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SERVICES SUNDAY 1 JULY 10.00am – Morning Worship Rev Graeme Munro Door Duties: Glenn Marshall ( 481 7157) Morva Marshall, Shirley Brown,

Tony Stevely. Finance: Tony Stevely TEA/COFFEE : Isobel Napper and Wilma Hendry 12noon - Cook Islands Service Rev Anne Thomson 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Graeme Munro

SERVICE SUNDAY 8 JULY 10.00am –Morning Worship Rev Peter Wishart Door Duties: Foalima Lemalu ( 453 4210), Loraine Denniston, Nan Rickard, Carol and Morris Brown Finance: Nan Rickard TEA/COFFEE : Carol & Morris Brown

12noon - Cook Islands Service Rev Graeme Munro 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Tengaru Paniora

SERVICES SUNDAY 15 JULY 10.00am –Morning Worship Rev Graeme Munro Door Duties: Brian Williscroft ( 453 1257) Noeleen Williscroft ,

Isobel Napper, Wilma Hendry Finance: Brian Williscroft TEA/COFFEE : Jean Kirk and Chitra Kumarasinge

12noon - Cook Islands Rev Tengaru Paniora 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Graeme Munro

SERVICES SUNDAY 22 JULY 10.00am –Morning Worship Rev Anne Thomson Door Duties: Heather McFarlane ( 488 1596) Ruth Houghton, Pam Seaton, Joan Sinclair Finance: Joan Sinclair TEA/COFFEE : Loraine Denniston and June Hastie

12noon - Cook Islands Mahuta Tangi 2.00pm Samoan Service Rev Alofa Lale

SERVICES SUNDAY 29 JULY Presbyterian Support Sunday 10.00am –Morning Worship Rev Anne Thomson Door Duties: Ian Mitchell, ( 471 0335) Margaret Mitchell, Jean Kirk. Finance: Margaret Mitchell TEA/COFFEE : Pam Seaton and Heather McFarlane

12noon - Cook Islands PSO Rev Anne Thomson 2.00pm Samoan Service PSO Rev Anne Thomson

WHAT’S ON DURING JULY TUES 10 4.30pm Property Committee WED 11 6.30pm SESSION Mon 16 4.00pm Finance Committee WED 18 7.30pm DEACONS COURT

FIRST CHURCH OF OTAGO - WHAT’S ON DURING JULY 2018

INTERIM MODERATOR The Rev Graeme Munro 027 473 0526 graemedmunro@xtra.co.nz PART TIME MINISTER: The Reverend Anne Thomson 477 7150 cell 027 467 5488 PART TIME PASTORAL ASSISTANT MINISTER :The Rev John Sinclair (473 9950 or 027 436 9204)

Presbyterian Support Sunday On 29 July we will be hearing at all our services about the work of Presbyterian Support Otago. You will be receiving information from PSO

before that Sunday about what they are currently doing, and ways that you can support them. At 10am Carolyn Sims, Community Mission Liaison, will be speaking to us. At 12 noon and 2pm, Carolyn will be joined by Mel Aitken, who is a Financial Mentor at PSO.

NZ Presbyterian Research Network “Surely the Lord is in this Place: Presbyterian Church

Architecture in New Zealand” Professor Murray Rae,

Department of Theology & Religion, University of Otago It has sometimes been said that if you want to find a Presbyterian church anywhere in New Zealand, you should look for the plainest building in town. That characterisation harks back to the Reformed distrust of ornate decoration in church architecture and to a mistaken perception of Calvinist austerity. There may be a sameness about many Presbyterian churches up and down the land, but Presbyterian churches do speak nevertheless, sometimes elaborately but often in simpler and more subtle language, of deep theological convictions and of the sacred purpose to which the buildings are dedicated. This lecture will offer a sample of the variety of ways in which Presbyterians have spoken through architecture of the gospel planted in this land.

Seminar Room, Knox Centre for Ministry & Leadership,

Hewitson Building, Knox College, Arden Street, Opoho, Thursday 5 July 2018, 5.30-7.00pm

(Join us for drink & nibbles from 5.00pm)

Psalm Writing Group A small group of people at Opoho have been meeting over the last year to share the Psalms they have written. Some are based on the psalms from the Bible, others speak into the issues of today as a conversation with God, others are forms of prayer and contemplation. We meet monthly and listen to each other, provide feedback and encour-agement. Some we choose to post on our website (coming soon) and some are used in services or on other occasions. Would you like to join us? Our next gathering is on 4 July, 6.30 pm in the Morrison Lounge at Opoho Church. We bring our own takeaways and eat together before we share the psalms. If you have a psalm you would like to share or if you would like to come and just listen you are most welcome. Contact Margaret Garland 395 6129 marg.garland@gmail.com www.opohochurch.org

WHAT’S GOOD ABOUT GROWING OLD? Over the last six months I have become rather impressed with observing the way our Pacific Island youngsters show such great respect to the older members of our congregations and demonstrate this in numerous ways without hesitation or second thought. It has humbled me and caused me to wonder how we can spread the word out from First Church.

We live in an age that in so many ways exalts youth and attempts to disguise age. Look in the newspaper advertisements or any one of the glossy weekly magazines and you will become aware of a growing practice called “anti-ageing” medicine, which includes aesthetic surgery, restorative dentistry and cosmetic dermatology. Face creams, face lifts and chemical peels are advertised that will slow or even prevent the signs of ageing. Some formulas that promise you will look and feel twenty years younger if you swallow their pills or apply their potions and lotions.

Billboards, radio and television ads and the beautifully persuasive displays in our modern magazines all tend to focus on the worth of youth and the worthlessness of age. Ever noticed how they entice us with the words: “And there’s more …?” How different are the words of the writer of Proverbs, who says that grey hair is “the splendour of the old” and “grey hair is a crown of splendour; it is attained by a righteous life” (16:31). In Israel, the “elders at the gate” were the symbols of the continuity of the community, and great respect was attached to their age. I have been reading a long-waited for history of my descendants stretching back to the Black Isles of Scotland. The thing which stands out is that way back in the 18th century, the elderly were the most powerful group on society. Contemporary fashion placed grey wigs and stooped shoulders even on the young. Census reports, such as they were, indicate that persons reported themselves to be older than they were. It was said, “grey heads were wiser than green ones.” But then, as we know, all that changed. In our society, ageism has had a face lift. The new way of valuing older people is to highlight their youthfulness and praise them for looking young and behaving likewise. Ageing has become a social crime. We have become so distanced from biblical times and the respect shown to elders. In the Old Testament we are commanded to rise in respect: “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God” (Leviticus 19:32) It seems to me we need to value the signs of ageing – wrinkled, weathered faces, lined by years of lived experience; and yes, even white hair!

Shalom

Graeme Munro

FIRST CHURCH OF OTAGO 415 Moray Place, Dunedin

NEWSLETTER - JULY 2018

FIRST CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT “We are striving to become a truly multi-cultural community, providing a warm, creative and affirming home base, enabling us to reach out with the Good News to those working and living in the inner-city and beyond.”

Message from The Interim Moderator , Rev Graeme Munro

UPDATE FROM THE MINISTRY SETTLEMENT BOARD

The Board had its third meeting on Sunday 17 June. The Parish Review is taking place this week and we look forward to the information and insights that will come from that. It will be good to have an idea of how the parish sees itself, and any issues that need to be addressed in a new ministry. We spent time talking about putting together a Parish Profile and what sort of information it will contain. We are planning to include a number of photos to help give an insight into parish life. Our Profile needs to be authentic to who we are as a parish and we gave some thought to what our ‘point of difference’ is. We also spent time doing a SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and discussed what sort of minister we would be looking for.

We meet again on Sunday 15 July.

Reverend Rose Luxford, Convener

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APW NEWS—Lunch time Meeting June 19th- This lunchtime meeting was attended by some 25 First Church people. The shared meal

and soup provided by Shirley Brown was enjoyed by all. Kath Croy, guest speaker, stimulated our interest in how to go about

researching and recording our family history and life story. “How to get started” Kath has provided some questions to think about,

which give helpful advice to anyone considering telling their story. Copies are available from Dorothy Sinclair. Money paid out to

Mission Birthday Gifts Fund—$1116.50cents and Fellowship of the Least Coin $105.70cents.

NEXT MEETING AGM TUESDAY 21 August Burns Hall

Session Jottings

The monthly meeting of Session considered a number of important matters in June:

• We voted unanimously for our preference for Moderator-Designate of General Assembly.

• We appointed Charlotte Merriman as Session Clerk for a three year term. Charlotte will commence her duties as from 1st January 2019.

• We appointed Lyn Murray as Assistant Clerk for a three year period.

• The role will include taking Minutes and any correspondence. Lyn’s appointment commenced as from that meeting.

• Expressions of thanks were made to Nan Rickard who is stepping down from her role as Session Clerk, but will continue as a member of Session. Congregational thanks will be made at the end of the month with a special morning tea following morning worship.

• We made preparations for the Parish Review of First Church to aid the progress of the Ministry Settlement Board.

• Session was delighted to hear the Manse has been let initially for a term of six months to Presbyterian Support (Otago).

• The Interim Moderator report included a preaching schedule for July. Favourable comments were made on the service including Columba College.

• Communion Teams of Elders have been formed and are now operational on a rotating basis, and new Pastoral Districts among members of Session have been refigured.

• Session was delighted to hear of the Heritage Centre’s ongoing ministry to visitors to the city. Even in the winter months hundreds of people visit the Centre which is staffed by a goodly number of volunteers.

• Session is constantly aware of the generous amount of voluntary hours given by members of the congregation to ensuring the First Church machine runs smoothly.

Dear First Church Folk,

While Dunedin shivered with the sudden arrival of winter, Ian and I flew north in the last week of May, to Seattle for a couple of days, and then on to Iceland for a week. Ian had a meeting in Reykjavik, but before that we hired a car and drove around the island for five days. What a fascinating country. The signs of volcanic activity are all around, and signs of its latitude – it sits just below the Arctic Circle, and there was snow on many of the hills and mountains, as well as the vast glaciers which come down almost to sea level. Iceland is also growing, about a centimetre a year, because it sits on the boundary between the Eurasian and American plates, which are pulling apart. You can walk along the rift, at Thingvellir National Park, important not only for its geology but also for its history. This was the site of the world’s first parliament, as local coun-cils (“thing”) came together once a year in an Althingi to establish laws for the nation. Because it was only a month from the summer solstice when we were there, it didn’t really get dark at night – there was twilight between 11pm and 4am, and street lights were turned on, but it was far from dark. I would love to show you photos of what we saw – do come along to the annual meeting of Friends of First Church on Thursday 16 Au-

gust to hear more about this fascinating country. After Iceland we spent two weeks in UK, primarily so that I could join 30 others from City Choir Dunedin and the Parliament Choir to sing Antho-ny Ritchie’s piece commemorating WW1 “Gallipoli to the Somme”. We had the privilege of singing in the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, built by Christopher Wren and venue for many of Oxford University’s important events, like convocations and graduations, and in London in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, part of the Southbank complex. A highlight was our rehearsal in the Undercroft Chapel in the Palace of Westminster, part of the original palace not destroyed by fire in 1834. The Parliament Choir is made up of MPs and Lords and other who work in and for Parliament, and after our rehearsal we joined some of them for a meal in the Lords’ restaurant opening on to a riverside terrace on the Thames. This time away was particularly special because in July Ian will be having neurosurgery in Auckland to remove the tumour in his head. He will need three weeks’ recovery before he can fly home, so I will probably spend that time in Auckland with him. Please pray for him and for the surgeon, anaesthetist, nurses, and all who will have him in their care, and for our family.

Go well, Anne

NEWS FROM The Rev Anne Thomson

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LECTIONARY READINGS FOR JULY During July, these are the readings that we will use in our services: the Revised Common Lectionary

at the 10 am and 2 pm service, and Te Tia at the 12 noon service. Revised Common Lectionary Te Tia July 1 2 Samuel 1: 1,17-27 Salamo 6 Pentecost 6 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5: 21-43 July 8 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Salamo 7 Pentecost 7 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6: 1-13 July 15 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 Salamo 8 Pentecost 8 Psalm 24 Ephesians 1: 3-14 Mark 6: 14-29 July 22 2 Samuel 7:1-14a Salamo 9 Pentecost 9 Psalm 89:20-37 Ephesians 2:11-22 Mark 6: 30-34,53-56 July 29 2 Samuel 11:1-15 Salamo 10 Pentecost 10 Psalm 14 Ephesians 3:14-21 John 6: 1-21

FIRST CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL

Puna Brydon and Virginia Bridgman recently attended the Scripture Union, Way2Go conference held at Mosgiel Presbyterian Church. We both thoroughly enjoyed the day and are appreciative of Anne Thomson for organising this for us. This was a wonderful opportunity for us to network with other church ministry leaders and explore how we can keep the bible central in our ministries. We attended several workshops on the day and collected a number of valuable resources to use in our Sunday School classes.

Unfortunately Puna Brydon is no longer available to teach Sunday School classes due to work commitments but will continue to work alongside the other teachers to plan weekly lessons for the children. We are grateful for the many years that Puna has dedicated to the First Church Cook Island Sunday School and wish her well.

This year I returned to teach Sunday School and we also welcomed two new teachers to our team, Tanga Tiatoa and Teina Tiatoa. I wish to acknowledge their commitment and dedication to our children's ministry and also acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Mona Vaitupu, Sunday School Teacher for the First Church Samoan Sunday School.

Over the last month, during our Sunday School classes, we have been focussing on Family and what it means to be part of God's family including some of the ways we can show love to our brothers and sisters in the family of God. The children have been putting lots of effort and enthusiasm into creating their own family trees.

On an average Sunday, anywhere between 10 and up to 30 children attend Sunday School which makes for a very busy learning environment. The colder weather has seen a drop in attendance due to the usual winter illnesses and we have combined classes because of the limited rooms we have available and the challenge of keeping these areas heated.

The children are preparing to take part in the Cook Islands Youth Service at the end of July so if you happen to be around Burns Hall, have a listen out for the singing voices of our amazing and very talented children and young people. Better still if you are available on the 29th of July, you are most welcome to attend the Cook Island Youth Service - the children would love to see you there.

Virginia Bridgman , Cook Islands Sunday School

A time to create! PAINT! COLLAGE! GLUE! DRAW! COLOUR! Join us for a morning or afternoon of arty crafty fun to create your entry for

LOVE REACHES OUT Art and Writing competition Saturday 21st July Flagstaff Community Church

9 Centennial Ave, Wakari, Dunedin • Pop in anytime between 10am and 3pm (Last year’s participants

stayed on average 1-2 hours)

• There will be short story times at 10:30am and 1:30pm for those who want an extra introduction and motivation

• We’ll provide art materials, picture books and art books to inspire you and of course nibbles to feed your creativity!

• The LOVE REACHES OUT art and writing competition is for children from preschool to Year 8. (An adult needs to accompany children attending this event. Drink and nib-bles for you too!)

There is NO COST to attend RSVP: (so we have enough materials and food) Carolyn Sims, Presbyterian Support Otago, 03-477 7115 carolyns@psotago.org.nz Cheryl Harray, Kids Friendly 027 4896153 cheryl@kidsfriendly.org.nz Find out more about LOVE REACHES OUT: CARING FOR OUR WORLD ART AND WRITING COMPETITION at www.kidsfriendly.org.nz