Portal (Issue 12) by BotanyLife Community Church

Issue 12 | Jan - May 2015

Contents {REGULARS}

Feature Article DNA Reflections

Outreach Explore - Investigating the Life of Jesus

Leadership Spotlight Meet Nick and Tracey Hanne - ALTR Youth Leaders

Children’s and Youth Ministry Youth Band

A Place to Shine Update Check in for the latest news!

Preaching Series Galatians - We All Need Grace

Community Groups Fuel

Who’s That? Get to know some of our fellow members in the church

Reviews Grab a comfy seat, turn the volume up, rustle the family together and grab some popcorn

Marriage and Parenting Dangers of Comparison by Nikki Bray

What’s On at BotanyLife? Get your pens out and mark these dates on your calendar

BOTANYLIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH {STAFF} LEAD PASTOR/ELDER - BRAD (& ROCHELLE) CARR COMMUNITY PASTOR - MARK (& STEPH) VAN WIJK CHILDREN’S PASTOR - MEL (& DREW) PALMER WORSHIP & GROUPS PASTOR - ROBIN (& SONIA) BYRNE OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR - MEL (& JULIAN) THORBURN SUNDAY ADMINISTRATOR - MANDY FRANCIS

{ELDERS} TODD (& SHEREE) HUGHES KK (& SUSAN) LEONG ANDRE (& CHRISTL) KIRSTEIN STUART (& IANTHE) JONES

Text by Brad Carr.

couple of months ago, we finished up the first main preaching series for 2015. We called it DNA, and over the course of nine weeks we unpacked the “new” values of BotanyLife. As I explained in introducing the series, these values aren’t really new. As a church, we have had a statement of values since before we began our first service. These values were written by the interim leadership team in the year before BotanyLife was launched, as we dreamed and prayed together about the kind of church we hoped to start. Over the years, those values helped to guide many of our decisions as a leadership, and I believe they helped to shape who we are as a church family today. However, we realised a couple of years ago that while our values were a wonderful reflection of our soul as a church, they were not memorable statements. They didn’t roll off the tongue, and therefore they were not part of the ongoing conversations in our church family. Even at a leadership level, we had to pull out a piece of paper or open up a file on the computer whenever we wanted to reference our values in a decision.

That’s why we devoted the first term of 2015 to fleshing out these values in the recent DNA series. And based on the feedback that we have received from many of you, the series was well worth the effort.

That was when we decided we needed to simplify and re-tool our values. We didn’t want to start from scratch; our values had served us well for the first decade. But we wanted to refresh them; they needed reworking. And our hope as we did that, was that they would become more memorable and would therefore be talked about more in our church.

To follow on from that series, what we have done for this edition of Portal is ask nine different people within our church to reflect on each of these values. We haven’t dictated how they should approach this or what they should write, so there is quite a variety in each of the reflections. This is simply their thoughts and responses to what it means for us to be a church with these values.

It took us almost a year to simplify and reformulate our values, but it was worth the effort. We believe as a leadership that these new value statements capture the heart and soul of our church, and help explain who we are and what we are about.

We hope you enjoy reading these reflections as much as the Portal team has done! 4

FEATURE ARTICLE

We Take God At His Word

God’s Word is our final authority in everything. Therefore, we value expository preaching that faithfully explains the Bible and creatively applies it to life.

Text by Neil Blizard.

n my personal walk of faith, it is impossible for me to separate a love, knowledge and thirst for God from a love, knowledge and thirst for His Word. The Bible, God’s living Word, is the most amazing book I will ever come across. God’s Word is a gift and the foundation of His communication to me and His will for my life. For that, I am eternally grateful. It should come as no surprise that I love the fact that taking God at His Word is one of our core values as a church. If it wasn’t, quite frankly, I wouldn’t be here. Similar to my individual walk of faith, I feel the Church needs God’s Word as the foundation it is built on. If not, at the very least, we would lack consistency and accuracy of teaching. 5

I’m thankful that God’s Word is an inseparable part of our church DNA and that you don’t need to look further that the way we do things to find it being applied. From governance to leadership, to serving, to community groups, youth and children’s ministries, community outreach and importantly, teaching. All of these have a theological biblical precedent, but a very practical application in the life of our church. It is this application of God’s Word in the way we do things along with the strong teaching of God’s Word that has always resonated with me at BotanyLife. I feel very blessed to be part of it. For that too, I have no doubt, I will be eternally grateful.

FEATURE ARTICLE

It’s All About Grace

Our relationship with God stands completely on His grace, expressed in Jesus Christ. God’s grace impacts the way we relate to each other and the wider community, as we treat others with compassion, love and forgiveness, without any sense of guilt or coercion.

Text by Owen Jennings.

ust quietly, I struggle a bit with “grace”. Yeah, yeah - I believe in a conceptual way something of Gods’ incredible favour to us. I can begin to get my head around all the stuff about God’s holiness and His impeccable character. And also His mercy and love in that He sent His Son Jesus to take my share of punishment because my sin was making it impossible for me to please Him or reach perfection, the standard He set. But I still keep wondering: why me? Even when I stumble and fall; let my mind deviate down lurid paths; slip a ‘harmless lie’ into the conversation; or simply ignore this generous God - why does His grace forgive and forget? How can it be that good? I love the way we keep coming back to this basic position at BotanyLife that is wrapped up in John 3:16. Just when we are chewing our way into something deep and complex, pregnant 6

with mystifying truth, shrouded by Greek and Hebrew nuances, out comes the reminder - it’s all about grace... freely given. Just when I feel I am so undeserving; so inadequate; so much a charlatan disguising my regular bad thought life with fine sounding soothing speech; so proud of my humility; so hopeless at witnessing, up pops grace. Phew!!! I am saved. I am accepted by the righteous Father because of, and in, Christ. So, I will be there on Sunday hearing again the timeless and compelling message of grace. I need it. It comes in various packages but it gets aired regularly. It’s good for the soul, the mind, the spirit. I don’t need to fully understand it in all its complexity; I don’t need to know its unfathomable dimensions. Simply I am a child of God and grace saves me, keeps me and will deliver me into the Lord’s eternal presence.

FEATURE ARTICLE

We Build Bridges Not Walls

We share God’s passion for lost people. We value building genuine friendships with those who don’t know God, so that we may in time have the opportunity to boldly share the gospel of Jesus.

Text by Steph van Wijk.

love being a part of a church that holds the value “we build bridges not walls”.

The connect events that BotanyLife run provide perfect opportunities to naturally deepen friendships - from simply chatting with other mums outside the classroom while waiting for the school bell to ring - to sharing a ride to a Chickzone event and enjoying an evening of fun. I love being able to invite my friends who ‘don’t do church’ to events run by church, and get so excited when they ask about church and what we believe. My friend Janine, who I got to know through antenatal classes, had never been to a church 7

until she came to BotanyLife a few years ago. She had come to a few Chickzone events - where she had heaps of fun, and when I invited her to a family service she was keen to come along and bring her kids. She has been part of a couple of community projects and loves the sense of community she feels and always comments about how friendly people are. We have had a number of conversations about church and God, and my prayer is that one day I will get to share the gospel with her. I love that BotanyLife runs such great events that I feel are safe to invite friends to, no matter where they are in their journey.

We’re A Go and Do Church We are a church of action that is committed to demonstrating God’s love for people, by practically serving our local community.

Text by Andre Kirstein.

here is nothing more satisfying to me than helping people. To help, support, or carry a load for somebody gives me absolute pleasure. The ability to swing a hammer is a gift I believe God has given me, and one I love to use (albeit not accurately if you look at the state of my fingers). Before coming to BotanyLife I have been part of a church where we were encouraged, amongst other guidance, to stay out of certain areas and not mix easily with non-Christians (in order to prevent temptation). This is so contrary to what Jesus did and ignores reference to being a light on a hilltop. Being a Go and Do Church means I get involved with those who have a need, no matter what their beliefs are, so that I reflect Jesus’ character.

The best thing about the people at BotanyLife is that we are not just a Go and Do Church when we do our Community Project, but we live it out daily. Home groups assist others in the community by helping financially, carrying furniture when house moving, baking or bringing a meal during difficult times, or just offering a shoulder to cry on. This is definitely a core belief, not just a task to complete. How then can you not want to be part of BotanyLife? I believe the more you give the more you get. So bring me a hammer (and a few plasters), and point me to the next project. To see the smile from a child when we finish building a playground is so rewarding. Jesus gave freely, and the world teaches us to take as much as we can. I’m following Jesus’ guidance as I get back so much more than what I could take. Life is about people, and here lies my joy.

FEATURE ARTICLE

We Do Life Together

God has brought us together as a family. We are committed to maintaining unity and building strong, authentic relationships with each other. Therefore we place a high value on small groups.

Text by David Hall.

ot everyone who attends a Christian church is a believer. But, once they are and that pivotal step has been taken from relying on worldly things to those of heaven - to wholeheartedly believe that Jesus Christ did live on earth, that he sacrificed his life for us, but was raised by God from death to life and then ascended to heaven - going to church tends to follow. The next step then, if you have not been brought up in a church, or are ‘between’ churches, is to find one that works for you and that’s not easy. There’s a few around. Adele and I found BotanyLife after returning to Auckland Bible Church (where we’d worshipped for a good six years) after a few years in the wilderness. Rochelle Carr welcomed us that day with the news that some ABC people were planting a new church in Pakuranga. We missed the first service at Riverina Primary School, but attended the second and have been with BotanyLife ever since. We found some theological and eschatological differences between our understanding of the Bible and that of BotanyLife’s. But we seem to have agreed to differ. At first, and for a long time, it was the gifted preaching of Brad Carr that drew us in, then, the people we sat with, sang and prayed with, began to come closer to us. As we came gradually to accept BotanyLife as our church home, we couldn’t help but notice how keen the people were to do things for others. Spend a moment on the church website and you’ll get an idea of the vast array of projects and services undertaken by BotanyLifers, some are quite exceptional. The annual community project is, to me, exceptional. I 9

smile inwardly whenever I consider my involvement - which is embarrassingly minuscule - with this. Nowadays, many of us commit to regular get-togethers, maybe it’s just lunch after church, it could be a dinner at home, the movies, whatever. It’s simply enjoyable being together. Our Energy group - for those with hair shaded a little lighter, or just with less hair - for example, goes to Thames a couple of times a year to Vay and Marion Vivian’s place, where we hang about, put the world and its policies to right, do a short bible study, go on walks, play table tennis (although no one plays with that burglar Max C any more) and sing songs with such joy that they are a danger to the Vivian’s roof. Doing things together can be a lot of fun, and is also very comforting, because it’s easy to be lonely. It’s harder, as you age, to grow new friendships. I don’t mean acquaintances here, but genuine friends, who’ll do things with you, go to places, share confidences, laugh at your pathetic jokes, call during those rough patches, offer a new view when things are misty, without expectation of reward. Interestingly, when thinking about BotanyLife, I am realising that there is fostered here a welcoming, open and friendly community. That I have to think about this is revealing in itself: to me it means that BotanyLife not only has a pretence of ‘everyone being welcome here’ - as surely should all churches - but that, without vanity, somehow the people who make up this church instinctively live out its core purpose ‘to passionately love God’. That action leads in a heartbeat, to the next step, ‘to purposely love others’, and then, with perhaps a little more consideration, to ‘doing life together’.

We Are All In The Game

We are committed to encouraging everyone to find a place to serve, using their God given abilities for building His church. We follow Jesus’ example by serving humbly and generously.

Text by Melissa & Rebecca Wake.

e are thankful to be involved in a church that holds the value of everyone being in the game. Both of us currently serve in the Forest and Jungle, and as youth leaders at ALTR youth group. It is a privilege to be involved in these ministries. It is also exciting to see a lot of the youth from ALTR serve in the children’s ministry on Sunday mornings. Serving in a church which holds this key value means that we are getting to know so many people. No matter what team you choose to serve on, you will inevitably meet new people. And isn’t that part of what church is all about meeting other Christians, and being able to do life together? We are all in the game at BotanyLife, and this is so important because by serving together, and by being a part of something, we are able to grow closer together and make lasting friendships. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians about the human body, and how all the parts of the body work together. No part is any more or any less useful, necessary, or important than any other.

If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 Suppose the whole body were an eye - then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything? 18 But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it. 15

This is how it is with church - everyone has something to contribute, and no matter where you choose to serve, you can be sure that at BotanyLife you will be appreciated. Everyone has a place, regardless of how you rate your skills or talents - there is somewhere you can fit, contribute, and meet others. The Christian walk is a lot easier, more fun and more rewarding doing it with other people. While many may not appreciate the Disney movie ‘High School Musical,’ if you managed to watch it all the way through, you would have heard the closing number - “We’re all in this together.” And that about sums it up.

FEATURE ARTICLE

We Invest In The Next

We value children and youth. We intentionally invest in them and involve them in our church life, encouraging them to grow in their own faith and to share it with their friends.

Text by Nicola Mountfort.

t takes a village to raise a child”. This widely quoted African proverb is so true. As for most parents, raising our children is the most important thing that my husband Curtis and I do, but it is not easy! We need backup! Society seems to work hard to get our children to think that life is all about them, their needs, wants and desires, and tries to make God irrelevant. At BotanyLife we indeed “invest in the next” and teach them truth about God. Our children are vital members of the church, and BotanyKids IS church for them - not just a place to go while the adults ‘do’ church. My three younger daughters, Liliana (10), Chloe-Mae (9) and Jessica (6) meet in their age-group programmes on Sunday mornings and they all love it. They have fun, relevant programmes which teach our children about Jesus and his saving grace, in a way that is truthful, impacting and understandable. 11

I enjoy hearing about what my girls have learned at BotanyKids, and they love telling me. They are learning the truth of the gospel in such a way that they can convey it to others. That is priceless. It’s excellent that the environment at BotanyKids is so much fun that my girls are excited to invite their friends along. They are divided into small groups with leaders for each group. The leaders get to know each child and they are people that our children can talk to. Curtis has led a group for the past five years and has a great connection with those children. Our eldest daughter, Eva (13) is in the ALTR high school group who meet on Friday nights for studies and socials, and this is a highlight of her week. Having the BotanyKids and youth teams speak into the lives of my daughters is a treasure to me, and I’m so glad that BotanyLife is my family’s ‘village’. Thanks team!

One Waka, One Direction

Strong, united leadership made up of godly servant-leaders is core to our stability. We also highly value the intentional mentoring and training of emerging leaders.

Text by Harataki Manihera.

’m thankful BotanyLife has this value, “One Waka, One Direction” because it communicates to me that the church has a clear and strong focus, and that people are the most important thing. The image of one waka, one direction solidifies for me the “one-another’s” of the Bible and how important this is to our growth as a church whanau. And ultimately the reason we are here, to see lost people found in Christ Jesus. The great thing is that we’re not alone in this, but we are in this together. “He waka eke noa” (we are in this together).

We can’t do this on our own but instead we need each other. We know where we are going as a church whanau and what are our priorities are. I know that BotanyLife Community Church desires to be a church that is clear about our destination and how we will reach that destination. Ultimately, that means we are passionately loving God and loving lost people, but also that we are committed to supporting and growing each other. It also means that we can do this as a collective whanau and not as separate entities or independent of those supports.

Being a part of BotanyLife Community Church, and having this value encourages me because it makes a very strong statement about the heart of our leadership’s direction for the church. It emphasises a strong partnership that is inclusive, with clear direction of its goals and purposes.

It’s great to know there is a pathway mapped out for us and that this emphasises how critical it is that we are in this together. Resolute!

Kia kaha, Kia mataara (be strong, be of good courage).

FEATURE ARTICLE

We Keep It Fresh

We serve a God of creativity and excellence, and we believe we should reflect him by being creative and innovative, and giving God our very best.

Text by Al Ronberg.

t takes a lot to keep me interested in anything... I have a short attentio... oh look... a pigeon...

Anyways... let’s just say that I am a little bit “high-needs” when it comes to church - as a kinaesthetic type, I like to have something tactile or at least visual to keep me engaged with the content that’s being taught. I have always appreciated the attention that BotanyLife pays to providing multi-sensory services, which balance the need to present biblically sound content, with creative story-enhancing ideas. Whether it be through media, music, drama, pastors in costume or changing the set-up of the hall, I have appreciated the way that a fresh approach to a bunch of people collecting in a hall to learn about Jesus has provided options for me to access learning that I have rarely experienced in other contexts. 13

It isn’t just a fresh approach to services that captures my attention. I remember one of the very first experiences I had when I walked through the doors of BotanyLife. There was a refreshing culture about greeting newcomers that wasn’t just an empty “say hi to the person next to you”. I remember Todd Hughes coming over to chat not long after walking in, and that warm and inviting conversation was enough to make me feel that I was somewhere refreshingly different. What I have learned in the subsequent years is that this isn’t necessarily a policy that is enacted, but more a value that is lived out in the life of people that come to this church. Fresh AS!

OUTREACH Text by Mark van Wijk.

ast year we made some changes to how we offer Christianity Explored (CE) at BotanyLife that have been a great success. For a number of years we’ve run CE in a home on a weekday evening, but this was becoming more and more difficult to sustain. It seems that, whilst as church members we are more than happy to spend time in a more ‘intimate’ environment (in each other’s homes), this isn’t necessarily the case for our unchurched friends & family, and this can sometimes be quite intimidating for them.

We had eleven people take part in the trial course, which worked through the CE material, along with a couple of additional sessions up front (“Can a thinking person really believe in God?” and “Can we really trust what the Bible says about Jesus?”). We’ve found that with the highly secular NZ culture, these are two of the key questions/ barriers that people have often raised during CE courses, and so we decided to raise them ourselves right up front. A number of the participants were new immigrants from China, and so Steve & Robyn Young (the course leaders) were very appreciative of Susan Leong, who joined in to help with some translating along the way! The feedback from these participants was fantastic, with much excitement around hearing the gospel message for the first time, and a number of them coming to faith as a result.

With this in mind, we undertook a review of how we were running the course, and also of the material we were using. After some great discussions, which included a detailed review of other ‘evangelistic curriculum’ options, we were happy that CE was the best fit for our context, and particularly liked the strong emphasis on the person of Jesus, as well as the lack of assumptions around what participants might already know.

After having successfully repeated Explore later in 2014, we’re continuing the same format this year. By the time this issue of Portal goes to print, the first course will be underway, but if you, or someone you know would be interested in being a part of the next course, then I’d encourage you to email Steve & Robyn (explore@botanylife. org.nz), or have a chat to either of them on a Sunday.

We also decided to trial a completely different format for the course. Under the simplified name of ‘Explore’ we ran an 8 week course on Sunday mornings, at the same time as our church service, in one of the school’s whanau spaces. Participants were able to come along to church with their friends (who could either stay in the course, or go to the main church service), drop their kids off to our various programmes, and then take part in the course.

We just love to see people embracing the opportunity to investigate the life of Jesus and to learn more about God’s wonderful message of grace towards us. We’re excited about what God has done through this course so far, as He has drawn people to himself, and we can’t wait to see what He will do next! 14

Switchon

Camp Morley 10-12 July Switchon is an camp for youth & young adults who want to grow in their faith.

what is the bible actually about ?

This year we’re excited to be trying something a bit different, when we work our way through the fantastic Long Story Short course over the weekend. Long Story Short is new kiwi-made course that explains the long story of the Bible, and explores questions like Who made God?, Where did evil come from?, and What is faith? Head to longstoryshort.co to learn more, and then watch episodes 1 & 2 on the videos page. Camp fee is still only $90, and space is limited, so make sure you register now at botanylife.org.nz

Profile Profile is an event for people who are newish to BotanyLife. Held after the church service, it offers the opportunity to meet the pastors, get to know other people, and find out more about BotanyLife. Come and discover our profile as a church - how we started, where we’re going, and how to get involved. Our next Profile event is planned for Sunday 21 June 2015, 12:30 - 2.30pm in the Red Whanau room at Botany College. Lunch is provided, as well as childcare, so feel free to bring the whole family! If you’re keen to join us, just email us at office@botanylife.org.nz and we’ll save 15 you a space.

Nick & Tracey

Hanne ALTR YOUTH LEADERS Text by Robin Byrne.

ick, Tracey and the gorgeous Eva (18 months old) have been part of BotanyLife for the past couple of years. Tracey has been part of our worship ministry for a while, and together Nick and Tracey have recently started leading our large, and fast growing, ALTR high school ministry. They are doing an outstanding job leading, teaching and encouraging our young people in this vital ministry! We thank God for bringing them to BotanyLife.

HOW DID YOU MEET CHRIST? NICK: I trusted in Christ when I was 5yrs old. I was at home and decided I wanted what Dad and Mum had! I really got serious about following Christ when I was 16 at High School. I was involved in starting up a Christian group that met regularly together. TRACEY: My parents had a strong faith in God. I experienced that first hand, so I believed in Christ at a really young age.

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUNDS?

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR HOBBIES?

NICK: I grew up in Howick, at Fowey Lodge Bible School. I’m the eldest of two boys. My father is English and my mum is a kiwi. I attended Mellons Bay Primary School and then went to St Kentigens College. I then went on to study politics at Auckland University. Growing up at a Bible school meant I had the privilege of getting to know many different people from all around the world. I’ve also spent a fair amount of time travelling which has been an awesome opportunity.

NICK: Anything outdoors, I especially love sailing and hiking. I also love to read and write. (If you have a moment, grab Nick and ask him about the three books he is in the process of writing) TRACEY: I love to sing! Also, I’ve just started to upcycle furniture - which I’m loving! WHO / WHAT HAS MADE AN IMPACT OR INFLUENCED YOUR LIVES SO FAR?

TRACEY: My family emigrated from South Africa in 1996. I have both an older and younger brother. I was brought up in a Catholic environment, but when we came to NZ our family became involved at Howick Baptist Church. After school I went to Uni to study to become a Physio. But after a while decided I wanted to work with children, so I changed to early childhood!

NICK: Definitely my parents! Also Tony McLean (Tony sadly died in the Maungatapopo tragedy in 2008), who was one of my youth leaders and had a big impact on my life. He taught me how to stay true to my faith. TRACEY: That’s easy! Nick and my parents. 16

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT

ALTR IS A GROUP OF ABOUT 50 VIBRANT YOUNG PEOPLE. WHAT SORT OF THINGS DO YOU DO TO CHALLENGE THEM AND BURN OFF A BIT OF THAT ENERGY? NICK AND TRACEY: We have a fantastic leadership team that has helped put together and run plenty of active and fun socials. We’ve had a beach bash, movie quiz night, BBQ’s, the infamous “Camel Hunt”, and taken a big group down to Easter camp! There will be plenty more creative socials to come…

HAVE YOU HAD ANY “PEARLS OF WISDOM” THAT YOU WOULD PASS ON TO A YOUNG PERSON NAVIGATING THROUGH LIFE?

Our studies thus far have been based around our church values. We’ve been really encouraged at the way the youth are engaging at the study nights, and are looking forward to hearing more about God’s grace as we open up Galatians.

NICK: David Livingstone said “I am invincible until the will of God is done in my life.” Basically, we have nothing to fear because Christ is with us!!

WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AT BOTANYLIFE?

TRACEY: One thing I’ve learnt is that many things (job, friendships, hobbies and even family) can give us a sense of freedom, but only true freedom comes in walking with Christ - trust in Him.

NICK: Seeing the level of commitment that a lot of our youth have for their faith is really incredible! I’m so excited that I can be a part of encouraging them in their walk with Christ.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Nick and Tracey a bit better - thanks guys for sharing with me! I’m sure Nick & Tracey would love to meet any of you who have high school aged youth if you’ve got any questions around the program they run in ALTR.

TRACEY: Everything really! I love being part of the fun our young people have. I also feel privileged that I can play a part in supporting our youth through their teenage years. 17

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Youth Band

Youth Band Debut Text by Mack Palmer. On Sunday the 19th of April 2015, the BotanyLife youth band had their first appearance in the Forest and Jungle. I arrived just in time to hear them start and when I heard them I felt happy that they were there. Some of the other kids looked a bit puzzled because most of the songs were new and we hadn’t had a band before. I think they still all enjoyed it though, just like I did. And the band will come back so they’ll all get used to it!

Text by Mel Palmer.

fter much anticipation (on my part) it was SO exciting to have the Youth Band lead the Forest and Jungle Kids in worship for the first time on the 19th April 2015.

Word had obviously got out that the band were playing because there were lots of parents visiting to listen to them, and some other people who visited our church just to hear the band. How cool is that?!

The band, who has only been practising together for a little more than a month, did a fantastic job on their debut. I was so proud of them all! From the minute they arrived to when they had to quickly pack up and move their instruments, they got stuck in and displayed great attitudes.

I thought the youth band were amazing, although they could do with a better name (no offence to those in the band). There were a lot of cool instruments – guitars, keyboard, bass, and drums – and some great singers. I especially liked the drums because during some of the songs they were played by my awesome small group leader Harrison. I also liked Bjorn on the guitar and Carl on the bass. The whole youth band all sounded very good together. I thought it was quite cool that I knew a lot them because lots of them help in the Forest and the Jungle.

I arrived, shortly after 8am, to find the band already there involved with setting up and moving furniture - that’s commitment! (And really impressive for a group of teenagers who just might have had to drag themselves out of bed a tad earlier than they usually would have). After two pretty solid hours of set up and practice they took to the ‘stage’ and led the kids (and visiting parents/adults) in four songs. The band consists of: • Keyboard: Sam Knight, Sophie Osbourne & Bjorn Byrne • Acoustic Guitar: Bjorn Byrne • Electric Guitar: Logan Carr and Holly Bailey

The songs that were chosen for them to play were very cool. I knew all the songs and they were some of my favourites. I liked ‘One Way’ the most because of the part which reminds us of the verse that says Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). I’d love them to learn “Fill it up and let it overflow” because we do that at Kids Camp and I like it.

• Bass: Carl Young • Drums: Harrison Carr and Jordan Hallows • Vocalists: Emma Sproul, Eva Mountfort, Michelle Hamill, Bjorn Byrne, Gabi Brooks and Lochie Brooks The plan from here is to have the band feature in the Forest and Jungle once a month. It is so great for the kids to experience live worship and see their leaders in a different capacity. I know we have some pretty great kid musicians at our church too. Hopefully one day they’ll be able to bring their instruments along and join in the praise!

I can’t wait until the band comes next time!

My HUGE thanks go to Robin Byrne for getting this band off the ground and to Shaun Holmes for his leadership. Thanks so much guys for making this happen! We can’t wait to have the band in the Forest/Jungle again. 18

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Band Text by Eva Mountfort.

HOW I HEARD THAT A YOUTH BAND WAS STARTING... I knew vaguely that there was going to be some sort of band starting and they were planning on leading the kid’s ministries in worship, but other than that I didn’t know what was going to happen. While I was on school camp, my mum was asked if I would like to be in the youth band, and she said yes. I came home from school camp a few days later, completely unaware of what my mum had signed me up for. I knew all of the songs well though, and so it was easy for me to learn them. I also practised singing and playing those songs with my grandma (Merilyn) during my weekly piano lesson with her. THE FIRST PRACTISES... We get together to practise on a Wednesday every 2-3 weeks at the community centre. The first practise was really fun, as most of us were using the equipment for the first time. Each of the instruments (the different guitars, keyboard, drums, and vocal) has a mentor, and they help us a lot with the more detailed aspects. We got better each week, and our leader Shaun, who was kind of like the conductor (except in band terms), added some new and interesting variations. OUR FIRST TIME LEADING THE WORSHIP... The first time we led the worship in the Forest and Jungle went well, with all of us giving our best. We weren’t quite sure how the children would react, as it would have been really different for them as well, seeing (for many of them), older brothers and sisters leading them. In the end I think that everyone enjoyed it, the band included, and I am really looking forward to next time. THANK YOU ALSO TO SHAUN AND OUR MENTORS; MARTIN, DAVID AND ROBYN, WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT YOU! 19

A PLACE TO SHINE

Update Text by Mel Thorburn.

For those who haven’t visited the community centre at 272E Ti Rakau Drive since the end of last year - you’d be in for quite a surprise to see the transformation that has taken place in the last four to five months. Let me walk you through the major bits!

Over the summer holiday period, the long slow process of getting all the cabling for data, security and electricity where it needed to be ensued. And this was not without hiccups. A pungent smell during the peak of our summer heat, in the unconditioned offices led many to think we had a dead rodent lurking in the wall/ceiling space. Fortunately (?), this was not the case - turns out the smell was of a more electrical nature. Thankfully no major damage was done and a quick visit from a friendly electrician for some remedial attention revealed that a cable for the main power switch had been melting! We now have a flash new security system up and running that enables swipe card door access and our every move, both inside and outside the building, is captured by a series of six cameras dotted around the building.

First up would have to be the highly anticipated (especially by those who work there!) and most dramatic change which occurred at the end of last year. If you read Brad’s previous Shine Update in Portal, you’ll know what this was... as we were going to press on the last issue, we had just burst through the wall! Yes, the wall that meant that when we wanted to get something from the community centre we had to take our keys, go down the stairs and out the front office door, around the outside corner of the building beside Porse, and use another key to open the doors that access the community centre below! What a major improvement this has been for all who work in and use the community centre. Though it meant working in a dusty and slightly shambolic raw state for a while - we now have wonderful access to the staircase that leads directly up from the community centre into our office space.

The wall break-through has also given us direct access to the amazing mezzanine floor area that MMM constructed for us back in August last year. At last its true purpose is being realised! This area consists of a large meeting room, a kitchenette, a massive storage room (super exciting from my point of view : ), and two offices which are the new home of Living Stones. Of course, to get all these into a usable state 20

COMMUNITY CENTRE

required a lot more than just a hole being made in the wall! Installing ceiling tiles, laying carpet, installing a kitchen, hooking up powerpoints, installing lighting, doors being hung and of course the aesthetic details of painted walls and skirting boards to complete the look. Some of these were specialist only jobs (we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let Brad loose on the carpet laying), but much of the work was achieved by volunteers from church coming in during the weekends or as they had a spare couple of hours during the week. It really has been a labour of love and as someone who has, and is enjoying the fruits - can I just say thank you.

So looking forward, the next focus of our Shine project is on plumbing and electrical. We are at that difficult stage of getting plumbing quotes in for the major work required to plumb the main kitchen, toilets and shower in the downstairs cafe area. And currently there are several tenders out and quotes coming in to increase the power supply from the roadside to the building so that we can adequately meet the demand our new facilities put on the electrical board. With each of these being mammoth tasks, it is crucial to get a good sample of quotes to gain an accurate cost of the work and ensure our money is being put to the best possible use. Mandy has been doing an amazing job of managing these aspects and has had to wear a multitude of different hats she has previously been unfamiliar with. I am preparing myself for the reality that before long, we will once again have a workplace filled with construction noise and a whole lot more dust as the concrete cutters start cutting up the floor in the warehouse. Of course, this small disruption to our working environs will be worth the exciting transformation that lies ahead.

I know that my appreciation is shared in particular by several of my colleagues. With the meeting room and Living Stones offices being around 90% complete (just missing some glass and extra power loading), there has been some major reshuffling of homes for our staff team. The offices once occupied by Rowland and Shellene have now been reallocated - and our worship & groups pastor Robin Byrne, and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pastor Mel Palmer have respectively taken up their new residences. Brad has returned to the light of his office (having lived in the dark confines of his library since Robin came on staff in July 2014), and the reception/admin area where Mandy and I reside appears to have doubled in size with the moving of our desks to new locations. It is fair to say that we are all enjoying our new and improved spaces and the more professional look now that the dust has been cleaned away!

As I write this, the giving certificates for the end of the financial year are being collated and we have received over $230,000 in gifts to date for A Place to Shine. It is wonderful to see these donations continue to roll in - especially as we come to one of the most expensive parts of the project. We are most grateful to you all for your generosity in making theses renovations possible, and ask that even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t contribute financially, that you continue to support the project by giving the invaluable gift of your time. There are opportunities like working bees or one-off tasks that come up and are promoted in either the bulletin or Sunday services that we would love to have your assistance with. Each of our many small contributions all add up to one completed community centre, which, Lord willing, will be completed by the end of this year!

We are not alone in making use of these new facilities either. We have the Neighbourhood community group using the new meeting room each week, and though not yet complete, the community centre is again being used by the ALTR youth on Friday nights and also for the worship team for weekly practices and worship jams. It is just brilliant to see the various spaces being put to the use we had in mind. 21

PREACHING SERIES

We All Need Grace Text by Brad Carr.

he longer I have been a pastor, the more convinced I have become that we can never hear enough about the grace of God. This is not only a biblical conviction, because theologically grace stands at the heart of our relationship with God (Rom 5:2). I also believe it for an intensely practical reason: I’ve come to realise that the vast majority of Christians don’t really live in the freedom and security that grace brings.

“The grace of God is one of the most important subjects in all of Scripture. At the same time it is probably one of the least understood. . . My observation of Christendom is that most of us tend to base our personal relationship with God on our performance instead of on His grace.” Jerry Bridges

Recently I was speaking to a very experienced pastor, and we were both commenting about how insecure people are, including ourselves. While we talk and sing in church about grace, most (if not all of us) still struggle with a performance mentality with God. We have this deep, often unspoken concern about whether we have done enough for God... or, on the flip side, whether we have failed or messed up too many times. I think deep down, many people can relate to what youth worker Mike Yaconelli once wrote:

“We live in a world where showing grace is uncommon.” John Vawter

“BURIED IN THE BACK OF MY MIND IS THE GNAWING WORRY THAT MY GRACE CREDIT CARD IS GOING TO BE CANCELLED. PARKED SOMEWHERE IN MY SUBCONSCIOUS IS THE BELIEF THAT GRACE AND FORGIVENESS ARE LAVISH, UNCONDITIONAL, AND LIMITED. CROSS JESUS ONE TOO MANY TIMES, FAIL TOO OFTEN, SIN TOO MUCH, AND GOD WILL DECIDE TO TAKE HIS LOVE BACK. IT IS SO BIZARRE, BECAUSE I KNOW CHRIST LOVES ME, BUT I’M NOT SURE HE LIKES ME.”

“We can never sink so far that God’s grace will not reach us. At the same time, grace does not leave us there. It raises us to new heights.” Philip Yancey

Our new “Freeway” series in Galatians is an invitation to sink deeply into the incredible beauty and security of grace; to really grasp for the first time, or to be reminded afresh, that we are completely and deeply loved - and even liked - by God. This Galatians series is an opportunity to be reminded again that the grace credit card can never be cancelled; that forgiveness through Jesus is not limited; and we can never fail enough for God to discard us. It is only because of God’s grace that we can be settled and secure in his love, because it isn’t based on us - it’s totally based on who we are in Jesus.

“The longer we walk in the garden, the more likely we are to smell like flowers. The more we immerse ourselves in grace, the more likely we are to give grace.” Max Lucado

My prayer for all of us is that during this “Freeway” series we will each see Paul’s prayer in Ephesians answered to some small degree in our lives: that we would have the power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3:18-19). 22

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Text by Robin Byrne.

he dictionary describes fuel as a “source of energy” or a “thing that sustains”. God’s Word is just that! The Bible is made up of words directly from God Himself that give us “fuel” to help us navigate through the busyness of life.

Fuel is a safe environment where anything can be discussed. We are a diverse group (in age and backgrounds), which often means healthy conversation with a fair amount of banter which is awesome! We have been doing studies based around our church values and are now looking forward to studying God’s amazing grace as we open up the book of Galatians.

“Fuel” is also the name of a new men’s community group that meets early Friday mornings (fortnightly) for great coffee and toast, bible study and discussion, prayer, and of course plenty of laughs...

The group is also committed to living out our church value of being a “go and do church”. So, at some point this year, we will be doing something to make an impact in our community. We will also be planning some socials throughout the year, which no doubt will be a bit of a laugh!!

At BotanyLife we are committed to “doing life together”. We believe that growing towards Christ-likeness is a life-long process as we continue to mature in our walk with God. We therefore value life-long learning, as we study and obey God’s Word together. We also believe that God intends for much of that growth and learning to take place in the context of small groups, where we can build strong, authentic relationships with each other.

So if this group sounds like your thing, feel free to come along and check us out! We meet from 6:15 - 7:30am on Fridays (fortnightly), at the community centre, 272E Ti Rakau Drive, Burswood. Give Robin a call on 272 4242 or 027 297 0627. 23

The world's best tasting act of kindness. Imagine youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a poor hill-tribe farmer in the rugged mountains north of Chiang Mai in Thailand. You have no access to fresh water, food is scarce and you are heavily in debt to loan sharks. They have lent you money at 10% interest a month in order to grow crops on a small piece of land and it's unlikely you'll ever be out of debt. Life is grim and, as you don't have official Thai citizenship, government help is inaccessible. Or Imagine you're a young woman working in one of Bangkok's notorious red light districts. You have been sold into prostitution by your family to pay off a debt and now you are trapped in a brutal and degrading life with little hope of escape. You have to sell yourself every day, with just one day off a month. Everyone around you exploits you and sees you merely as a mechanism for earning money. It is these people that the sale of La Mai coffee supports. It is our passion and commitment to give hope to the poor and exploited in Thailand that drives us. Through La Mai coffee we are doing something to help these people, and when you drink La Mai coffee, so are you. La Mai coffee is very high quality arabica coffee from the highlands of Thailand, and is custom-roasted in small batches by expert coffee roasters Coffee Worx, based in Christchurch. Head to www.lamai.co.nz to place your order today, and experience The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best tasting act of kindness.

WHO’S THAT?

Dave & Sue Padfield

Text by Debbie du Toit.

midst their very busy schedules, David and Sue Padfield graciously agree to meet with me at their home on a rainy Thursday evening.

Dave describes himself as a ‘Westie”, and Sue is from Rotorua. They have settled in Auckland, and, in a recent move about 18 months ago to the Flat Bush area, looked for a local church. Some of their acquaintances were already members here, and BotanyLife Community Church has since become their place of worship. Working with children is one of her passions, and you will often see Sue serving in the Garden, one of our preschool children’s ministry programmes. The teaching and other ministries at BotanyLife has been a great encouragement to both Dave and Sue. They recall how their first experience to our church proved to be somewhat different. This particular Sunday morning the message was about the Last Supper, where the seating layout portrayed dining at tables. Although this Sunday service was not ‘conventional’, Dave and Sue both remember the warmth of being welcomed.

We talk comfortably about family, work, other interests and our walk of faith. For David and Sue this has been a long and rewarding walk. Both come from Christian families, and have been involved in various ministries. In the early years, Dave was involved with Beach Missions and Rally groups (similar to Scouts), and Sue in various children’s ministries. Later, the two laboured together in Papua New Guinea, serving with a printing organisation called CBM (Christian Books Melanesia). David is an entrepreneur who started out in electrical and then IT, and now has a shelving business. Sue is a Tupperware consultant. She is also actively involved with the Papakura Bible Chapel Girls Rally, and serves on the NZ National Rally Council Board. Dave has been a Trustee of Eden Christian Hostel for over 30 years and Chairman of Papakura Christian Services Trust for 12 years. The two met when they were both at GLO, a gospel outreach training facility in Te Awamutu under Rowland Forman. The rest, as they say, is history, as Dave and Sue celebrate 33 years of marriage this year. They have three adult children and six grandchildren.

In his book Worship Matters, Bob Kauflin (2008) mentions how we look at the congregation and see just ‘normal’ people, but that God sees His treasured possessions, which are precious in His sight. Kauflin challenges us to have this view as we welcome people into our church family.

WHO’S THAT?

derek & melina

Robinson

Text by Tina Funnell.

had the pleasure of sharing an Anzac morning tea with the Robinson family; Derek, Melina, Charlotte (12), Lillie (10) and George (8) one Saturday.

tennis, which she has been doing at Cockle Bay for a year. She reluctantly plays the team sport of netball and has been learning the guitar too. Her favourite past time is shopping! These kids were just lovely and told me their favourite ice cream flavours for the two youngest was Hokey Pokey and Charlotte is currently enjoying the taste of the new Tip Top Raspberry Lemonade Fizz (which I have yet to try – but it sounds delicious)! Melina’s favourite of orange choc-chip was picked correctly by Lillie & George; while Derek’s favourite “ice cream” is actually an apricot frozen yoghurt... mmm yum.

I had met Melina previously at a service held in the gymnasium, both of us thinking we were introducing ourselves to newbies, when really, her family had been attending BotanyLife for over three years! After delivery of a lovely cup of tea made by Derek, we sat around the table with Melina’s home-made pikelets and Anzac biscuits to munch on while we chatted about who they are.

Derek and Melina serve as small group leaders out in the Forest area of BotanyKids, and are rostered on every 3 weeks. This is their third year in these roles. Derek takes the year 4 boys, which includes his son George and Melina takes the group of Year 3 girls. Derek has found the subjects they are teaching a learning process for him too. He has learnt more about the Old Testament while studying it with the boys, and praised the clever kids he teaches who come up with those challenging questions. Melina is definitely the organiser in the family, with Derek loving his prepared “box” of goodies for his lesson at the Forest, ready for him on Sunday morning.

The kids had been told to be on their best behaviour and they were! Wee George – the youngest and only boy – was fairly quiet while I was there, although I’ve been told he can be quite the opposite and messy with it. He is learning the guitar and does swimming lessons, which he loves. Lillie is a great soccer player and is in grade 9 at Fencibles. She loves doing art and has done classes at an after-school programme. Lillie and George both attend Willowbank School. Charlotte, the eldest who attends Sommerville Intermediate, loves badminton and 26

WHO’S THAT?

Derek and Melina met at the Salvation Army church youth group in town and have been married for 16 years. They travelled before having children and both recall a lovely 2-3 week trip to the Greek Islands together. They stayed in a B & B in Paleochora (south-west of Crete) on the peninsula by the Mediterranean Sea, which was owned by a lady that looked around 90 year’s old. They both like walking and completed a hike through Samaria Gorge, which is the longest in Europe (total length 16km). They were in London at the time when 9/11 happened and experienced central London being closed down, with office blocks evacuated due to the threat of London being hit next. A scary situation when they needed to use underground transport to get home.

Derek is a cricket lover, who has played cricket all year round (indoor/outdoor) for the past 20 years. He was amongst the crowd at Eden Park during the NZ v South Africa semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup - very emotional game for him. He attends the Iron Men small group led by KK Leong, which is held fortnightly on Mondays. Melina previously worked in the Insurance industry in administration before children – she now works at Botany College in the staffroom part-time. She runs a busy household with all those after-school activities to taxi children to. When she can, she will enjoy her love of reading and also a walk outside. She enjoys bush walking, but limits herself to pavement walking in the suburbs whilst trying to fit it in amongst the family’s needs.

The kids loved their family holiday to the Gold Coast a few years ago; George’s favourite day being at Movie World, Lillie’s at SeaWorld and Charlotte’s favourite experience being a vast buffet dinner and unlimited drinks with her Grandad. A foodie-in-the-making I think!

It was a very relaxing morning tea which I thoroughly enjoyed. The subject of dogs came up – but we won’t go there will we Derek... ? Thanks for having me over Robinson family and I hope those reading this have gotten to know you a whole lot better too.

They love holidaying in Papamoa and have tried the camping “thing” at the Christian Camp there, but will probably continue the luxury of cabin accommodation due to Melina’s slight aversion to camping (I’m with her!) They also frequent Pauanui with a family bach available to them through Derek’s sister (he’s one of five!). 27

grab a comfy seat, turn the volume up, pull the family together, grab some popcorn, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s...

Movie | INSURGENT

Review Time a power hungry leader as she tries to unlock the truth about the past and the future.

Reviewed by Isabel Hand

Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller | PG 13 | Rating: 8/10

The second movie in the Divergent series (based on a book series), Insurgent is set in the post-apocalyptic ruins of Chicago, contained by a large wall. If you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen the first movie, watch it.

For those looking for fast-paced action, well developed characters and impressive special effects, Insurgent will not disappoint.

The form of this new society is fascinating, with the city split into five factions; Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), and Candor (the honest), where your place among the factions depends on the choice you make at the age of 16.

Animation, Adventure, Family | PG | Rating: 9/10

Movie | SPIRITED AWAY

Reviewed by Isabel Hand

A beautifully animated movie from Hayao Miyazaki. Good for those looking for something a bit different, something inspirational and adventurous, with quirky characters, thought-provoking themes and a bit of humour.

The story follows Tris, a strong young protagonist wrestling with her identity and haunted by her past. She is hunted by

Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl, is on her way with her family to 28

You can search and listen to practically any song you like online, you can create playlists that you add your favorite songs to, you can follow your friends and see what they’re listening to, plus you can also look up other people’s playlists and discover the kind of music you love. It’s fantastic! There is a free version available, which gives you access to online searching, but if you’re willing to pay the $13 NZD a month premium you gain offline access. This means the songs in your playlists download onto your app while you’re online and then when you don’t have online access, the songs are still available to listen to. Living in a country with slightly dodgy internet, this is perfect for me.

A movie worth watching more than once. App | SPOTIFY

Reviewed by Melissa Guyan

I discovered Spotify about a year ago and fell instantly in love. For a total music freak like myself, Spotify is like the best thing EVER!

One of the things I love most about this app is the amount of new artists I’ve discovered. I have found SO many new songs this year and it makes me a very happy lady. So, go check out Spotify for free and have a play. It’s a pretty easy app to navigate. You can find it by searching the App Store if you have an iPad or iPhone, or you can check out Spark and find it there: www.spark.co.nz/discover/spotifymusicstreaming/

For those of you who may not know what it is, Spotify is a music app (kind of like iTunes) that is free to download onto your smart phone, iPad, or computer. You set up an account and can then link these apps. I have my computer and phone app linked so that whenever I add new songs to either, it updates on both.

DISCLAIMER: These reviews contain personal opinions of the reviewers and do not necessarily reflect the views of BotanyLife Community Church. For more specific information on movies and music, check out www.pluggedin.com 29

REVIEWS

their new house. They take a short cut and find themselves in a seemingly abandoned theme park. It becomes clear when creatures emerge from the night and her parents are transformed into pigs that they have wandered into another realm ruled by spirits, witches and monsters. Chihiro, helped by a mysterious boy named Haku, must find a way to break the spell on her parents before they end up on the menu.

MARRIAGE / PARENTING

Dangers of Comparison Text by Nikki Bray.

Andy and Nikki Bray are foundation members of BotanyLife, being part of the original leadership team that started the church in 2004. Together the Bray’s lead Familylife, a ministry which is dedicated to showing couples God’s plan for marriage and family. Through one day seminars and inspiring weekend conferences, Familylife presents biblical, proven principles to help people stay happily committed and continually growing for a lifetime of oneness.

wonder how many of you would relate to me when I talk about the dangers of comparison? It’s such an easy trap to fall into, and in so many areas. Maybe you hear that your friends have just been on a wonderful two week holiday to the Gold Coast, and you’re just trying to make it through the day with two small mouths to feed. You hardly have a moment to yourself these days, and hardly enough money to pay the mortgage - let alone go on holiday. Life suddenly seems even harder. Or maybe you’re comparing your spouse, like a friend of mine who ‘fessed up one day. She told her husband how she liked how this other man did this, and another husband did that, and another man did the other. And then she challenged her husband by asking him, “Why aren’t you like that?” It was a good thing her husband was able to respond without reacting and simply pointed out, “Darling, I think you’re being a little unfair. You’ve just highlighted the attributes of three different people we know - yet I’m only one man. I’m sure if you asked their wives they would see some shortcomings in them as well.”

disillusionment brought on by the subtle curse of comparison. That no matter what we are facing or enduring, we are to give thanks. I know it can sound very trite advice to people going through really difficult times, but I actually say this as someone who has been there. I think when you have faced some tough times, it makes you realise all the more how special the simple things in life are - and not to take things, or your spouse - or your kids - for granted. But instead, choose to live in contentment.

My friend now admits she was being so unreasonable, and realised she’s married to a great guy. But it’s amazing how we can all go down that negative road of comparison. If we’re not alert to it, it can cause us to be very dissatisfied. If we dwell on the things we don’t have or things we’d like to have, it can begin a downward spiral that can have devastating consequences.

It’s so important to focus on what you do have and what you can do - rather than what you don’t have or what you can’t do. There is a well-known saying, “If the grass is greener on the other side - then it’s time you watered your own lawn.” I really like that. Can I suggest that this week we spend some time thinking about our own ‘lawn’ and how we can do a better job of watering it?

I’m sure it’s one of the reasons why it’s God’s desire that we are to be thankful in all circumstances 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Thankfulness is the antidote to disappointment and 30

WHAT’S ON GUIDE

What’s on at Botany... Sunday 7th June Evening Baptism Service

Saturday 6th & 13th June Forest & Jungle Socials

Sunday 14th June Global Outreach Sunday

Friday 19th June

Sunday 21st June

Brainstrain 80’s Quiz

Profile lunch (for new people)

Friday 10th Sunday 12th July

Sunday 19th July

Sunday 26th July

Next Parenting Children course begins

Guest Speaker Reuben Munn

Saturday 19th Sunday 20th September

Monday 21st September

Switch-On Camp

Saturday 22nd August Living Stones seminar on Moses

Community Project 15 Howick Intermediate

Sunday 28th June Family Service

First All Blacks match at RWC

OUTDOOR SERVICE/CHURCH PICNIC 1ST MARCH