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Upcoming services
Sunday 30 May: Make your own life glad — Speaker and worship leader: Clay Nelson
10.00am — In-person service
Unitarian Church, 1a Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, and live-streamed here
11.00am — Virtual service
Information for joining our virtual service:
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/8949163748
Meeting ID: 894 916 3748
Password: 12345
Stay in the conversation
Watch/read/hear a recent sermon: “Quiz night redux: Hamlet edition”
Church videos have English-language subtitles. Hit the “‘CC’ Subtitles/Closed Captions” button (visible on the YouTube screen) once the video starts.
New this week
AGM: Please note that, contrary to the advice in last week's newsletter, the AGM will not be held on Zoom (see below under "Upcoming church events/news").
Join us for a UU caring and sharing session — this Sunday 30 May at 3.00pm (after the AGM): organised by the Australian New Zealand Unitarian Universalist Association (ANZUUA).
Connect by Zoom across borders with people of similar values, share a virtual hug, share your sorrow or sunshine, build a connection with someone unknown or just be there for someone else. This is also an opportunity to learn about other UU congregations, their challenges and successes.
Facilitated by the Revd Clay Nelson.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/8949163748
Meeting ID: 894 916 3748
Password: 12345
Singing group practice schedule:
30 May — NO practice at 9.30am; after-church practice at 11.30am, shortened for AGM
6 June — 9.30am practice for as many as possible with Frank on piano; also running 11.45am after-church practice for all who can come.
Pledge for those who follow us: Last weekend we kicked off our annual pledge campaign with a lively celebration dinner and quiz night. Special thanks to our amazing Quiz Ms. Rachel Mackintosh for her challenging questions and entertaining repartee. Thanks, too, to all who brought along delicious food for a shared meal and stayed afterwards to help tidy the church.
At the dinner our Treasurer, Terry Childs, presented the budget of what is needed this year to keep the lights on, maintain our building, pay our minister, musician, religious education teacher, youth group worker and cleaner, etc. This year all of these costs add up to around $130,000.
To help meet these costs this year’s pledge goal is $70,500, which works out at about $950 per member. While some are able to pledge financially, others support the church by donating their time and energy. And some are able to do both.
As in past years, we are being challenged to give out of generosity that there will always be enough, thankful for those who have done the same before us so we have a place to worship and carry on our mission. Your support, whatever the amount and kind, is vital to continuing our commitment to implementing Unitarian principles in New Zealand.
You can pledge on-line here. Or, you can download and print a pledge form here.
Pledge forms (and envelopes) also are available in the church entry. Please mark “pledge confidential” and put into the koha bag during the service. Or post your form to Jonathan Mason, Pledge Coordinator (19 Entrican Avenue, Remuera, Auckland 1050).
Please contact me (jonathan.mason@hotmail.com) or Clay Nelson (clay.nelson@me.com) if you have any questions.
While you don’t have to be a member to pledge, we hope you will join us to have a voice in our decisions. For more information about membership please contact Shirin Caldwell (shirincaldwell@gmail.com), membership coordinator.
Thank you for helping us to reach our goal!
Jonathan Mason
Pledge Coordinator
Upcoming church events/news
Notice of Annual General Meeting and light lunch (read to the end of the notice):
The 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Unitarian Church will be held on Sunday, 30 May at 12.00 midday, following the morning 11.00am Zoom service. The meeting will be held at the Church.
Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM but only members with voting rights can vote. A voting member is someone who has been on the Church Register for more than 30 days and paid their minimum annual membership donation more than 15 days prior to the AGM. If you are not yet a voting member and would like to become one in time for the AGM, please contact our membership coordinator, Shirin Caldwell (shirincaldwell@gmail.com), or our minister, Clay Nelson (clay.nelson@me.com), so that they can explain the process to you. If you have previously been a member of another Unitarian or Unitarian Universalist Church, you can have your membership transferred to the Auckland Unitarian Church.
During this meeting, minutes from last year’s AGM will be approved. Copies of these draft minutes are posted on the church noticeboard. If you would like to receive electronic copies of these minutes, please email secretary@aucklandunitarian.org.nz. In addition, the meeting’s agenda — which will be posted prior to the meeting — will include:
- The Management Committee’s Report, including information from the Annual Committee Reports
- Discussion and adoption of the 2021–2022 church budget
- General discussion
- Election of Officers
If you are a member with voting rights but will be unable to attend the meeting, please complete a proxy vote form and return it to the church secretary 24 hours prior to the meeting. Proxy forms are available in hard copy on the church noticeboard and electronically via the weekly newsletter by clicking here or by email to the church secretary at secretary@aucklandunitarian.org.nz.
Winter Solstice Celebration with Dances of Universal Peace and Community Potluck — Sunday, 20 June 5.00pm–8.00pm
(Plus a special dance deepening day the day before: 10.00am–4.00pm on Saturday, 19 June)
For details or to RSVP, contact Sally Mabelle: sallymabelle@gmail.com
Religious education news
Children’s circle group: On Sunday mornings during the service, our teachers Isabella and Anna offer an Inclusive Values Educational Programme in the education space downstairs. The programme is suitable for children of primary and intermediate school age. Other children are welcome to stay in church for the service.
Youth Unite: My name is Olivia Smith and I will be running the new Youth Group. Youth Unite will be a community for teens where we can work together to build a better future for ourselves, our families, and our communities. We will participate in games, activities, and discussions as a group at the Unitarian Church on Thursday evenings. This is a safe and welcoming place for all and I can’t wait to work together.
Please check out our Facebook and Instagram pages for more information and updates @ Youth Unite — Auckland: Facebook,
Instagram.
Church groups and ongoing features
Craftivist Companions: Our Craftivist Group has got off to a great start. We have finished our first project (presented at Auckland Council on 1 April) and have started our next campaign in support of the Tree Council. We also have our own FB page: Craftivist Companions. Please join us at the church on Thursdays at 7.30pm (Covid levels permitting), for great company and some supper too. No experience required.
Kay Parish
She/her
Stay connected:
WhatsApp x 2
Kay has set up two WhatsApp groups — one for news and one for people to share light relief and inspirations.
If you would like to be part one or both of these groups, you will need to download WhatsApp if you don't already have it. Please then send your mobile phone number to Kay Parish: 2kayparish@gmail.com, and let her know which group (or both!) you are interested in.
Church virtual meetings
The church has a Zoom account with two Zoom licences, available to church groups, MC, finance, building, men’s groups, circle groups, etc. The account allows for more than a 40-minute meeting, and has various other features — recording, breakout rooms, and more — not available in the free account.
There's a calendar showing availability on the website https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/zoom-meeting-calendar/. For now contact me paulhow@aucklandunitarian.org.nz to book a slot.
Paul Howarth
Webadmin
Auckland Unitarian Church
One action — two gifts
Little Food Pantry: Our congregation has a no-questions community food pantry — “Give what you can; take what you need”. Please bring items of non-perishable food or sanitary items for the pantry. You can bring them on Sunday or drop them off any time during the week; just pop them into the cheerfully painted cabinet outside the church.
City Mission: For more structured giving, Auckland Unitarians also regularly donate to the City Mission. Please bring canned goods, non-perishables or sanitary items along on a Sunday morning to contribute in this way.
Hot tip: if you have enough to spare, you can donate to both.
Peace & social justice group (PSJ): The PSJ Group meets bimonthly on Zoom, until the health scare is over, when in-person meetings will be reinstated.
Any Church member wishing to participate in Group projects should contact me at garybendall8@gmail.com for information on what involvement with the Group entails (please note that my address in the directory is in error).
cheers,
Gary
For information about the PSJ group and current PSJ projects, please follow this link.
Men's group: The men's group may choose to connect by phone or other electronic means during the pandemic. Please join the WhatsApp group (see above under Latest news) to connect with members of the group and learn of any plans to return to meeting in person. The group provides a supportive community where men can share their thoughts and feelings with other men, seek/offer advice and discuss issues and ideas.
Rafters music club: Rafters is a friendly music club that meets at 8.00pm at the church on the third Friday of each month. For more information, visit their website at www.raftersmusic.co.nz.
Lunch bunch: The Lunch Bunch meets the fourth Tuesday of the month. Venues will change at participants' suggestions. All are welcome to join in. For more information and monthly venues contact Dawn Elvidge at dawn.elvidge@gmail.com.
Newsletter archive: past copies of this newsletter (complete with deliberate errors) can be found at http://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/publications/newsletter-recent-issues/
Pastoral care/church member unwell: If you know of anyone who is unwell, please alert our minister, Rev Clay Nelson. His contact details are: mobile (021 151 1122); email (clay.nelson@me.com). Clay will then inform others on the Pastoral Care Team and coordinate support. The pastoral care team members are Alexandra Bruce, Craig Wedge and Chris Breeden.
Joys and concerns: Have a joy or concern you would like to share but can't make this Sunday's service? Email clay.nelson@me.com.
Clay will select a member of the pastoral care team who is in attendance to light a candle and read out yours.
Circle groups: Would you like to join a Circle Group or start one in your local area? These are small groups whose main objectives are to strengthen our congregation by drawing us into mutual ministry. New groups are forming, please send us an email to find out which location might meet your needs.
Mini library: Our miniature library is located in the Muriel Newland room. The library is catalogued and on line here. Just click on the headings at the top of the columns depending on whether you want to search by author, title, tag etc.
Management committee: Do you have questions for the church Management Committee? If so, just ask. Members of the Management Committee are Viv Allen (secretary), Jenny Boyd, Leo Boyd, Tess Brothersen, Alex Bruce, Terry Childs (treasurer and chair), Kay Parish and Alaine Tasker. You can email us on mc_chair@aucklandunitarian.org.nz. We look forward to hearing from you.
Directory: Members and Friends of the Auckland Unitarian Church – you can add yourself or make changes to your information for the church's directory at any time by emailing directory@aucklandunitarian.org.nz.
Unitarian tee-shirts: If you would like to order a t-shirt, please contact Kay Parish, 2kayparish@gmail.com
YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/UnitarianNZ
Facebook: "Like" the Auckland Unitarians on Facebook (we won't be able to see your page, but you will get our updates on your newsfeed).
Donations to keep the church going are most welcome:
You can donate online to our BNZ account 02-0100-0024691-00 (include your name and "donation" as ref) or by cheque to the Auckland Unitarian Church.
Community notices
This section is for notices that may be of interest to Church members but that are not formal church news.
Wiser conversations: Derek Handley is hosting Wiser Conversations, "Together at Home" a series of virtual conversations designed to help us reflect and respond to our new surreality.
Conversations are free to attend but registration is required.
Readings
A radical religious heritage: Auckland Unitarian Church and its wider connections, by John Maindonald (member of our congregation). Second edition now available here.
A Vision Splendid: The Influential Life of William Jellie: a British Unitarian in New Zealand, by Wayne Facer (member of our congregation). Second revised edition now available in paperback and on kindle.
Latest issue of ANZUUA "Quest" journal: The most recent issue of the ANZUUA "Quest" magazine is now available via the following link: http://james4hills.wixsite.com/anzuua/quest/
Latest issue of Sydney UU church journal: The most recent issue of the Sydney Unitarian Church's Journal "The Unitarian Sun" is now available via the following link: http://www.sydneyunitarianchurch.org/Newsletters02.htm
Latest issue of Melbourne UU church newsletter: The most recent issue of the Melbourne Unitarian Church's Newsletter "The Beacon" is now available via the following link: http://melbourneunitarian.org.au/index.php/mupmc-publications/the-beacon-journal
Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography — NZ entries: "Thomas Fyshe Palmer"; "William Joseph McEldowney".
A Rebel’s Vision Splendid, and The Divine Need of the Rebel, both by James HG Chapple, available at Project Gutenberg.
We hope to see or hear from you soon,
Rachel Mackintosh, newsletter editor
Editor's note: I am having formatting issues and so in some sections, items appear entirely in bold type. This is unintentional. Apologies.
(Newsletter copy deadline is 5.00pm on Wednesday on any week. The newsletter usually goes out on Thursday every week. Submissions that will be outdated by Thursday are not included in the weekly update. Please email rachelmack45@gmail.com. Please put “for the newsletter” in the subject line.)
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