M.P. Reflection page 1Stand in the Gravelby Sandy Neal page 2

Message of HopeThe Archbishops Page 3

Interfaith ReportBy Dorothy Brooker Page 8/9Formation DirectorReport page 9

General Synod PrayerPresenceArea News page 10-12

Climate change Page 4/5Easter ReflectionPage 6/7Book Review Page 7

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The Province of the Pacific,Third Order Society of St Francis.

Minister Provincial Reflection“

Here and in all your churches throughout the world, we adore you, O Christ, and we bless you becauseby your holy cross you have redeemed the world”. How often we repeat this prayer of praise, yet Iwonder what we mean when we say: ”by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” How do weunderstand that? What does it mean for us? How might it impact on our lives as members of theOrder? I can write only personally and offer these thoughts as a pilgrim with you.

I’ve struggled for years with the language of substitution – the apparently neat equation that makes memerely an “onlooker” to the drama of Golgotha. Convocation last year and subsequent reading andreflection have given me much more satisfying answers – full of grace…full of challenge….

The cross is redemptive for the world as the supreme icon of non-retaliation, of the way of non-violence. Jesus, absolutely true to God and God’s kingdom dream, askedforgiveness for his executioners, responded with silence to the cruel tauntsof his enemies, promised paradise to a thief who pleaded just to beremembered, blessed his mother and beloved friend with the healing taskof caring for one another…...and, in words of incredible faith, entrusted hisspirit into the hands of the One, who a short time before, seemed to haveabandoned him.

What could be a more redemptive pattern for the world to follow?

When we wear our profession cross, we are choosing a symbol ofredemptive forgiveness and peace-making – demanding, costly, grace-filled. We are putting on a sign that we follow Francis who followed Christ.

Ghandi said: “Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. It’s seat is in the heart and it must be an inseparable part of our way ofbeing.” So, too, our profession cross!

Maggie Smith

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STAND IN THE GRAVEL“Stand in the gravel,” instructed the police officer.To be honest, it was scary enough standing onthe footpath watching the Auckland urban trafficcome to a standstill and begin to congest inmultiple directions now the traffic lights had goneoff. Stand in the gravel? Where does one findgravel on a busy urban intersection where thestream of traffic never seems to end?

A group of us were about to learn how to step intothe fray, control heavy traffic flows and ensure thelife and well-being of our community wheneverthe lights went out. Being told to find gravelseemed strange and bizarre to me! However, allsoon became clear.

The best place to be seen, and the safest placeto stand, is right in the centre of the intersection,the place where the gravel tends to collect. Thegravel tells you the cars, trucks and buses usuallypass by or around this patch. The gravel tells youthis is the very edge, the place where all theroads converge. The gravel tells you this is yourplace to stand, be seen and take action. It seemsto me, our world is calling out for people to standin the gravel patches; the places on the edge.

Many sacred sites are ‘on the edge’, places weexperience both the material and the spiritualrealm in ways which transform how we see andlive in this world. “At the edge we see horizonsdenied to those who stay in the middle. Walkingalong a cliff-top our bodies and souls face eachother and that is how we grow. The edge is in factalways the centre of spiritual renewal. We arecalled to mould the kingdoms of the earth so thatthey reflect the Kingdom of Heaven. AnyChristian movement that becomes respectablerisks being brought from the edge to the centre –and so risks being given the kiss of death.”

(Reflections from Martin Wallace, “Daily Lightfrom the Celtic Saints” Ray Simpson; AnamcharaBooks, 2013)God led Francis to live amongst the poor,the outcasts and the lepers, gladly casting offanything (even his clothes!) that might keep himfrom receiving the love God desired to share withhim in, and through, the world around him. Thisshouldn’t surprise us since the Judeao-Christianscriptures tell us God is always on the side of theoppressed. We know where to go if we want toencounter the God of steadfast love; the placewhere the need is greatest. Francis’ experienceof meeting God in these places on the edgetransformed his life, making him a beacon of lightfor others in a world full of darkness. Is our worldany different?

When the traffic lights go out it takes someonewilling to stand in the gravel and be a ‘light’ tomeet the needs of those around them. Francissaid, ““All the darkness in the world cannotextinguish the light of a single candle.” (The LittleFlowers of St. Francis of Assisi) I am only tooaware of how far short I fall of following in thefootsteps of Francis. But I’m coming to realisesomething. No matter how poorly we may feel wereflect the love of God, the passion of Christ, andthe beauty of Francis, this one thing we canchoose to do; to offer the light within us, howeverminute we feel it may be, to those who walk indarkness. To do that, we may be required to stepout of the centre and stand on the edge.

I wonder where the gravel is, where we aremeant to stand, be seen and take action; and Iwonder what that might look like. With Francis’ as our role-model, I have a feeling it may lookless than ‘respectable.’ And I wonder if we arewilling to go there. Sandy Neal TSSF

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ARCHBISHOPS MESSAGE OF HOPE22 DEC 2015What images from 2015 remainfixed in your mind? We’ll hazarda guess: for most of us, it’ll bethe images of refugees fleeingfrom tyranny and war. Images ofthe innocent, suffering. Images,too, of brutal extremists hidingbehind the miserable pretense ofreligious justification.History, including Church history,is littered with testimony tohuman evil, selfishness andgreed.So often this has been done inthe name of what is “right”, theway of absolutes and certainty.“I am right. You are wrong. Youmust conform to my way ofthinking – or suffer theconsequences .”We have heard the rhetoric of theextremist and been confronted,again and again, by the imagesof this tyranny of the “right”.But violence just begets violence,and hatred begets more hatred.It does not provide solutions; itjust creates more problems.The Christ child, the one whosebirth we celebrate, born to anunwed mother who had no placeto shelter – the family thenforced to flee to a foreign land forfear of a tyrant.This child, Christians believe,

shows us the simple butimprobable way God, who islove, reaches out to us. It is theway that begins by placingyourself in the shoes of another.And by trying to see the worldthrough that other person's eyes.We do not have to agree withthat other person. We might noteven like what they stand for.In fact, we may profoundlydisagree. But we need to see inevery other person, even ourenemy, someone beloved ofGod. This is the way of costly,sacrificial love.

This way has the ability toredeem and transform even themost hardened of extremists,and the very worst of situations.It is the way of compassion, inthe true sense of that word;sharing in the suffering of theother. It is the way of dialogue. It is theway of reconciliation. Only lovecan transform an enemy into afriend.This way is demanding. Itrequires faith, courage,perseverance, fortitude, andcommitment. It defies conventionand opens you up to ridicule; it isthe way of the infant born inBethlehem.

We instinctively know the truth ofthis way, and we long for it.We know that the world is,despite these awful images,overwhelmingly a place ofgoodness and beauty.

We know that love wins becauseof the promise and the hope ofthe Christ child.

And never has the message ofthis child, and His way, beenmore needed.God’s Sunrise will break in uponus, Shining on those in thedarkness, those sitting in theshadow of death, Then showingus the way, one foot at a time,down the path of peace. Luke 1:78-79 (The Message)May the God who takes the riskof reaching out and beingvulnerable, who really loves us,deeply bless you and yourfamilies this Christmas. { and thisLent]

Archbishop Brown Turei ,Bishop of Aotearoa;Archbishop Philip Richardson, senior bishop of the NewZealand dioceses;Archbishop Winston Halapua ,Bishop of Polynesia.

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BISHOPS ON CLIMATE CHANGELove for our Neighbour:

God’s people and God’s planet

A statement by the House of Bishops representingTe Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, the Dioceses in NewZealand, and the Diocese of Polynesia inanticipation of the COP21 Climate negotiations inParis, December 2015.

For the sake of all people and other species onEarth, we pray for an ambitious, fair, and legallybinding agreement to be reached at the COP21climate negotiations in Paris this December.

As Christians we believe that “the Earth is theLord’s and everything in it.” (1) Teeming withabundant life and magnificent diversity, thesymphony of creation gives glory to its Creator.We believe that God is reconciling to himself notonly human beings but “all things, whether onearth or in heaven” through Jesus Christ.(2)

The Earth is God’s gift to humanity and to allcreatures. In unity with Pope Francis we “forcefullyreject the notion that our being created in God’simage and given dominion over the earth justifiesabsolute domination over other creatures.”(3) As humans endowed with reason we are not thecontrollers and possessors of nature but itsservants, just as we are servants of each otherand of God. We affirm this in the missionstatement of the Anglican Church, which commitsus to “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation,and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”(4)

Sadly, however, we are failing to live up to thiscalling. There is no longer any doubt that humanactivity has upset the delicate balance of physicaland ecological systems upon which all life

depends, and we are beginning to reap what wehave sown. Air and water are becoming polluted,and the soil depleted. The ocean is becomingmore acidic. The food chain is beingcompromised. Species are dying, and the climateis changing. In particular, climate changethreatens to undermine the health, prosperity andsocial stability of all nations. Unchecked, it willprecipitate food shortages, conflict, and forcedmigration on a global scale.

Already the impacts of climate change are beingacutely felt in the South Pacific. This year we havewitnessed firsthand the devastation that climatechange will visit upon our region through moreintense cyclones, severe storm surges, saltwaterintrusion, coastal erosion, and the bleaching ofcorals.

Jesus teaches us to love our neighbour andespecially to show practical love to the poor andvulnerable, declaring that “whatever you did forone of the least of these brothers and sisters ofmine, you did for me.”(5) In this spirit, we believethat the needs of the Pacific Islands and othercommunities acutely vulnerable to climate impactsshould set the terms for what is agreed at theParis climate negotiations.

Therefore, we urge the representatives of NewZealand and of all nations at the Paris climatenegotiations to work intently to secure a legallybinding international agreement that limits globalaverage temperature increase to below 1.5ºCabove pre-industrial levels by requiring rapid anddeep decarbonisation.(6)

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CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUED

urgent global action. May God be with thedelegates to the Paris climate negotiations in theirvital work. The Most Reverend Winston Halapua, Archbishop and Bishop of PolynesiaThe Most Reverend Philip Richardson, Archbishop and Bishop of TaranakiThe Most Reverend Brown Turei, Archbishop and Te Pihopa o te TairawhitiThe Right Reverend Ross Bay, Bishop of AucklandThe Right Reverend Justin Duckworth, Bishop of Wellington The Right Reverend Richard Ellena, Bishop of NelsonThe Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Bishop of WaikatoThe Right Reverend Andrew Hedge, Bishop of WaiapuThe Right Reverend Ngarahu Katene, Te Pihopa o te Manawa o te WhekeThe Right Reverend Victoria Matthews, Bishop of ChristchurchThe Right Reverend Te Kitohi Pikaahu, Te Pihopa o te Tai TokerauThe Right Reverend Apimeleki Qiliho, Bishop in Viti Levu West, Vanua Levu and TaveuniThe Right Reverend Muru Walters, Te Pihopa o te Upoko o te IkaThe Right Reverend James White, Assistant Bishop of AucklandThe Right Reverend Kelvin Wright, Bishop of Dunedin------------------------------------------------------------References: 1 Psalm 24.1. 2 Colossians 1.20.3 Pope Francis, Laudato si’ (24 May 2015), §67. 4 http://www.anglicancommunion.org/identity/marks-of-mission.aspx 5 Matthew 25.40.6 In this paragraph we are echoing the call of the SuvaDeclaration on Climate Change, issued by the Leaders of thePacific Island Development Forum (http://pacificidf.org/), 4th

Sept 2015: http://pacificidf.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/PACIFIC-ISLAND-DEVELOPMENT-FORUM-SUVA-DECLARATION-ON-CLIMATE-CHANGE.v2.pdf--------------------------------------------------------------

Since this article we have seen the devastation inFiji after Cyclone Winston and the need for fundsand hands to rebuild!

Friary of the Divine Compassion

Quiet Days 2016 Saturday 12th March Saturday 14th May Saturday 13th August

Saturday 12th November 10:00am - 4:00pm

at the Friary, Te Ara Hou Village,100a Morrinsville Road, Hillcrest

Lunch provided ~ Koha appreciatedAn indication of attendance would be

helpful

All Welcome Telephone +64 7 856 6701www.franciscan.org.nz ; friary@franciscan.org.nz

SNIPPETSOur Bishop Protector gave a wonderful session onthe power of the Lords Prayer when read slowly,reflectively; the ability for it to change us from theinside out! I hope to get a full transcript for our nextTAU as at the heart of our journey is prayer. Blair produced some challenging questions basedon the Convocation sessions to help us deepenour Franciscan Journey; work towards a deeperunderstanding and respect for how best to enableour Melanessian Brothers and Sisters; how we areto act in the world. As soon as the fuller transcriptis ready you will receive a copy and it is hoped thiswill generate discussion across all areas andmaybe even World Wide! As Br. Bernard says:At all times, seasons, in every country and place,every day...we must have a true and humble faith,and keep him in our hearts...to love honour, adore,serve, praise...and thank the Three inOne...Saviour of all who believe in him.

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EASTER REFLECTION

For most of Christian history, theEarth and its other-than-humancommunity has primarily beenunderstood as the stage uponwhich the drama of humansalvation has been played out.Earth’s presence in the biblicaltext – and in the subsequenttheologies drawn from such texts– has been largely passed overand ignored. The increasingawareness around ecologicaldegradation and the on-goingeffects of climate change,however, have seen an urgent re-visioning of Earth’s place in theChristian tradition. It is with thiscontext in mind that I reflect onthe Easter narrative. I want tosuggest that by reading with theEarth in mind, the story of Jesus’death and resurrection can beseen as being grounded firmly –even profoundly – in themateriality of Earth. I’ve chosen tofocus on Matthew’s Passionnarrative, exploring the Earth’spresence in this text, and itsparticipation in the Easter event.

Matthew’s Passion narrativeopens with the story of anunnamed woman pouring a veryexpensive perfume (myron) over

Jesus’ head [26:27]. The myron –extracts of Earth’s elements –signals from the start of thisnarrative an intimate connectionbetween the Earth and Jesus, ashe prepares to face death. Withthe unnamed woman, Earth’selements partake in an act ofcomfort and healing, which markthe beginning of Jesus’ journeytowards the cross (1). As the journey proceeds, Jesus isdepicted at the Last Supperbreaking bread (another extract ofEarth’s elements), which heidentifies with his body: ‘Take, eat;this is my body’ [26:26]. CarlosBravo envisions Jesus saying:‘What is happening to thebread… is going to happen tome. I will be both broken andgiven in order to give life… (’2)In Jesus’ identification with breadhere, traditional boundariesbetween the human and other-than-human are broken down.(3)As Jesus suffers violence anddeath, so also the other-than-human know and experienceviolence and death at the handsof humanity. Indeed, this sharedexperience is poignantly felt at themoment of Jesus’ death as we

read that ‘darkness came over thewhole land’ and the Earth shook,splitting rocks apart [27:45, 51]. Itis as if Earth mourns with Jesus,echoing the cry ‘My God, my God,why have you abandoned me?’[27:46] It is the cry of all whosuffer – human and other-than-human alike. After this dramatic climax, welearn of one, Joseph ofArimathea, who takes Jesus’body, wraps it in a clean linencloth - yet another Earth element– and lays it in a tomb, hewn inthe rock [27:59]. Just as Jesuswas wrapped in cloth and held byhis mother at birth, so in death heis wrapped in cloth and held in thewomb of the Earth for three daysand nights. But the Earth’sparticipation does not end withJesus’ death. As the text unfolds,another ‘great earthquake’accompanies the removal of thestone sealing Jesus’ tomb,revealing an empty space. Aswitness to the resurrection, theEarth cannot stay silent. This is,as James Jones writes, a ‘seismicresponse from the [E]arth’s heart’.(4) Power is present in this scene,the power of Earth and the powerof the heavenly, of the cosmos.(5)

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EASTER REFLECTION CONTINUED

Finally, the angel that appears at the moment ofthe earthquake announces to the women gatheredat the tomb that Jesus has ‘gone ahead’ intoGalilee [28:7]. ‘Jesus is going ahead – not goingaway’, writes Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. Theempty tomb, she argues, ‘does not signify absencebut presence: it announces the Resurrected One’spresence on the road ahead’.(6 ) As the Earth ispresent with Jesus, so Jesus is present with theEarth. Jesus goes ahead into the world – into atransformative way of life that testifies to the powerof resurrection on Earth. (7)

Matthew’s gospel depicts an extraordinaryinterconnectedness between Jesus and the Earth,affirming that God is with us – the entire Earthcommunity. And this is indeed good news for allcreation. By Em Cogland TSSF

_______________________References

1 E. M. Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place: Reading the Death ofJesus Ecologically’ (paper presented at the Rediscovering theSpiritual in God’s Creation Conference, Adelaide, Australia,March 10-13, 2015), 52 Quoted in M. V. Mendoza, Abject Bodies in the Gospel ofMark (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2012), 1003 Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place’,6 . 4 J. Jones, ‘Jesus: Savior of the Earth,’ in The Green Bible(San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2008), I-69. 5 Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place’,8 .6 E Schüssler Fiorenza, Jesus: Miriam’s Child, Sophia’sProphet (New York: Continuum, 1995), 126.7 B. R. Rossing, ‘River Sunday,’ in The Season of Creation,eds. Norman C. Habel, David Rhoads, and H. Paul Santmire(Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011), 121. ------------------------------------------------I thank You God for most this amazing day; for theleaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true

dream of sky; and for every thing which is naturalwhich is infinite which is yes.- ee cumings

Compassion- Living in the Spirit of FrancisIlia Delio, OSF

I have found this book thought provoking andchallenging. Only 142 pages long including notes andwith reflection points and questions to ponder at the endof each chapter, it deserves to be read slowly,meditatively, and would serve well as a group study.Pam Barrett TSSF

Taken from the introduction.We are at a critical threshold today in our earthlylife where we either must overcome our fears andevolve to a new level of love, or undergo the slowdeath that underlies fragmentation. What will unitethis earthly community? What will join humanhearts together despite our different colours,languages, cultures and religions? Compassion is the river that overflows into theocean of love that has no end; it crosses allborders to embrace the suffering of another. Here Ithink we can learn from Francis of Assisi, that greatmedieval saint who, in his own time, broke downthe barriers between rich and poor and made thelove of God available to all.The key to Francis' transformation into love, hissecret of making wholes out of the scatteredfragments of life, was compassion. He learnedcompassion as the art of healing broken hearts bycollecting the tears of the forgotten, the frightened,and the lonely in his hands and holding thewounded as his kin. …..He learned to love whatwas weak and fragile, and he learned to care forwhat the world discarded.What is compassion and how does it emerge in thehuman heart? What moves one to compassion?Can we learn compassion as a way of life? Canwe let go of our fears to love more deeply? These are some of the questions that guide us inthis little book on compassion....It is not meant tobe a great study or a comprehensive analysis of avirtue but an exploration into what expands thehuman heart for another – ultimately what unites.

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INTERFAITH REPORTBuilding Bridges – Hearts,Communities, Humanity

This was the theme of the 11th National InterfaithForum hosted by the Auckland Inter-Faith Council.It was great to see members of our Third Orderfrom Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty and NorthIsland Central attending.

The weekend began with a dinner prepared by theSikh Community and held at Selwyn Library, andset the scene for those of different faiths to meet,share and recognise one another as brothers andsisters. Bishop Kito Pikaahu and Bishop Ross Baymade everyone very welcome.

Saturday’s venue was at the Quality InnConference Centre in Parnell.Dame Susan Devoy DNM, CBE our race relationcommissioner opened the day with a short butrelevant message.

The Keynote Speaker was The Rev. VictorKazanjian an Episcopalian Priest from the UnitedStates and is the Executive Director of the UnitedReligions Initiative who offered powerful insights ofInterfaith in Action throughout the world, bindingtogether different religions.

Diversity he says needs to be seen as a promiseand not as a problem, and regardless of ourdifferences, our great diversity, we are to figure outhow we live together with our differences. Wewere reminded that the divine mystery of lifethrough many faiths has been has been here fromancient times. When we look into each otherseyes, take each others hands we look at the divine

spirit known by many names. Building bridges inour different cultures brings us into conversation,and the measure of our success is how we treatminority communities and each other.

We were reminded that military action is not theanswer. What that is doing is destroying ourplanet, and many are now turning to interfaithcommunities to find a way forward. MahatmaGandhi was quoted “everyone has a place aroundthe table’.The questions that we looked at and all groupscould ponder are:-What are the most significant issues in yourcommunity, and what can you do as interfaith?What are the barriers of my tradition that stopsgood interfaith action?

We were asked to not just see the potential ofpeace but also the reality of peace, peace being aconstant process and it is more than tolerance,and was described as love that leaps overboundaries.

Reports from Interfaith groups from around thecountry were shared and we were given theopportunity to hear from Dr Anwar Ghani MNZM,J.P. speaking on concerns/issues in the N.Z.Muslim community, Prof. Edwina Pio N.Z.’s firstProfessor of Diversity speaking on her ‘Work andWorship’ book, Mr Murati, Manager RefugeeQuota Branch, and Rakesh Naidoo from the Policespeaking on care of refugees from differencefaiths.

We learnt that there are now 46 thousand Muslimsliving in Aotearoa New Zealand from 70 differentnationalities, and Dr Anwar spoke of Islamaphobia

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FORMATION REPORT

every time the media shared some world eventwhere the word Muslim was used and the effecton ordinary citizens who happen to be Muslim inour country. He said that Muslim wish to beknown as Muslins of New Zealand rather thanMuslims in New Zealand. He concluded bysaying Interfaith in Aotearoa should show the restof the world how to do it. We are unique.

The Interfaith service at St Luke’s Community inRemuera Road on Sunday morning where words(gifts) of wisdom from the Muslim, Jewish, Sikhand Baha’i traditions were shared, and afterrecalling the sorrows of our world words (gifts) ofwisdom from the Christian, Hindu and Buddhisttraditions were shared before we passed a signof peace to one another. A very moving anduplifting service.

Sister Catherine Jones representing the N.Z.Catholic Bishop’s committee reminded us all thatGod is in the space between us, a God who canbe described as gut wrenching compassion. She reminded us that the Hebrew Testament, and also the Christian Testament is seeped inmercy. The question is “what are the possibilitiesin my area to show mercy?

Professor Doug Platt also shared. He spoke ofthe great diversity in our society and he spoke ofthe Religious Diversity Centre to be openedsoon in Wellington on March 30th, where HelenClarke will be present to open it. He hopes thiswill be a place to support interfaith work, but alsoto show diversity in a positive way, fosteringunderstanding between each other, and to helpvalue one another. The question he left was“How do we honour diversity where many rejectit?The benefits of these Conferences are huge aswe see our communities becoming much moremulti cultural. The next Conference will be held inChristchurch in 2018. However there may well bea Regional gathering in the North Island nextyear. Dorothy Brooker

FORMATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT

First apologies for not having put in a report lasttime, particularly to those who have beenwelcomed as postulants since Francistide. I amdoing this by memory as I am in Nelson! I am in Nelson, for Novice Counsellor training. Mysuitcase weighed a ton with about two reams ofprinted papers and folders!! Do remember if youwant me to come to your area please contact me- anne.moody3@gmail.com or 099489940 or0272401738

Recently I have signed the Rules for - HazelHipkins and Heather Moodie from Auckland andBarb Lash from Nelson. Since Francistide, thosewho were accepted for profession at Chapter andwere not at Convocation have been professed.They are - Claire Preston and Mary Allan fromCanterbury/Otago. Welcome to the postulantsand to the newly professed.

I have also been down to Hamner Springs andNatasha and I got the Address list just aboutcompleted. You should receive it in about midMarch. I also got the typing done for theFranciscan supplement which goes into ourmanual folders - some of you will not know whatit is, but will soon see! I particularly find the eightday readings and prayers prior to St Francis dayreally helpful. I do hope to complete that to beposted out at the same time as the Address andIntercession Lists.

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AREA NEWSThe 2015 Convocation Organising Committee has had its final meeting. Despite the generousdonation of $5000 from the Hostel of the Holy Name and the donations, about $400 given atConvocation we did not quite break even - $90deficit but all is now well. The evaluations weremuch appreciated, thank you and gave us somegood critiques and many affirmations. We arelooking forward to the Nelson Convocation in 2018;wish the Organising Team enjoyment in thechallenge of planning, and to seeing many moreFranciscans from postulants to professed there.

May you know the blessings and challenge of thisLenten season and the joy of the resurrection, Anne

North Island Central Prayer PresenceGENERAL SYNOD MAY 6TH TO 13TH

I look forward to welcoming members of otherReligious communities to Napier in May as wegather and offer a prayer presence duringGeneral Synod this year.

Waiapu is hosting General Synod from the 6th

to the 13th May, and the Venue is East PierConference Centre. The Venue for the prayerpresence is yet to be decided as thoseorganising General Synod are looking atwhether a space at East Pier is available.However the Cathedral is also able to be used.It is expected that those taking part from theReligious Communities will join General Synodmembers at the daily Eucharist, join the Biblestudies and offer the daily prayer offices at theCathedral as well as allowing people to walkthe Stations of the Cross or walk the Labyrinththat will be placed in the Cathedral. It is alsoenvisaged that hospitality if needed will be partof the day.

Religious Communities offering a prayerpresence at meetings like General Synod is nota new idea. The Lambeth Conference alwayshave a place of constant prayer by 1st OrderReligious from around the world and at the lastLambeth Conference the Third Order Society ofSt Francis also offered prayer at Grey friars inCanterbury as well as hospitality. I know thatthe Episcopal church of America also makes aplace for the Religious Communities to praywith and for their meeting.

It would be helpful for me to know numbers ofour Third Order who are coming so I canarrange accommodation if needed. However ifyou are unable to come please put aside sometime during the General Synod dates to offerprayer for those representing the Church.I have written to Archbishop Philip and theother Primates to consider asking theReligious Orders to offer a prayer presence foreach General Synod so it becomes a normrather than a one off. He has replied warmly. Itcan then be discussed when the religiousOrders meet with Bishop Victoria Matthewslater this year. With anticipation and prayerPeace and all good Dorothy TSSF

Changes of Email/AddressMinistry Formation:anne.moody3@gmail.comMichael Baker, 5 Julius Place, AKAROA 7520.Cell phone: 027 406 4290, Vicarage Ph is : 03 304 7051.Mary Allen A new line &number 03 3421099.Claire Preston New address: 32/372 YaldhurstRd, Russley, CHCH 8042. Ph 03 3424650. Email same,now works clairea@xtra.co.nz. New Postulants : Nelson: Barbara Lash(Barb)barb.lash@paradise.net.nz ph:03 5475365Auckland: Heather Moodieheathermoodie@xtra.co.nzPh: 0278155567Hazel Hipkins hazelh@xtra.co.nz

Please pray for them all!

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AREA NEWSChristchurch

New Year Greetings from Christchurchto all groups.

We started our year with a visit from John andAlison Wotherspoon from Liverpool, who weretraveling around the south island and on 26th

January, as Christchurch was their last port of callbefore going home, seven of our members metwith them at Shirley Livingston's home for a fingerfood tea and a catchup. They were a lovelyfriendly couple and we shared informationregarding our groups. Theirs is a small group who meet every two months in Manchester. We concluded the evening with Compline takenby Alys. Always a pleasure to meet overseasFranciscans.

Our first meeting was on the 14th February, the dayof the 5.7 earthquake, some members wereunable to attend because of this event, which isalways very stressful for Christchurch people, butafter a cup of tea we settled down at PamBosworth's home where Alys took a study on thenew roads we will travel in our lives this year.

Our study this year will be “Looking to St Francis”,The Man from Assisi & His Message of Hope ForToday by John Bohrer & Joseph Stoutzenberger.

Our meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday, eachmonth @ 2 pm in a members home. We extend a welcome to members visiting our city. Shirley Livingston TSSF

WellingtonNo news from Wellington.Hopefully some in the next TAU

Bay of Plenty

We haven’t finalized meeting content but here arethe dates:

2nd April 2016

25th June Quiet Day at TItoki.

13th August Quiet Day at Titoki with input for Tertiaries. 8th October

3rd December Thank you and Easter Blessings to all theFranciscan Family. Penny Seabourne. BoP convenor

A footnote from Lynette Dobbie who joined the NICgroup for and afternoon at Ohope- Prayers forKeiths ongoing health-Thanks

Waikato

Several tertiaries from around the North Islandjoined Waikato to farewell Bryan Colin Trim 20 September 1933 -11 February 2016. Thefuneral took place on Tuesday 16 February 2016at All Saints Matamata with the Rev’ds StephenPrebble and Bruce Dale officiating. Phil Dyer gavethe gospel reflection following the eulogies and themembers of the Third Order escorted the coffinand pall-bearers out of the church at the end of theservice. Peace and all goodness, Andrew Mckean TSSF

Editors note: Hopefully we will have a Obituary in the next TAU and an update on Waikato meetings for the year. Please pray for Brenda, Bryan’s wife also a Third Order member and their community.

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AREA NEWS

Distance is a big challenge for North Island Central. Driving from the East to the West of our areainvolves hours of driving over mountains or through gorges.It was a fantastic effort to get 8 of us together at a beach house at Ohope Beach for the weekendof the 19th 20th February. It was a wonderful opportunity to live in community for the weekendwhile enjoying the beauty of the Ohiwa Harbour and Ohope Beach.Our chaplain Dorothy led morning prayer, midday prayer, evening prayer and night prayer on theSaturday. It was a precious time to be able to enjoy the surroundings and water activities but topause and pray and give thanks together.Blair brought his SUP(stand up paddle board) and Titia arrived with her new kayak on the roof ofher car and they both made the most of calm harbour waters. The Saturday morning craft marketprovided a chance to meet some locals and to find some bargains and interesting but tastyvegetables(long purple beans that did not lose colour on cooking provided much discussion)We gathered on Saturday at 4pm to welcome Rachel Robson and Lynette Dobbie from BOP. Wehad advertised our weekend in Tau and were thrilled to welcome them. Blair led a discussion onsome detailed work he had done on the Chapter minutes and convocation group feedback. Thechallenge was for us all to look at ways of deepening our vocation as our Bishop protector++Phillip had encouraged us to do. We hope that this discussion will take place in all areasthroughout the Pacific.On Saturday evening the ten of us gathered around the table to share a beautiful meal and justenjoy being together. Much wine and laughter followed and we felt blessed to be able togetherfrom Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth ,Taupo and Whakatane.

We woke to another beautiful calm morning and Dorothy led the Eucharist. Afterwards we sat outon the deck under a large umbrella and wrote to the NIC tertiaries who could not be with us. Itwas we felt a way to gather them in our thoughts and prayer.Helene's husband Don who in his words "had tagged along" for the weekend cooked one of hisfamous 'Naki brunches on the BBQ and we all were so thankful for the time we were able tospend in community in such a beautiful place. Pax Bonum Sarah Hart

Nette, Dorothy, Titia,Helene, Raechal Blair, Nette, Dorothy

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