Christmas Greetings

The staff of CWS wish you all a very special Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Thank you for your support in 2008 as we work together to Keep Hope Alive.

CWS Christmas Appeal 08

Thank you for your orders and assistance with the CWS Christmas Appeal. This is the major fundraiser for CWS and we hope parishes will continue the tradition of giving generously at Christmas time and promote this appeal during advent.  The global economic crisis is hitting poorest communities the hardest and without your ongoing support, CWS will not be able to fund their programmes against poverty, emergency relief or help fight the causes of poverty. Help keep hope alive this Christmas. 

New Christmas Resources

CWS has produced an alternative advent calendar. Each day, you can stick a coin on it to raise funds for CWS partners. The fun, quirky design is ideal for children’s groups. Download from www.cws.org.nz or contact cws@cws.org.nz. It’s not too late to join in.

Website link buttons are available to add to your website from: http://www.cws.org.nz/resources/button-link-your-website. These show your support of the CWS Christmas Appeal and enable visitors to your parish website to find out more about the appeal and donate online.

World Watch

The latest World Watch, CWS’s magazine for children aged 7-13 years is out now. This issue focuses on Timor Leste and how CWS partners are helping children, many of them orphans, to keep hope alive. It includes stories and fun activities and is accompanied by a leader’s kit. If you haven’t received your free copies please email youth@cws.org.nz

Just Gifts

Give a Christmas gift that brings hope and change to communities living in poverty. CWS virtual gifts include ducks, water, goats and gardens. See www.cws.org.nz/what-can-i-do or contact CWS for a catalogue: 0800 74 73 72

Other ‘just’ gift ideas for Christmas are Fairtrade clothes and Fairtrade cakes.  Micah Clothing is offering a special deal.  They will donate $5 to CWS when you add CWS to the comments box on their online order form. See www.micahclothing.co.nz for their range of Fairtrade and organic certified cotton t-shirts, jeans and cardigans.  Cakes with a Conscience has a range of Fairtrade cakes and biscuits. They will donate 10% of net profits to CWS. See www.cakeswithaconscience.co.nz for a sweet Christmas treat.

Keep Hope Alive

CWS remains concerned about the worsening humanitarian crises in Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Darfur and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Please remember these communi ties in prayers.

New Member for the InterChurch Bioethics Council

The InterChurch Bioethics Council is seeking a new member. The person must be a member of either the Methodist Church of New Zealand/Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa, or the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Persons with an interest in contributing to the churches' work with ethical issues raised by the new biotechnology are invited to send an expression of interest and a CV to the acting Chairperson, Barbara Peddie, at bpeddie@clear.net.nz. The ICBC is seeking someone with recent experience in scientific research, and, given the current issues exercising us, research in plant science and/or agriculture and all food science would greatly expand our areas of expertise!

Dave Mullan’s Murder Mystery Dinner

Eight groups have now
enjoyed the fun
and challenge of

It is of special interest to CVs and so far six of them have staged it but a tentative event for general public was sold out four weeks ahead and there were 60 names on a list for a second one. The CD ROM can be used by any group to do it themselves but Bev and Dave are travelling several times next year and would welcome early enquiries for coordinated presentations in any part of the country.
Get information suggesting the possibilities for your church from. colcom.press@clear.net.nz

Christmas Vespers

 Free Concert 

The Christmas Vespers by Claudio Monteverdi will be performed by The Jubilate Singers and Orchestra.

Where: St Luke’s –in -the City Anglican Church, Cnr Manchester & Kilmore Street, Christchurch.

When: Sunday 21 December at 2.00pm.

The Vespers comprises five magnificent settings of psalms and also The Magnificat (Song of Mary).

Tickets are available from St Lukes Church, Ecclesia Bookshop

(Peterborough St) or by telephoning (03) 342-9377.

Admission is Free although a voluntary koha/ donation toward the Church’s concert lighting is encouraged.

Music in the Air: Winter/Spring 2008

just published. Annual sub: $30.00

to ‘Music in the  Air’, 15 Oriana Place, Palmerston North 

Contents:

·       New Zealand’s Christmas Tree, Philip Simpson

·       Power Point and NZ Hymns, Doris Elphick and Raewyn Luxton

·       Finding a voice down-under, Colin Gibson (text of talk given at two northern hemisphere conferences in 2008.  A concise survey of the history and unique character of Australian and NZ hymnody)

·       Stations of the land: Jennifer Barrer & Colin G. Jamieson

·       Two carol services, Robert Bruere: fresh uses for the Nine Lessons and  Carols format

·       No Woman No Cry, John Thornley completes a 3-part coverage of three key lyrics by Bob Marley, hymnist for the Third World

·       WOMAD: Taranakian John Fawkner, on the annual festivals of World Music held in New Plymouth

·       The Trouble with Mrs Noah: one of four plays about ‘biblical chicks’. A rompish but robust portrait of an early feminist

·       So what’s new?  Colin Gibson and a clear-headed’n’-hearted statement about why we need new hymns

·       Creativity across the ditch: an Australian plea for more hymns and songs about social justice and review of jazz CD