In this Hotspot, Archdeacon Gendy Thomson outlined an upcoming course, beginning in April 2022, entitled Leadership and Teams in Worshipping Communities.

2021 is a momentous year for climate change policy in New Zealand. The government has just announced a four-fold increase in climate finance to go to overseas communities most impacted by climate breakdown. This amounts to $1.3billion over four years! And right now, our government is in the process of finalising targets by which we hope to reduce our carbon emissions for the next 15 years. It’s important that we have our say.

I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12-13, NSRV)

Nine years ago, St John’s Johnsonville was in interregnum. Before it was ready to call for a new priest the Diocese did some discernment work with the parish around their sense of God's vision for their life together. The church had an older demographic and was declining in numbers so in response to this the parish discerned 3 key priorities for the 5 years ahead.

The invitation was given: Anglicans Ablaze! Global Conference open to all. Lynda Whitwell, Vicar’s Warden at Milson Combined Church reflects on her experience of the global conference held last week.

Next week is Health and Safety Week so we thought it would be good to interview Andrew Black, the Diocesan Safety Officer, to find out a bit more about him and his role.

The Anglican Movement website has recently become one of the many around New Zealand to become a shielded site. Shielded sites allow victims of domestic abuse to access a portal where they can find out ways to become safe, but without their abuser finding out about it in their browser history.

Have you heard about Soap for Society? This awesome charity works in partnership with Wellington City Mission and other mission agencies around New Zealand, to collect cleaning, hygiene and sanitation products to support those doing it tough. We had a chat to founder Lucy Revill - also a parishioner at St James, Lower Hutt - about their current collection drive, running from 4-18 October, and about how we as fellow Anglican whanau can help.

In the Cathedral, the week before last, we gathered and sorted household items, pantry packs and toys for former refugee families resettling in Wellington. Although, at this stage no houses have been found for them.

Do you want to be refreshed and resourced by phenomenal speakers from global Church leaders, and prayed for by members of our African church? Of course you do!

Next week, the Anglicans Ablaze Global Conference begins. This is an opportunity for anyone across our global communion to join in learning more about being disciples who make disciples, living a Jesus-shaped life.

The Low Carbon Challenge is still up and running, and open for all to take part in. This week, we bring you news from a group campaigning for equity in public transport for Wellington City. They’re advocating for free public transport for Community Services Card Holders and students, as both a justice issue for low income people as well as reducing climate emissions caused by transport.

After a year of Leadership Course lectures and huddles, I felt ready to embrace hosting a house church and we started last Sunday. In my local church huddle and home group we’ve been talking about mission, and I felt challenged to start sharing my faith more in a natural way. But where to start?

When Ralph Pyatt finally decided to retire from running the Waikanae Parish Foodbank in late 2020 Pippa was thrilled at the opportunity to take over. Ralph, and his late wife Ngaio, ran the foodbank for 22 years, delivering thousands of food parcels to those in need.

“Faith Space” is an emerging church group in Palmerston North with an emphasis on centring people’s lives on following Jesus. They are a rainbow-celebratory community.

Over this past week or so both of us have been reflecting on the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) and what it could mean in our present season. I (+Justin) have been revisiting social anthropologist Malcolm Gladwell’s book David and Goliath (he does a great TEDtalk summary here).

A fresh change for the youth of Wairarapa is on its way, with the appointment of Ella Brown to the Wairarapa Whānau Trust's position of project leader for the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs. Since lockdown in 2020, the Trust has been engaged in a partnership with South Wairarapa District Council, through a contract to coach and mentor young people into their first employment in the local community.

Two Todman (run by our Brooklyn Parish whānau) is serving the community of Brooklyn in more ways than one.

While the team of five million have stayed home and donned masks to go outside, essential work has continued at St Peter's on Willis Street. The Freestore cannot operate under levels 3 & 4 (there are no cafes and bakeries open for them to collect food from) however, Freestore volunteers have worked to support EKTA (“unity” in Hindi) from the St Peter's undercroft.

Last Friday Stuff published a story about the Get one. Give one. campaign. With the COVID-19 vaccine available for everyone aged 12 and over, and vaccinations being strongly pushed by our country's leadership, spreading the news about the campaign is allowing even more New Zealanders to donate.