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SERVICES SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 10am Communion Heather McFarlane ( 488 1596) Ruth Houghton, Pam Seaton, Joan Sinclair Finance: Joan Sinclair 10am Duties:-Tea/Coffee Duty Isobel Napper and Wilma Hendry SERVICES SUNDAY 11 NOVEMBER 10am Armistice Day Service Rev John Sinclair 12 noon Cook Islands Service Rev Anne Thomson 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Graeme Munro Ian Mitchell, ( 471 0335) Margaret Mitchell, Jean Kirk.

Finance: Margaret Mitchell 10am Duties:- Tea/Coffee Duty Carol and Morris Brown SERVICES SUNDAY 18 NOVEMBER 10am Morning Worship Rev Anne Thomson 12 noon Cook Islands Service Rev Tengaru Paniora 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Anne Thomson 10am Duties:- Glenn Marshall ( 481 7157) Morva Marshall, Shirley Brown, Tony Stevely. Finance: Tony Stevely Tea/Coffee Duty Nancy Bamford and Isobel Napper SERVICES SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 10am Morning Worship Rev Graeme Munro 12 noon Cook Islands Service Maara Williams 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Alofa Lale 10am Duties:- Foalima Lemalu ( 453 4210), Loraine Denniston, Nan Rickard, Carol Brown Finance: Nan Rickard Tea/Coffee Duty Barbara and Lyn Murray

WHAT’S ON DURING NOVEMBER TUES 13 4.30pm Property Committee WED 14 6.30pm SESSION Mon 19 4.00pm Finance Committee WED 21 7.30pm DEACONS COURT

FIRST CHURCH OF OTAGO - WHAT’S ON DURING NOVEMBER 2018

INTERIM MODERATOR The Rev Graeme Munro 027 473 0526 graemedmunro@xtra.co.nz PART TIME MINISTER: The Reverend Anne Thomson 477 7150 cell 027 467 5488 PART TIME PASTORAL ASSISTANT MINISTER :The Rev John Sinclair (473 9950 or 027 436 9204)

St Andrews Day Friday November 30

Free Lunch Time Organ Concert 12.10 pm in First Church

Organist – Mr Denis McCombe

Remembering Parihaka Seeking Peace in a Troubled World

Hikoi of Peace — Sunday 4th November Meet at the top carpark at the Botanical Gardens at 12.00 noon with walking shoes, a picnic and an umbrella if it’s wet. The Hikoi will begin at 12.30 with a short walk through the bush to the headstone in the North Cemetery. A group will also walk to the top gardens from the Rongo Stone on Portsmouth Drive. If you want to join this hikoi meet there at 11am. During the hikoi there will be stories about Parihaka, waiata and karakia. ………………………………………………………. Public Lecture - Sunday 11th November, 2.30 - 4pm Wakari Church Quest Speaker: Mr Mouhannad Taha Mr Mouhannad Taha is from the ancient city of Damascus, in Syria. Along with his wife and children, Mr Taha emigrated to New Zealand because of the war in Syria. The family has now settled here in Dunedin, where several others of their extended family also live, and Mr Taha is an enrolled Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand. In his presentation, Mr Taha will share some of his story with us, a story of Syria, of conflict and loss, but also a story of peace and new beginnings in New Zealand. Mature audiences only (not suitable for children . A koha will be taken which will go towards Dunedin Night Shelter

SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 11at 10am This will be a special service for Armistice Day marking the end of World War 1.

We have extended an invitation to the Dunedin Royal Male Choir to take part in the service . The service will conclude at 11am with two minutes’ silence, and then the First Church

bellringers will join their world wide colleagues with a special ringing of the bells “quarter peal” which will take about 45 minutes in total. The service will be led by the Rev John Sinclair

LECTIONARY READINGS FOR NOVEMBER During November, these are the readings that we will use in our services: the Revised Common Lectionary at the 10 am and 2 pm service, and Te Tia at the 12 noon service. Revised Common Lectionary Te Tia November 4 Ruth 1:1-18 Salamo 25 Psalm 146 Hebrews 9:11-14 Mark 12:28-34 November 11 Ruth 3: 1-5,4: 13-17 Salamo 26 Psalm 127 Hebrews 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 November 18 1 Samuel 1:4-20 Salamo 27 1 Samuel 2:1-10 or Psalm 16 Hebrews 10:11-14,(15-18),19-25 Mark 13: 1-8 November 25 2 Samuel 23:1-7 Salamo 28 Reign of Christ Psalm 132:1-12, (13-18) or Psalm 93 Revelation 1: 4b-8 John 18:33-37

WHAT MY FAITH MEANS TO ME Faith, for me, is about simple trust with no concern for proof. When faith is applied to a belief in God, I frequently experience events and emotions that reinforce my belief. My faith is nurtured in community as it is cultivated by fellow adventurers and because of that becomes the rock on which I lean when the going gets tough. Amid the trials and tribulations of life faith sustains me and enables me to keep going.

Faith is essentially the choices I make, a willingness to believe that something is true, and to act on that belief. To say one has a private faith is to deny the fact that at some stage someone introduced me to a life of faith – someone made it public. Words like trust, hope, love and obedience, combine as woven threads that makes the fabric of my faith stronger. My involvement in a church or worshipping

community provides encouragement for me to practice my faith – to live out my faith – not just on Sundays, but also during the week as words become associated with deeds, not for self but for others. It is within the Christian community that I am nourished – and, I hope , flourish.

One of the exciting things about my life of faith is that it is always exploring, expanding, delving deeper, and discovering. Never can I say I have “arrived” and got everything sorted and understood. There are always fresh secrets of faith to unfold in my life. In that sense, I am very much a work in progress. I need to be honest and admit that there are times when my faith oscillates and I am required to dig deep into the wells of wisdom to keep myself afloat. To date, in such times, my faith has never let me down.

The Book of Hebrews defines faith as “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (11:1 Hence some would say that faith is not something visible or tangible. It can mean different things to different people. Faith, for me is, among other things, belief in the Bible, which Christians believe is God’s Word to humankind. It is unreserved confidence in God; God’s love for me and God’s power to help me in whatever comes my way in life.

Faith involves a choice. It is faith in a Person that saves a believing soul, not faith in a particular philosophy or a code of rules. For me personally, faith is a precious possession. The result of a living faith is both visible and tangible! The disciples saw it and touched it in Jesus, and my calling as a Christian is to come to this same joyful and glorious life – by faith. Well, what does faith mean to you?

FIRST CHURCH OF OTAGO 415 Moray Place, Dunedin

NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2018

FIRST CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT “We are striving to become a truly multi-cultural community, providing a warm, creative and affirming home base, enabling us to reach out with the Good News to those working and living in the inner-city and beyond.”

Message from The Interim Moderator, Rev Graeme Munro

SAMOAN WHITE SUNDAY AT FIRST CHURCH OF OTAGO WHITE SUNDAY THEME “HAPPINESS”

On the 14th October, at the 2.00 o’clock service, the Samoan congregation celebrated the White Sunday. It was a successful event, because not just the Samoan congregation were there, but families, friends and grand-parents and some of the Samoan university students , as well as members from the 10.00 am service and the Cook Islands congregation I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Interim Moderator Rev Graeme Munro, Rev Anne Thomson, and Rev Alofa . This celebration of culture through the children’s memory verse ,singing dancing, language and food has stood the test of time. I’m truly thankful to everyone who volunteered their time. I can tell every person is committed to make this White Sunday a success and it’s really inspiring to see.

Special thanks to Rev Alofa Lale and the Sunday school teachers and every one who helped in putting together the programme on Sunday. I also want to thank the Cook Islands Sunday School children and teachers for their participation as well as everybody who took part in the service. Last but not least I want to thank everyone who came and helped to celebrate White Sunday. Without your support, we would never able to put

together a White Sunday like this. - Toleafoa Vaitupu

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Session Jottings

It was agreed, following a suggestion from the Rev Graeme Munro, that Session have a retreat in February for prayer, dreaming/planning and implementing the future steps which the Parish could take. - It may be powerfully affirming – as some found during the Presbytery's Review of First Church.

Dear First Church folk,

Friends of First Church ‘open day’ on 13 October was not blessed with ideal weather, but the display of quilts in the church lifted the spirits of all who came through the doors. The wonderful mixture of European, American and Cook Islands quilt designs and craftmanship, along with woven hats and printed tapa cloths, filled the church with colour and variety. There was also a good response to the offer of conducted tours of the church, while over in Burns Hall both the plant stall and the cake-and-craft stall were very successful. The opportunity to sit down and relax over afternoon tea was very welcome too. Thanks to all who worked to make this afternoon such a success – Ann and Ron Lewis, Charlotte Merriman (and their quilting friends), Kau Brydon, Opara Richard and Pepe Henry, Pam Seaton (who must have some of the greenest fingers in First Church), Liz Knife, Jenny Alloo, Margaret Mitchell, Isabel Napper and the others from APW, John Sinclair and Brian Williscroft, and Jean Kirk who held so many threads together. It was an amazing afternoon.

White Sunday was celebrated on 14 October at the 2pm service. It was good to see the support from right across First Church and from the wider Samoan community in Dunedin, particularly from tertiary students. Our thanks to the Rev.Alofa Lale who worked with the Sunday School teachers and children to prepare the service. There were many practices right through the school holidays, and the children led the service with confidence and enthusiasm.

The return of cruise ships to our harbour means that there will be more visitors in and around the church during the week and sometimes at our services on Sundays. Our thanks to all who will be welcoming them in the Heritage Centre, as well as to John Sinclair and Brian Williscroft who will have some busy days conducting tours of the church for pre-booked groups.

November brings the church’s year to an end – the new year begins with Advent in December. Looking back on all that has happened this year, I sing a song I knew as a student – “He has brought us this far by his grace – Blessed be God”.

NEWS FROM The Rev Anne Thomson

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FORT FIRST CHURCH - help is needed to put up the Christmas decorations in First Church on

FRIDAY 30 November NOVEMBER at 4.30pm Please let Nan 455 6099 know if you are able to assist.

Presbyterian Support Food Bank – each week as part of our offering we collect goods for the Food Bank run by Presbyterian Support Otago. As the school year comes towards its close, there is an ongoing need for lunch box items - small packets of raisins or chips or muesli bars. Spreads are always in demand, along with 2 -minutes noodles and single serve packets of pasta or fish. Toiletries and toilet paper are also well-received.

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK! - CONFIMRATION CLASSES In preparation for a requested service of Confirmation a series of classes will be held in the Stevely Room on Sunday afternoons at 3.30pm commenced on 21 October. These classes will provide an informal opportunity to delve into questions:-

• What does being a Christian mean?

• What is faith?

• What does membership of the Church involve

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APW OCTOBER MEETING In recognition of the 125th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage we were privileged to have as our guest speaker, Dr Dorothy Page, who shared her vast knowledge on the subject, and the impact Dunedin women had in achieving the ‘Vote for Women’. (Sales table $12 Fellowship of the least coin $23.20cents)

The Dunedin branch of the N.C.W. Dawn Ibbotson Essay Competition was won by Beth Doleman from Columba College, The title “125 Years since women won the vote. Did id change women’s role in society?” (APW has an abridged version of the winning essay if anyone would like a copy)

Dawn Ibbotson will be 104 years old in December. Joyce Dyer’s 102nd birthday was on 12th October. It is quite special to have these very long-time members still part of First Church.

The November Outing will take place on Tuesday 27th November, leaving First Church at 1.45pm for a visit to the Dunedin Baptist Church at Concord. There will be a guided tour of the complex, followed by afternoon tea.

TO FIRST CHURCH MEMBERS Thank you for the beautiful bunch of daffodils and to the helpers who delivered them to me for Spring Sunday. - In appreciation from Thelma Snow

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 201 –Reverend Anne Thomson General Assembly was held in Christchurch at the beginning of October at St Andrews College. The new Moderator, Right Rev. Fakaofo Kaio, was installed at the opening service. He set the tone for one of the best, friendliest, most respectful and encouraging Assemblies in many years. His theme was “Jesus: the heart of relationship – with God and with people.”

While the business of Assembly was often focused on the internal life of the church (the role of the Moderator and how they are elected; the way we think about and use money, particularly money raised from the sale of buildings; updating the Code of Ethics), we also discussed matters beyond that.

There was united opposition to the provisions of the proposed “End of Life Choice” bill before Parliament, and a call on parishes to consider their own support for hospice and palliative care, for people with disabilities and those suffering with mental health issues.

Assembly warmly endorsed a call to the church to pray for the ongoing work of reconciliation and peace on the Korean peninsula.

Environmental concerns were raised and recognised, with a commitment to clear and measurable steps which could be taken to reduce our negative impact on the planet.

It was interesting and encouraging to hear one evening from seven Christchurch parishes about the different ways they had responded to ‘life after the earthquake’, rebuilding church buildings and reconfiguring church congregations beyond buildings, as well as new ventures to establish church without walls, and church in a brand new neighbourhood. Does it take an earthquake to open up such capacity for innovation and imagination?

Suffrage 125 - Bannering together! Saturday, 3 November 2018 9 am to 4 pm

Otago Pioneer Women’s Hall, 362 Moray Place In 1893 women of New Zealand banded together to sign petitions demanding the right to vote. The petitions were joined together, rolled round a broomstick and presented to parliament. 125 years later, it’s your turn! Come join us to add your own touch to a new slice of history. Renowned artist Janet de Wagt, in partnership with Heritage New Zealand, is touring the country making banners to commemorate women’s suffrage. The banners will be joined together and taken to Wellington in April 2019, where they will be displayed on the walls of the Old Government Buildings. On 3 November Janet will be emptying her storehouse of crafting treasures at the Otago Pioneer Women’s Memorial Hall for you to add your own touch to Otago’s banner. Or bring your own inspiration and add it in. Spend just a few minutes to sign your name or spend the whole day creating all manner of crafty additions. You choose! And what, or who, will you choose? Maybe you want to memorialise that special woman in your life; maybe a noted advocate from days gone by; or maybe a special wish for your children and their future. So join Janet and Heritage New Zealand for a fun day of bannering together!