September 22, 2007 In this issue Tauranga school’s greener pastures Women’s ministries Vanuatu congress Ella Simmons, church leader (From L-R) Carla Gober, Paul Petersen, Gerald Winslow and Peter Landless—presenters at the Adventist Health Professionals Conference, held in Adelaide over the last weekend in August. Health professionals help shape future ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA dventist health professionals were that takes place now and affects tomorrow, encouraged to further integrate and health and faith are elements that can- their practice with a spiritual di- not be separated. A mension at the fourth annual Ad- “When we touch people with something ventist Health Professionals Conference. related to health,” she says, “we touch them Delegates gained a further understand- with the hand of God.” ing about the interwoven relationship be- Ms Gober also encouraged health pro- Surprise tween spirituality and health under the fessionals and church members to work theme “Shaping an adventurous future— together as a community. She spoke about Adventist health and hope.” the “middle space” of living and dying at The keynote speaker for the conference the same time that people are in. “This is honours was Carla Gober, director of the Center an exciting and dynamic space for health- for Spiritual Life and Wholeness at Loma care ministries, because people are open to Linda University, California, USA. Accord- change when you touch them at their most for alumni ing to Ms Gober, the future is something (Continued on page 5) ISSN 0819-5633 36 Cover.indd 1 11/9/07 9:50:28 AM editorial Sabbath is the space God creates for us to shut the gates and turn off the noise. Off t is remarkable how small things stimulated, stressed and tired. Even if not tance, our humble place at a table in a very can make a big difference. One of the physically tired, our minds are stretched to large world. The deep wisdom embedded things I appreciate about working capacity. While we may think it possible in creation will take care of things for a I at Signs Publishing Company—the to fi t so much activity in an average day while” (Wayne Muller, Sabbath). church’s publishing house—is driving by working on a variety of tasks at once At Signs—as with other church in- past the building on Friday evening and while listening or watching various forms stitutions—for at least one day, all the seeing the gates locked. It might be only of media and communicating with our as- deadlines are unimportant and, belying a small thing but it is a visible symbol sorted gadgets, our heads still need space business wisdom, the demands of custom- that we live and work by a different set to catch up, process, organise and rest. ers and relationships with suppliers take of priorities. That’s why we need places that shut second place. Yes, the business might op- And perhaps it is such a powerful their gates—and why I so appreciate erate more cost-effectively if we chose to symbol because it is so out of step with working at such a place. That’s also why work seven days per week. But this refl ects our society. We are increasingly pushed we need to make spaces in our lives when our alternative priorities—a business that toward 24/7 work, communications and we turn off the gadgets and appliances, counts more than the bottom line and is connectivity—and, at the same time as we when we disconnect and choose not to feel not solely governed by supposed business begrudge such demands made on us, we guilty about it, when we are not defi ned imperatives. expect it from others. And then there is merely by a job description, title or “to do” And the alternative is one of rest and the ceaseless chatter of media and news, list, when we are determinedly not avail- joy: “Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t the wash of information that sweeps over able, not working and not consuming. pursue your own interests on that day, our consciousness. And that’s why we need Sabbath. Sab- but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with In a recently published survey, research- bath is the space God creates for us to shut delight as the Lord’s holy day” (Isaiah ers asked how many hours each day were the gates and turn off the noise. “The old, 58:13, NLT). Rather than an imposition spent on activities ranging from sleeping, wise Sabbath says, Stop now. As the sun on our already busy lives, Sabbath means working and spending time with friends touches the horizon take the hand off the we don’t have to be busy for at least one to time spent online, talking on the mobile plough, put down the phone, let the pen day each week—and that reordering of phone and listening to music. In Austral- rest on the paper, turn off the computer, our priorities, our realisation of a larger ia, respondents’ answers added up to an leave the mop in the bucket and the car in view of life and the delight of God, will average of 37.5 hours a day (Lia Timson, the drive. There is no room for negotia- spill over into how we live and work the “Home Alone,” Livewire). That means tion, no time to be seduced by the urgency other days of our week. we are fi lling each day with a day-and-a- of our responsibilities. We stop because So, beginning with Sabbath, let’s cele- half of content. And that’s measuring only there are forces larger than we that take brate, seek fi rst and fi nd rest in the king- what we are doing, without factoring in care of the universe, and while our efforts dom-life of God. what we feel we should be doing, what are important, necessary and useful, they we know is most important and what we are not (nor are we) indispensable. [S] wish we could fi t into our days. o we are invited—nay, commanded—to Nathan Brown No wonder so many of us are over- relax and enjoy our relative unimpor- Offi cial Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacifi c Division Seventh-day Associate editor David Edgren 3485 Warburton Highway Adventist Church Editorial assistant Adele Nash Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Editorial assistant Jarrod Stackelroth Phone: (03) 5965 6300 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 www.adventist.org.au Copyeditor Talitha Simmons Email Letters: [email protected] Editorial secretary Kristel Rae Email Newsfront: [email protected] Vol 112 No 36 Layout Nathan Chee Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Cover: Melody Tan Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions: South Pacifi c Division mailed within Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 September 22, 2007 36 Editorial.indd Sec1:2 11/9/07 10:09:30 AM news Surprise Homecoming honours for alumni COORANBONG, NEW SOUTH WALES Mrs Taylor attended Homecom- ing as a member of the 1957 honour he Avondale College Alumni Asso- year. She spoke during the associa- ciation surprised the recipients of its tion’s luncheon on Friday about the highest award by keeping their names 100,000 kilograms of food she has Tsecret until the offi cial presentation at collected and distributed over the Homecoming (August 24-26). past two decades for people who Members of the association’s committee are homeless, and for victims of voted in April to present the Outstanding domestic violence. Alumni award to Dr Barry and Desmryna Nine other alumni joined the ord Taylor. However, they revealed the names Taylors as award recipients. Eight only during the Sabbath worship service in were members of each honour year. Ann Staff the Avondale College church. The award Receiving citations from their class- Dr Barry and Desmryna Taylor were presented with the recognises the couple’s contribution to mates were: retired minister, Pastor Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni award by the medical research—in physical therapy and Wal Hammond (1937); caretaker association’s recently elected president, Roger Nixon. biochemistry; their dedication to Adventist and custodian of “Sunnyside” and South Sea search fellow at Avondale. Dr Salom died tertiary education at Loma Linda University Islands Museum, Keith Frauenfelder (1947); in February this year. The award recognised (California, USA); and their contribution to retired lecturer and teacher, Beverley Reye the “initial impulse and continuing guidance” the local community. (1957); director of choirs and chair of the of the “quiet, scholarly little man” when the Dr Taylor reviewed the history of Loma music department at Columbia Union Col- class of 1957 “envisioned Jacaranda as the fi rst Linda during the inaugural Alumni Lecture lege, James Bingham (1967); minister and Avondale annual.” on the Friday of Homecoming. The insti- president of Rivers Community church and Jean Carter and Pastor David Lawson, tution’s reorganisation as a health sciences Rock Community Care, Jenny Spyve (1977); members of the 1982 and 1957 honour years, university brought focus to its mission and minister of Southside Community church preached the vespers and the worship serv- research has a greater emphasis. Loma Linda and president and executive director of The ice sermons. formalised this new mission in 2000, appoint- Spot Community Services, Ken Houliston Three others returned to Avondale to ing Dr Taylor as the fi rst vice-president for (1982); creative director of Rocfi sh, Karyn perform during vespers on Friday evening.