Pray for our Pacific is non-denominational and open to interpretation. Therefore each church community has an opportunity to Pray for our Pacific in whatever way best reflects their community and capacity. These are some examples:

• Dedication of a prayer during your sabbath service.
• Dedication of your church service to #PrayForOurPacific
• Youth-lead #PrayForOurPacific activities
• A #PrayForOurPacific prayer circle
• Sharing stories from relevant scriptures with Sunday school children
• Sharing local stories of climate impacts
• Remembrance service dedicated to lives lost during climate change disasters
• #PrayForOurPacific church rally which includes all of the above!

Your event can be as big or as small as you like. What is important is that your church owns your event and you know that you will be joined by our brothers and sisters throughout the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand. Possibly beyond!

It’s important that we as a people use our faith to empower ourselves and this movement. We aren’t looking to our faith as a way to solve the issue of climate change, but we are looking to our faith to find the strength to continue the fight to protect the planet that was gifted to us. Not a planet that we have dominion over, but a planet we are stewards of.

This year Alpha’s going global with over 52 countries launching at the same time in
September, extended over 18 months. Through the campaign video and materials, Bear Grylls will challenge the perception of being a fearless outdoor adventurer by sharing an untold story of his inner adventure to faith.

Aotearoa

With the help of Bear Grylls popularity, Alpha New Zealand is planning on running a significant advertising throughout the country. My understanding is, that Alpha aims to have 350 churches in our country start an Alpha course just after Easter in May 2017.  Alpha can’t make this happen, and needs churches to partner with them.

In September 2016 Alpha New Zealand will be holding “Invite the Nation“, 1 hour events, across New Zealand. With food, a talk and discussion Alpha wants to encourage cities and towns to come together to invite the nation.

Whangarei: 5th September 2016, 7pm, St Andrews Uniting Church
Auckland – North Shore: 6th September 2016, 7pm, Birkenhead Baptist Church
Auckland – Central: 7th September 2016, 12pm, Mt Albert Baptist Church
Auckland – East: 7th September 2016, 7pm, Elim Botany Downs
Hamilton: 9th September 2016, 12pm, Hamilton Central Baptist Church
Tauranga: 9th September 2016, 7pm, Bethlehem Baptist Church
Hawke’s Bay: 10th September 2016, 7pm, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Hastings
Palmerston North: 12th September 2016, 7pm, Salvation Army Palmerston North
Waitara / New Plymouth: 13th September 2016, 7pm, Knox Church Waitara
Wellington: 22nd September 2016, 7pm, Salvation Army Johnsonville
Nelson: 15th September 2016, 7pm, St Barnabas Anglican Church Stoke
Christchurch: 16th September 2016, Grace Vineyard City Campus
Dunedin: 19th September 2016, East Taieri Church
Gore: TBC

RSVP

At these meetings you will get access to resources to invite your community/your peers/your colleagues to explore faith. With one of the worlds most recognised TV stars as the face of the Invitation, there’s never been a better opportunity to invite people on Alpha.

Each year Kid Friendly (the children’s department of the Presbyterian Church) runs an art and writing competition, with over $900 worth of cool prizes to be won..The compeition has different age categories, ranging all the way up to Year 8. So this may be worth checking out if you have an intermediate youth ministry.

The Love Reaches Out art and writing competition winds up on Friday, 26 August 2016.

Download the competition poster and entry forms.

The Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership is offering a limited number of scholarships in 2016, to Presbyterians doing part-time or full-time theological studies through Otago University, Auckland University, Laidlaw College or Carey Baptist College.  If you know of anyone who might benefit from such a grant, please encourage them to apply. They should send a letter of application detailing their course (and costs) of study, and what church they’re involved in. They should also include a brief letter of support from someone in their church (preferably their minister, so we can discuss their church involvement and the course of study). Deadline for applications is 30th June 2016. Letters should be sent to the Principal, Rev Dr Steve Taylor, at Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, Knox College, Arden Street, Opoho, Dunedin 9010 or emailed to principal@knoxcentre.ac.nz. The amounts awarded are dependent on the number of applications received and the amount of trust funds available. The number of theology papers being taken and previous amounts awarded are also taken into consideration.

May 18 – 20th 2016

Opito Bay – Coromandel

Sometimes you have to escape the city and walk the beach and breathe the salt laden air, only then can you see clearly. Breathe deeply and listen to the breath of God.

Three incredible days

Day One: The quest / The story

Day two: The sensation / The adaptive challenge

Day three: The rhythm / The whole

Material covered will offer personal and ministry insight along with the collective wisdom of an amazing group of people.

What to expect Each day will have a variety of exercises including personal reflection, prayer, mentoring, rest and relaxation.  Each day we will follow that pattern of the sunlight and will flow with the weather conditions.

Cost: This retreat is being run at cost price (Food and accommodation). Approx $350

Registration It is vital that you register as early as possible to ensure that you have a place. Numbers are restricted to a total of 8 people. Download Retreat Info and Registration Form

Logistics

Arrive  Wednesday  18^th 11.00am at Opito Bay (Google directions or give me a call)

Depart   Friday 20^th 2.00 pm from Opito Bay

What to bring

• Casual dress
• Warm jacket
• Sleeping bag or bedding
• Camera
• Walking shoes
• Personal hygiene/ medications
• Towel, soap, toothbrush etc
• A small item / symbol that tells a story about a significant time in your life. It could be a photo, a newspaper cutting . . . etc

Accommodation

A beach house with water views 20 mtrs from the beach!

What others have to say . . .

“I attended one of Andrew’s retreats for people in ministry in 2015 and had an absolute ball. The retreat provides the perfect background for a retreat which allows one the space to look at life from a completely new perspective.

Andrew leads in the very best of ways by providing material upon which the group members can reflect openly and honestly and he draws the group members out in a sensitive and yet honest fashion which encourages all to participate fully. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world!”  Richard Dawson

‘Into the wild with Andrew Norton was for me both affirming and exhilarating where all running comes to a standstill and you learn to breathe again, listen to your life and take notice while rediscovering your rhythm.  Doing this (being this) in one of New Zealand’s best kept secret locations had a way of gently tugging at my soul strings allowing me to take stock and consider not only God’s beauty around me but my own as God’s beloved.  The retreat doesn’t feel like homework, a check list or a burden, rather Andrew follows the rhythms of nature in sync with the Holy Spirit (present) and in amongst great food, wine, stories, good company, scenery, fresh air, you re-discover yourself (in Godself) in the valleys, in the wide open spaces and on the mountain tops where you feel liberated again and all your obstacles become possibilities’.

Brendon McRae

I attended Andrew’s mountain retreat in March 2015. It was an amazing 4 days in a stunning location. With time and space and careful process questions Andrew lead the group into significant areas of self discovery. The camaraderie shared among the group was an added bonus. The retreat was the best way to start the year.  I would highly recommend it to anyone. 

Brent Richardson