THE FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF CORNERSTONE. This is the poem Jean read to us at the end of the Celebration Service on 16 December 2017

Transcription

1 February/March 2018 That's all nonviolence organized love. is Joan Baez THE FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF CORNERSTONE This is the poem Jean read to us at the end of the Celebration Service on 16 December 2017 About two thousand years ago three men who had been studying the stars set off on camels, following the light of a really bright star; not sure of where they were going; but on and on they went, because they knew in their souls they would find an answer to what they were seeking. They were prepared, they were ready, carrying gifts for the whatever, whoever. Gold, so precious, Frankincense, an aromatic gum to be burnt as incense and bring a sacredness to the whatever, whoever, And Myrrh, sweet smelling perfume, very precious and suitable as a present to the wonderful surprise they found; The infant, Jesus, safe in his parents care. It was the very first birthday of one who represented God - who is God bringing Justice, Love, Peace and all that is beautiful on this earth. We've always known we're a loyal lot, a hardworking lot, but not big on numbers, on bums on seats. We ve got enough money, but are we investing wisely? The Presbys are very good with money Scottish blood in their veins? Of course! The Methodists would probably sing along, plod along like the camels, waiting to see it happen. But after years of wondering, doubts, and every human emotion we've reached our gaol, the first birthday of this Cornerstone; our Family Home built on the prayers, the faith, the love we all share with each other. And the love we source from our God. As we sit here in this beautiful building, we look out on the lovely setting, trees and greenery. And we reach out to the Community with welcoming arms. About seven* years ago, a bunch of people from the Kaeo Kerikeri Union Church put their heads together and started planning a new home for their Church Family. And then it all began! Meeting after meeting, it went on and on. Ideas accepted, ideas rejected, lots of muttering between each other: Is this a good idea? The plan looks great but is it not too big? Share our home, share our space, whatever, whoever you are. Like the three men so long ago, we too have found a baby to celebrate and cherish Our cornerstone, the Jesus Christ we've built on. Amen PS And the congregation keeps growing! Jean Andrewes *Actually it s now around ten years ago! A long gestation 1

2 it that counts: in particular, do the things and be the kind of person we admire in the one we have lost. WE REMEMBER WITH LOVE Tony Chinn Soilleux, of Totara North That s the same with another person I have mourned at a distance recently. Millie Te Kaawa was a matriarch within the Presbyterian Church. She was a mentor and a great support for me, never forgetting times years back when I had stood in General Assembly to speak up for the Māori Synod. She lived the faith, and radiated the kindness and warmth of being motherly disciple of Christ. Funeral held in Cornerstone Moe mai, moe mai. Takoto rangimārie. Be at peace. Our love and prayers for family and friends of all who have died in recent times. Our special love to Trevor Hollow losing first Avis and then son Martin. Robyn s Ramblings Aituā is a powerful Māori word that can t really be matched in English. H.W. Williams dictionary speaks of misfortune, trouble, disaster, accident, and next to it is aitu meaning calamity. It s when death comes trampling, death of a person or other sorts of death of dreams, or a relationship, of health, of prospects, of the future we thought we had. Basically anything that bowls us over. But what s really knocked me recently in a sudden discovery of illness, pancreatic cancer in fact, in our wider in-law family. A previously fit and healthy man in his fifties so you d never expect it. It hurts when people we care about are hurting. Even more so when it s one s children and in some ways the emotional hurt of others is harder to sit with than physical hurt. But sitting with pain is always hard, unable to do anything to make it right again. The only antidote to it is identified in these words of greeting I regularly use I roto i te ringaringa kaha o aituā he iwi kotahi tātou. Under the heavy hand of aituā we are one people. The only recourse for finding our way through is to draw together, to share the struggle. Hanging in there, being together when that s possible, that s what is best. Providing background support to family, or friends, that can help them cope with the fact that the future has changed. Not alone, but surrounded by fellow travellers that s what it is to be human, genuinely human. The immediate family in this case is very much part of the Catholic Church. Messages of prayer and love have been the key thing, and Parish Council has been brought into the prayer circle as well, knowing that our prayer support as a church will be meaningful. Prayer is in fact an ideal way to offer a sense of being surrounded by love, without intrusion, without fuss. A way to share the journey of being human. The Whangaroa community experienced this when our good friend Magoo drowned at Cable Bay rescuing his daughter. Wairongoa Clarence Renata has 1,332 friends on Facebook (me among them). We worked together on Whangaroa Armed Services Commemorations and that was enough to get a friend request from him. His whole life was like that meet him and you re mates. For a family and for community that, through the armed forces, stretches around the world, aituā indeed to lose such a top bloke. And yet it happens. And it s what we do with I pray for all these people and all those among us who mourn or who struggle. I pray every time I think of you. Rangimarie Peace Shalom, Robyn Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution. 1 Peter 3:8 Khalil Gibran PARISH COUNCIL UPDATE were handed out to Parish Councillors for future consideration. From the end of year meeting on 19 December Mission Priorities remain on the agenda. David Stringer outlined some possibilities for transport, social media, and Hope Centre church and work on this will continue in the new year. First Birthday Brainstorm: Ideas gathered in the small group talking during the First Birthday Celebration of Cornerstone had been collated and 2

3 Kerikeri Pastoral were planning to meet and arrange a Pastoral Morning Tea for February, giving a special invitation to a wide range of people on the Pastoral List. All will be welcome to attend. take all rubbish away with them. Church users need to do the same, except for DRY rubbish, which can be put in our rubbish bin at the kitchen back door. All users church included are reminded that, if they are last in the building, please use the checklist located by the alarm pad in the foyer. Sunday duty people have a list for before, during and after: these are tasks that either they do themselves or they delegate to others and ensure the task is done. Worship: updated plans for cover for Robyn s holidays and for other Sundays unavailable because of Study Leave or other commitments. Neil and Jessica Scott arranged the service on 14 January, and Peter and Karen Brookes brought input from their mission work in India on 21 January. The Kerikeri Home Group will lead worship on 25 March. CTN/Presbytery/Synod: a workshop is to be held on 17 March, jointly led by the Synod Superintendent and the Presbytery Executive Officer, to work out an agreed strategy for mission and ministry in Northland, the first step to working out how to manage our regional organisation in the future. Social: A big thank you to all the people involved in the first birthday of Cornerstone who helped to make it a successful event. Finance: The committee s report included the following extract from the Auditor s Letter received with the annual accounts to June 2017: There are two Methodist hosted inductions taking place in February: in Kaitaia at 7pm on Wednesday 14 for the Rev Augustin Subhan and at St John s Kensington at 7pm on Thursday 15 for the Rev Bob Franklin. BDO take this opportunity to comment on the efficient and well-controlled nature of your administration and accounting function. This is a credit to the people involved as well as the disciplines put in place by your Parish. As your Auditors, we appreciate your openness to external advice and congratulate the Finance Committee for the great efforts in ensuring the efficient and effective operation of this important part of your entity. We always appreciate the efforts made by organisations in implementing the recommendations in our previous year s management letter. We acknowledge and say thanks for the proactive manner in which the matters from last year have been addressed by the Parish. INTRODUCING WHANGAROA S COMMUNITY CO-ORDINATOR Angela Norman joined the Whangaroa Community Trust in December 2016 as the local community coordinator. Her role involves: supporting community led projects and initiatives from Taupo Bay to Takou Bay and The Committee commended the treasurer for her efforts which were in large part the reason for this plaudit. bringing together the people of Whangaroa to help develop our area into a thriving, bright bustling community. Prior to moving to Kaeo, she worked in medical sales and marketing, and her passions include art, developing people and public speaking. Property Planning Group met to keep in touch with progress on the Funeral Parlour (FP). In relation to Cornerstone it has been arranged to change the sensor lights in the women s and men s toilets to ordinary switches because the sensors have been an ongoing problem. This will be done at no cost when the electrician is on the job at the FP. Replacement ceiling tiles in the Hall were also able to be done at no cost, after some damage while installing the blinds at the south west end. Her first role and introduction to the people of Whangaroa was MC at the Kaeo Xmas parade. Despite the rain that year (2016) it was a lot of fun and that set the scene for a year of fun ahead. Angela writes of the achievements of 2017 and of our church s connection: Cornerstone Management brought a full report, including detailed arrangements for a trial period with Hope Centre Church (AOG affiliated) using the Worship Area following our service on Sunday morning. Quotes are being sought to insect spray the outside of the building. User groups are required to The Kaeo Union church has been central to community events and meetings and we would like to thank the team for their support in brightening up our town. One of the first projects as Co-ordinator was to develop a calendar of local events and distribute to 3

4 all the public noticeboards in the area, promoting events and activities for locals and visitors. If you have an event we can promote this and also distribute posters once a month with the calendar run. This led to the Tourist Map being produced and distributed this summer providing a brief history and tourist information on what to do in Whangaroa and as new initiatives and activities develop these can also be added. These include further development of the playground area next to the church with more activities, shelter and shade, local walks, Discovery Information Boards around Whangaroa supporting community events such as an upcoming family festival, Plastic Free Kaeo, Local Artists and Craft markets and events for Matariki. We would like to invite you to get involved. Bring your ideas and projects to the Community Development Group, our next meeting being on 22 February at pm at the Te Runanga until we grow out of their meeting room. Artistically we have transformed the drab public toilets into a bright fun mural and upgraded the playground with the first stage of development, new picnic tables will soon be put in place. Enquiries: contact Angela whangaroacc@gmail.com or A Community Development Group has been formed to develop ideas and projects to improve our region. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you... In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute. Matthew 6:14 Thurgood Marshall IN SEARCH OF STONES I m still reading, wanting to find out what the great virtues of growing old can be. I m wondering about the butterfly that Joy Cowley mentions in her poem Just Suppose, the butterfly which has to strip off its caterpillar-coat to display its true colours and fly! A REFLECTION ON A GOOD BOOK Morgan Scott Peck was an American psychiatrist and bestselling author who wrote the well-known book, The Road Less Travelled, published in I was surprised to discover his dates: born 22 May 1936, died 25 September I can add another thing which age strips us of and that's our independence! How we love being able to drive the car, shop for the groceries, shower ourselves I'll do it my way. We need to have something to keep us feeling alive. For Scott Peck his writing was probably the last thing he wanted to be stripped of. And I'm grateful for that as he has written many great books! I was surprised that he managed to live to the age of 69 having read his chapter on "AGING" where he calls himself old at 56, with all his infirmities of which there were many frankly owning up to not being perfect and the need of God to complain to as well as his wife. He writes: Quotes from Scott Peck Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. Share our similarities, celebrate our differences. You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time. God doesn't want part of us; God wants all of us. So it is that the stripping away of old age is not partial. It is not just physical; it is total... The stripping away of health...physical agility... psychological stripping... illusions... loss of heroes, the loss of mentors! Sometimes it hurts and leaves many distrustful, cynical and embittered,... I shall be losing more and more friends to death... Everything will be stripped away except for God before whom I shall finally be naked... REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTMAS SERVICES December at 9.30am at Cornerstone The Church family gathered with more visitors than usual and recognising that several of the regular members of our church family were absent on holiday. We were all gathered in anticipation and maybe some anxiety as we tried to dovetail all our Christmas activities which would explode into CHRISTMAS DAY. There were some words from Yet another kind of stripping away is that of interests... some of my appreciation for beauty, art, elegance, TV, books... I am not whining. There are great virtues to aging that I shall be recounting." 4

5 Taylor Caldwell printed on the Service Sheet spoke to this: I wondered what two visitors I sat beside were expecting from the service and what they talked about on their way home. Robyn did say that for those who wanted the traditional carols on Christmas Eve they could join St James Church congregation at midnight. I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that of course is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses. For me the service was following the anxiety I feel in the weeks leading up to Christmas the falseness of consumerism, parties, overeating, overspending, the stress of those who cannot afford to join in and what is it we are celebrating? I hardly think the birth of Jesus comes very high on the list. During our reflections we were asked to respond to the question How do you define or describe true peace. Courageously some shared their inner thoughts and pearls of wisdom. I can t remember them clearly enough to record them as I was thinking too and recognising that we cannot know peace without first experiencing forgiveness forgiving ourselves and forgiving others. ******** The Christmas Eve service was a haven of peace and reality. I expected to see a very bright star when we went outside to go home. ******** Christmas Eve Service at Cornerstone Christmas Day Service 9.15am at Cornerstone We arrive at Church just before 9pm it is still daylight outside but we walk into the gloom of an unlit church sanctuary well, just one lantern so that Clyde could read his music at the organ. There were few of us present and some were strangers. The atmosphere was electric with expectation. I suppose that was what it was like over 2000 years ago on that first Christmas night. We didn t sing exuberant carols, but we were led by Robyn to reflect on the sobering world we live in and the reality of life for so many which is not all Jingle Bells and boxes of chocolates. We sang Away in the Manger but the words were different..no bed for his head as we face up to the appaling statistics of homelessness and little children suffering neglect. Robyn had chosen readings which followed this theme and also included Christian World Service stories. It was a vigil. Our Church family arrived, many with visiting family members, the sun is shining the sombreness of last night has gone. The feeling of hope is apparent we hope things will be better from now on. We light the candle of Love and the Christ Candle. We sing Away in a Manger the words we have sung since we were little children, we have lovely images of the Christ Child Jesus laying in a rough stable of hay it is good, we can relax, all will be well. Robyn reads Kiwi Christmas by Joy Cowley so fitting as Joy was honoured with the Order of New Zealand in the New Year Honours List. We all go home to open presents, to be with those we love, to enjoy the abundance of our country. Or do we all? Helen Norman LECTIONARY READINGS February 11 2 Kings 2: Corinthians 4:3-6 Transfiguration Psalm 50:1-6 Mark 9:2-9 February 18 Genesis 9: Peter 3:18-22 Lent Psalm 25:1-10 Mark 1:9-15 February 25 Genesis 17:1-7,15-16 Romans 4:13-25 Lent 2 Psalm 22:23-31 Mark 6:31-38 or 9:2-9 March 4 Exodus 20: Corinthians 1: Lent 3 Psalm 19 John 2:13-22 March 11 Numbers 21:4-9 Lent 4 Psalm 107:1-3,17-22 Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21 March 18 Jeremiah 31:31-34 Lent 5 Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16 John 12:20-33 Hebrews 5:5-10 March 25 Lent 6 Palm or Passion Sunday Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 118:1-2,19-29 Philippians 2:5-11 or Psalm 31:9-16 Mark 14:1-15:47 or Mark 15:1-39 (40-47) Isaiah 40:21-31 Psalm 147:1-11,20c 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 9:29-39 April 1 Easter Day Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 118:1,-2,14-24 Romans 6:3-11 Mark 16:1-8 5

6 CALENDAR Events Schedule can be found at SUNDAY SERVICES: 9.30am Kerikeri Worship at Cornerstone Whare Karakia o Manako, Kerikeri 11.15am Kaeo Worship at Wesleydale Memorial Church, Leigh Street, Kaeo Communion at each church on the second Sunday of the month. CAR BOOT SALES: On the second and fourth Saturdays in the grounds of Cornerstone, Kerikeri, in the Hall if wet. Contact Mary or carboot@kkup.org.nz. Kerikeri Girls Brigade contact Jodie or gb@kkup.org.nz restart February 15 Kaeo Home Group second and fourth Monday evenings of month, contact Alan Kerikeri Home Group Plans for 2018 contact Michelle First gathering: Friday 23 February at 6.30pm in the Hall at Cornerstone Bible Study Group most Mondays pm, in Cornerstone Kerikeri Retirement Village Chapel Services: Every Sunday at 4.00pm at the Ted Robinson Chapel. FEBRUARY Thursday 1 Monday am 10.00am 11.30am Wednesday am Monday 19 Tuesday pm Friday 23 Sunday pm KK Women's Fellowship in meeting room at Cornerstone Cornerstone Management Committee meets Worship Committee in meeting room at Cornerstone Kerikeri Pastoral Morning Tea at Cornerstone Finance Committee meets at Kerikeri Parish Council meets at Kerikeri Communion at Kauri Lodge Communion at Ted Robinson Chapel MARCH Thursday 1 Monday 5 Tuesday 20 Friday 23 Sunday am KK Women's Fellowship at Cornerstone, room tba Cornerstone Management Committee meet 7.00pm Parish Council meets at Kaeo Communion at Kauri Lodge Material for next newsletter due (April/May newsletter available 1 April) 4.00pm Communion at Ted Robinson Chapel Kerikeri Door and Tea Duty February 11 Arlene and Lloyd February 18 Elaine and Ian February 25 Michelle and Akisi March 4 Bev and Bob March 11 Gage and John March 18 Trevor and Ngaire March 25 Jan and Rilla April 1 Bev and Bob Communion Prep Arlene and Lloyd Ros and Helen Rilla and Ngaire Readers Ngaire Allwood Bob Tayler Jessica Scott Marie Cannon Bev Barke Kay Blunkell Jan Gough Ros Simpson Kaeo Readers week by week Contacts Phone for all communications : Parish postal address: PO Box 166, Kerikeri 0245 Ministers: Everyone in the parish Minister to the Ministers: Robyn McPhail Ministry Leadership Team: Robyn McPhail minister@kkup.org.nz Bev Barke Alan Robinson Administrator: Sue Campbell admin@kkup.org.nz Parish Council Secretary: Paula du Plooy pollydp@gmail.com Kerikeri Pastoral Care: Jessica Scott jomscott2@gmail.com BOOKINGS FOR THE BUILDINGS Phone or Kaeo Bookings: wesleydale@kkup.org.nz Cornerstone Bookings: cornerstone@kkup.org.nz 6