He Kupu Whakataki
Kia ora koutou,
September was a super busy month for Archbishop Don’s office in the lead-up to hosting several international and national manuhiri for the Anglican Indigenous Leaders’ Initiative wananga, which flowed into Te Runanganui o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, held in Hastings.
It has been extremely devastating to hear about the ongoing war in Israel, and harrowing to hear about the rocket fire that hit the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza. Please find here a joint statement from our House of Bishops and the Catholic Bishops on the conflict, asking the New Zealand Government to advocate for a ceasefire. The Anglican Missions have launched an emergency appeal. Please give here if you are able. We encourage you to pray for peace.
The Hui Amorangi ki te Tairawhiti AGM which is scheduled for November, 11-12th will be postponed as Archbishop Don will be overseas. A new date will be confirmed in the next week, so please keep an eye on your inbox in early November. Just a small reminder, the Tairawhiti Ordinations will be at Waimarama Marae in Te Rohe o Te Matau a Maui. This will be held on 2nd December. Stay tuned for more details in next month’s He Kupu Whakamarama.
Nga mihi,
Sharlene Douglas-Huriwai
Administrator
Omahu Marae welcomes Te Runanganui
Te Hui Amorangi ki te Tairawhiti and the haukainga of Omahu welcomed members of Te Runanganui, dignitaries, and guests onto Omahu marae on Thursday 28th of September. The very same marae became a community hub in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle’s destruction, housing several whanau for weeks that followed. The cyclone swept through destroying homes, and damaging urupa and churches, marae, and kohanga reo in the small community of Omahu.
This was the first in-person gathering of Te Runanganui since 2019. Due to Covid-19, the 2021 meeting was held on Zoom. The powhiri was a welcome time of mihimihi and manaakitanga, to renew our connections, to greet each other from the Hui Amorangi once again, and to express aroha as members of the body of Christ. Archbishop Don brought the powhiri to an end by sharing a blessing with all those present and for the days ahead.
To see more photos, click here to visit the TPOA Facebook page.
Kahui Wahine, retreat at Sea!
A group of 26 embarked on a 10-day cruise of the Pacific, from Sep 30-Oct 9. The group was made up of members of Kahui Wahine ki te Tairawhiti, our whanau, and friends. Two wahine flew from Australia to join us! We gathered for morning prayers and whanaungatanga, with the sunrise and ocean as our backdrop. The timing had us a little befuddled for the first two mornings, as the ship’s time changed to Pacific time, and most of our devices were still on NZ time, but we made time to be still in the presence of God each day. I’m sure a few extra prayers were made before each Bingo game!
Speaking of time, our non-stipended, volunteer ministers are on call 24 hours a day. Most don’t have an “off” switch. Holidays are interrupted by tangihanga and long weekends are ideal for unveilings, baptisms, and weddings. It can be an exhausting vocation, and a sabbatical can offer some much-needed, uninterrupted, downtime. Sabbatical leave is time away from normal ministry duties. It is for rest, renewal, discernment, and professional development. While this cruise was not a “sabbatical”, it offered our wahine time to put their wellbeing first, to rest, to come away from the demands on their time, and to let their hair down. As a lay leader, I am convinced that cruising is a perfect way for our ministers to retreat and take a break, being stuck out at sea.
We visited Noumea and Port Vila, where the sun shone, the sea glistened and the kai was delicious. Some of our group participated in excursions, train or bus tours, visited markets, and rode water taxis. Don’t get me wrong, cruising isn’t perfect. Two of the scheduled port visits (Lifou and Mystery Island) were disrupted due to weather conditions and the rescue of Tom Mahuta Robinson. Tom is an Australian athlete who was attempting to be the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific. Tom survived overnight on the hull of his rowboat and was telling cruise passengers how lucky he was to be alive. See Tom pictured with Koka Ngaire in a photo below.
If you want to know more about our cruise, you’ll have to ask! There were lots of highlights, a few lowlights but overall, this haerenga was a super blessing for us all. We thank God for our amazing journey, for the new relationships we have built, for the miracle of life, for the love shared, for the good times, and for the many more to come. Plans are already in the works for another cruise in 2025. Wahine ma, if you aren’t already, join your rohe Kahui Wahine ropu to find out more.
Heoi, e oku teina, ko nga mea e pono ana, ko nga mea e whai honore ana, ko nga mea e tika ana, ko nga mea e kinokore ana, ko nga mea e ataahua ana, ko nga mea e korerotia paitia ana; ki te mea he pai, ki te mea he whakamoemiti; whakaaroa enei mea. - Philippians 4:8
Disability Ministry Resources
The Disability Ministry Educators have released 6 posters to raise awareness and understanding of:
Down Syndrome
Cerebral Palsy
Vision Environment
Neurodiversity Awareness
Disability Ministry Educators are available to come and meet with groups.
Please contact: Revd Vicki Terrell disabilityresources@anglicanchurch.org.nz or
Cherryl Thompson disabilityengagement@anglicanchurch.org.nz
Cannot use Zoom/Skype to marry a couple
A brief update from the Registrar-General regarding marrying a couple online in the August edition of Ngatahi, a newsletter for marriage celebrants.
Under the Marriage Act, a marriage can’t occur virtually i.e. you cannot use video conferencing software like Zoom, Skype, etc. The couple, celebrant, and two witnesses must be physically present in the same place - these five people must be physically present, in person, at the geographical place when the couple says their vows to each other.
Church Organ available
Geoff Taylor approached the General Synod Office to advise that his family has a church organ which is available for long-term use (refer to photos below) by parishes in the Auckland area.
Should you know of anyone who may be interested, please contact Geoff Taylor by email g14tay@xtra.co.nz or on 021 405 859.
UPCOMING DATES
11-12 Nov: POSTPONED: Hui Amorangi o te Tairawhiti (AGM), Wairoa. A new date is to be confirmed by the Archbishop and will be circulated as soon as possible.
2 Dec: Tairawhiti Ordinations, Waimarama
3 Dec: Advent Sunday
9 Dec: Kaumatua Ball, Turanga
JOB VACANCIES
Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy
Hawkes Bay Hospital, Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Māui
Closes 4pm, Friday 3 November 2023
Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy
Christchurch, Christchurch Women’s, Burwood,
Hillmorton Hospitals, Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury
Closes 4pm, Friday 10 November 2023