April 2018 Steve s Vision and Strategy: Carrier of the Vision, Pastoral and Missional At the Presbytery meeting in February The Rev Steve Millward was elected as the new Moderator for 2019/2020. Vision connecting to nurture community in the Northern Presbytery. The vision is to help us feel connected, feel cared for, and feel our roles are important. connecting to grow Churches in the Northern Presbytery. Strategy Pastoral support for leaders Prayer for leaders Preacher s / Leader s resourcing and networking Building a platform of social media to help connect, communicate & nurture community Attending two of each region s meeting annually Attending council meetings Attending presbytery meetings Attend special events, inductions and meetings And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2.22) A word from Steve As a member of First Church and Districts Ministry Team, Papakura, for 11 ½ years I learned a great deal about leadership, teamwork, preaching and ministry. In my present appointment, Crossroads, I have served with my wife Ruth and a great team of people for 20 years. It is a flourishing rural Church and we have seen many make decisions for Christ. It is, and continues to be, a tremendous privilege to serve our Lord and Saviour in a Christ centred, loving, caring, regional Church. I see the upcoming role as moderator in 2019 to be a new and unique opportunity to serve. As I think ahead and reflect on the vision and strategy I am mindful of the geographical challenge with me being based in Mangatangi. A key component of the strategy will be for me to use a social media platform such as Facebook to help us connect as a part of the vision. The social media platform will help build that sense of community that we need to build in and throughout the Northern Presbytery. More detail to come closer to the time but I thank you in anticipation for the support in deepening our connections in our community God Bless Steve 111 Great South Rd, Epsom PO Box 9240, Newmarket, Auckland 1149 09 522 2170 www.northpres.org.nz
Message from the Moderator April 2018 The Rev Wayne Toleafoa They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. Few days draw out more reverence in New Zealanders, than ANZAC Day. As a former Defence Force Chaplain, I had the privilege of officiating at many ANZAC Day services. I was even fortunate enough to take part in an ANZAC Day Service at Anzac Cove in Turkey in 2008. I will never forget the sense of tragedy that cloaked the whole Gallipoli Campaign. From the narrow beaches, the ANZACs were expected to climb the high cliffs and ridges to defeat an enemy who was well-entrenched and wellarmed. An enemy who were fighting for their way of life and for their homeland. There is a spiritual quality about the place called Anzac Cove. What made it so, was not only the fact that so many good people died there, but because of the many stories of acts of bravery and compassion shown by soldiers on both sides of the trenches. One such story is that of Chaplain Major William Grant, a Presbyterian minister from Taranaki aged 57. Grant was shot and killed while tending the wounded of both sides at a place called Hill 60 in Gallipoli. At the time of his death, he was administering first aid to a severely wounded Turkish solder. When the Turks who shot Grant, saw his Red Cross arm band and realized they had shot a Chaplain tending the wounded they showed gestures of great remorse and waved the other allied soldiers away from the scene thus sparing their lives. Courage and Compassion are spiritual qualities that resonate with us who are Christian because we have seen those qualities in Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. We easily draw the parallel with the courage and sacrifice of Jesus and that greater love that lays down life for a friend. In all walks of life, in peace time as in war time, when we see those qualities of courage and compassion in others, or when we feel them welling up within ourselves, it is as if Christ is alive in others and alive in us. It is those two qualities of courage and compassion that enable us to rise above adversity. It is bravery and compassion that makes us better human beings regardless of our religion or race. This ANZAC Day I will be representing you - the Northern Presbytery - at the Auckland Domain Cenotaph alongside leaders of the Auckland Churches. I will lay a wreath to the Fallen on your behalf. I will be thinking of the bravery and compassion shown by soldiers, sailors and aviators during war time and the sacrifices made on our behalf. I will also be thinking of the death of Jesus Christ, his courage and sacrifice that enables us to embrace the Christian life life in all its fullness. Sometimes there are no other words to say except, Thank you. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your courage and your compassion. Blessings, Wayne The eternal God is thy refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Ethics & Risk Management Workshops 27 th & 28 th June further detail to follow on website and in May issue of PointsNorth i)rev Mark Chapman, Independent Convenor of Council The Rev Mark Chapman has been appointed to the new role of Independent Convenor for the Presbytery Council. The transition from the Interim Convenor, The Rev Brett Johnstone, shall begin at the Council meeting on Saturday 14 th of April. I d like to convey our thanks to Mark for taking up this challenge and to those who expressed an interest in serving the Presbytery in this way; much appreciated. I d also like to take this opportunity to thank The Rev Brett Johnstone in his interim convenor role for the guidance, advice and support he has provided to me. ii)part-time, three-month role of Presbytery Asian Coordinator Due to the PCANZ Asian Coordinator (Rev Han Kyoung) leaving at the end of February we submitted a proposal to the Council of Assembly to fund a short-term role (Presbytery Asian Coordinator). The purpose of the role is to provide advice to the Presbytery on how to best support our Asian congregations and leaders into the future, whilst also helping to address any current issues. Please refer to the notice for expressions of interest in this important role. iii)the next full Presbytery meeting The next full Presbytery meeting will be 9 June. The morning will consist of an interactive workshop provided by the Centre for Not for Profit Leadership. More specifically it will aim to: update people s thinking around leadership concepts and ideas; promote leadership development as a way of growing future leaders; focus on coaching leadership and simple tools for coaching conversations. The business of the Presbytery will be undertaken after lunch. Executive Officers Update Greetings from Rod iv)establishment of a Presbyterian Church strategy for the Inner City The Presbytery Council resolved that a Northern Presbytery Strategy be developed to ensure there is a visible, vibrant and sustainable Presbyterian Church presence in the Inner City of Auckland (CBD). The Central East Region was asked to establish a working group, coming back to the Council in October with a proposed final Strategy. The working group has had its first meeting, with Kerry Stotter appointed as its convenor. This is a significant development and there will be opportunity to contribute ideas / suggestions regarding what this Presbyterian presence could be in the Inner City. v)presbytery Office objectives for 2018/19 A primary role of the Presbytery Office is to serve the Presbytery. We are beginning to give thought to specific objectives for the next financial year, which will also reflect the importance of being transparent about what we shall be focusing upon once the Council has agreed to these specific objectives. Notice: We are seeking expressions of interest for the fixed term, threemonth part-time role of Presbytery Asian Co-ordinator. The purpose of the role is to continue to provide priority support for Asian congregations whilst developing a proposal to advise how best to sustainably support Asian congregations and leaders. The person appointed will report to the Executive Officer during the term of appointment, work flexibly up to halftime, with salary based on PCANZ stipend. The specifics of the role and the approach to develop the proposal for ongoing support to the Presbytery Council will be established once the person is appointed. Please contact Rod Watts (0275208601) for any queries, and forward expressions of interest to Natalie Stubbs at administrator@presbytery.org.nz by Friday 13 th of April. CHANGING AUCKLAND CITY WITH THE GOSPEL Auckland Chinese Presbyterian Church English Ministry DAY RETREAT Saturday 14 th April 2018, 10am to 4pm St Heliers Presbyterian Church Events & Opportunities The Northern Presbytery
Regional Youth Service Youth Ministry Hunua Easter Camp April 2018 Sunday 15 th April, 6pm, Te Atatu Union Church 2 Taikata Rd, Te Atatu Peninsula "Hunua Easter Camp was a fantastic weekend away with a number of youth groups from Northern Presbytery attending. Throughout the weekend campers and leaders took part in a variety of activities and also had the opportunity to strengthen their relationship with God during the chapel and small group sessions. It was great to see youth from around the region meeting each other and becoming friends over the course of the weekend. Thank-you for your prayers leading up to this camp and also during the weekend - bring on Hunua Easter Camp 2019!" Fresh Challenge for The Rev Brett Johnstone After 16 years as the minister of Somervell this weekend will be my last service. I was inducted into the role by the then Moderator of Auckland Presbytery Jane Prichard in April 2002. Jane, an Elder emeritus here at Somervell will be speaking at my farewell. Things have come full circle. I have valued the support and encouragement of my friends and colleagues within the presbytery over the years, and I am looking forward to continuing with my work for the presbytery in my new role. My new email address is eastcentralnp@gmail.com I will miss parish ministry, and I will miss the many good people, many who have become firm friends here at Somervell. However, the opportunity to minister in a different way as a Chaplin in the New Zealand Prison Chaplaincy service has given me a fresh challenge, and the chance to make a difference with a new and vastly different group of people. I also think that the time is right for Somervell to have different ministerial leadership. I wish them well. I start as a Chaplain at Mt Eden Corrections Facility on the 10 th April, I would value your prayers as I take up this new role. Brett Johnstone.
Presbytery Business Meetings, Vacancies, Youth Work Group, Regional & Council Meetings Presbytery Council Meetings 2018 PSN Boardroom, 111 Great South Road, Epsom Have you organised your next Church Camp? Please support camps that belong to presbytery Presbyterian Campsites The Northern Presbytery Saturday 14th April, 10am - 2.30pm Saturday 14th July, 10am - 2.30pm Saturday 13th October, 10am - 2.30pm Property and Finance Work Group Meetings 2018 St David s, 3rd Tuesday of the month Tuesday 17th April, 9.30am - 12.30pm Tuesday 15th May, 9.30am - 12.30pm Regional Meetings 2018 South, 7pm Thursday 7th June Thursday 5th August Thursday 4th October Vacancy Auckland Chinese Presbyterian Church is seeking a Permanent Minister Vacancies The Northern Presbytery Coastal Cluster, 7.30pm Tuesday 1st May Tuesday 3rd July Tuesday 4th September East / Central Region, 7pm Thursday 10th May Thursday 12th July Thursday 13th September West Region, 7pm Tuesday 8th May Tuesday 10th July Tuesday 11 th September www.stcolumba.org.nz/beloved Sandra Sellmer-Kersten Jasmine Fidow-Maiava Tracy Keytel-Swift