Crossings Stories: Made New

WMCNZ AdministratorBaptism, Crossings, NewsLeave a Comment

This week’s Crossings Story is from cession|community. cession|community is a Wesleyan Church based in the eastern suburbs of Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland. cession|community held a baptism service on 18 July at which 4 people were baptised – one adult, a teenager and 2 children.  It was a great night of celebration and a full house with friends and family supporting those being baptised. Pastor Brett Jones commented on the age range as being a particular highlight with the younger children finding faith through a combination of intentional home life and the ministry of Cultivate Kids led by Children’s Director Sarah Johnson.  A … Read More

Crossings Stories: Slipper Fun

WMCNZ AdministratorChaplaincy, Crossings, NewsLeave a Comment

This week’s Crossings Story is from Rev Yvonne Fisk. Rev Yvonne serves as a chaplain in an aged care facility. At the Rest Home where I work one of our Residents has bad ulcers on her legs and feet and consequently oedema which is fluid swelling in her legs. The only slippers her family could buy were large men’s black ones with a velcro strap. She told me she was very unhappy with the new purchase as they look like men’s slippers, which they were. I found some daisies about the size of a 50c cent coin and sewed three … Read More

National Superintendent Update: A Call to Prayer

WMCNZ AdministratorNational Superintendent Update, News, PrayerLeave a Comment

Tēnā koutou katoa, In the wake of yesterday’s supermarket attack, I want to call us to prayer. Prayer for the victims of this attack who are now receiving medical treatment for serious injuries. We pray also for the medical staff offering care. Prayer for the attacker’s family who will be grieving the loss of a loved one and trying to come to terms with his actions while under media and police attention. Prayer for witnesses and first responders who will bear the psychological impact of such a horrific event. We pray for police officers who have had to take a … Read More

Wesleyan Kids: Lightbulb Moment #6 (Separation Anxiety)

WMCNZ AdministratorChildrens Ministry, News, WesoKids - Lightbulb MomentsLeave a Comment

Strategies for Dealing with Separation Anxiety at Sunday School It is very common for young children to get upset when their parents leave. Here are some strategies that can help you settle these little ones. 1. Recognise that separation anxiety is a phase of development. Children can experience this at different ages and to different intensities. Your job is to support them as they grow. 2. Provide a quiet corner where the children can choose to observe rather than participate in the activities. Some children need to watch for a while before they are willing to join in. 3. Establish … Read More

Wesleyan Kids: Lightbulb Moment #5 (Making Revision Fun)

WMCNZ AdministratorChildrens Ministry, News, WesoKids - Lightbulb MomentsLeave a Comment

A quick and fun way to revise last week’s lesson is to play a game of noughts and crosses. Divide the children into two teams. One team are crosses and the other team are noughts. You could just have the teams draw their symbols on a blackboard/whiteboard/paper but I like to have laminated symbols to actually hand to each team. The teams take turns to answer a question about last week’s lesson. If they are correct they get a symbol to place on the board. Then the normal rules of noughts and crosses apply.

Wesleyan Kids: Light Bulb Moment #4 (The Leaders Spirituality)

WMCNZ AdministratorChildrens Ministry, Ministry Resources, News, WesoKids - Lightbulb MomentsLeave a Comment

One of the challenges for many Sunday School teachers is that they miss out on the feeding provided by the sermon so that they can teach the children. Not a problem you think – I know what the Bible says anyway. But I want you to picture it like a bucket of water. Each week I take a cup of water out of the bucket to water the spiritual lives of the children. At first, I don’t see the level of water going down in my bucket until one day I start to feel spiritually dry myself because I have … Read More

National Superintendent Update – Government Apology for Dawn Raids

WMCNZ AdministratorAnnouncements, Featured, National Superintendent Update, NewsLeave a Comment

Today the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made a formal apology on behalf of the Government for the 1970’s “Dawn Raids” conducted as part of a policy of immigration enforcement.  The government has acknowledged these raids were disproportionately targeted to immigrants from the Pacific and that the tactics employed were routinely severe and often demeaning. This was an exceedingly difficult time for our Pacific peoples and today’s apology will no doubt have raised a range of conflicting emotions.  Some will have found a level of closure through the announcement; others may have relived memories they would prefer to forget; many will live … Read More

Wesleyans In New Roles

WMCNZ AdministratorAnnouncements, Featured, Media Releases, NewsLeave a Comment

As Wesleyan Methodists, it’s in our DNA to be involved in the wider community and ecumenical scene.  We’re celebrating recent opportunities for 3 of our number. Brett Jones – Secretary, National Church Leaders of Aotearoa-New Zealand (NCLANZ) Rev Brett Jones was recently elected as Secretary to the National Church Leaders of Aotearoa-New Zealand for a 2 year term.  In recent years the NCLANZ membership has grown to 22 churches and encompasses most of the Churches in New Zealand, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Wesleyan Methodist and the wider Evangelical and Pentecostal family of churches. Rev Dr Richard Waugh previously served as Chairperson until 2020.  National Church … Read More

Thinking Biblically About Wellbeing

WMCNZ AdministratorClergy Wellbeing, Featured, National Superintendent Update, News, Self CareLeave a Comment

The past 18 months have placed an extraordinary amount of stress on New Zealanders as we have navigated unexpected change, financial pressure, social isolation, anxiety and in some cases the illness and death of loved ones. The issue of personal and community wellbeing has been brought to the fore in a fresh and compelling way. How might the scriptures guide us towards taking steps towards our own wellbeing? As a Wesleyan movement, we have embraced the concept of a “consistent life ethic” in how we approach our living and are oriented toward those things that enable life to flourish towards … Read More

Wesleyan Kids: Lightbulb Moment #3 (Setting Expectations)

WMCNZ AdministratorChildrens Ministry, Ministry Resources, News, WesoKids - Lightbulb MomentsLeave a Comment

Does this sound familiar? One Sunday Joan is teaching her Sunday School class. She is very laissez-faire with her expectations. The children can wander around and talk during the lesson and don’t need to ask permission to use the bathroom. The following Sunday, Ron comes in to teach the same class. He becomes very frustrated because the children do not sit and listen. The children can not understand why they are in trouble. What is the problem? Some could say that it is because you have different volunteers teaching the same class but that isn’t the issue. The problem is … Read More