Powhiri and Tributes to those who have died
President: Kia ora e te whānau o te Hāhi Weteriana. Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Ni sa bula vinaka. In this time together, as The Methodist Church of New Zealand - Te Hāhi Weteriana o Aotearoa - we acknowledge the contribution of those who have died. (All please stand as you are able)
Vice-President: Ko te Atua te timatanga o te whakaaro nui, Whakapaingia tōna ingoa tapu. Whakapaingia te Atua i runga, i raro, i waho, i roto, whakapaingia te Atua Wairua kei ngā wāhi katoa.
Kia kotahi tō tātou whakamoemiti, whakapai i a Ihowa o ngā mano, a te Atua kaha rawa, ora tonu. Ōtira, te Kaihanga o te rangi, te whenua me ngā mea katoa tae hoki ki te tangata.
Kia tau ki a koutou te atawhai, me te rangimarie o te Atua. Mā te Atua koe e whakaū, ki te pono me te hari.
Family and friends of those who have died, you have come at the invitation of Conference. You have come bearing another in your heart to find a place where you both belong. You and your loved ones are welcome. As you awoke to God s world this morning, so be aware of God s loving presence now.
May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. (Please be seated)
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Loving God, You have searched each of us and you know us. You are familiar with our ways. In your rhythm of life each finds our place. You are never far from us. If we experience a touch of heaven you are found there. Should we feel completely forsaken, we turn only to find you there also.
If we take the wings of the morning, and fly as far as we can go, even there your hands will guide us, your hands will hold us fast. You are with us in this unfamiliar place as you are with those we love and cherish. You are the God in whom we live, and move, and have our being. Be known to us and let your light shine within us. Amen
Silent reflection Today, we take time to remember those members of our families who have died in the past two years. We give thanks to God for their life and witness and the contribution each has made to The Methodist Church of New Zealand, Te Hāhi Weteriana O Aotearoa.
Give thanks for life, the measure of our days mortal we pass through beauty that decays, yet sing to God our hope, our love, our praise, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Mavis Ambler 1934-2017 committed to church and community, innovative and empathetic
Frederick (Fred) John Kennedy Baker 1929-2017 committed to people through social justice; ministry as a way of life
Joyce Rosalind Besant 1925-2017 a quiet achiever, loyal and committed to MWF and parish life
Roger Raymond Biddle 1944-2018 befriender, helper and enabler of people
John Bilverstone 1937-2018 compassionate, always hopeful and forever caring, with gentle concern for all
John Boniface 1926-2018 quiet, humble, gentle but strong, living out what he believed
Lewis (Lew) Alfred Bowen 1928-2018 dedicated and gracious pastor
Wilfred (Wilf) James Cable 1929-2017 faithful, compassionate and thoughtful pastor
Nancy Carter died 2017 empowering and supportive missionary and teacher
Nancy Kathleen Eastwood 1935 2016 committed to MWF, church and community
Give thanks for those who made their life a light caught from the Christ-flame, bursting through the night, who touched the truth, who burned for what is right, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gwenda Falepau (née Kennedy) 1928-2017 always a deaconess, seeing a need and finding a way to help
Matangi Fonua 1942-2016 a great man of God, tireless, devoted to people, a man of faith
Myra Charlotte Fraser MBE 1918-2018 warm, gentle, teaching sister Star Myra
Warwick Gust 1937-2016 committed, principled, a caring and effective pastor
Te Kiri Tapeha Heretuka (née Honana, aka Gladys Kiri) 1936-2017 minita-a-iwi, leaving a legacy of loyalty and gifts of wisdom and great faith
Ernest (Ernie) Heppelthwaite 1927-2018 gentle and attentive in parish and chaplaincy, seeking justice for people and the earth
Florence Doreen (Dorn) Herbert 1927-2018 supporter and encourager, traveller and communicator
Derek Holland 1961-2017 traveller, musician, a kind man of quiet words, with a strong sense of social justice
Celia May Irvine 1932-2017 adept organiser, encourager of women at home and overseas
And for our own, our living and our dead, thanks for the love by which our life is fed, a love not changed by time or death or dread Alleluia! Alleluia!
Jack Jenner 1938-2018 faithful and caring treasurer and chorister, he used his God-given gifts to the full
John Motunau Katene Kopa QSM died 2017 a man of principle and integrity, a hard worker and gifted orator
Watarini (Sonny) Tekauhoa Livingstone 1967 2018 a man of deep faith, committed to ministry for God and people
Ruby Martin died 2017 a reader and thinker, constantly searching for fresh insights and expressions of faith
Su efuaina (Su'e) Filipo Mulitalo died 2018 humble, kind, loving; a bridge between young and old
Gillian (Jill) Mary Felicity Anne Richards 1934-2016 warm and generous, a person of vital faith and skilled, compassionate presence
Lloyd Vincent Riesterer 1932-2018 faith-filled and faithful, modest and honest, reliable and dependable
David Gordon Stubbs 1927-2017 an exceptional pastor, able administrator, thoughtful and engaging preacher
Samiuela (Sam) Taufa 1940-2017 a man of great integrity, and a visionary leader who modelled the agape love of Christ
Give thanks for hope, that like the wheat, the grain lying in darkness does its life retain, in resurrection to grow green again. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Mildred Joy Thompson (Joy) 1928-2016 so passionate about and for her God that divine love radiated from her
Ailsa Roslyn Thorburn 1942-2018 untiring commitment, passion for people and faith-filled service to church and community
Mele Foeata Tu ipulotu 1966 2017 respected deacon, with a generous and loving heart
Maurice van de Geer 1938-2018 his care is the stuff of legend; life given selflessly and without measure
Napi Tutewehiwehi Waaka OBE 1932-2016 truly gifted, man of the people, committed servant of God
Jill (Joan) Weeks 1926 2018 she walked life s journey with energy, determination, faith, hope, love, courage and assertiveness
Frank Harvey Woodfield 1923-2016 committed to overseas and parish ministry, interested and skilled in industrial chaplaincy
Nelma June Woodfield 1928-2017 living Christian faith with her whole heart, mind, soul and strength
Peggy Averill Yeatman died 2017 committed volunteer in church and community, wholehearted and dependable
Give thanks for life, the measure of our days mortal we pass through beauty that decays, yet sing to God our hope, our love, our praise, Alleluia! Alleluia! Shirley Murray
Lord of creation, we, who have gathered together in this place, represent many cultures; some of us have called this land of Aotearoa home for many generations;
some of us trace our roots back to the other side of the world; some of us carry the memory of island beaches and the sound of the sea; but all of us are called to reflect your image.
We are the people called Methodist, and within that family are many branches and many traditions; we sing our faith in different languages and pray using different words, but we all rejoice in your gift of grace and do our best to follow your call to love and service.
As the rivers in our eastern plains flow down from the mountains, dividing and re-joining, surging in flood, or disappearing beneath the stony surface, but all moving towards the same sea, so we, your people, move on different courses and at different speeds towards the goal of building your commonwealth of love and peace in this place.
O God, lover of the world, we pray for our wounded world, torn apart by warring and greedy factions. May we be makers and menders. We pray for ourselves. Strengthen us to answer your call to offer our different gifts and skills in your service.
Nothing is impossible. Whatever confronts us, we are the people who have inherited courage and freedom, vision and responsibility. We will move into the future in hope and faith, carrying Christ s light wherever we go. Amen.
May God the heart of life be deep within us, God the Christ be present in our history, and God the Spirit give us power, truth and peace. Amen
Tama ngakau marie Tama a te Atua Tenei tonu matou Arohaina mai. Murua ra nga hara: Wetekina mai Enei here kino, Whakararu nei.
Homai he aroha Mou i mate nei. Tenei ra, e Ihu, Takina e koe. Tenei arahina A tutuki noa: Puta i te pouri, Whiwhi hari nui
Tama ngakau marie Tama a te Atua Tenei tonu matou Arohaina mai.