Parish Clerk Allen Little 06 367 5900 Email: vision@inspire.net.nz

April 2018

Like us on Facebook. You will get notifications of special events happening and photos of events already done!

Our grandson Otto has his birthday on 29 February, which this year wasn’t a day at all. So he had 3 birth-day parties to make the most of it.

April only has 30 days, every year, but this year April has 5 Sundays. Let’s make the most of it. The first one is Easter Day, so the Sundays get off to a good start. We want to do something special with the extra Sunday, the fifth one which is on 29 April.

It will be special for me because in April I will get to be worship leader at Levin Uniting church for three Sunday mornings; 1 April, 15 April and 29 April. 1 April is Easter Day. On 15 April we will have a Harvest Festival service – there’s probably not much produce left in your gardens but bring something we can give to Foodbank, packaged and tinned will still be celebrated. At the recent Pastoral Care meeting at the parsonage it was suggested we have a “back to church” Sunday. Getting people who used to come to church to come back to church is a popular idea, but efforts to achieve this are often not as fruitful as we might like. I do assure anyone reading this who hasn’t been for a while that we would love to see you back at church if you are able. But what we will actually do, and this idea can be very successful in its aim, is to have a “Bring A Friend” Sunday! It’s the same as the Harvest idea, but you bring a friend instead of (or as well as) a can. So 29 April will specifically be Bring A Friend Sunday. It’s easy. It does take each member of the congregation to make one specific effort. You invite someone you know to come to church with you. The most effective words you can say are these, “Would you like to come to church with me this Sunday?” You can of course ask this question for any Sunday. Make sure you specifically do this for 29 April, which is now officially “Bring A Friend” Sunday. The worst that can happen is that they might say ‘no’. Do remember to come along to church yourself, whether your friend says ‘yes’ or ‘no’! Rev Ian Boddy

CONTACTS: Office Phone/Fax: 368 9392 87 Oxford Street Levin 5510 Email: levinuniting@xtra.co.nz

Minister Rev. Ian Boddy 06 368 8308 Email: jimboddy@xtra.co.nz

Facebook Levin Uniting Church

Website www.levinuniting.church

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4: 9-10 I am the living one. I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! Revelation 1: 18a Give thanks to the God of heaven; His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136: 26

HAPPY TOGETHER

‘A white kiwi’s bi-cultural journey’ By Allen Little An inspirational speaker to a seminar at the recent Presbytery Gathering in Palmerston North was Andrew Judd former New Plymouth Mayor who says he “now has an inkling of the effects of racism after campaigning for Māori repre-sentation in the province”. He decided not to return to the Mayoral Office after being “spat at and abused in the street over his failed attempt to introduce a Māori ward in New Plymouth Council”. Mr Judd said “I was told things like "Māori don't need special treatment, they just need to be more like us",… that he was a bigot, a separatist, and had supported apartheid. Mr Judd described himself as a recovering racist, saying he had formerly shared the motivation behind people's anger - what he calls "clichéd, ignorant state-ments, purely based on ignorance and fear because I didn't have to walk in a Māori world." He said he had never been on a marae for the first 50 years of

his life, despite living in a province so rich in Māori culture. Andrew Judd’s presentation was challenging, we heard from him about how he became the focus of immense vitriol from the public. The most amazing thing about that vitriol was that Andrew understood it; he himself had been upset by similar issues in the past. Itis really for every New Zealander to understand our Treaty obligations and talk about what the Treaty means to them in modern day Aotearoa New Zealand. The pathway to reconciliation for Parihaka has been years in the making. One pathway Andrew Judd trod was to Parihaka on the reconciliation hikoi when a ceremony, known as He Puanga Haeata, took place between the people of Parihaka and the Crown, 135 years on from the invasion which decimated the settlement on November 5, 1881. The self-autonomous village was destroyed when 1600 armed constabulary and volunteers raided the settlement, shattering the peace. Andrew Judd, who headed the peace walk to Parihaka said “the reconciliation ceremony has global significance due to the message of peace Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi promoted. What they did, and how they did it, was a message to the world,".

There are now calls for November 5th to be declared National Parihaka Day of Peace replacing the out dated irrelevant Guy Folks day.

Exciting News - The Sunday Evening Meal has been selected to be one of the 'Good in the Hood' recipients! At our own Levin Z petrol station. Voting starts on 1st May and we will be reminding folk to vote for our Meal! “As a Kiwi company, our customers expect us to give back to local neighbourhoods, to support the things that matter locally and to make a positive contribution right across New Zealand.” So every year, all Z stations give away $5,000 to neighbourhood groups that help people who need it. That’s more than $1 million across the country to do Good in the Hood! $4,000 per station will be divided amongst the four successful groups, according to the number of customer votes they receive.

It was nice having a good crowd present for our Palm Sunday Service. We even got to wave branches like those of palms and enjoy a segment with our musical Young people. A time of reflection for us all. Alex commented on Facebook: Great stuff, always remember being dressed as Jesus walking up the aisles one year as a teenager.

PALM SUNDAY

Parish Council chaired this month by Rev Ian Boddy dealt with a full agenda beginning as usual with matters Financial. There was general discussion around matters relating to Waitarere Building Compliance and requirement’s. As part of his regular reporting Jack shared information about recent community involvement’s and the ‘Hui’ which took place. We were pleased to give support to this year’s Easter Camp where a couple of our young people will be attending. Our hard working Works team are managing an incredi-bly long list of tasks which indicates at least four urgent tasks requiring immediate attention. Urgent expenditure was approved for this work. With recent changes at District Council we have become engaged finalising HDC Compliance matters. Various processes are under way to manage our pending ministry arrangement. Methodist Co Superintendent Ian Harris will be visiting Parish Council at our next meeting. The matter of connection with people under 60 was raised as this section of the population seems to be under represented in of Parish. Over recent times it has become apparent that our Kitchen crockery etc. has become somewhat depleted and we need to bring this to attention of the Congrega-tion. There is apparently a safety problem with young people visiting the Kitchen during its use. To assist us manage this a screen door may be installed. Heather reported on the recent Presbytery Gathering and we noted Synod is coming up on 14th which Allen and Ian will attend along with Doug our usual Repre-sentative. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 18th April 2018 Allen Little Parish Clerk

PARISH COUNCIL MARCH 2018

there’s probably not much produce left in your gardens but bring something we can give to Foodbank, packaged and tinned will still be celebrated.

Walking together, serving justice and peace In 2018 we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the World Council of Churches and the fellowship that is its heart and soul. This is an opportunity to mark the achievements of the past 70 years in working for Christian unity and action, and to look to the challeng-es ahead as a fellowship of churches responding to God’s call for unity, mission, justice and peace. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the WCC Central Committee meeting in Geneva in June, a joint consultation on sustainable development with the ACT Alliance in Uppsala, exactly 50 years after the WCC Assembly there: the anniversary year of 2018 will offer many opportunities to focus firmly on envision-ing our common future: united in faith, eager for witness, and fearless in the quest for justice and peace. Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 13 - 20 May 2018 Worldwide (southern hemisphere) The theme for the week of prayer in 2018, "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power" is inspired by Exodus 15:6. The resources for the week have been prepared by members of different churches in the Caribbean. www.oikoumene.org/en/wcc70/ for more information.

invite someone you know to come to church with you. The most effective words you can say are these, “Would you like to come to church with me this Sunday?”

But we are running out of people able to provide it!

People Needed Please ring Helen H on 368 8169 if you can help

Date Time What Where

Sunday 1st 10am Easter Sunday/Communion Church

Monday 2nd ALL Day Easter Monday Office closed

Thursday 5th 10am Women's Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Saturday 7th 8am-11.30am Monthly Market Hall complex

Tuesday 10th 1.30pm Women's Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Tuesday 17th By 2pm Newsletter material Due Into the Office

Wed 18th 7pm Parish Council Gilmour Lounge

Tuesday 24th 7.30pm Women’s Fellowship Gilmour Lounge

Wed 25th All Day ANZAC Day Office Closed

Thursday 27th 9am Newsletter Team Gilmour Lounge

Levin Uniting Parish What’s coming up

April DOOR DUTY: 1st—Faye & Maurice 8th & 15th Faye & Maurice 22nd & 29th Unknown/Someone else This only works if people put their hands up!

Cuppa Time after Worship for April: 1st Ruth & Richard Rushton 8th Gwyneth Harris/Viv Bold 15th Rosemary McKay/Ellen Richardson 22nd Bob & Lois 29th Betty Burborough/Heather Haines May 6th Helen & Paul Kirkby

April 2018

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP NOTICES FOR APRIL

Giving last 4 weeks: Budgeted: $719.80 Adults attended 25 Feb $820.00 4 March $879.00 11 March $1,957.90 18 March $624.60 Total Budgeted: $2,879.20 Total Received: $4,281.50 Over:$1,402.30 The budgeted amount was included in this years budget that you approved at the AGM. The automat-ic payments have its own budgeted amount & is not included in this figure. Only the envelope/open combined Levin/Waitarere given amounts. Please consider changing to an automatic payment—this is a constant amount, especially if you are unable to attend church every week. Thank you to those who have done this.

Morning T.C.F: (Tea, Coffee & Fellowship) Meet on Thursday 5th at 10am in the Gilmour Lounge. Afternoon Group: Meet on Tuesday 10th at 1.30pm in the Wesley Lounge. Evening Group: Meet on Tuesday 24th at 7.30pm in the Gilmour Lounge.

Can you spare 1/2 hour on Sunday Evenings? From 5.45pm the community evening meal is served and we need people to help to do this. Talk to Jack or Maurice. Thank you This is EVERY SUNDAY we would love to see you.

Every

Sunday

10am Worship

4.30pm Lifepoint

6pm Community

Meal

7pm Service

Levin &

Waitarere

Gilmour Lge

Hall

Hall

Every

Tuesday

12pm Prayer with

Jack

Wesley

Lounge

Every

Thursday

7.30pm Choir

Practice

Gilmour

Lounge

Your help is Needed: Dinner plates and brown Arcoroc coffee mugs for the kitchen. We need to replenish our supplies. Funds towards the urgent repairs to make our church watertight. Can you help?

If you know of someone who is not well, PLEASE let the office know! I will get someone to get in contact

Prayer Chain: If you would like someone to be added to the Prayer

chain, please let Elizabeth in the office know.

Would you like to be part of the Prayer Chain? Contact the office for more info. SERVICES FOR APRIL

1st— Easter Sunday/ Communion Rev. Ian Boddy

8th Polly Pyefinch

15th—Harvest Rev. Ian Boddy

22nd David Emmott

29th—Bring a Friend Sunday Rev. Ian Boddy

6th Communion Rev. Bob Eyles

We all love our Cuppa after church