We hope you had a very special Christmas Day and that the hopes and dreams that God births in you for the year ahead will be realised in God’s time.
We would have loved to have written you all Christmas cards, saying how glad we are for each one of you. Some of you have taught us courage and integrity this year. Some of you we would thank for giving so much of your time, energy and creativity. Some we would acknowledge for your faithfulness in prayer. To others we would name our delight in seeing your growing faith in God.
And to all of you we would say “thanks” for being part of Opawa Baptist Church, for all you contribute in the things you do, and in simply being you. Have a great summer!
"The idea that God, if there is a force of Logic and Love in the
universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it
would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born
in straw poverty, in shit and straw. a child. I just thought: 'Wow!' Just
the poetry. Unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the
most vulnerable ... I was sitting there, and it's not that it hadn't
struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face."
So wrote Irish rock star, Bono, after sitting in a recent Christmas Eve
church service. (Excerpt taken from "Bono: in conversation", New York:
Riverhead Books, 2005, 124-5.)
As a church we are offering a wide range of ways to enter into this
Christmas story of Logic and Love. They include ways to love our city - by
taking a rostered slot at the Christmas Journey, running through the
weekend, Monday and Tuesday - all hands to the hay bales, from 8 am,
Christmas Eve
And a range of worship services. All are visitor aware, so please invite
friends and family - 7pm, Sunday 21st, Great Opawa Christmas Treasure
Hunt. With kids finishing school and full of energy, this evening is
suitable for all ages. Bring a warm coat. - 7 pm, Christmas Eve - family
focus - 11 pm, Christmas Eve - multimedia, candles, carols - 10 am
Christmas Day - celebration.
From the Board meeting, Tuesday 9 December:
(1) Some encouragements: including a number of folk attending Alpha, the Baptism Explained course on Thursday evenings and the possibility of a baptism service Sunday December 21, reports of the DIY Advent figures being used by teachers at Waltham School to help tell the Christmas story, the Building plans going to Council.
(2) Staffing updates: With the resignation of Craig Fairhall, and as a short-medium term measure, the Board have asked Paul McMahon to work another day/week, picking up some of Craig’s task, specifically growth coaching, some services and discipleship evenings. This will be in two parts, firstly in the weeks leading up to Paul’s parental leave December 19, and then for a six month period into 2009. This will mean Paul working three days/week rather than two and gives the Board, and church, some breathing space.
The Board also received news of Deirdre Wilson’s decision to retire from her role as Office Secretary from February 09 and are talking with her about the implications for her ministry with Crafts.
The Board would like to make the search for a Church Manager a priority, and then with that person in place, look again at the Discipling Pastor role.
(3) Family hub update: This remains on the Board agenda. Conversations with various people, including social service agencies and local Trusts continue, and we will have updates as these develop.
(4) Bible-day: A new initiative being planned for 2009 designed to encourage Bible reading and Bible knowledge among us at Opawa. Watch this space.
We remain dependant on your prayer and open to your wisdom through feedback.
I have never heard the church pray so much as in the last few days, in re-sponse to Sunday’s news that Craig Fairhall had resigned, effective immediate-ly. Explanatory statements by him and Opawa are available from the Church office and this website (see entry below, for December 1).
Messages of support have flooded in during the week:
From Amy Hay: “I have often thought of you and everyone at Opawa and have missed the amazing community there. Thanks once again for your input in my life, I don’t take it for granted.”
From Judy More: “My thoughts and prayers are with you. You all do an amazing job and I just want to affirm you in what you do. I have always appreciated the hard work you put in and for the support you have given me. I am praying for you as you work through this difficult situation.”
From Alistair McKenzie (local Baptist consultant): “Just wanted you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as you process through this yourself and with Opawa. Let me know if I can be of any assistance.”
From a Baptist Church in the UK: "You pour life into me, giving me speech, sense, desire, giving me thought and action. My fame or repute will be, just as You allow: You mark the way before me. As I remember saints, who have journeyed before me, Lord, teach me the way of their simplicity; strength with humility, at peace in the fear of God. May I also go where I am led. The keeping of Christ about me, the guarding of God within me to possess me, to protect me from drowning, danger and loss, the gospel of the God of grace, from brow of head, to sole of foot, the gospel of Christ, King of salvation, be as a mantle to my body. All I speak, hear, see, sense, taste, be blessed to me, O God. Each step I take, be blessed to me, O God. On your path, O my God, and not my own, be all my journeying. Rule this heart of mine, that it be only yours."
Steve and various Board members will be available, informally, for 15 minutes after the service Sunday, December 1, in the West Wing and on Tuesday evening, December 9, in the church auditorium from 7 to 8 pm if you have questions or opinions and want to pray with us.
(altered 12 December)
The week past has not been one I’d want to repeat. A statement from the Fairhall family is available from the office. The statement from the Board is here.
And below this is the accompanying verbal announcement that I made to the church today:
The Fairhall family want to take up a 9 week interim pastoral position (December/January) with Oamaru Baptist Church, effective Sunday 30 November. This means Craig is unable to fulfill his responsibilities here at Opawa and therefore Craig has chosen to resign. We regret this situation and how it has evolved.
Given the short notice, we are asking Craig and the family if they would be willing to return for an evening in February 2009. We want to acknowledge to them that what has happened is not ideal and to thank them for their ministry among us.
The Board realise this might raise questions and a range of emotions. To help us process this Steve and various Board members will be available, informally
after service today, 30 November, West Wing, 15 minutes after morning service
after service next Sunday, December 7, West Wing, 15 minutes after morning service
Tuesday evening, December 9, church auditorium, 7-8 pm
Now, please, before you hurry away, pause and pray for all those impacted by this - Fairhalls and Opawa, myself and Oamaru, church staff and God’s Kingdom. There is so much life around Opawa at the moment - people finding faith and significant wider community transformation - and nothing should steal away from that.