Overflow Issue 02 | August 22 ISSN 2815 9322 In this Issue Welcome to the world Benjamin Verkerk Autumn Waugh-Soh Children's Ministry by Rev. Lauren Millington A Piercing Conversation: ConneXion 22 by National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones Spotlight on Local Congregations This month: Church 360 Connected for a Lifetime by Rev. Peter Benzie Wellbeing
Tēnākoe,NisabulaVinaka,Maloelelei,Annyeonghaseyo, Fakaalofalahiatu,Kiaorana,Hello! sT'totobecomeprFsThereisanabundanceofinspirationalquotesaboutwhatwegainbyervingothers–Einstein,MotherTheresa,MahatmaGhandi,Anneranktonamebutafew.Buttheonethatcomestomindmostominentlyisthisone,“'Notsowithyou.Instead,whoeverwantstogreatamongyoumustbeyourservant,andwhoeverwantsbefirstmustbeyourslave–justastheSonofMandidnotcomebeserved,buttoserve,andtogivehislifeasaransomformany.’Matthew20:2628hismonththethemeofOverflowfocusesontheareainourMissiontatementof SERVE.Opportunitiesaboundinchurchforserviceto ccMaywesDiscerningoourcommunitiesandmanyofyouwillbeleadersservinginchurchrinthecommunity.thatplaceandpositionthatGodhaspreparedforourervicecansometimesseemfrustrating.Gettingtherightbalanceasservemayalso,attimes,seemtobeaconstantjugglingact.thecontentofthiseditionprovideyouwithsomethingtohallengeandencourageyouasyouengageinservingChurchandommunity DeniseBarrington Editor From The Editors Desk................
I serve at East City Wesleyan Church as the Children’s Minister and have been there for four years, since moving back home from Canada. There, my husband and I served in a church for three years, with my role being Children’s Ministry. My ministry training was also done in Canada at Kingswood University, in Sussex, New Brunswick.
Kia ora Overflow readers! I am Lauren Millington and I was appointed as the National Children’s Ministry Leader at the end of 2021. I have really enjoyed the connections that I’ve got to make at different churches and look forward to meeting more of you!
What I personally love about Children’s Ministry is the generational importance of discipling our young people who will become the leaders within our church. Those of you who also serve in the Children's Ministry will know the delight that comes when children make connections in their hearts and minds between God and their own lives. What a privilege to journey alongside them!
One place where we try to post different resourcing help in on our facebook page, Wesleyan Kids NZ which you can find here
Children's
As Children’s leaders, it can be so difficult to know where to go to find the best resources, ideas and creative outreach opportunities.
By National Children's Ministry Leader Rev. Lauren Millington
This is a place for encouragement, resourcing and information, and somewhere where you too can post resources you ’ ve found helpful or encouraging stories to share with other children’s leaders.
In my role as National Children’s Ministry leader, I am also a resource available to your church and I would love to talk or meet and hear about your children’s ministry and brainstorm together with you, how to make some next steps! Ministry
Ifyouareinasharedspace,orsomewhereyouneedtopackupand downeachweek,therearestilllotsofwaysthatyoucanmakeyour children’sspace,aplacespecialtochildren.Oneoptionistogeta corkboard,ormovablebulletinboard,thatpartsofyourlesson, children’sartandphotoscanbeputupon.Thiswouldbeeasily movabletobeputinacupboardorinyourcarafterservice,yetstill bringssomecolourandfamiliaritytothespaceyouuse.Posterscan alsobeputupandtakendownattheendofthelesson,andthese couldbeusedasawaytoencourageortoremindthechildrenof whatyou’vebeenteaching.
If your children’s ministry happens in another space from your main place of worship, one way we can make the space welcoming to childrenistogivethemasenseofownership. Children have many different styles of learning, so it’s important we try to incorporate different ways to learn in our teaching. One of theseisvisuallearning,andthiscanreallybeenhancedthroughthe spacethatweuse,throughvisualexpressionsofourministryvalues andteaching. Designatedchildren’sspace Inmyowncontext,wehavetheblessingofourownbuilding.We tooktheopportunitytocreateabeautifulmuralinthechildren’s space,usingourministrycolours,tovibrantlyshowthechildrenthat thisistheirspace.Thisshowsthattheyareavaluedpartofour churchandbringsexcitementtoourspace.
Children’sMinistrySpaces
WhyserveinChildren’sMinistry?
aswell!Thisisnotasenseofobligation,butgenuinecarefor childrenasthosewhotheKingdomofGodisfor.
2.AquoteI’verecentlyreadfromBrianDunksis“Ifyouwantto changethefutureofthefamily,thenservethechildren.Ifyouwant todevelopfutureleadersofthechurch,thenservethechildren.” Whenwehelpshepherdchildrenontheirjourneytofaith,the impactismuchmorethanwecouldeverknow.
3.Thejoy!Ifyouhavenotheardachild’sexplanationofaBiblestory, orbeenaskedtheircreativequestions,youaremissingout!Children haveanincrediblewayofengaginginawaythatadultscannoteven imagineandthroughthiscomessomuchjoyanddeeperlevelsof thoughtandunderstanding.Wemaygointochildren’sministry thinkingthatwearegoingtoteachchildren,butveryoftenwefindit isusbeingchallengedandstretchedbytheiramazingthoughts!
AswelookatservinginthisissueofourOverflowmagazine,we thoughtitwouldbeagreatopportunitytoshareacoupleofthe manyreasonswhyservinginChildren’sMinistryissoimportant.
1.InMark10:13-16,weseetheimportancethatJesusplacedon havingthelittlechildrencometoHim.Childrenareabigpriorityto God,andit’simportantthatwemakethemapriorityinourchurches
Connected for a Lifetime
By Rev. Peter Benzie Lead Minister to Redoubt North Wesleyan Methodist Church
If we want to see our children still part of the church when they are young adults and older, they have to feel they are a valued part of the church And that starts from the moment they are first brought to church even if they can’t remember it! They need to feel church is a place where they belong, where they are loved, valued and respected. Where they feel connected. That’s why at Redoubt North we don’t have a separate children’s ministry on a Sunday morning. In our services we worship and learn together (for the whole service) as a family of all ages not in the traditional "all age service" way where often the children are in the service but not really part of the service. We instead learn from and teach each other. We make real efforts to encourage and provide opportunities for everyone of all ages to take an active part, be actively engaged, in services We work to ensure that our teaching is relevant and engaging for all ages We learn from each other which includes the adults learning from the children and youth. Our hope is that everyone of all ages will come to realise that church is for them not just the adults or the children. This is the “Intergenerational Ministry” journey that we are on. We’re still learning, adjusting and adapting and there are times when I wonder, “Is it working?” When children don’t seem to be engaged And then I hear a 10 year old remind us of the main message of the teachi f k before! You might get some idea of how we try to make this work by watching one of my recent messages. To see what the whole service looks like head over to our YouTube channel. Redoubt North Wesleyan Church Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 (NIV))
Collective Missional Discernment
Of course, he meant much more than what we might think of as “Conferences”. We might frame the term in our day as the means of grace provided by authentic community that we experience in small groups, accountability relationships, local church worship AND our larger gatherings as a movement. Christian conferencing has been described as: “..piercing conversation about our lives with God, our experience of God, and how to live as a result.”
From 4-6 November we will be engaged together in a “piercing conversation” about our lives with God, our experience of God and the Mission he is calling us to live out together. ConneXion 2022 draws together a number of threads that will be a part of our time together as together we seek to AMPLIFY our mission as Wesleyan Methodists in Aotearoa New Zealand.
What has traditionally been called the “Business Session” which is a term that has not always felt like a good fit. The “why” of this part of our Conference is to discern God’s will for the church as a missional body: By National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones
A Piercing Conversation: ConneXion 2022
One of the more surprising practices that John Wesley promoted was the inclusion of Christian “Conferencing” as a “ means of grace ” , along with prayer, searching the Scriptures, the Lord’s Supper and fasting.
Discerning national leadership through Spirit led elections Aligning around our shared values and practices through Constitutional amendment Assessing fruitfulness and understanding the mission field through reports Resourcing mission through passing a budget Providing clarity and focus through approving a National Strategy
as we prepare for
Saturday5Novemberforthis crucialworkofpreparingforAMPLIFYINGMissionasweseekto Reach,GrowandServe.Wehopetohaveasmanylocalchurch leadersasareabletojoinusatthistime. pray for “piercing conversation” ConneXion 2022, and
We
OurCollectiveMissionalDiscernmentwillbeakeyfocusforour timetogetheronFriday4NovemberasMinistersand congregationalrepresentativesgather. Worship,Celebration&Inspiration Thegathered“community”or“conferencing”ofourmovementas representedinMinistersandlocalchurchleadershipworshipping togetherandwelcomingtheministryoftheHolySpiritamongus. EmbodyingtheonenessofGodinthewaysweliveoutourGod givendistinctivenesstogether(gender,culture,ageetc)and confirmingthepastoralcallofMinistersthroughordination. OurConferencingwillstartonFridaymorningwithatimeof worshipandsharingintheWord.We’llbecelebratingtogetheron FridayeveningwithamealandreflectingonthefaithfulnessofGod throughtheserviceofthosewhoareretiringorintransition.Thiswill alsobeatimetoreflecton200yearssinceRevSamuelLeigh landedinNewZealandwithamissionofhisown.OnSaturday eveningwe’llbeworshippingtogetheraswecelebratethe ordinationofMinistersandtheinstallationofournationalleadership. EquippingforMissionalFruitfulness We’llalsobetakingtimetoprepareourselves-heart,spiritand mindformissionalfruitfulnessthroughtraining,inspiration,teaching andtestimony.We’resettingaside
that you
I might be sent once again for the gospel.
Registrations are NOW OPEN for ConneXion 2022! Register Here A free daytime childcare programme is available for children of ConneXion attendees Collective Missional Discernment Worship Celebration Inspiration Equipping Registrations close on Friday 21st October
MyfirstyearasthenewPastorhowever,tellsaslightlydifferent story.SinceIbecamePastorwe’velost10people,almostallofthem tobigger,betterresourcedchurcheswithmorepeople.It’salways sadtolosepeople.However,wheninayear,theyamounttoroughly athirdofyouralreadysmallcongregation,it’sreallyhard.Threeof thepeoplewholeftwerealsoleaders.
Therealityofasmallchurchis thatittakesjustasmuchtimeto organiseaserviceandwritea sermonfor20peopleasitdoes for200.It’sthesameforsetting uptheschoolhall. Despitethiswedohaveadedicatedsmallcoreofpeoplewho faithfullyattend.Wealsohaveregulardinnerstogether,andafew monthsagoRachelandItookalltheyouthtoanEscapeRoomin Christchurch.Itwasgreatfun,evenifRachel’steamwon!
Church360 ByPastorJonEmmitt Church360turned5thisyear,whichisagreatmilestone.According toCareyNieuwhof,mostchurchplantsdon’tmakeitpast5years; thisisevenmorereasonforustobegratefultoGodforhiscareand concernforChurch360.
SpotlightonLocalCongregations
WhenIwasPastoringatEastviewBaptistmyconstantconcernwas wouldIhaveenoughmusiciansonSundayMorning.Nowmy constantconcerniswillIhaveenoughpeopletojustifyour volunteerssettingupthehallonSundaymorning.
Iloveourlittlechurch,andthegrowingsensethatwearebecoming afamily.However,ifyouwanttoprayforus,afewmorefamilies wouldbenice. (ThePicsarefromourfiveyearbirthdaylunchandthetriptotheEscapeRoom).
Oneofourmainmissionfocusesisourrelationshipwiththeschool wherewemeet.Acoupleoftimesayearweprovidetheteachers withanicemorningtea,andwe’veboughtandmaintainanAEDat theschool.WerecentlyboughtPulletsfortheschool’s“Seedsof Learning”programme,whichincludesanimalhusbandry.Last Christmaswemadecarepackagesforfamiliesthatwerestruggling forvariousreasons.
ThewellknownopeningverseofPsalm127ishelpful,“Unlessthe Lordbuildsahouse,thebuilderslabourinvain”.Sowelookforward tothenextfiveyears,confidentthatitisGodwhosustainsus,and leadsuson.
Sowe’reinarebuild,recoverymodeatthemoment.Italmostfeels likearestart.Ikeepremindingmyselfthatit’sGod’schurch,notmine.
Oneofthechangeswe’vemaderecentlyisonceamonthwehavea housechurchmeetingonaSundayinsteadofmeetingforaregular serviceattheschool.Wegatheratsomeone’shome,doaBible Studytogetherandhavelunch.NotonlydoesthisgiveourSunday morningteamabreak,it’salsoagreatwaytogettoknoweachother betteranddelveintothenittygrittyofChristiandiscipleshipthat can’talwaysoccurinaworshipservicesetting.
Auckland Prayer Breakfast November17 Eden Park Prayingtogetherincommunity forournation,ourregions, ourchurchesandwhānau www.prayerbreakfast.nz SavetheDate
AsaWesleyanmovementwehaveembracedtheconceptofa "consistentlifeethic"andareorientedtowardthosethingsthat enablelifetoflourishtowardsGod’sintendedpurposes.Webelieve thatJesuscametobring"lifeinallitsfullness"(John10:10)andthat thisfullnessencompassesusinaholisticway.TheGreat Commandmentexpressesvividlywhatafullyrealisedhumanlife lookslike. "LovetheLordyourGodwithallyourheartandwithallyoursoul andwithallyourmindandwithallyourstrength.’Thesecondis this:‘Loveyourneighborasyourself.’Thereisnocommandment greaterthanthese."(Mark9:30-31)
Wearepeoplewhoarefreedtolove.Thisisnotjustsomethingwe offertotheworld.Itissomethingwearebecoming.Beingcalledto theGreatCommissionintheSpiritoftheGreatCommandmentwe seektolivefull,authenticlivesthatexpressesfullnessasweengage withothers.Butbecauseweknowthehumantendencyistoexceed humanlimits,eveninthepursuitofdivineimperatives,weacceptthe necessityofinvestinginourownwellbeingorhauora.Wecansee thisthroughsomedifferentlenses: WellbeingoffersINTEGRITYaswelivewhatweproclaim congruent innerandouterlives.WellbeingoffersHOPEtoothersaswespeak andlivethefullnessofJesusWellbeingisMISSIONALasweofferthe fullnessofJesusinwayswhichresonatewithoursociety'sincreasing embraceofwellbeing IntheAotearoa-NewZealandcontext,thisideaofWellbeingor HauoraiscapturedinanholisticframeworkthathasitsrootsinMāori understandingsofwellbeing. TeWhareTapaWhaortheHouseofFourWallsseekstocapturethe breadthofwellbeingacrossthephysical,mental/emotional,spiritual andsocialspheresoflife.
Wellbei
For
There are four dimensions of Hauora; Taha Tinana (Physical Wellbeing health), Taha Hinengaro (Mental and Emotional well being self confidence), Taha Whanau (Social Well being self esteem) and Taha Wairua (Spiritual well-being - personal beliefs). This concept is not solely a Māori idea. The Samoan Fonofale model encapsulates similar ideas. The Fonua model is a Tongan framework for health which comprises five dimensions of life which are interdependent and complementary to each other. Sino (Physical), ‘Atamai (Mental), Laumalie (Spiritual), KaingaI (Community), and ‘Atakai (Environmental). The Fijian Vanua model mirrors this. Our Wellbeing model draws on these rich sources of truth and seeks to express the walls and roof of our lives as being grounded in a cornerstone which is Jesus himself. In the coming months we aim to include some practical ideas on how we can attend to areas of our wellness using this model. now you might consider doing your own wellness check. What do you think being well in each of these areas means to you? What practices do you already have in place that help with your overall well being? Do you have some practices that you would love to share with others? Please email them to overflow@wesleyan.nz.
tulations! Congratulations to Tim and Rev. Jo Verkerk on the safe arrival of Benjamin Issac. Benjamin arrived on 23rd July weighing 3.2 kg. Congratulations to Rev. Dr Richard & Jane Waugh on becoming grandparents to Autumn Jean Yen Li Waugh Soh who arrived on 5th August weighing 8.5 pounds.
GrowingtheChildren’sMinistryteamat cession|community|church WorkingwithourwiderteamtoengagewiththeHowick community Coordinatingourmid weekPlaygroup Assessingfamilyneedsandopportunitiesforofferingservicesto thecommunity PastorChildren'sMinistry cessioncommunity cession|community(Church)isseekingapassionate,child focused persontoleadourChildren'sMinistries.Thisrolefunctionsacross thechurchandcommunityspace,combiningSundaychildren's ministrywithmid-weekcommunityinitiatives. Yourprimarytaskswillinclude: Youwillhaveprovenexperienceinworkingwithchildren,families andadultvolunteersintheeducation,pastoralcareand/or developmentareas.You'llbeamotivatedself starterwholoves workingwithateam.Relevanteducationalqualificationsare preferred. Thisisauniqueroletoworkwithaninnovativeteamacrossthe churchandcommunity.Togetherwe'remotivatedtohelppeople findtheirvillageaspartofthecession|communityfamily. Fulljobdescriptionavailablehere Employment Opportunities www cession org nz APPLY HERE
National Resource Centre 219 Burswood Drive Botany, Auckland 2013 Ph: (09) 271 6460 Email: office@wesleyan.nz Overflow Editor Denise Barrington Email: overflow@wesleyan.nz Here is the link to Rev. Frank Ritchie's web post reflecting on Arise Church ARISE CHURCH: A THEOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL REFLECTION NationalChurchContacts NationalSuperintendent Rev.BrettJones-natsuper@wesleyan.nz Ass'tNationalSuperintendent-Church Development Rev.MikeYates-churchdevt@wesleyan.nz Ass'tNationalSuperintendent-Pastoral Care Rev.AtuLagi-pastoralcare@wesleyan.nz DirectorofOperations Rev.PeterBenzie dirops@wesleyan.nz DirectorMinisterialFormation Rev MelissaPowell nbmf@wesleyannz NationalTreasurer KerrinThomson treasurer@wesleyan.nz NationalMissionsMinistryLeader MichelleYates missions@wesleyan.nz NationalYouthMinistryLeaderand NationalYouthConsultant Rev.StephenieCouch-youth@wesleyan.nz NationalChildren'sMinistryLeader Rev.LaurenMillington children@wesleyan.nz www.wesleyan.nz Our Values | Enduring Foundations | Embracing Grace | Embodying Oneness Flourishing Churches | Celebrating Belonging Find us on....... Facebook Instagram Twitter Resources
SUBSCRIBE TO OVERFLOW MAGAZINE Minister's Connect 7.30pm | 20 September ConneXion 2022 | 4 - 6 November We invite you to make donations to the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Join us to make a difference and reach the lost with the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ. Using the WMCANZ bank account number below, please include your first initial and surname in the particulars field and 'donation' in the reference field. 03-0206-0380248-00 Particulars: e.g. 'J Smith' Reference: e.g. 'Donation' Please email treasurer@wesleyan.nz with your details to receive a donation receipt. Thank you! Auckland Prayer Breakfast | 17 November Event Calendar Donations National Leadership Nominations are open Click here to find your nearest Wesleyan Methodist church Services are held in English, Fijian, Rotuman and Tongan with several churches using multiple languages in their worship. Looking for your local Wesleyan Methodist Church Click here for our full WMCANZ National Calendar
3 September 2022 LIFT UP YOUR VOICE Te Nui O Tou Reo Make Justice a way of life Featuring Rev. Frank Ritchie 2022 speaker Manukau, Aucklandwww.thejusticeconference.org.nz
Register Here
