Archived Links; 05 Oct Nov 06 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
07 Feb Mar Apr
Excerpts from the monthly News Letter, JUNE 07
Ashburton Methodist LINK
|
MINISTER Rev. Peter Taylor Ph 308 6297 OFFICE: Thursday / Friday 9am to 12 noon Email: ashmeth@paradise.net.nz SECRETARY: Daphne Whiting Ph/Fax 308 6207 |
Queens Birthday Weekend
You all know when Queens Birthday Weekend takes place - 1st weekend in
June. You all know when Anzac Day is - 25th April. You all know when Labour
Day is - 1st Monday in October. You all know Mother's Day is in May and
Father's Day in September. You all know, but I struggle to remember them for
they are all remembered on different days in the UK, with the exception of
Queen's Birthday which is not remembered at all.
This is the problem with immersing yourself in another culture. For what one
culture takes as normal, is strange to another. Some of these cultural
differences are quite subtle. In some ways the obvious things like currency,
and shop names are actually easier to cope with, because they are obvious.
What is more difficult are the subtle things, like how NZ tax system works and
the 'Give Way' road rule.The trouble is that if these things are not obvious
you tend to assume they work the same way as you have been used to in your
previous culture, and you become a cropper when you discover they are all
different.
But even New Zealand is not one single culture. For instance there are
cultural differences between those who attend church and those who have no
connection with a church (with a large number somewhere in between). For
instance, if you are not used to church it is not obvious (as it is to us)
that we always stand to sing hymns and when the offering is brought forward.
These differences are more acute when we consider faith and ethical values. We
can no longer assume that people believe in God, nor that 'Christian' values
are held in common. This is further complicated by there not being a single
version of non-church society. In an age of pluralism, there are many
versions, often held by different age groups and different racial backgrounds.
It is bewildering! What chance do we have in trying to share the Good News
effectively with those around us? It might help to realise that the early
church, whose beginning we celebrate at Pentecost (thankfully we share the
same date in all cultures), was in a similarly bewildering setting. Somehow
God worked through those apostles, and so can work through us.
The first step is to realise that simply to churn out the ways and thinking
that worked in the past is not the answer, for these might no longer be
appropriate to today's culture. If this can sink in, then we can look for the
next step. Perhaps spend some time at Queens Birthday weekend thinking about
what this might be.
Peter Taylor
What Are You Doing For God's Sake?
This is the title of a short fellowship series which has already started.
We are looking at our purposes as a church, to try and help us get a clearer
understanding of where we are and where we should be going as a Parish. This
should be of interest to everybody so I hope that many of you will want to
come along. The remaining meetings are taking place on Thursday evenings and
on Wednesday afternoons, so that as greater number of people will be able to
participate. On the following Sundays I will preach on the previous session's
theme, as I did in Lent.
The remaining sessions will be on afternoons of 30 May, 6 June, 13 June, and
on evenings of 31 May, 7 June, 14 June,
and the services on 3 June, 10 June, 17 June.
I do hope you can come along. Though it is always better to come to all the
meetings each one stands on its own and you are welcome to come to just one.
Peter Taylor
Film Discussion Group
We met on 11 May to watch The Flying Scotsman at the cinema and then on 17
May to discuss it. The film told us the story of a Scot, Graeme Obree who,
though troubled with bipolar disorder, broke a long-standing cycling record
with a unique cycling position and gritty determination. The next film we will
be watching is a complete contrast - Shrek 3. I have booked a screening for us
with the cinema for 6.30 on Friday 15 June. Please come along even if
discussing it is not your 'thing'; the discussion will be on 21 June at 7.30 (NB
the earlier time) in the Lounge.
Peter Taylor
SERVICES
for this MONTH click
here
Evening
Service There will be a special
evening service at Baring Square on Sunday 17th June at 7.00 in the Lounge. It
will be a reflective time, an opportunity to think. It will be slightly
different and thus be a change from the usual services at the church.
MEETINGS FOR for this MONTH
| Retired Men’s Fellowship | Tuesday 4th -- 9.30am at B.Sq Church |
| Parish Executive | Thursday 7th -- 9.30am in the Office. |
| Parish Council | Wednesday 13th – 7.30pm in the Lounge. |
PARISH GOODWILL SHOP -
Open Tuesday & Thursday Mornings in the Tinwald Church 9.30am – 12.30pm,