| What's Hot? | ||||
| Synod Refresh - Wednesday 9th May | ||||
| Rev John Bluck, retired Anglican bishop of Waiapu, was the guest speaker on the second day of an annual two day Synod Refresh meeting at Camp Epworth on the banks of the Waikato River. His topic of "putting faith back on its feet - exploring a theology of place" was well received by a group of about 50 who attended. | ||||
| John invites us to identify areas of significance in our Synod. | We identified a large number of significant places of pilgrimage in the Syond. | |||
 |
 |
|||
| We formed a number of groups to work out how a pilgrimage to each place might be planned - and set ourselves a large project over the next few years. | No Synod gathering would be complete without food..... | |||
 |
 |
|||
| ... or music (thanks, on this occasion, to Peter Robertson, Bev Bayly and June Higham from Te Awamutu) | ... or a bookstall from Epworth (thanks Margaret Birtles). | |||
 |
 |
|||
| Youth Service at Tauranga - Sunday 29th April | ||||
| Over 100 people attended the service hosted by Wesley, Tauranga. Admidst prayer and singing, and getting to know each other better, worship was led by teams from Matamata and St Johns East, Hamilton. Vice-President Olive Tanielu brought a message of encouragement to the young people - thank you Olive. A great time was had by all, with the only outstanding question being - "when can we do this again?" | ||||
| Jess welcomed everyone and explained what was going to happen. | The important business of making name tags and getting to know each other. | |||
|
|
 |
|||
| Those cool dudes from Matamata led us in worship.. | ||||
 |
 |
|||
| ..as did these ones from St John's, Hamilton East..... | ||||
 |
 |
|||
| .............and these ones from Te Awamutu. | Every good celebration finishes with food and more opportunity to get to know each other. | |||
 |
 |
|||
| Synod Meeting at Te Aroha - Friday 2nd March | ||||
| Members of Synod from throughout the district gathered in Te Aroha to rekindle friendships over a tea meal provided by Eastport Womens' Fellowship. In Synod business, we received various reports and engaged in two group discussions. The first considered the Methodist Conference 10 Year Mission Priority 'Let the Children Live'. The second looked at reinvigorating a Synod recommendation to Conference to allow lay Synod Superintendency when suitable leaders were available, had received appropriate training and met with the endorsement of the local Synod. | ||||
| Rev Dr Susan Thompson welcomes members of Synod to the business sessions. | Mrs Mary West, Synod Secretary, former Vice-President of the Methodist Conference, and Rev Dr Susan Thompson, Synod Superintendent. | |||
 |
 |
|||
| Members of Synod help themselves to dessert! | From left: Valma Hallam, Alison Kehely, Marj Williams, Dorrie Hosking and Dorothy Marsters. | |||
 |
 |
|||
| Ohura Centenary - Sunday 19th February | ||||
| The Centenary of the Ohura Church was celebrated on Sunday 19th February. It was a great day. The church, which is the only Church retaining a witness to the community in Ohura, was packed with former Ohura residents returning for the reunion. The faithful witness of the local congregation is indeed something to celebrate! | ||||
| Since the 1980's (if not earlier), Hazel Wilson has shouldered a significant responsibility in keeping the mission of the parish alive. Well done Hazel. |
In the foreground, Laurie Michie, left, minister from 1967 to 1969, reminisces with Adrian Gover, former deputy principal at Ohura District High School. Adrian is now an Anglican minister. Shona Michie has her back to the camera. |
|||
 |
 |
|||
| Induction of Rev Anne Griffiths to Whakatane Hosipital Chaplaincy - Saturday 18th February. Here is the Challenge given to Anne in the induction address led by Rev Doris Elphick. |
||||
| Anne presents her "crooked" cross as a symbol of her ministry to the sick and those who care for them. | Rev Ron Malpass delivers the charge to Anne to be the Chaplain at Whakatane Hospital. | |||
 |
 |
|||
| Induction at Paeroa Co-operating Parish - Thursday 2nd February Rev Heather Simpson (right, centre) responds to the words of ordination at her ordination and induction service. On the left is Rev Simon McLeay, Presbytery Moderator. Heather is flanked by Rev Murray Lambert, moderator of the Parish Ministry Settlement Board, and Janice Purdie, Secretary of the Paeroa Parish Council. |
||||
 |
||||
|
Reports of recent events in the life of the Synod, and an accompanying photograph are welcome. Please send to eriwen@farmside.co.nz
|