Last weekend, a group of students gathered at Ngātiawa River Monastery to participate in an Old Testament Anglican Studies block weekend. Led by Dr. Don Moffat, the event was filled with various activities and engaging discussions.

The group had the opportunity to join in on the Ngātiawa rhythms of prayer, including a Saturday morning re-enactment of the Transfiguration with the children. They were also able to experience the warm hospitality of the people of Ngātiawa, particularly Matua Rangi, who shared his knowledge and engaged in meaningful conversations with the participants.

The weekend included a Sunday Eucharist, led by senior students Rebecca, Mannie, and Robert. The event also featured 'cultural windows' with Eseta Mateiviti-Tuvalu and Te Hira Paenga, where participants learned about the intersection between Māori/Pacific and ancient Hebrew history and culture.

Apart from the activities, the participants also had a lot of great conversations about faith and vocation, the Bible, Aotearoa culture, and history. Moreover, they were able to appreciate the beautiful natural environment of the Reikorangi Valley.

The event was not just a fun-filled weekend but also a learning experience as participants were able to learn a lot about the Old Testament with Dr. Don Moffat. We particularly want to highlight how good it is to learn in person on a block weekend. Our vision is ‘theological education as discipleship’ and ‘learning in community’ and we will be launching Anglican Studies Huddles at the April block weekend.

The programme is currently open for enrolments, and students can enrol in any or all of the courses. The upcoming block weekends include Intergenerational Community with Diana Langdon at Pahiatua Marae in April, Sharing Sacraments with Stephen King & Heidi Nayak in May, and Doing Theology with Tom Noakes-Duncan at St. Michael's Church & Marae in Palmerston North in July.

You can choose to enrol in any or all of the upcoming papers. Visit the St. John's College website at stjohnscollege.ac.nz/regional-programmes or contact Rev. Heidi Nayak at anglicanstudies@anglicanmovement.nz for more information.