caygill of the Durham Street Methodist Church said of Doreen, she lived out the implicit emphasis of Methodism in that any talking about the Christian faith is inseparable from its living enactment to actual and just wellbeing of others. Doreen is survived by her much loved sons Roger and Stephen and daughter Christine along with her treasured eight grandchildren. Thanks be to God for the life, love and faithful witness of Doreen Hill. L - 2

3 John (Jock) Samuel Hosking John Samuel Hosking, Jock as he was known, died on the 11 th of December 2010 in the presence of his family and in the home of daughter Cathryn. Having learned in September that he had terminal cancer, Jock prepared himself for death, confident he had contributed what he had to offer to life and to the healing of the world. The Methodist Church has good reason to give thanks for the life and ministry of Jock Hosking. He was born on July , son of Merlin Hosking, a lay preacher, and Rita Hosking. He was a grandson of a Methodist Minister and great grandson of a lay missionary who came to NZ from Cornwall in 1857 and served at Coromandel and Kumara. Jock was academically well equipped for ministry BA and Dip Mus (Canterbury), MA (Auckland) with a thesis on the music of S. S. Wesley and later Doctor of Ministry (San Francisco). During Trinity College studies ( ) he was particularly influenced by Dr D O Williams and sought to shape his ministry around Doc s insights into pastoral care. Jock and Dawn (Harper) were married in 1959 and together contributed to the life of congregations to which Jock was appointed: Pukerua Bay/Paekakariki ( ), Springston ( ), Hastings ( ) and Palmerston North ( ). From 1973 to 1983 he was Stewardship Director within the Methodist Church and later within the combined Methodist-Presbyterian Stewardship Department, during which time the family lived in Naenae, Lower Hutt. Guided by attention to detail and sensitivity to the essential mission of the church and what the church might become Jock and the team of directors he led had a significant impact on the life of the church. Financial giving was increased but more than that parishes and their leadership grew in confidence as they glimpsed new possibilities for the church s engagement in the mission to which they were called in Christ. It was exhausting work with much travel and extended times away from home and family. In January 1991 to the surprise of many but weary at divisions and debates that were tearing the church apart Jock and Dawn retired to Whangarei where Jock became organist at St John s Uniting Church, funeral celebrant, music teacher, conductor of the Whangarei Civic Choir and later hospital chaplain and District Superintendent. In 1999 he and Dawn separated but continued to share a supportive friendship. Shortly before learning of his cancer Jock had commenced a supply ministry in the Wellsford Cooperating Parish. One of his last acts of formal ministry was the planning and shared leadership of an Anglican, Catholic and Cooperating ecumenical service. He regarded it as a fitting note on which to end his work as a Minister of the Gospel. Jock s great passion was music. He lived within the great composers and his final weeks were bathed in their music. He was conference organist, choir conductor in the days when a clergy choir contributed to the ordination service and was a member of the committee responsible for the NZ supplement to With One Voice. He was territorial military chaplain, rugby referee, Life-Line trainer, Rotarian and golfer. He was interested in all sport with an inbuilt preference for teams labelled Canterbury. Most of all he was grasped by a desire to serve God within the limits of human weakness using the rich gifts he was born with and those he developed. Like many of his contemporaries he was deeply aware he had ministered through one of the most demanding periods of change in NZ society and in the life of the Christian church in this land. In recognising Jock s life and witness we also thank his family who contributed to and were shaped by his work in and for the church Dawn and daughters, Cathryn Wyllie, Jenny Conder and Rachel Gallagher. John Craig Ferrie Mabon John Mabon was proud of his southern heritage having been born and educated in Dunedin. Brought up within Methodism as a youth he embarked upon ministry in his early twenties. Following a year of testing his call in Home Mission work in Stoke in the Waimea Circuit he trained at Trinity College in His first appointment was to the Wellington suburban L - 3

4 congregation at Johnsonville where he encouraged the move towards an eventual Union Parish. His three years there ( ) were followed by four years in Hastings ( ) and five years in Invercargill Central ( ). During the 1970 s John was (with John Murray) Co-Convenor of the Combined Methodist-Presbyterian Public Questions Committee. John was always proud of his work on the Committee and put a lot of time and effort into it. John undertook additional parish work at Waiwhetu in the Lower Hutt-Petone Parish ( ) returning to the same parish for a supply ministry from His final parish appointment was to the Woodville Uniting Parish as well as Ashurst-Bunnythorpe, where he worked part-time from also ministering in the Woodville Anglican parish for the other half. During these 25 years of parish ministry John was known for his thoroughly prepared and challenging preaching which was characterized by clarity and depth. Based on his experience he prepared a practical preaching manual. He was a straight talker not afraid to address difficult topics or to express opposition to injustice or error. He could also be deeply pastoral in his care of people and had an empathy with people who bore the brunt of life s hurts. However John s most significant work may well have been in the area of chaplaincy. For five years he served as the NCC chaplain with the Justice Department at Wellington Prison ( ). During this time he was also involved with the Samaritans. While in Southland he became seriously involved in Industrial Mission as a member and then Chairman of the Manapouri Chaplaincy Committee. In 1978 while at Waiwhetu he became chaplain to the AHI Plastic Film Company in Naenae, and in the following year became the Director of ITIM Wellington a position he held for 11 years. He saw Industrial Mission as an extension of the Church s mission to all who are in need, and under his leadership the mission expanded into many work places including Government Departments. He also spent 3 months in rural ministry in Australia prior to his 1990 supply. Following his retirement in 1997 he made a decision to link with St James Anglican Church in Lower Hutt where he served for some years as a part-time pastoral assistant and outreach coordinator. He retained this connection until his death in December John s first wife, Margaret, was killed in a tragic road accident early in his ministry. He and his second wife Joan divorced in the 1980s. He then enjoyed nearly 30 happy years with Marilyn whom he married in John s greatest pleasure was spending quality time with his family Craig, Helen, Katherine and the late Mitchell and his grandchildren. Outside ministry John had many interests. In retirement he gave many years of voluntary service to the Samaritans, among other things preparing and teaching their Creative Listening Course. He also had passionate interests in cricket (Wisden was never far away), British steam locomotives, a knowledge of the logistics of famous military battles, British football (particularly Arsenal), New Testament Greek (on which he spent an hour each day) and Rotary. Archibald (Arch) Mckay Arch McKay was born on the 3 rd May 1917 and left school in Upper Hutt during the Great Depression. After a few casual jobs he was employed in the Hutt Railway Workshops until he served overseas in the second N.Z.E.F. On his return in 1946 he entered the Home Mission service. After serving in Halcombe (Manawatu) and South Hokianga, Arch was accepted as a candidate for ministry. He was a student at Trinity Theological College from 1951 to 1953, while being a student-pastor at the Richmond Avenue Church. Ordination in 1954 was followed by service in Blenheim, Waihi, Geraldine, Greymouth Union Parish and Stratford. Throughout his ministry, Arch McKay has been fully and graciously supported by his wife Lesley, whom he met when she was a registered nurse and attending Trinity Methodist church, Napier. Married in 1944 they raised four children Noel, Ruth, Pauline and John. Lesley died in March 2009, at Wesleyhaven where Arch continued to live till his death in February this year. L - 4

5 Arch McKay had an exceptional ability in relating well with people and a welcoming smile. He had a practical, down-to-earth approach to the Christian faith, was liberal in his views and kept his theology up to date. Arch extended his many personal contacts through his sporting interests. He was especially competent with a cricket bat, being actively involved in the game wherever he ministered. Arch had a strong sense of social justice. He preached against the 1970 All Black Tour to South Africa, which did not go down very well in conservative South Canterbury. He was opposed to New Zealand's involvement in the Vietnam War. In his retirement Lesley and he established a trade aid shop in South Auckland Arch's personal commitment to Christ, his enjoyment of life to the full, and his pastoral care for all sorts and conditions of people, left their mark on every circuit to which he was appointed. Though Arch sometimes had honest doubts about his ability to minister, these were never shared by his colleagues or those he ministered to. Arch was a good example of the practice of the Methodist Church of his time to take people from all walks of life and with varied academic backgrounds and give them a place in the ordained ministry in which they flourished and stood the church in good repute. Arch McKay died after a period of illness at the Hutt Hospital. His ashes, along with those of Lesley his wife, are interred in the grounds of the Anglican Church in Upper Hutt. Viti Olds (nee Amy Viti Gosnell) The Upper Hutt Leader under the heading Hundreds mourn death of Viti Olds spoke volumes, when it said Viti Olds: life devoted to God, family and community. More than 300 people packed the Wesley Church and its hall to pay tribute to the 89 year old who had influenced so many lives. Viti was born in Auckland in Her Fiji born mother, the daughter of a Methodist minister and former missionary in Fiji, gave her 3 daughters Fijian names. Viti always considered herself privileged to have been brought up in a Christian family and in a Church home in Stanley Bay in Devonport Auckland, where her father Robert Gosnell was the Methodist minister. This had a very big and positive influence on her. She met Stan her husband- to- be through the Church and was proud of the fact that in 1946 Stan was the first Methodist theological college student allowed to marry during his ministry training. She was also very thankful for her years of ministry alongside her beloved Stan and with daughters Christine, Marilyn, Cheryl and Heather as they grew up. They moved from circuit to circuit, Kaikohe, Port Albert, Invercargill, Auckland Central Mission, with Viti actively involved in all, conducting choirs, leading junior Girls Brigade, running Sunday School anniversaries. In 1969 the family arrived in Upper Hutt and the Wesley Methodist Church, which became part of the new Upper Hutt Co-operating Parish in Tragedy struck with Stan s sudden death in August Viti found the transition without Stan a difficult one, but made a life for herself, and said she grew in her Christian faith, considering herself very fortunate to have had members of her family close by during this time. At her funeral, celebrant, Lay Preacher Ron Malpass, spoke of Viti s full life devoted to her family and her extensive involvement in the ministry of the church, especially through women s groups, music, children s and adult s choirs and visiting those in rest homes. Many of the adults present had been children in her choirs, or got to know her when they were students at Heretaunga College where she was the Tea Lady for 22 years. Viti and her old bike were legendary. At age 76 she cycled from Upper Hutt to Petone (over 20km) to raise funds for a new church kitchen. At age 80 she repeated the feat as part of a bike ride to mark the Extraordinary Women s day event organised by her granddaughter Sarah Glensor-Best. She said cycling always made her feel nearer to God. At 80 she also visited Fiji and the UK for the first time. Family, Church members and friends at her funeral, spoke of Viti as a tireless worker for her L - 5

6 Church, and community, always interested in people, sport and the world and known for her humorous speeches at family occasions. Members of each generation of her family spoke or sang songs in a funeral service that Viti had fully planned with Ron Malpass in It was to have lots of music and singing but not be a concert. Mr Euan Campbell a Presbyterian Lay Supply minister in the Parish in , gave a reflection on 1 Philippians and spoke of Viti s efforts to educate him on Methodism and the Methodist way to do things. At age 76 Viti had been delighted to be appointed by the Methodist Church to be a Communion Celebrant to go along with her visiting and taking services at a number of rest homes. It was while taking a communion service at a rest home in 2008 that Viti suffered a serious stroke, which led to her final 3 years being spent in a rest home, but she was still able to come to church each Sunday in her wheel chair by taxi until January She died peacefully on 2 February surrounded by family at the Silverstream Home of Compassion, 10 days short of her 90 th birthday. She was farewelled with a sea of pink tissues waved by the mourners as a white hearse drove her from Wesley Centre for the last time. Viti had often waved a pink hanky when she farewelled visiting family and friends. Viti is survived by her four daughters, their families, her grandchildren and great grandchildren of whom she was very, very proud. Apakuki Ratucoka It is with great sadness of the passing of Talatala Apakuki Ratucoka on 15 October Talatala Apakuki s ministry in Waikato Waiariki began in early 2004 following the Quarterly meeting for the Tabacakacaka ko Viti e Okaladi. The mission of growth beyond Tabacakacaka o Viti e Okaladi provided the strategy and subsequent development planning to transition Rev Apakuki Ratucoka to his new place of ministry. Talatala Apakuki began his ministry as a Lay Leader for the then Fijian congregation of Hamilton East Methodist Parish and was later ordained as a Presbyter of the NZMC in Over the years as more Fijian families settled in Hamilton, the ministry flourish with both congregational numbers and leadership to what it is known today, the Tabacakacaka ko Waikato Waiariki. Talatala Apakuki s commitment to the growth of the church through pastoral, spiritual and administrative development of the Fijian Ministry within Waikato Waiariki Synod was truly inspirational and immeasurable to the three congregations within the circuit, namely Hamilton, Rotorua and Tauranga Fijian congregations. After setting up the circuit, he adopted standards and provided training and development for its lay ministry. The Tabacakacaka Waikato Waiariki can confidently express that it is in good spirits and full of enthusiasm today as a result of Rev Apakuki s ministerial work. Wasewase wishes to acknowledge the generous outpouring of support of Te Haahi Weteriana and Waikato Waiariki Synod during one of the most challenging times for Rev. Apakuki s wife Laisa and the children and also the young life of Tabacakacaka ko Waikato Waiariki and Wasewase as a whole. Bryan Temple Smith Bryan Temple Smith ( ) has served church and community as a lay preacher and an educator. He was born into a family with a strong Methodist Lay Preacher heritage his Mother s forebears were Lay Preachers in Rissington in Yorkshire. Bryan himself began preaching in St Pauls in Hamilton and was accredited in 1941, before he went to serve with the New Zealand army in Italy. Bryan studied at Teachers College and University in Auckland where he met and married Jean. He taught history and social studies at Avondale College and Kelston High School before he became the foundation Principal at Melville High School in Hamilton in Cornerstones of his L - 6

7 leadership at Melville were pastoral care for students, teachers, and families, the development of Maori studies supported by the school marae, and the building of good relationships between Pakeha, Maori, Pacifica and Asian. He set high standards for himself and his school. Colin Telford, a young physics teacher, remembers him for his ethical approach to teaching, and for his compassion. In the midst of a controversy about haircuts, Bryan told a meeting of parents Don t look at the length of your son s hair, look at the person behind that long hair. Bryan and Jean came to Christchurch in 1979 when Jean took a teaching job at Middleton Grange and Bryan retired from Melville. Bryan s first service at St John s Methodist Church, Bryndwr, as a lay preacher was 31 st October His Church services were full of his love for Jesus and his joy of trying to get people to understand God s love for themselves. It was usual for Bryan to take at least two services every month and sometimes more. From an organist s point of view, he had an excellent knowledge of the hymns and tunes in the Methodist hymn book. He also like to use Scripture In Song books. One of his favourite songs was Shine, Jesus, shine. On leaving a church service you would find that you had listened to a history lesson, a geography lesson and a story of God s love for mankind. Bryan had a long and active retirement. During this time he taught Church History at the Bible College of New Zealand (now Laidlaw College). Lay preaching has been one of the continuities of Bryan s life. He has taken services with urban and rural congregations in the Waikato and Canterbury, served on the executives of the Canterbury Lay Preachers Association, and the New Zealand Lay Preachers Association. It was fitting that the closing service of St John s Church, Bryndwr, on February 28 th 2010 was led by Bryan with helpers from the congregation. Thank you, Bryan, for your devoted service to lay preaching and to your church Peni Mafi Ta ufo ou Reverend Peni Mafi Ta ufo ou was born in Utui, Vava u to Poasi Ta ufo ou and Vaihea Finefeuiaki Ta ufo ou. Peni was the fourth child of eight children. Peni Mafi attended primary school at Waterloo Primary in Vava u then went to Tupou College, Nafualu, Tongatapu and then on to Toloa in 1948 when the college was shifted to its current location. In 1950 Peni Mafi passed the Tonga Higher Leaving Examination with Distinction. He then attended the Tonga Teachers College and he started teaching at church schools in Whilst he was teaching at Vaimalo, Vava u, he married Mele Naomi Hala. They had 7 children of their own and adopted 4 others into their family. On Rev. Peni Mafi Ta ufo ou s death he had 28 grand children and 8 great grandchildren. Peni Mafi was admitted to Sia atoutai Theological College, Tonga, in 1968 and was asked to be the principal of the Sia atoutai Primary School in He took up a LTH Course in correspondence to Melbourne. Not so long after that his wife Mele became ill and she was brought to New Zealand to undergo treatment so Peni had to give up teaching and his LTH course. In December 1973 the whole family moved to New Zealand so they can be close to Mele who still required medical attention. It did not take long for Peni Mafi to notice the lack of church properties for the Tongans to worship at close to where his family was staying. So he approached Rev Taniela Moala and they started what is now the Ellerslie Tongan Congregation at Peni Mafi s and Mele s house. In 1978 the family was able to buy a house in Mangere. Again they were also in the original group responsible for starting the Mangere Tongan Congregation which has grown to be Lotofale ia. He was the steward of the congregation for a number of years before taking up ministry studies at Trinity College and was ordained a Local Pastor in Methodist Church of New Zealand in He was a Local Pastor for the Auckland/Manukau Tongan Parish until his retirement. Rev Peni Mafi Ta ufo ou was of very slight build but he had a big heart and he worked tirelessly for L - 7

8 his Faith, the church, in the society and for his wife and family. He passed away at 6 at the evening of the 10th April 2011 and the age of 82 and 22 days. Rest In Peace Peni with your Lord Jesus. Olive Rose Thompson (nee Thwaite) On 3 February 2011, after a severe stroke, Olive Thompson died aged 95. Her remembrance service was held at Wainoni Methodist Church on 9 February. Olive had emigrated to New Zealand from Lancashire, England at the age of 6. Her parents, Annie and Walter Thwaite bought Olive and baby brother Jack to Auckland. She attended Seddon Memorial Technical College and then worked in the office of Smith and Caughey s department store. Aged 16, she bravely moved from Auckland to Wellington to train as a Salvation Army officer. After graduation, she was posted to Reefton. It was here she met her future husband, John Herbert (known as Bert) Thompson. When Olive was 21, her mother died unexpectedly and she returned to Auckland to care for her father and brother. Bert and Olive married at the West Street Church of Christ in March 1939 and had one daughter, Ruth. Their first home was a construction camp in the Buller Gorge. Bert began to study for the ministry, and was ordained in Christchurch in Olive took full part in the activities associated with the role of a minister s wife, and was always available to the women of the parish and shared many joys and sorrows. During the years Bert was a minister, they were stationed in parishes from Northland to Otago, and after Bert retired in 1971, settled in Christchurch. In 1984 Olive volunteered to work in the Methodist Church of New Zealand Archives in Christchurch, under the direction of the Archivist, Reverend Marcia Baker. Her first job was transcribing fragile marriage and baptism registers by hand. Over the following years, she was responsible for creating one of the most-used indexes, that of births, deaths and marriages recorded in New Zealand Methodist newspapers. Olive travelled to the Archives twice a week, and her knowledge of people and places throughout New Zealand was invaluable. Bert died in 1989, bringing their partnership to an end, and Olive was left to adjust to live by herself, with much reluctance. Late in 1995 Olive made a trip to Auckland and this resulted in a very special companionship with Bert Salmon and his family. Aged 93, she retired from working at the Methodist Archives in April In 2000 she had made arrangements to bequeath her body to the Otago Medical School for research and this wish was carried out. Her courage, determination, generosity and intellect will be missed by all who knew her. L - 8

9 Noel Reeford Watts Noel s death was sudden and unexpected. Although a very fit man, Noel s body did have a propensity for sudden and unexpected medical events including two detached eye retinas and a knee cartilage operation. Noel s massive heart attack came suddenly out of the blue, at home in bed during the early hours of Saturday morning, 11 December Liz prayed for a miracle but it wasn t to be. Noel was only 73. The blessing for Noel was that he lived a fruitful and joy-filled life with those he loved, doing what he loved, right to the end. And he wouldn t have wanted that any other way. Noel was a man of many facets - a very loving and supportive husband to Liz, a caring Dad to David, Karl, Donna & Kim, a linguistics expert, lecturer and Associate Professor at Massey University, a jazz musician whose talent was highly appreciated by The Manawatu Savage Club, The Manawatu Jazz Club, the Palmerston North Brass Band, and several jazz bands. Noel played trumpet and tenor horn for many years, and in the last three years, learnt and successfully mastered the trombone. Noel appreciated being part of anything that involved fun, games and fellowship. He loved rugby (having played and coached in his younger days), family tenting holidays, overseas travel, body-boarding at the beach, family bike rides and of course, playing all kinds of music with family and friends. Noel was a Friend, Mentor and much-respected Church Leader, but Noel also had a deep-rooted Methodist faith. There were two people who made a big impact on Noel s life. They were a grandmother who encouraged his faith and tested his Bible knowledge, and a Bible Class teacher who introduced Noel to playing an instrument. So began the weaving of the three vital strands of faith, knowledge and music throughout Noel s life. Noel has been a much respected colleague and friend to many. Even while at University in Auckland, Noel rubbed shoulders with those studying for the ministry during his 3-year stay at the Trinity College Hostel saw Noel licensed as a Methodist Lay Preacher from his home church, Manaia Methodist Church in South Taranaki. After moving to Palmerston North in 1972, St Paul s, (now Wesley Broadway, Palmerston North) became Noel s home church. This congregation trustingly sent him off to represent them at Milson Combined Church s committee meetings. There as it happened he met the lovely young widowed Liz Watson in 1985 and they married in 1986, and Noel became a devoted family man and much loved father to Liz's children, Karl, Donna & Kim. Noel continued to share his ministry gifts with the wider Methodist church by taking services at such places as Bunnythorpe, Pohangina, Levin, Aokautere and others. At Milson, Noel has held many roles including, preacher/ worship leader, Parish recorder, committee member, Parish Steward and more and joined in with the rest of the Watts/Watson family to provide worshipful music each week. Noel also represented Milson Church on the JRC who have oversight of co-operating parishes. As in every aspect of Noel s life there have been more connections than can be known about. Noel was a humble man and a list of his credits wasn t his thing. It seems far more fitting to remember Noel s genuine Christian faith, attitude and honorable character which influenced and permeated every aspect of his life. Noel had a genuine interest in people of all different ages and all walks of life. He gave people opportunities to give things a go and encouraged them to succeed. He had a great love for young people and encouraged them in various aspects of live, particularly in education and music. L - 9

10 While not one to seek leadership for himself, people naturally looked to Noel for guidance and he was greatly valued for both his knowledge and his wisdom. He could also wear the hat of a fun loving entertainer. There were numerous services where he allowed the joyful freedom of the jazz within him, to take worship music off on little improvised side trips. Philippians 4:4-9 best sums up Noel. Everything about Noel flowed out of his relationship with God. This influenced and permeated his whole approach to life...his being, His relating, and his Serving. The passing of Noel leaves a huge hole in the hearts and lives of his family, friends, church, colleagues and his fellow musicians. L - 10