Kia ora e te whanau
Curating Worship
10am, next Tuesday morning (16 June) is the first of our ‘Curating Worship’ sessions. It’ll be introductory – finding out who’s on the call, what your interests and questions are, and some introductory reflections on leading worship. I’ve had a number of requests to record the session and post them for those who are unavailable to be present at that time (usually through work commitments). Because I want these sessions to be a safe place, where each of us (including me) can risk appearing foolish, these sessions won’t be recorded. We will consider running alternative sessions in an evening.
While I’ve had over 30 years in Parish ministry, leading worship pretty well every week, I’m not the expert, and my preparatory process is pretty simple and unsophisticated. Here, my goal is to get the people in the room together who are keen to learn and to share (we can potentially be doing both at the same time). My primary role will be to facilitate the conversation.
Initially, the zoom will be open to whoever wishes to participate. I don’t wish to exclude anyone. If we need to put some protocols around how we are together, that will become apparent, and we’ll deal with it as we go.
To repeat, our first Curating Worship encounter will be at 10am, next Tuesday the 16th of June. The zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83470352829
Have feedback? Please, don’t hesitate to respond.
UCANZ Biennial Forum 2027
Yes, we used Kings Birthday for our last forum, and we’ll be doing the same next year. We need the extra time that the long weekend offers. We expect to receive the report of the Partner’s Review Commission into UCANZ, and will want to give some time for ‘next steps’. However, we’re also planning to make this a resourcing event, and are currently exploring themes around what it means for church to be ecumenical in our local settings.
What we’ve settled on
When: Opening – 7pm on Friday the 4th, and Closure with lunch on Monday 7th of June 2027
Where: St Marks / Wesley Uniting Church, 58 Woburn Road, Hutt City Uniting Parish, Wellington.
Leadership & Personal Development Resources
You Don’t Need Everyone to Agree — You Need Everyone Aligned
The Methodist Church has run its decision making processes on consensus for decades. While not always perfect, it has served us pretty well. It has long struck me as being very close to the New Testament model where the Jerusalem Council, in reference to the place of Gentiles within the Christian Church, are ultimately able to say “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us”. I have no doubt that there were those on the Jerusalem Council who in saying ‘yes’ might have preferred an alternative or more cautious approach, but because of their alignment were willing to give their affirmation. The reason I raise this, is because I found myself challenged by the author of this article, not in the principles he laid out, but in the way he defined his terms – particularly that of consensus. For him ‘consensus’ meant agreement, more akin to unanimity – of this he was highly critical, and rightly so. This is NOT what consensus (as practiced by MCNZ) looks like – it’s much closer to his concept of ‘alignment’. I appreciated his clarity on this point. The article is useful and can be engaged with here: https://dougthorpe.com/you-dont-need-everyone-to-agree-you-need-everyone-aligned/
How To Think for Yourself When Everyone Disagrees With You
While the drive to conform is strong within us, most of us will pride ourselves on being independent thinkers, more than able to hold our corner in a discussion/argument. This article is about the importance of not just disagreeing, even when we’re wrong, but also on how we disagree. The author lays out some chilling evidence on how we will change the evidence we see, in order to conform with the ‘group think’. He offers some simple and useful strategies to keep us clear about what we think, and where we’re willing to change position. The article can be accessed here: https://www.philmckinney.com/how-to-think-for-yourself-when-everyone-disagrees-with-you-2/
8 Quick Micro-Responses Can Lower Stress And Create Instant Calm
I know, only too well, the damage that can be done by being reactive in the moment – that point where my ‘best self’ has not shown up, and that’s revealed in a difficult encounter. Some useful tips here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryanrobinson/2026/03/24/8-quick-micro-responses-can-lower-stress-and-create-instant-calm/
Homilies and Preaching Resources
My response to the lectionary Gospel for the 14th of June – based on Matthew 9 vs 35 to 10 vs 8, focusses on one word, the one translated ‘compassion’ – as Jesus responds to the crowds that were ‘harassed and helpless’. The homily is titled ‘The Heart of God’ and can be engaged with here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgjs4MaejQc
Gospel Conversations – out of the Dunedin Anglican Diocese. They host a conversation of (usually) 4 Theologians / Practitioners. The site with all its options can be accessed here: https://www.calledsouth.org.nz/gospel-conversations/. Led by Michael Godfrey, rather than the Gospel text, this year they are generally focusing on other parts of the Lectionary. For this coming Sunday, the 7th of June, at time of this newsletter’s publication, no ‘conversation’ has yet appeared on YouTube. Keep an eye on the site link above.
Rev Darryn Hickling (Methodist colleague leading the Rolleston Project) has posted a brief reflection on Instagram – focussing on Matthew 9 vs 35 to 10 vs 8, and titled ‘Points of Difference’. It can be accessed here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZUjGxMBMn7/