Tuesday 18 to Monday 24 November 2008    Kia Ora.  Christmas is only a month away.  For some people Christmas is about sharing presents and feasting.  It can be a time of reacquainting with family and friends.  For other people it is a reminder of their loneliness and despair.  Christmas can be a time of renewal.  Have you decided what kind of Christmas you want this year?

Reflect with Suzanne Aubert, who might just turn out to be New Zealand's first saint

Tuesday - how strong we will be if, every morning, we see in God our day.  We must invoke the holy spirit with great fervour, and more at length

Wednesday - most men are called to attain sanctity simply by little nothings, by the smallest things, all the most common and ordinary actions of life sanctified by the good intention which refers everything to God

Thursday - recreation is just as necessary to the intellectual and spiritual health as it is to the physical health.  God loves the gifts of cheerfulness

Friday - poverty makes us think of God, and raises our hearts to him

Saturday - let the sisters beware of thinking they are marvels if they have acquired some knowledge.  If they do not cultivate humility, they will do evil and endanger greatly their eternal salvation

Sunday - one second made fruitful by love deserves an eternal reward!

Monday - let us ask nothing in the shape of crosses, and let us refuse none; let us establish our will in a complete and holy indifference, being in readiness for all events...

Before you go... an item from www.presbyterian.org.nz    

Jim's dream 

In 2002 Jim had a particularly vivid dream, in which God told him to go to Bethlehem, Tauranga. Not being used to having or acting on this kind of experience, he told God that he needed a clearer word. After six months it hadn’t materialised, but then one day Jim picked up a pamphlet and a verse on the back caught his eye: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” (Luke 2:15)

Jim had heard about the difficulties Bethlehem was experiencing. The congregation didn’t have the resources to fund a full-time minister, but it did have substantial reserves built up from renting out its manse. Although he declined the congregation’s offer to work part-time, Jim said he would take on the charge full-time if the parish would use its assets to pay his stipend for as long as that was possible. “It was a step of faith. It never crossed my mind that it wouldn’t work.”

“There are a lot of churches with huge reserves but they don’t even have a full-time minister. If you employ someone with a vision for growth, then use your reserves.

“It’s about encouraging people to leave a legacy that will outlast them, so that their grandchildren might have the opportunity to experience Christ.”

Slowly the parish became financially viable and they started to consider building on their site.

Bethlehem used a version of Saddleback’s Time to Build programme, adapted for the local context. The theme was “equal sacrifice not equal gifts,” to make sure people didn’t feel pressured to give. A pack that included a detailed explanation of the programme as well as a devotional guide was sent to everyone who attended the church, and lots of congregational meetings were held, but money was deliberately not sought from those not connected with the church, Jim says.

The church is continuing to grow. Jim says growth, like decline, has a momentum that carries its own energy. He describes Bethlehem as “community facing”, and says the church has begun the transition into building community ministries. On Mondays a drop-in service will operate, with free manicures available.

Bethlehem’s surrounding community is affluent and booming, with house and land prices extremely expensive. The demographics are mixed, with a lot of young families but also a significant proportion of retired people.

Before the building project started, the church surveyed local people on what their needs and concerns were. The survey revealed that the lack of community facilities where people could hold meetings or gatherings was a major issue. In new subdivisions, developers often build only dormitory and commercial spaces, and one new development not far from Bethlehem will hold 7,000 homes.

Regular letter-box drops keep people informed about special programme and activities, like the church’s monthly movie night. “Maybe less than 1 percent respond, but if you do 2,500, that’s five new families. We do a letter box drop every six weeks.”

“Even if only one new person comes along a week, in a year that’s 52 people.”

The contemporary service uses the latest worship songs and a relaxed format, but still has space for reflection and prayer, Jim says. There’s a traditional service later in the morning that attracts a mostly older audience, but also those who prefer a more “classical” style. Jim says this service also offers a more familiar entrance point for people than the contemporary service, which can seem more intimidating to some people, particularly those who have grown up with hymns.

Between 30 and 40 people attend regular movie nights, which Jim says are designed as an outreach rather than being a kind of club for the congregation. “It’s really important to provide flight paths in.”

A series of lectures has also been planned that will engage intellectually with some of atheism’s arguments.

Another project still in gestation is a Sunday night “jam” gathering, which will be a café-style service where people can play music or read poems they’ve composed. Jim hopes this will kick off in August, with a group from the congregation providing the energy and organisation.

The church put careful thought into the look and style of its signage, employing a designer to create the logo, which puts a stylised cross before the church’s name and gives the word “community” significant prominence.  “Everything we do has it on it: from PowerPoints during worship to newsletters and even fridge magnets. It says something about us.”

Hope you liked our site, made possible by the inspiration of Bernie Hehir (RIP).  Thanks Bernie