Overflow - Issue 18

Issue 18 December 23

Overflow Merry Christmas

National Superintendent: Rev. Brett Jones

Knowing & Showing Shore Grace - Still Sailing at 20!

What's on Around the Country this Christmas Pastoral Ministry Formation Training WMCANZ Global Mission Christmas Appeal

ISSN 2815- 9322

From the Editor Tēnā koe, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, atu, Kia orana, , Noa‘ia, Hello!

你好

안녕하세요, Fakaalofa lahi

Firstly, I’d like to make an apology, when we published last month’s edition I had not noticed that the name had been left off the conference reflections article. I’d like to thank Rev. Frank Rigg for taking the time to summarise some of the important areas that he felt deserved emphasising.

Let us remember as we head into a time when many people have space to reflect on their journey why this publication is called ‘Overflow’. We continue to pray for the Spirit filling in order to give out of the overflow and multiplication movement.

And so we come to another advent season. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or "arrival."

Messages heard around the world speak of hope, peace, joy and love as we anticipate the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, an event that has already happened in history. But we also anticipate His coming again. As we wait upon the Lord we continue to live our lives according to his commandments.

'Jesus replied: ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” ' Matthew 22:37,3

We thank you all for prayers and contributions this year and look forward to continuing to provide opportunities to equip and empower each other through the resources and encouragements we are able to share.

We will take a break through January and be back again in February 2024!

May this season be filled with opportunities to see where God is working around us and join Him in sharing the message of the Gospel in our context.

Denise Barrington Editor

Knowing & Showing National Superintendent: Rev. Brett Jones In my family, I have a bit of a reputation for being a Christmas grinch.

Which is unfortunate because when you look up the word Christmas in the dictionary there is a photo of Kristen right there telling you how to do Christmas in the most festive way possible! But we make it work - I buy her gifts, she buys me grinch boxers and we have some great family traditions.

But truly it’s not Christmas that I struggle with. I love Christmas. The God who comes to be with his creation as a vulnerable underclass child is my kind of story. It’s some of the add-ons that get to me. And one of those add-ons is bad Christmas carols. Until I finally found one that I love. It goes a little like this: Mary actually knew, that her baby boy would one day rule the nations. Mary actually knew, that her baby boy was Lord of all creation. Did you know your rhetorical song is patronising dude.

When you mansplain my own pregnancy, you’re acting kind of rude.

Mary actually knew these things. She reflected on them.. She treasured them. Luke 2:19 tells us that “...Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

God’s amazing act. His gift to her and the whole world. Jesus. She knew. But it was a lot to take in. A lot to process. A lot to contemplate and receive in the deepest part of who she was. Mary treasured these moments. And so can we.

Christmas is that moment of dawn where the first light appears. The Golden hour. The golden hour is the period of daytime shortly after sunrise, during which daylight is redder and softer than when the sun is higher in the sky.

The golden hour is also sometimes called the "magic hour” - the brightness of the sky matches the brightness of streetlights, signs, car headlights and lit windows. Jesus’ birth was humanity’s golden hour where the light of the world had arrived. And Mary treasures this moment. It’s a quiet, contained treasuring that reflects deeply. And it’s ours to treasure as well. We can also know. But our knowing may sit somewhere between knowing, like we know that the sun will rise, and truly knowing that it is God who animates creation. Do you know?

The shepherds also treasured this moment of first light. As they return from the encounter, they’re telling anyone who will listen. It’s a boisterous, praise-filled journey for them. There is little doubt that they are overflowing with the light they have just encountered. So far from the fear of their first encounter with the angels the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

They knew as well. And it flowed out of them. The brightness of the golden hour was visible in their words and in their actions. Brighter than other sources of light around them. There’s knowing and there’s showing. Their knowing was so close to the surface of who they were they could not help it showing. Do you know? Do you show?

This Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus. To call to mind the truth, that the light has come into the world. Jesus, who showed us what love looks like that we might know God. That we might show who God is that others might know.

May this Christmas be a time of knowing and showing as you reflect on God with us and share his light with those family and friends around who need Jesus.

Shore Grace - Still Sailing at

!

Wow, where did 20 years go? On Sunday 19th November 2023, Shore Grace (SG) celebrated its 20th anniversary.

A special morning of worship and testimony culminating in an anniversary lunch. SG members, past and present gathered to celebrate the goodness of God, through the different seasons of full and fruitful ministry and enjoy the bonds we have in common. We shared how the seasons in Shore Grace’s life so far could be illustrated as the stages of a voyage: The new Shore Grace ‘sailboat’ was launched and left harbour 20 years ago. Some people got on board right from the start and were part of a sacrificial committed crew and their families that set forth on a missional adventure. Some of those are still on board the SG sailboat.

Some boarding later, have also been partnering with us for many years. It was great to honour these special ones, too numerous to name here, at our celebratory anniversary day!

We acknowledged that when people have hopped on and off at different ports along the journey, it’s been mostly to fulfil another calling or transition to a new location, church plant or life stage. They have been changed by the SG experience through their time on board.

Most importantly, they have invested their precious time and talent which has helped the church fulfil its charter; the gospel transforming lives, families and communities.

We reflected on how in any sailing, you can hit some turbulent waters as a church, that at times really rock the boat and call for courage and perseverance! Then there are times you can feel as though you are becalmed, not getting traction!

We have experienced all of those elements. But Praise the Lord, the wind of the Spirit always seems to blow just at the right time and carry the church forward to the next missional destination.

In spite of some pretty strong headwinds out there, (such as the rise of secularism, changing patterns of church attendance and beliefs/ideologies etc), Shore Grace is still sailing. It hasn’t been decommissioned! There is no intention for that either.

Our aim is to continue the journey as a vibrant Wesleyan community church in our area, overflowing with the grace, faith and love of Christ.

(1Tim. 1:14) Thanks be to God and His faithful people with a great, supportive church movement to have been a part of!

WMCANZ GLOBAL MISSION RESPONSE

By: Michelle Yates

Apinun tru olgeta Man, Meri, Pikinini….Greetings in Pigin English, from WMCANZ Global Missions!

We hope and pray you enjoy this wonderful Christmas Season, celebrating the birth of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Christmas is a perfect time to be thinking about generously responding to our sister church, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

We recently had the absolute JOY of hosting Rev Nathaniel Sulis, the National Superintendent of the WMC of Bougainville, and his wife Maryanne Nima. Many of our WMCANZ churches blessed this dear couple with aroha and hospitality.

They left New Zealand feeling really enriched. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Amidst our conversations, we discovered some specific needs they have in Bougainville.

There are two current areas of need - Firstly, a Student Scholarship Fund, for Tanamalo Bible College Students - needing $4,000 to enable Students to enrol in classes. Secondly, The Chicken Project a financial sustainability initiative for the college faculty - $1,500 needed for chickens and building materials.

It is difficult for Bougainvillean people to generate income, as the vast majority of Bougainvilleans live a subsistence lifestyle in villages.

Both of the above funds will enable people like Rev Nathaniel, to attend the life-changing college, and be a part of the development of the Nation of Bougainville, as they gear themselves towards independence. Let’s show them our love and support by sowing some financial SEED into their vital ministry.

Thank you for considering how you and your church might respond to these opportunities in Bougainville.

The National Church Bank Account is 03-0206-0380248-000

WMCANZ GLOBAL MISSION RESPONSE

Stream Gathering Wesleyan Church Carolling at Rest Homes Monday 18 Dec to Friday 22 Dec, 6pm 7pm: 5 Rest Homes have been lined up for our Christmas carolling.

We will spend 40mins of carolling before our church service at 7pm.

Rest homes are: Chiswick, Moral health, Manor, Willard and Karina homes.

Millwater Wesleyan Kingsway Junior School Campus, 2 Bonair Crescent, Silverdale Christmas Eve, 10am Christmas Day, 9am New Years Eve, 10am Christ Church, 56 Waiwera Road, Waiwera New Years Eve - Watchnight, 10pm

What's On Around the Country this Christmas Redoubt North Wesleyan Methodist , 51 Diorella Drive, Clover Park, Auckland Light display including nativity scene from Saturday 25 Nov to Sat 7 Jan Christmas Eve - 7:30pm - We will engage with the birth of our Saviour with a special screening of "The Messengers" part of "The Chosen" - a groundbreaking historical drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, seen through the eyes of those who knew him.

Christmas Day Service - 10:00am The Well Church 364 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch Christmas Eve Carols Services 5pm & 7pm Join us for a beautifully simple celebration this Christmas Eve filled with carols led by our 'best little Christmas choir in the world.'

Papakura Wesleyan Corner of Croskery and Dominion Roads, Papakura Christmas Eve: 10am with Potluck Lunch Christmas Day: 9.30am Sunday 31 December: 10am, New Year's Eve Watchnight Service: 11pm

cession|community The Depot, Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga, Auckland Christmas Eve: 6pm Twas the Night Before Christmas Join us for a whānau friendly Christmas Eve Service of Carols and Readings followed by a hot chocolate bar and festive treats!

News from Global Missions, Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand Click here to read the latest news, and for opportunities to respond Get in touch......... missions@wesleyan.nz

www.wesleyan.nz

National Church Contacts

National Resource Centre Tuesday | 9am-2pm 219 Burswood Drive Botany, Auckland 2013 Ph: (09) 271 6460 National Support Assistant Sian Sidwell Email: office@wesleyan.nz Overflow Editor Denise Barrington Email: overflow@wesleyan.nz

National Superintendent Rev. Brett Jones - natsuper@wesleyan.nz Ass't National Superintendent Rev. Atu Lagi - pastoralcare@wesleyan.nz Director of Operations Rev. Peter Benzie - dirops@wesleyan.nz National Treasurer Kerrin Thomson - treasurer@wesleyan.nz Director Discipleship & Training Rev. Jo Verkerk - training@wesleyan.nz Director Global Missions Michelle Yates - missions@wesleyan.nz Director Ministerial Formation Rev. Melissa Powell - nbmf@wesleyan.nz Director Multiplication Rev. Mike Yates - churchdevt@wesleyan.nz Director Next Generations Rev. Stephenie Couch - youth@wesleyan.nz

Our Values | Enduring Foundations | Embracing Grace | Embodying Oneness Flourishing Churches | Celebrating Belonging

Event Calendar Auckland Anniversary | 29 January Waitangi Day | 6 February National Leadership Team | 13 February Good Practice Workshop | 17 February National Council | 16 March Click here for our full WMCANZ National Calendar

Donations 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 grace 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 accounts@wesleyan.nz with your details to receive a donation receipt.

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Services are held in English, Fijian, Rotuman and Tongan with several churches using multiple languages in their worship.