TAU SWEET The Province of the Pacific,Third Order Society of St Francis. M.P. Reflection page 1 Climate change General Synod Prayer Stand in the Gravel Page 4/5 Interfaith Report Presence by Sandy Neal page 2 Easter ReflectionENTBy Dorothy Brooker Area News page 10-12 L Page 8/9 Page 6/7 Message of Hope Book Review Page 7 Formation Director The Archbishops Page 3 Report page 9

Minister Provincial Reflection “ Here and in all your churches throughout the world, we adore you, O Christ, and we bless you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world”. How often we repeat this prayer of praise, yet I wonder what we mean when we say: ”by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” How do we understand that? What does it mean for us? How might it impact on our lives as members of the Order? I can write only personally and offer these thoughts as a pilgrim with you. I’ve struggled for years with the language of substitution – the apparently neat equation that makes me merely an “onlooker” to the drama of Golgotha. Convocation last year and subsequent reading and reflection have given me much more satisfying answers – full of grace…full of challenge….

The cross is redemptive for the world as the supreme icon of non-retaliation, of the way of non- violence. Jesus, absolutely true to God and God’s kingdom dream, asked forgiveness for his executioners, responded with silence to the cruel taunts of his enemies, promised paradise to a thief who pleaded just to be remembered, blessed his mother and beloved friend with the healing task of caring for one another…...and, in words of incredible faith, entrusted his spirit into the hands of the One, who a short time before, seemed to have abandoned him. What could be a more redemptive pattern for the world to follow?

When we wear our profession cross, we are choosing a symbol of redemptive forgiveness and peace-making – demanding, costly, grace- filled. We are putting on a sign that we follow Francis who followed Christ.

Ghandi said: “Non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. It’s seat is in the heart and it must be an inseparable part of our way of being.” So, too, our profession cross! Maggie Smith

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STAND IN THE GRAVEL

“Stand in the gravel,” instructed the police officer. (Reflections from Martin Wallace, “Daily Light To be honest, it was scary enough standing on from the Celtic Saints” Ray Simpson; Anamchara the footpath watching the Auckland urban traffic Books, 2013) come to a standstill and begin to congest in God led Francis to live amongst the poor, multiple directions now the traffic lights had gone the outcasts and the lepers, gladly casting off off. Stand in the gravel? Where does one find anything (even his clothes!) that might keep him gravel on a busy urban intersection where the from receiving the love God desired to share with stream of traffic never seems to end? him in, and through, the world around him. This shouldn’t surprise us since the Judeao-Christian A group of us were about to learn how to step into scriptures tell us God is always on the side of the the fray, control heavy traffic flows and ensure the oppressed. We know where to go if we want to life and well-being of our community whenever encounter the God of steadfast love; the place the lights went out. Being told to find gravel where the need is greatest. Francis’ experience seemed strange and bizarre to me! However, all of meeting God in these places on the edge soon became clear. transformed his life, making him a beacon of light for others in a world full of darkness. Is our world The best place to be seen, and the safest place any different? to stand, is right in the centre of the intersection, the place where the gravel tends to collect. The When the traffic lights go out it takes someone gravel tells you the cars, trucks and buses usually willing to stand in the gravel and be a ‘light’ to pass by or around this patch. The gravel tells you meet the needs of those around them. Francis this is the very edge, the place where all the said, ““All the darkness in the world cannot roads converge. The gravel tells you this is your extinguish the light of a single candle.” (The Little place to stand, be seen and take action. It seems Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi) I am only too to me, our world is calling out for people to stand aware of how far short I fall of following in the in the gravel patches; the places on the edge. footsteps of Francis. But I’m coming to realise something. No matter how poorly we may feel we Many sacred sites are ‘on the edge’, places we reflect the love of God, the passion of Christ, and experience both the material and the spiritual the beauty of Francis, this one thing we can realm in ways which transform how we see and choose to do; to offer the light within us, however live in this world. “At the edge we see horizons minute we feel it may be, to those who walk in denied to those who stay in the middle. Walking darkness. To do that, we may be required to step along a cliff-top our bodies and souls face each out of the centre and stand on the edge. other and that is how we grow. The edge is in fact always the centre of spiritual renewal. We are I wonder where the gravel is, where we are called to mould the kingdoms of the earth so that meant to stand, be seen and take action; and I they reflect the Kingdom of Heaven. Any wonder what that might look like. With Francis’ Christian movement that becomes respectable as our role-model, I have a feeling it may look risks being brought from the edge to the centre – less than ‘respectable.’ And I wonder if we are and so risks being given the kiss of death.” willing to go there. Sandy Neal TSSF

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ARCHBISHOPS MESSAGE OF HOPE

22 DEC 2015 shows us the simple but We instinctively know the truth of What images from 2015 remain improbable way God, who is this way, and we long for it. fixed in your mind? We’ll hazard love, reaches out to us. It is the We know that the world is, a guess: for most of us, it’ll be way that begins by placing despite these awful images, the images of refugees fleeing yourself in the shoes of another. overwhelmingly a place of from tyranny and war. Images of And by trying to see the world goodness and beauty. the innocent, suffering. Images, through that other person's eyes. We do not have to agree with too, of brutal extremists hiding We know that love wins because behind the miserable pretense of that other person. We might not even like what they stand for. of the promise and the hope of religious justification. the Christ child. History, including Church history, In fact, we may profoundly is littered with testimony to disagree. But we need to see in every other person, even our And never has the message of human evil, selfishness and this child, and His way, been greed. enemy, someone beloved of God. This is the way of costly, more needed. So often this has been done in sacrificial love. God’s Sunrise will break in upon the name of what is “right”, the us, Shining on those in the way of absolutes and certainty. darkness, those sitting in the “I am right. You are wrong. You This way has the ability to redeem and transform even the shadow of death, Then showing must conform to my way of us the way, one foot at a time, thinking – or suffer the most hardened of extremists, and the very worst of situations. down the path of peace. consequences .” Luke 1:78-79 (The Message) We have heard the rhetoric of the It is the way of compassion, in the true sense of that word; May the God who takes the risk extremist and been confronted, of reaching out and being again and again, by the images sharing in the suffering of the other. vulnerable, who really loves us, of this tyranny of the “right”. deeply bless you and your But violence just begets violence, It is the way of dialogue. It is the families this Christmas. { and this and hatred begets more hatred. way of reconciliation. Only love Lent] It does not provide solutions; it can transform an enemy into a just creates more problems. friend. This way is demanding. It Archbishop , The Christ child, the one whose Bishop of Aotearoa; birth we celebrate, born to an requires faith, courage, perseverance, fortitude, and Archbishop Philip Richardson unwed mother who had no place commitment. It defies convention , senior bishop of the New to shelter – the family then and opens you up to ridicule; it is Zealand dioceses; forced to flee to a foreign land for Archbishop Winston Halapua , fear of a tyrant. the way of the infant born in Bethlehem. Bishop of Polynesia. This child, Christians believe,

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BISHOPS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Love for our Neighbour: depends, and we are beginning to reap what we God’s people and God’s planet have sown. Air and water are becoming polluted, and the soil depleted. The ocean is becoming A statement by the House of Bishops representing Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, the Dioceses in New more acidic. The food chain is being Zealand, and the in compromised. Species are dying, and the climate anticipation of the COP21 Climate negotiations in is changing. In particular, climate change Paris, December 2015. threatens to undermine the health, prosperity and For the sake of all people and other species on social stability of all nations. Unchecked, it will Earth, we pray for an ambitious, fair, and legally precipitate food shortages, conflict, and forced binding agreement to be reached at the COP21 migration on a global scale. climate negotiations in Paris this December. Already the impacts of climate change are being As Christians we believe that “the Earth is the acutely felt in the South Pacific. This year we have Lord’s and everything in it.” (1) Teeming with witnessed firsthand the devastation that climate abundant life and magnificent diversity, the change will visit upon our region through more symphony of creation gives glory to its Creator. intense cyclones, severe storm surges, saltwater We believe that God is reconciling to himself not intrusion, coastal erosion, and the bleaching of only human beings but “all things, whether on corals. earth or in heaven” through Jesus Christ.(2) Jesus teaches us to love our neighbour and The Earth is God’s gift to humanity and to all especially to show practical love to the poor and creatures. In unity with Pope Francis we “forcefully vulnerable, declaring that “whatever you did for reject the notion that our being created in God’s one of the least of these brothers and sisters of image and given dominion over the earth justifies mine, you did for me.”(5) In this spirit, we believe absolute domination over other creatures.”(3) that the needs of the Pacific Islands and other As humans endowed with reason we are not the communities acutely vulnerable to climate impacts controllers and possessors of nature but its should set the terms for what is agreed at the servants, just as we are servants of each other Paris climate negotiations. and of God. We affirm this in the mission statement of the Anglican Church, which commits Therefore, we urge the representatives of New us to “strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, Zealand and of all nations at the Paris climate and sustain and renew the life of the earth.”(4) negotiations to work intently to secure a legally binding international agreement that limits global Sadly, however, we are failing to live up to this average temperature increase to below 1.5ºC calling. There is no longer any doubt that human above pre-industrial levels by requiring rapid and activity has upset the delicate balance of physical deep decarbonisation.(6) and ecological systems upon which all life

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CLIMATE CHANGE CONTINUED urgent global action. May God be with the Since this article we have seen the devastation in delegates to the Paris climate negotiations in their Fiji after Cyclone Winston and the need for funds vital work. and hands to rebuild! The Most Reverend Winston Halapua, Archbishop and Bishop of Polynesia The Most Reverend Philip Richardson, Archbishop and Bishop of Taranaki Friary of the Divine Compassion The Most Reverend Brown Turei, Archbishop and Te Pihopa o te Tairawhiti Quiet Days 2016 The Right Reverend Ross Bay, Bishop of Auckland th The Right Reverend Justin Duckworth, Saturday 12 March Bishop of Wellington Saturday 14th May The Right Reverend Richard Ellena, Saturday 13th August Bishop of Nelson th The Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, Saturday 12 November Bishop of Waikato 10:00am - 4:00pm The Right Reverend Andrew Hedge, at the Friary, Te Ara Hou Village, Bishop of Waiapu 100a Morrinsville Road, Hillcrest The Right Reverend , Te Pihopa o te Manawa o te Wheke Lunch provided ~ Koha appreciated The Right Reverend Victoria Matthews, An indication of attendance would be Bishop of Christchurch helpful The Right Reverend , All Welcome Te Pihopa o te Tai Tokerau Telephone +64 7 856 6701 The Right Reverend Apimeleki Qiliho, www.franciscan.org.nz ; [email protected] Bishop in Viti Levu West, Vanua Levu and Taveuni The Right Reverend , SNIPPETS Te Pihopa o te Upoko o te Ika Our Bishop Protector gave a wonderful session on The Right Reverend James White, the power of the Lords Prayer when read slowly, Assistant Bishop of Auckland reflectively; the ability for it to change us from the The Right Reverend Kelvin Wright, inside out! I hope to get a full transcript for our next Bishop of Dunedin TAU as at the heart of our journey is prayer. ------Blair produced some challenging questions based 1 2 on the Convocation sessions to help us deepen References: Psalm 24.1. Colossians 1.20. our Franciscan Journey; work towards a deeper 3 Pope Francis, Laudato si’ (24 May 2015), §67. understanding and respect for how best to enable 4 http://www.anglicancommunion.org/identity/marks-of- our Melanessian Brothers and Sisters; how we are mission.aspx 5 Matthew 25.40. to act in the world. As soon as the fuller transcript 6 is ready you will receive a copy and it is hoped this In this paragraph we are echoing the call of the Suva Declaration on Climate Change, issued by the Leaders of the will generate discussion across all areas and Pacific Island Development Forum (http://pacificidf.org/), 4th maybe even World Wide! As Br. Bernard says: Sept 2015: http://pacificidf.org/wp- At all times, seasons, in every country and place, content/uploads/2013/06/PACIFIC-ISLAND- every day...we must have a true and humble faith, DEVELOPMENT-FORUM-SUVA-DECLARATION-ON- and keep him in our hearts...to love honour, adore, CLIMATE-CHANGE.v2.pdf serve, praise...and thank the Three in ------One...Saviour of all who believe in him.

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EASTER REFLECTION

For most of Christian history, the Jesus’ head [26:27]. The myron – read that ‘darkness came over the Earth and its other-than-human extracts of Earth’s elements – whole land’ and the Earth shook, community has primarily been signals from the start of this splitting rocks apart [27:45, 51]. It understood as the stage upon narrative an intimate connection is as if Earth mourns with Jesus, which the drama of human between the Earth and Jesus, as echoing the cry ‘My God, my God, salvation has been played out. he prepares to face death. With why have you abandoned me?’ Earth’s presence in the biblical the unnamed woman, Earth’s [27:46] It is the cry of all who text – and in the subsequent elements partake in an act of suffer – human and other-than- theologies drawn from such textscomfort and healing, which mark human alike. – has been largely passed over the beginning of Jesus’ journey After this dramatic climax, we and ignored. The increasing towards learn of one, Joseph of awareness around ecological the cross (1). Arimathea, who takes Jesus’ degradation and the on-going As the journey proceeds, Jesus is body, wraps it in a clean linen effects of climate change, depicted at the Last Supper cloth - yet another Earth element however, have seen an urgent re-breaking bread (another extract of – and lays it in a tomb, hewn in visioning of Earth’s place in the Earth’s elements), which he the rock [27:59]. Just as Jesus Christian tradition. It is with this identifies with his body: ‘Take, eat; was wrapped in cloth and held by context in mind that I reflect on this is my body’ [26:26]. Carlos his mother at birth, so in death he the Easter narrative. I want to Bravo envisions Jesus saying: is wrapped in cloth and held in the suggest that by reading with the ‘What is happening to the womb of the Earth for three days Earth in mind, the story of Jesus’ bread… is going to happen to and nights. But the Earth’s death and resurrection can be me. I will be both broken and participation does not end with seen as being grounded firmly – given in order to give life… (’2) Jesus’ death. As the text unfolds, even profoundly – in the In Jesus’ identification with bread another ‘great earthquake’ materiality of Earth. I’ve chosen to here, traditional boundaries accompanies the removal of the focus on Matthew’s Passion between the human and other- stone sealing Jesus’ tomb, narrative, exploring the Earth’s than-human are broken down.(3) revealing an empty space. As presence in this text, and its As Jesus suffers violence and witness to the resurrection, the participation in the Easter event. death, so also the other-than- Earth cannot stay silent. This is, human know and experience as James Jones writes, a ‘seismic Matthew’s Passion narrative violence and death at the hands response from the [E]arth’s heart’. opens with the story of an of humanity. Indeed, this shared (4) Power is present in this scene, unnamed woman pouring a very experience is poignantly felt at the the power of Earth and the power expensive perfume (myron) over moment of Jesus’ death as we of the heavenly, of the cosmos.(5)

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EASTER REFLECTION CONTINUED

Finally, the angel that appears at the moment of dream of sky; and for every thing which is natural the earthquake announces to the women gathered which is infinite which is yes.- ee cumings at the tomb that Jesus has ‘gone ahead’ into Compassion- Living in the Spirit of Francis Galilee [28:7]. ‘Jesus is going ahead – not going Ilia Delio, OSF away’, writes Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. The I have found this book thought provoking and empty tomb, she argues, ‘does not signify absence challenging. Only 142 pages long including notes and with reflection points and questions to ponder at the end but presence: it announces the Resurrected One’s of each chapter, it deserves to be read slowly, presence on the road ahead’.(6 ) As the Earth is meditatively, and would serve well as a group study. present with Jesus, so Jesus is present with the Pam Barrett TSSF Earth. Jesus goes ahead into the world – into a Taken from the introduction. transformative way of life that testifies to the power We are at a critical threshold today in our earthly of resurrection on Earth. (7) life where we either must overcome our fears and evolve to a new level of love, or undergo the slow death that underlies fragmentation. What will unite Matthew’s gospel depicts an extraordinary this earthly community? What will join human interconnectedness between Jesus and the Earth, hearts together despite our different colours, languages, cultures and religions? affirming that God is with us – the entire Earth Compassion is the river that overflows into the community. And this is indeed good news for all ocean of love that has no end; it crosses all borders to embrace the suffering of another. Here I creation. think we can learn from Francis of Assisi, that great By Em Cogland TSSF medieval saint who, in his own time, broke down ______the barriers between rich and poor and made the References love of God available to all. 1 E. M. Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place: Reading the Death of The key to Francis' transformation into love, his Jesus Ecologically’ (paper presented at the Rediscovering the secret of making wholes out of the scattered Spiritual in God’s Creation Conference, Adelaide, Australia, fragments of life, was compassion. He learned March 10-13, 2015), 5 compassion as the art of healing broken hearts by 2 Quoted in M. V. Mendoza, Abject Bodies in the Gospel of collecting the tears of the forgotten, the frightened, Mark (Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix, 2012), 100 and the lonely in his hands and holding the 3 Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place’,6 . wounded as his kin. …..He learned to love what 4 J. Jones, ‘Jesus: Savior of the Earth,’ in The Green Bible was weak and fragile, and he learned to care for (San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2008), I-69. what the world discarded. 5 Wainwright, ‘Body in/and Place’,8 . What is compassion and how does it emerge in the 6 E Schüssler Fiorenza, Jesus: Miriam’s Child, Sophia’s human heart? What moves one to compassion? Prophet (New York: Continuum, 1995), 126. Can we learn compassion as a way of life? Can 7 B. R. Rossing, ‘River Sunday,’ in The Season of Creation, eds. Norman C. Habel, David Rhoads, and H. Paul Santmire we let go of our fears to love more deeply? (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2011), 121. ------These are some of the questions that guide us in this little book on compassion....It is not meant to ------be a great study or a comprehensive analysis of a I thank You God for most this amazing day; for the virtue but an exploration into what expands the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true human heart for another – ultimately what unites.

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INTERFAITH REPORT

Building Bridges – Hearts, spirit known by many names. Building bridges in Communities, Humanity our different cultures brings us into conversation, and the measure of our success is how we treat minority communities and each other. This was the theme of the 11th National Interfaith Forum hosted by the Auckland Inter-Faith Council. We were reminded that military action is not the It was great to see members of our Third Order answer. What that is doing is destroying our from Auckland Waikato Bay of Plenty and North planet, and many are now turning to interfaith Island Central attending. communities to find a way forward. Mahatma Gandhi was quoted “everyone has a place around The weekend began with a dinner prepared by the the table’. Sikh Community and held at Selwyn Library, and The questions that we looked at and all groups set the scene for those of different faiths to meet, could ponder are:- share and recognise one another as brothers and What are the most significant issues in your sisters. Bishop Kito Pikaahu and Bishop Ross Bay community, and what can you do as interfaith? made everyone very welcome. What are the barriers of my tradition that stops good interfaith action? Saturday’s venue was at the Quality Inn Conference Centre in Parnell. We were asked to not just see the potential of Dame Susan Devoy DNM, CBE our race relation peace but also the reality of peace, peace being a commissioner opened the day with a short but constant process and it is more than tolerance, relevant message. and was described as love that leaps over boundaries. The Keynote Speaker was The Rev. Victor Kazanjian an Episcopalian Priest from the United Reports from Interfaith groups from around the States and is the Executive Director of the United country were shared and we were given the Religions Initiative who offered powerful insights of opportunity to hear from Dr Anwar Ghani MNZM, Interfaith in Action throughout the world, binding J.P. speaking on concerns/issues in the N.Z. together different religions. Muslim community, Prof. Edwina Pio N.Z.’s first Professor of Diversity speaking on her ‘Work and Diversity he says needs to be seen as a promise Worship’ book, Mr Murati, Manager Refugee and not as a problem, and regardless of our Quota Branch, and Rakesh Naidoo from the Police differences, our great diversity, we are to figure out speaking on care of refugees from difference how we live together with our differences. We faiths. were reminded that the divine mystery of life through many faiths has been has been here from We learnt that there are now 46 thousand Muslims ancient times. When we look into each others living in Aotearoa New Zealand from 70 different eyes, take each others hands we look at the divine nationalities, and Dr Anwar spoke of Islamaphobia

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FORMATION REPORT every time the media shared some world event FORMATION DIRECTOR'S REPORT where the word Muslim was used and the effect on ordinary citizens who happen to be Muslim in First apologies for not having put in a report last our country. He said that Muslim wish to be known as Muslins of New Zealand rather than time, particularly to those who have been Muslims in New Zealand. He concluded by welcomed as postulants since Francistide. I am saying Interfaith in Aotearoa should show the rest doing this by memory as I am in Nelson! of the world how to do it. We are unique. I am in Nelson, for Novice Counsellor training. My suitcase weighed a ton with about two reams of The Interfaith service at St Luke’s Community in Remuera Road on Sunday morning where words printed papers and folders!! Do remember if you (gifts) of wisdom from the Muslim, Jewish, Sikh want me to come to your area please contact me and Baha’i traditions were shared, and after - [email protected] or 099489940 or recalling the sorrows of our world words (gifts) of 0272401738 wisdom from the Christian, Hindu and Buddhist traditions were shared before we passed a sign of peace to one another. A very moving and Recently I have signed the Rules for - Hazel uplifting service. Hipkins and Heather Moodie from Auckland and Barb Lash from Nelson. Since Francistide, those Sister Catherine Jones representing the N.Z. who were accepted for profession at Chapter and Catholic Bishop’s committee reminded us all that God is in the space between us, a God who can were not at Convocation have been professed. be described as gut wrenching compassion. They are - Claire Preston and Mary Allan from She reminded us that the Hebrew Testament, Canterbury/Otago. Welcome to the postulants and also the Christian Testament is seeped in and to the newly professed. mercy. The question is “what are the possibilities in my area to show mercy? I have also been down to Hamner Springs and Professor Doug Platt also shared. He spoke of Natasha and I got the Address list just about the great diversity in our society and he spoke of completed. You should receive it in about mid the Religious Diversity Centre to be opened March. I also got the typing done for the soon in Wellington on March 30th, where Helen Franciscan supplement which goes into our Clarke will be present to open it. He hopes this will be a place to support interfaith work, but also manual folders - some of you will not know what to show diversity in a positive way, fostering it is, but will soon see! I particularly find the eight understanding between each other, and to help day readings and prayers prior to St Francis day value one another. The question he left was really helpful. I do hope to complete that to be “How do we honour diversity where many reject it? posted out at the same time as the Address and The benefits of these Conferences are huge as Intercession Lists. we see our communities becoming much more multi cultural. The next Conference will be held in Christchurch in 2018. However there may well be a Regional gathering in the North Island next year. Dorothy Brooker

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AREA NEWS The 2015 Convocation Organising Committee Religious Communities offering a prayer has had its final meeting. Despite the generous presence at meetings like General Synod is not a new idea. The Lambeth Conference always donation of $5000 from the Hostel of the Holy have a place of constant prayer by 1st Order Name and the donations, about $400 given at Religious from around the world and at the last Convocation we did not quite break even - $90 Lambeth Conference the Third Order Society of deficit but all is now well. The evaluations were St Francis also offered prayer at Grey friars in much appreciated, thank you and gave us some Canterbury as well as hospitality. I know that the Episcopal church of America also makes a good critiques and many affirmations. We are place for the Religious Communities to pray looking forward to the Nelson Convocation in 2018; with and for their meeting. wish the Organising Team enjoyment in the challenge of planning, and to seeing many more It would be helpful for me to know numbers of Franciscans from postulants to professed there. our Third Order who are coming so I can arrange accommodation if needed. However if you are unable to come please put aside some May you know the blessings and challenge of this time during the General Synod dates to offer Lenten season and the joy of the resurrection, prayer for those representing the Church. Anne I have written to Archbishop Philip and the other Primates to consider asking the Religious Orders to offer a prayer presence for North Island Central Prayer Presence each General Synod so it becomes a norm rather than a one off. He has replied warmly. It TH TH GENERAL SYNOD MAY 6 TO 13 can then be discussed when the religious Orders meet with Bishop Victoria Matthews I look forward to welcoming members of other later this year. Religious communities to Napier in May as we With anticipation and prayer gather and offer a prayer presence during Peace and all good Dorothy TSSF General Synod this year. Changes of Email/Address Waiapu is hosting General Synod from the 6th Ministry Formation:[email protected] th to the 13 May, and the Venue is East Pier Michael Baker, 5 Julius Place, AKAROA 7520. Conference Centre. The Venue for the prayer Cell phone: 027 406 4290, presence is yet to be decided as those Vicarage Ph is : 03 304 7051. organising General Synod are looking at Mary Allen A new line &number 03 3421099. whether a space at East Pier is available. Claire Preston New address: 32/372 Yaldhurst However the Cathedral is also able to be used. Rd, Russley, CHCH 8042. Ph 03 3424650. It is expected that those taking part from the Email same,now works [email protected]. Religious Communities will join General Synod New Postulants : Nelson: Barbara Lash members at the daily Eucharist, join the Bible (Barb)[email protected] ph:03 5475365 studies and offer the daily prayer offices at the Auckland: Heather Moodie Cathedral as well as allowing people to walk [email protected] the Stations of the Cross or walk the Labyrinth Ph: 0278155567 that will be placed in the Cathedral. It is also Hazel Hipkins [email protected] envisaged that hospitality if needed will be part Please pray for them all! of the day. TAU.10

AREA NEWS

Christchurch 2nd April 2016 New Year Greetings from Christchurch to all groups. 25th June Quiet Day at TItoki.

We started our year with a visit from John and 13th August Quiet Day at Titoki with Alison Wotherspoon from Liverpool, who were input for Tertiaries. traveling around the south island and on 26th 8th October January, as Christchurch was their last port of call before going home, seven of our members met rd with them at Shirley Livingston's home for a finger 3 December food tea and a catchup. They were a lovely friendly couple and we shared information Thank you and Easter Blessings to all the regarding our groups. Theirs is a small group Franciscan Family. who meet every two months in Manchester. Penny Seabourne. BoP convenor We concluded the evening with Compline taken by Alys. Always a pleasure to meet overseas A footnote from Lynette Dobbie who joined the NIC Franciscans. group for and afternoon at Ohope- Prayers for Keiths ongoing health-Thanks Our first meeting was on the 14th February, the day of the 5.7 earthquake, some members were Waikato unable to attend because of this event, which is always very stressful for Christchurch people, but Several tertiaries from around the North Island after a cup of tea we settled down at Pam joined Waikato to farewell Bryan Colin Trim Bosworth's home where Alys took a study on the 20 September 1933 -11 February 2016. The new roads we will travel in our lives this year. funeral took place on Tuesday 16 February 2016 Our study this year will be “Looking to St Francis”, at All Saints Matamata with the Rev’ds Stephen The Man from Assisi & His Message of Hope For Prebble and Bruce Dale officiating. Phil Dyer gave Today by John Bohrer & Joseph Stoutzenberger. the gospel reflection following the eulogies and the members of the Third Order escorted the coffin Our meetings are held on the 2nd Sunday, each month @ 2 pm in a members home. We extend a and pall-bearers out of the church at the end of the welcome to members visiting our city. service. Shirley Livingston TSSF Peace and all goodness, Andrew Mckean TSSF Wellington No news from Wellington. Editors note: Hopefully we will have a Obituary Hopefully some in the next TAU in the next TAU and an update on Waikato Bay of Plenty meetings for the year. Please pray for Brenda, Bryan’s wife also a Third Order We haven’t finalized meeting content but here are member and their community. the dates: TAU.11

AREA NEWS

Distance is a big challenge for North Island Central. Driving from the East to the West of our area involves hours of driving over mountains or through gorges. It was a fantastic effort to get 8 of us together at a beach house at Ohope Beach for the weekend of the 19th 20th February. It was a wonderful opportunity to live in community for the weekend while enjoying the beauty of the Ohiwa Harbour and Ohope Beach. Our chaplain Dorothy led morning prayer, midday prayer, evening prayer and night prayer on the Saturday. It was a precious time to be able to enjoy the surroundings and water activities but to pause and pray and give thanks together. Blair brought his SUP(stand up paddle board) and Titia arrived with her new kayak on the roof of her car and they both made the most of calm harbour waters. The Saturday morning craft market provided a chance to meet some locals and to find some bargains and interesting but tasty vegetables(long purple beans that did not lose colour on cooking provided much discussion) We gathered on Saturday at 4pm to welcome Rachel Robson and Lynette Dobbie from BOP. We had advertised our weekend in Tau and were thrilled to welcome them. Blair led a discussion on some detailed work he had done on the Chapter minutes and convocation group feedback. The challenge was for us all to look at ways of deepening our vocation as our Bishop protector ++Phillip had encouraged us to do. We hope that this discussion will take place in all areas throughout the Pacific. On Saturday evening the ten of us gathered around the table to share a beautiful meal and just enjoy being together. Much wine and laughter followed and we felt blessed to be able together from Hawkes Bay, New Plymouth ,Taupo and Whakatane.

We woke to another beautiful calm morning and Dorothy led the Eucharist. Afterwards we sat out on the deck under a large umbrella and wrote to the NIC tertiaries who could not be with us. It was we felt a way to gather them in our thoughts and prayer. Helene's husband Don who in his words "had tagged along" for the weekend cooked one of his famous 'Naki brunches on the BBQ and we all were so thankful for the time we were able to spend in community in such a beautiful place. Pax Bonum Sarah Hart

Nette, Dorothy, Titia,Helene, Raechal Blair, Nette, Dorothy TAU.12