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        21 May 2020
Family of God & Followers of Christ

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR KIDS
From STRANDZ - our National Pakeha Children and Family Resource Centre

THY KINGDOM COME
Invitation from Bishop Philip to join the global prayer movement.

Between Ascension and Pentecost (21st to 31st May) our diocese, along with other Christians around the globe, will be part of the Thy Kingdom Come global movement of prayer (https://www.thykingdomcome.global/). This movement is about deepening our own faith, praying that others might come to know the transforming love of Jesus and that God’s reign of justice and peace might be realised in new and transforming ways.

Will you join us? It will be epic! Here are some ways that you can get involved.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Dan  Lander either through the Taranaki Cathedral office or via email (dan@taranakicathedral.org.nz). Or Dean Wendy Scott through the Waikato Cathedral (dean@stpeter.org.nz ).We look forward to having you part of the journey.

Grace and peace,

Reverend Dan & Dean Wendy

FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

FAMILY OF GOD
Each Monday to Friday you are invited to gather with people from across the Diocese for morning devotions. Each day is a little different with 15 people contributing each week, but it normally lasts about 15 minutes. We would love to see you there. Learn more. 
For the next two Sunday evenings you are invited to join Bishop Philip's household at 8pm where he and Belinda host Night Prayer. This informal Prayer Book service commences with lighting a candle for the world - a moment replicated across every time zone. Learn more.

NATIONAL VALUES SURVEY IN LIGHT OF COVID-19
The same group that produced the NZ Faith and Belief study in May 2018 (Wilberforce Foundation) has just released the first results from a new survey. 
The aim of this latest study is to provide community leaders and commentators, with credible and timely insights into how New Zealanders are responding to the unfolding pandemic.  Their hope is that this will prove useful in our own context and also enable us to make a positive, thoughtful and proactive contribution to the wider public debate about life in NZ post the immediate COVID 19 crisis.
The questions they explored included
  • Where do your values come from?
  •  How have your priorities changed?
  •  What role do you think the church should play in the post COVID recovery?
  • What are the most important values for a leader to demonstrate in a crisis?
  • Which leaders have demonstrated those values
  •  What are your hopes for NZ as we move beyond the pandemic?
Learn more about this survey and the results.
The Happy Project - Rev Mele Prescott - with thanks to all contributors.
Please remember and pray for our children and families as they come out of lock-down. The challenges of working parents, home school, limited contact, and much more have had a significant impact on many. Some are rejoicing at the freedom of level two, while others are grieving the end of special family time. 

FAITH THINKING ON ZOOM - OTAGO
The University of Otago Theology Programme is offering free continuing education sessions via zoom. Each session will involve input followed by facilitated discussion. 
Learn more.

CAN YOU HELP FEED THE HUNGRY?
In the last 2 months foodbanks have seen a 578% increase in the number of food parcels distributed to households in Hamilton City alone. To date the Salvation Army has served 828 households, 671 of whom are new to requesting assistance from the Sallies. 
The Hamilton Salvation Army is looking for volunteers who are:
  • fit and healthy (i.e. able to lift boxes)
  • under 70 years of age
  • not immuno-compromised or covid-19 vulnerable
  • available for at least 1/2 a day per week
  • available to work through level 1 and level 2
If this sounds like you, please contact Stephen as soon as possible: stephen@wtanglican.nz 
If you live outside Hamilton and are available to volunteer,
please contact your local foodbank.

BISHOP PHILIP'S WEEKLY SERMON
Under normal circumstances, Bishop Philip would be travelling around the Diocese and visiting parishes each week. While this is not possible at present, the Lockdown has created an opportunity. Each week the Bishop will release his thoughts on the readings for the coming Sunday. You are invited to reflect on this yourself, use it as a discussion piece for a homegroup, play it in full on a Sunday morning, springboard off it for your own sermon ... whatever is right for you and your context. Learn more and see below ...
Easter 6: John 14:15-21
STRANDZ Resources
We love to join in with Thy Kingdom Come, a global prayer initiative between Ascension and Pentecost (21-31 May), which is now in its fourth year.

Check out our new resources. 
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (25-31 May)
Biblical Text for 2020 | Acts 27:18 – 28:10
“They showed us unusual kindness” (cf. Acts 28:2)
 
The materials for the 2020 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were prepared by the Christian churches in Malta, on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches.
The resources have been adapted for Aotearoa New Zealand by the Catholic Bishops Committee for Ecumenism. They include:
  • Liturgy sheet (may have to be adapted for limitations on gatherings)
  • Children’s activities (can be used in a group or at home)
  • Eight Days of Prayer (for individual use or group use)
  • Note from Cardinal John Dew for parish newsletters
  • Homilies of Pope Francis for the Week of Prayer (the Week is celebrated in January in the northern hemisphere)
Learn more.
MailChimp is the free newsletter software we use to distribute Connected. You could start your own local communication with a free account. To learn more about MailChimp and how to use it, our Northern Development Officer (Lance Pilbrow) has made this youtube video to help you out.
Zoom is the video conferencing software that the Diocese uses to communicate. It is free to download the software and open an account. That’s all you need to join in. To find out more please see the daily devotions page for a tutorial, download link, and guide to keeping uninvited guests out.

Family of God | Followers of Christ

Marked by Gratitude
  • Thank you for my community of faith - for those who continue to believe when I cannot. Thank you that I know Jesus Christ, risen and ascended. 
Growing Disciples
  • Help me Lord to find and pray for five people to know you. May my commitment to these five people contribute to your Kingdom. 
Transforming Communities
  • May those new sparks of faith ignite a passion for the Kingdom of God that conforms our communities to the body of Christ.
Amen
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Our mailing address is:
104 Morrinsville Road
Te Ara Hou Village
P O Box 21, Hamilton

Phone: 64 7 857-0020
bishopspa@wtanglican.nz

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Anglican Diocese of Waikato & Taranaki · PO Box 21 · Hamilton, 3240 · New Zealand

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