Presbytery Retreat — An Alpine Presbytery Inspirational event

Sunday 8th July 2018 through till Tuesday 10th July at Hanmer Springs

Almost 40 people gathered at Hanmer Springs for a two-day Retreat facilitated by our Moderator Rev Anne Stewart and the Rev Spanky Moore, who is a Chaplain at the Canterbury University.

Anne and Spanky took us on a journey of encouraging us to see ourselves as family in relationship with each other across the Presbytery. We told and listened to each other’s stories in a very safe and positive environment; we had time to quietly reflect on what God is saying to us; we explored issues around the culture of our lives, our churches and our Presbytery and saw that we need to have those deeper discussions that “tend the garden” to produce healthy plants. We also need to listen more to God and each other as we yearn to grow in following Christ. With the mix of prayer, stories, reflection and time to eat and relax together we considered it was a very important time to spend together.

We look forward to gathering again in the time to come!

Report from the Alpine Presbytery Gathering – Christchurch, 27th-29th April 2018

Around 80 people attended our recent Gathering in Christchurch. It was a stimulating weekend focused on The Church & Social Enterprise, with four keynote speakers along with workshops and the input of the PCANZ Moderator Rev Richard Dawson.

Presbytery also received reports from our Standing Committees and dealt with a number of business matters including the nomination of Rev Hamish Galloway as our Presbytery nominee for Moderator-Designate of General Assembly (for 2020).

A significant moment was also the presentation of a cheque for $3M to the Alpine Mission Fund from St Andrew’s at Rangi Ruru parish in Christchurch. This is a very generous gift and is a wonderful gesture from St Andrew’s. Their ‘seed funds’ will now be able to assist other parishes to develop innovative projects.

Resources from the Gathering are available by clicking on the links below:

Resourcing Sessions

* Sharaine Steenberg—Social Enterprise

* Blair Stirling—Social Enterprise

* Stephen Moe  – presentation and book

Workshops

* Richard Dawson—Change and the Church today

* Barry Ayers—Maintaining Trust in Churches

* Silvia Purdie—Encouraging Creativity