Kia ora e te whanau
Covid, with all its awfulness, did produce some clouds with silver linings. One of them was Zoom. I’m the eldest of five. My siblings and I meet weekly of an evening. A couple of years ago we took a trip with partners around the Far North. This year, we’re doing the Deep South (including Rakiura/Stewart Island) This is my way of telling you that there will be no newsletter next week as nine of us head away this coming Friday, and there may not be one the following week as we launch into PCANZ Assembly.
I’ll have already posted Homilies to cover the coming weeks – they’ll each go live on the Monday before, as they do at present. I’m confident that both Trevor Hoggard and the Dunedin Diocese will also have their resources posted. Follow the current links and I’m sure our most up-to-date offerings won’t be too far away.
A COUPLE OF RE-REMINDERS
New Website address
UCANZ is currently developing a new website, which is still a work in progress but can already be accessed at ucanz.online. Please update your bookmarks. We encourage you to visit and explore as it continues to be updated and refined. In the meantime, the existing email contact office@ucanz.org.nz remains fully functional, and we welcome your enquiries through that address.
Gathering of the Scoundrels
PCANZ Assembly is now drawing near – only a couple of weeks away at St Pauls Trinity Pacific in Christchurch. On the first night of Assembly, Monday 20th October, there will be a gathering for all those involved in Cooperating Ventures, along with friends and supporters, following dinner at the Presbyterian General Assembly. We will meet from 7:30pm–9:00pm at Scoundrels, 375 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch Central City — just a short three-minute walk from the Assembly venue. Snacks and nibbles will be provided, and even if you are not attending the General Assembly, you are warmly invited to join us. The gathering will be hosted by Hana Popea (Co-Chair of the Standing Committee), Andrew Howley (Executive Officer), and Andrew Doubleday (Ministry Facilitator), who will all be in attendance.
UCANZ Phone numbers
Executive Officer, Andrew Howley 027 559 9042
Ministry Facilitator, Andrew Doubleday O27 324 9540
Leadership Resources
7 skills to practice when you don’t see yourself as a leader
This is one to practice for those who lead from the back. These are tips to help us simply be fully engaged in the leadership process. When we’re part of a leadership team, it’s part of our role to lead – not sit as passive passengers. This article offers some useful strategies to get us out of the spectator stands and into the arena. It’s useful also for those of us (like yours truly) who are not backward in coming forward – in guiding us toward making more useful contributions rather than just letting our lips flap around in the breeze. The article can be accessed here: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/7-skills-to-practice-when-you-dont-see-yourself-as-a-leader
What we permit, we promote: A leader’s guide to setting company culture
Ouch! This one may be a wake-up call for a number of us. It hopefully won’t move us into a more punitive mode of leadership, rather, bringing us into a state of deeper awareness of what’s going on around us. The article can be accessed here: https://www.smartbrief.com/original/what-we-permit-we-promote-a-leaders-guide-to-setting-company-culture
Why the People Who Disagree with You Are Your Secret Weapon
This reminded me of the story of the Rabbi who was overwrought at the death of his nemesis – the person in the congregation who was always on his case, criticising him, goading him. The rabbi’s supporters were confused at the level of his grief, imagining that there would be a place within him where he would be relieved. “No,” wept the rabbi, “he was my one true friend – he was the one who kept pushing me to be more, to be better. Today, I have lost my best friend.”
This article is quite long, and worth the read. It can be accessed here: https://www.philmckinney.com/why-the-people-who-disagree-with-you-are-your-secret-weapon/
Recognising that you’re having a heart attack and the 7 things you need to do.
Alright, I know I’m the ministry facilitator, and that means I want you to live full rich lives – which includes looking after your health. Given the age of most of my audience, this presentation is important, and I strongly encourage all to watch it, right through. My better half is a practise nurse of 40+ years experience and approves of this video. While it’s 19 minutes of your life you won’t get back, it may lead to a much longer and better life as a result. See it as an investment.
It can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-dpGyFF5wU
And remember our emergency number to dial is 111.
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary for the 12th of October is titled ‘The Inbetween Places’ and focusses on the Gospel reading of Luke 17 vs 11-19, where Jesus is passing from Galilee into Samaria on his way to Jerusalem. It is here, in this in-between place, that he encounters 10 lepers, an opportunity for life-changing ministry. It can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmBXrLnayg4
Trevor Hoggard is continuing with the 2nd set of Lectionary readings – this week Nehemiah 6 vs 1- 16, Psalm 144 vs 1-11, and John 15 vs 12-27. Trevor starts with the challenges that Nehemiah faces as he returns to Jerusalem, and parallels the testing of Jesus. Trevor moves onto the Psalm, and again draws parallels with the challenges that more contemporary Judaism has faced. He then moves to John’s declaration that as Jesus was hatred, so will his followers be – even though there was nothing in him worthy of hate. Trevor asserts the same tactics of trickery (endured by Nehemiah) are being brought into the present age. Trevor’s sermon can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFevRuVCYfA
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of 4 Theologians / Practitioners around the Gospel lectionary text for the coming Sunday. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/ . The conversation for this coming Sunday of the 12th of October is also focussed on the Gospel text of Luke 17 vs 11-1p, and can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdQ1S4M5hnM
Again, it will help broaden all our reach if you ‘subscribe’ and ‘like’.
Once again, use the videos as you will.
Ngā manaakitanga
Andrew Doubleday
UCANZ Ministry Facilitator