October 28, 2005
All Saints Day Eve
Monday 31 October is the Eve of All Saints Day
(commonly called Halloween)
We are going to enjoy a church picnic together
from 5.30pm
at the St Martins Park
There is a lolly scamble to be enjoyed
and a take-home for kids
reminding them of God's love for them.
Download file
October 23, 2005
Pastors para - Labour Day
With Labour Day tomorrow, all of New Zealand will down tools and take time to relax and beach and garden. We might even think about the origins of Labour Day Holiday as a celebration of the justice of working only a 40 hour week.
Christians are called to a rhythm of work and relaxation. Poet Wendell Berry expresses it well;
… workday
And Sabbath live together in one place.
Though mortal, incomplete, that harmony
Is our one possibility of peace.- Wendell Berry
And the origins of our rhythm of work and relaxation?
“Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy … you shall not do any work … For in six days the Lord make the heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, but rested on the seventh day.” - Exodus
“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy … you shall not do any work … remember that you were slaves in Egypt.” -Deuteronomy
Note the different motivations, relaxing because God relaxed and relaxing to celebrate a new justice. I pray a relaxing Labour Weekend for you, caught in God’s rhythm of work and rest.
October 21, 2005
Geoff Bullock drops by
Geoff Bullock has just commented here. A few weeks ago I wrote a letter to our worship leaders regarding our use of the lyrics of Geoff Bullock's songs. I placed the letter on the church website, as part of being open and transparent in my communication. Geoff has commented, thankful and very warmly encouraging of my initiative.
labour weekend special
This Sunday night (23rd) we will be doing things a little different. We will be having a sausage sizzle from 7pm for Digestion church service followed by a couple of short films on the big screen and we want to see you there!
The short films are from the Damah Film Festival, one comedy, one thought-provoking and one a contemporisation of the ancient Footprints poem.
Feel free to invite friends and family, the Sausage sizzle is put on for you because we love you soooo much! (Although any donations will be welcomed!)
October 11, 2005
Pastors para 9 october
Last Sunday Peter Majendie shared with us the news that the Christchurch City Council have given permission for the Christmas Journey (an artistic exploration of the Christmas story) to be placed in the Square for 14 days leading up to Christmas. This is the fruit of months of negotiations and paper work on the part of Peter and Joyce Majendie.
It is a bold move that will place the Christmas message in the heart of our city. There is the potential for thousands of Christchurch people and many, many visitors to engage with the life-changing message of God come in flesh. I praise God for this, for the power of art and for the skills of Peter and Joyce.
It is very exciting. It will also be very demanding. Practicalities of financing, of security and of staffing are major and over the coming months we at Opawa are going to be asked to be involved in a large variety of ways.
It will also mean the loss of the Christmas Journey from our premises here at Opawa. In its place, I am exploring a number of other ways that we at Opawa can witness to the Christmas message. Ideally these will be ways that are not people-intensive, and thus free us at Opawa to support the Christmas Journey in the Square.
Please be prayerful; for God to be at work in lives of many in our city this Christmas, for Peter and Joyce as they lead this major mission; for all of us as resource managers of our time and skills in the Christmas rush.
Steve Taylor
October 07, 2005
christmas in the square
Last Sunday Peter Majendie shared with us the news that the Christchurch City Council have given permission for the Christmas Journey (an artistic exploration of the Christmas story) to be placed in the Square for 14 days leading up to Christmas. This is the fruit of months of negotiations and paper work on the part of Peter and Joyce Majendie.
It is a bold move that will place the Christmas message in the heart of our city. There is the potential for thousands of Christchurch people and many, many visitors to engage with the life-changing message of God come in flesh. I praise God for this, for the power of art and for the skills of Peter and Joyce.
It is very exciting. It will also be very demanding. Practicalities of financing, of security and of staffing are major and over the coming months we at Opawa are going to be asked to be involved in a large variety of ways.
Station 5, Christmas Journey, 2005. Photos taken by Nate Cull.
It will also mean the loss of the Christmas Journey from our premises here at Opawa. In its place, I am exploring a number of other ways that we at Opawa can witness to the Christmas message. Ideally these will be ways that are not people-intensive, and thus free us at Opawa to support the Christmas Journey in the Square.
Please be prayerful; for God to be at work in lives of many in our city this Christmas, for Peter and Joyce as they lead this major mission; for all of us as resource managers of our time and skills in the Christmas rush.