Saint Aidan's - Viewpoint

2009 Synod Report - by Dr Gillian Reid

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Craig's Corner - Celebrating new life!

(From the December Parish Newsletter)

As this edition of the parish magazine goes to press we are about to celebrate the completion of the first 9 months of our new 11:15 service. Since the first of March we have had 36 services with an average attendance of 27, we have celebrated 2 baptisms, welcomed a number of new people into the St Aidan's community, and have enjoyed worshipping in new and creative ways.

From day one we have been blessed by the worship ministry of Sarah Valintine who leads the music team for this service. With her wonderful singing voice, her calm and relaxed leadership style, her big smile, and her obvious love for Jesus, Sarah has made a huge contribution to the establishment of this Service and we are so grateful to God for bringing her to us. Sarah does not do this alone and a very dedicated group of singers and musicians have all given of their time and energy and we are grateful to them all. Special mention must be made of Jane and Bryce Mason who have been part of the music team most weeks and who do so after also leading the music at 9:30.

In addition to the parishioners who have made this congregation their home there are quite a few who enjoy coming to this service on a regular basis. We have also had some new people join us at St Aidan's because they find that this service meets their needs.

The average age at this service is quite a bit younger than at 7:30 and 9:30, and this reflects the fact that we deliberately set out to create something different to the more traditional services. We knew from the outset that this service would not be everyone's cup of tea, but we have been encouraged by those in the earlier congregations who, after visiting the 11:15 service, have made comments which have been largely favourable.

Comments such as these words from some 7:30 parishioners who visited one morning in July.

We were amazed at the commitment and the participation that evolved throughout the service and we were not made to feel that we were not a part of it despite our graying hair and advancing years. It was wonderful to see this congregation, very different to our 7.30am service and enjoying their involvement so very much.

We can't expect the younger generation to have the same needs and ideals from their religious beliefs that we have and it is great to see that they are so committed and involved and clearly get so much enjoyment from their faith - their fresh young faces, singing their hearts out for their God was just lovely to see and hear.

It's been a year of growth and challenge but we have seen God at work among us and we are thankful for all that he has done. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for, supported, and encouraged this new venture. We look forward to seeing the numbers increase next year and to having more people make themselves available to be involved. In the mean time you are all invited to a special celebration at the 11:15 service on 13 December to mark the first 9 months. That will also be the last 11:15 service for 2009. We will resume again on 7 February 2010. Craig Harris .

Men's Group News

On Thursday 15 th October the Men's Group's guest speaker, Simon Moore, Crown Prosecutor, spoke about “The Impact of Methamphetamine (P) in Society”. 

Simon Moore's talk was transformed into a widely advertised public meeting because the topic has such significance for us all. The seriousness of the issue had also recently been highlighted by our Diocesan Synod.

Simon informed us steadily, calmly, cumulatively and thoroughly about the nature, size, seriousness and implications of this new and really dangerous form of drug addiction which has been gathering pace in our midst. Some of the disturbing facts were:

As many 4% of New Zealanders are now estimated to have been exposed to the drug.

The drug is highly addictive and severely and rapidly destructive of brain tissue.

There is no effective treatment, so far, for the addiction.

The high number and proportion of affected people in NZ is far greater than that seen in any other nation – including Australia - and the USA - and in a sense ‘we are on our own' in finding a solution to the problem.

There is a strong association with violent crime – and some high profile cases were illustrated.

The drug is both

o made locally - in home kitchens which can be made small enough to fit into a car boot

o and imported mostly from South East Asia – in ‘industrial' quantities – only 20% of which is detected at the borders.

The main raw ingredient is both

- purchasable in NZ – but somewhat less readily now

- and readily and freely purchasable in large quantities in China .

Particular gangs are associated with the drug's manufacture and the profits are huge – so much so, that illicit narcotic trading can be regarded as a ‘sunset industry' by comparison.

- Millions of NZ ‘profit dollars' are being sent offshore.

- There were three items of more hopeful information:

- The recent government ‘package of control measures' should start to make a difference.

The profits from the Methamphetamine abuse industry will likely soon become more accessible in NZ to the authorities involved in the battle to limit its devastating effects.

A ‘Stellar Trust' has been formed – the initiative of an Auckland Rotary club whose representative, Paul La Franchie, was present. It aims to publicise about, educate against and help save us all from the worst affects of this new scourge. Simon Moore is also a board member of the Trust.

Tickets for the talk were sold at $5 per person with all proceeds going to the Stellar Trust. The meeting was well attended and came to a close with an intense and perceptive question time. The Rev'd Craig Harris closed the meeting with the serenity prayer, a simply and sincerely worded prayer for a calm yet active attitude to facing up to such a challenging issue as this.

Christopher Diggle

In Craig's Corner

Six months ago on Sunday 1 March St Aidan's launched a brand new worship service at 11:15am. This service was many months in the planning and is part of the St Aidan's commitment to being a mixed economy church, i.e. a church that offers a range of worship opportunities and styles to cater for those who connect with God in different ways.

The 11:15 service is contemporary and creative in style, featuring a worship band and current songs, frequent use of powerpoint images and video clips, and is more informal and conversational than the two other morning services. Although the style is different the service features all the elements of a standard service including the reading of scripture, preaching, prayers, and communion.

It is very much an all age service but the hope is that it will meet a need at the younger end of the age spectrum where numbers at traditional services are generally low. Already we have a committed group of youth and people in their 20s-30s (as well as a number who are well past that stage of life).

Seventy people were at the first service with a number of people staying on after the 9:30 service to

support this new venture. Since then numbers have settled around the thirty mark and we hope and pray that this congregation will grow. We have been encouraged to see new people joining St Aidan's through this congregation and people returning to worship who we had not seen for some time. It has been a huge commitment for some of our musicians, many of whom are involved in both the 9:30 and 11:15 service, and we are grateful to them for the time and energy they put into growing the church through this initiative. It is often quite a challenge to get set up for a different style of worship in between the 9:30 and 11:15 services and we give thanks for all those on the AV team who work so hard to make this happen.

Starting something entirely new has been nerve wracking, thrilling, panic inducing, and tremendously rewarding all at the same time. All involved in planning and leading the services have grown in confidence during the last six months and we feel like we have come a long way since 1 March. We believe that this service is making a difference in the lives of those who attend and we see it as an essential part of St Aidan's ministry to the people of this parish and the local community.

Thank you to all those who have supported and prayed for this new initiative. We appreciate you.

Arohanui, Craig 

An Interview with our new Youth Pastor David Finn
by Maxwell Reid

David, what's your background, where are you from?

I am born and bred Kiwi, and apart from 1 year living in Lytham , England , and 1 year living in Coromandel, I have lived in the St Heliers/Remuera area all the rest of my life. I enjoyed highschool at St Kentigern College, before gaining a Commerce degree and Graduate Diploma in Primary School teaching at Auckland University. I have worked in a wide range of vocations on my way to this position, including Hospitality, Health and Safety and school teaching. I have travelled a bit, but really do love little ol' NZ.

Do you have any family history in Christianity?

My own church history is really as a Presbyterian through St Kentigern College. Recently I have been involved with St Pauls, Symmonds Street , and Somervell down the road. I have a brother who began a Theology degree before heading into school teaching, and my Dad has also completed a degree in Theology. It's fair to say that I also have quite a healthy interest in this area too!

Are you currently doing any study?

Currently, most of my time outside of work is spent looking after my 6 year old daughter, Piper. This is a blast! I hope that some more study is on the horizon and rapidly approaching though, and I am just waiting and listening to God to direct me in this area…I hope it will be Theology study, but have also been pretty keen on Pastoral Care/Counselling recently, and so am really waiting to see which way to go there…

What are your hobbies and interests?

When I have spare time I love reading all sorts of stuff, from deep insightful and thoughtful Christian stuff, to escapism fiction novels. Getting out to the beach and into the fresh air is also important to me and something I really enjoy – surfing, tramping, mountain biking etc. R&R is definitely important for the Soul! I am also a pretty keen cook, although my baking is better than my chefing, and would love to do a decent cooking course some time soon!

I hear you have some musical talent.

I play the sax and guitar, and am keen to be involved in the Church bands with these once I have gotten my time planned to enable this. Worship through music is definitely a really big part of what I love about Christianity, so can't wait to make this a big part of what I do at Church. I also sing when no one is looking!

What are your current aspirations in life?

Being the best Dad I can be is really important to me, this is a constant work in progress of course. I enjoy being in a position where I am able to help people, and so I imagine that I will always work in this type vocation. I do have some outside hope of working for an organisation such as World Vision sometime in the future. I have a sense of mission towards helping with the famine and desperation of the situation in Africa , as well as with other situations related to war and conflict through out the world. But I am also learning that we are all in need during our lives, and that Loving our Neighbour is often what God requires of us, and one of the best things we can do to help.

Welcome to Saint Aidan's David
Maxwell

News of Kingston Parish Episcopal Church

Mathews, Virginia , USA

Earlier this year we were invited, through an Outreach initiative of the congregation of Kingston Parish Episcopal Church in Virginia , USA , to join with them in an enduring congregational fellowship between our two churches with the aim of establishing an exchange of good will, sharing of programmes and initiatives and news of our wider church life on different continents. St Aidan's Vestry has warmly welcomed this activity as a part of our outreach activities, and there has already been ‘intercontinental' dialogue on Youth and Home Group programmes, we have sent a DVD of greetings from St Aidan's to Kingston Parish; other ideas relating to sermon series, shared prayer opportunities and lecture programmes are being discussed. Early Kingston Parish church records have been lost in the mists of time and early colonial events, but the agreed founding date is celebrated as 1652; the oldest Vestry book record is November 1679. It is of note, that in the 17 th and 18 th centuries, the Vestry was responsible not only for religious and church matters, but also for the entire social welfare of the parish, the upkeep of roads, bridge repairs and discipline of the county ( fortunately St Aidan's Vestry responsibilities are less diverse! ). The present parish church, Christ Church (built in 1904), stands on a site dating back some 350 years. (see the KP website www.kingstonparish.org for a fascinating history).

The Kingston Parish congregation is lead by the Reverend Doug Geddes (formerly of the US Air Force) and the Reverend Lynn Holland (formerly a lawyer – so another link with St Aidan's there then!). We look forward to getting to know both Doug and Lynn, and the Kingston Parish congregation, better over the coming year, to worshipping in extended communion with them and in the sharing of plans and ideas.

Please take time to look at the Kingston Parish area of the notice board in the Gathering Area which will be established shortly. Trevor Syms

Bishop John - A parent concerned about drugs in our society

(Excerpt from the 2008 Synod Bishop's Charge)

During these last fourteen years I have tried to offer as much support as possible to the Anglican sch ools in the Diocese, and in addition I have taken a leading and chairing role in the establishment of the Anglican Schools' Office based in Christchurch, serving the 44 Anglican schools throughout our Church and across all the Dioceses and Hui Amorangi, including those schools within the Diocese of Polynesia.

One of the reasons that I give priority to the Anglican schools is because of the privileged access this gives the Anglican Church to the large number of young lives, the large number of young minds that are present in our schools. There are some frightening challenges ahead for our schools and for our young people, and therefore for the 'families of every member of this Synod.

“Our children and our grandchildren are at risk."

We woke recently to the tragic news that a Police Officer was killed in the early hours of the morning, during the course of an investigation into a laboratory in Mangere. I he Auckland Crown Prosecutor currently has 26 homicide files, either manslaughter or murder, on his desk waiting to go to trial. These range from baby killings, for which we lead the world, to home invasions, killings linked to robberies, gangland executions and the stabbing of a tagger. Crime rates in Auckland are disproportionately higher than anywhere else in New Zealand , and lurking behind it all is the drug methamphetamine or 'P'. It is an absolute scourge in our society, and it more than any other factor, is responsible for the spiraling crime rate across the city. I am relying here on information I have gained from the Crown Prosecutor in his public speeches, so this is not simple speculation on the part of the Bishop. Over 80% of the Auckland High Court's criminal caseload is either methamphetamine dealing or involves criminal offending linked to methamphetamine. And we run the risk of becoming blasE about it.

'P' is methamphetamine. 'P' stands for 'Pure' and it is marketed by the gangs, whose principal strategy is to target the 18-25-year-old nightclub set. Labelling it as 'Pure' is a cynical marketing ploy to distinguish this drug from any of the other so-called 'recreational drugs' which have been popular in the past and against which competes. The impression is given that 'Pure' is a clean and wholesome drug, and its success has caused a drop in the consumption of cannabis. It is also known as 'speed', 'ice', 'burn' and 'wiz- bang'. It is a powerfully addictive synthetic stimulant, developed from its parent drug amphetamine. It is very, very dangerous.

New users are offered free samples, or drinks are spiked, or free samples are thrown through the windows of passing cars. It may he that you might live near an amateur lab, and the tell-tale signs are blacked-out windows, running water for extended periods, volatile chemical smells, irregular hours for visitors, motorised pumps/motors running for long periods, and people acting as lookouts.

Our children and our grandchildren are at risk. Talk to your children. Talk to your grandchildren. Be alert in your neighbourhood.

Don't let this kind of evil triumph.

+ John

Farewell to our Parishioner

by Maxwell Reid

Sir Edmund Hillary 1919 - 2008

As the world watched, the Parish of Saint Aidan joined all of New Zealand on Tuesday 22nd January 2008 in farewelling our national hero and local parishioner Sir Edmund Hillary. He was equally as humble as he was famous, and he endured his fame with dignity, reserve and extraordinary modesty. In true Christian tradition, he spent much of his life helping others less fortunate than himself. His exemplary life represented to New Zealanders everything that is good and decent about our young and proud nation. Sir Edmund Hillary was a national treasure and our respect for this great man will live on in our hearts forever.

In the words of our Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Helen Clark, "

"Climbing Everest in 1953 was one hell of an achievement. He went to a height and a place no man had gone before. He went with 1950s, not 21st century, technology. Above all, he went there with attitude; with a clear goal; with courage and with a determination to succeed. Sir Edmund described himself as a person of modest ability; in reality he was a colossus. As individuals, we may not be able to match Sir Ed's abilities and strength, but surely we can all strive to match his values and compassion for others. His values were strong, they are timeless, and they will endure."

A quote from Sir Edmund in his 1975 book Nothing Venture, Nothing Win:

"For me, the most rewarding moments have not always been the great moments, for what can surpass a tear on your departure, joy on your return, and a trusting hand in yours".

Maxwell

What is Fair Trade
and How Can it Help Reduce Poverty?

by Pip Colgan, Outreach Vision Group - 8th June 2007

In our globalised world, trade is one of the most powerful forces linking our lives and is a source of unprecedented wealth. International trade is worth US$10 million a minute . World trade could work as a powerful motor to reduce poverty and promote development but that potential is being lost. The rules that govern international trade are unfairly biased in favour of the rich.

A couple of examples: the world's 50 poorest countries have less than 3% of the vote at the International Monetary Fund. Just one country — the US — has sole veto power. At one full meeting of the WTO, the EU had 500 negotiators. Haiti had none.

Millions of the world's poorest people are being left behind.

Currently, international trade rules are rigged in favour of western countries. Through the World Trade Organisation, The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, the world's richest nations control the way that trade works and have imposed agreements and rules that protect their interests and leave poor countries exposed. Over 90% of world trade is conducted by the West, costing the developing world around US$700 billion a year in lost income. The rich world forces open the markets of the poor countries in the name of 'liberalisation', and then dumps heavily subsidised produce and drives down local costs. With the West subsidising its farmers to the tune of US$1 billion a day, poor producers with no subsidies cannot compete on price. So they have a choice: to sell their produce at a loss or not to sell at all. Low prices mean poverty and hunger which can lead to desperate measures such as selling children into slavery and prostitution.

When developing countries export to rich country markets they face tariff barriers that are up to four times higher than those faced by rich countries. These barriers cost them US$100 billion a year – twice as much as they receive in aid. So poor nations can only afford to export raw materials like cocoa, coffee and cotton. It is the rich who turn these into more valuable products and reap the rewards.

Success in exports is critical to poverty reduction. If Africa, East Asia, South Asia and Latin America each increased their share of world exports by just 1% the gains would lift 128 million people out of poverty, and if these regions increased their share of world exports by 5%, they would generate US$350 billion – seven times as much as they receive in aid.

The Fair Trade movement has been one of the most powerful responses to the plight of producers in developing countries who are being excluded from the benefits of international trade. It gives consumers an opportunity to use their consumer power to tilt the balance in favour of the poor.

Fairtrade ensures that producers in developing countries get a fair deal through:

A fair and stable price for their product

Long term trading relations and advance payments

Investment in local community development

Environmentally sustainable farming methods

Support in gaining the knowledge and skills needed to operate successfully in the global economy

Will Padilla, from the Coope Agri Fairtrade coffee cooperative in Costa Rica , told our 9.30am congregation in May just what Fairtrade means for the farmers in his community. Will is in charge of the Fairtrade Operations for Coope Agri, the largest producer co-operative in central America. He explained that his cooperative has used the revenue from Fairtrade to invest in producer support, housing, education and health projects, forest and river conservation.

Thank you to those at St Aidan's who regularly support our Fairtrade stall. While it may seem a little thing, supporting Fairtrade really is making a difference to the lives of millions of people. Our task now is to spread the word. Get your family, neighbours, friends involved. Make your workplace a Fairtrade environment. Challenge unfair trade. Talk to the proprietor of your favourite café. Ask for Fairtrade products at your supermarket – in England there are supermarkets with whole aisles of Fairtrade products, not just tea and coffee. Another thing you can do is to write to the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. New Zealand needs to be at the forefront of lobbying for change in the international trade rules.

Fairtrade Fortnight

The Parish of Saint Aidan Fairtrade outlet

By Maxwell Reid - 8th May 2007

The Parish of Saint Aidan offers parishioners the opportunity to purchase Fairtrade products through the church, and I must say that we sell great coffee, which I recommend for staying awake during long nights of study. As we actively involve ourselves as a parish in support of the Fairtrade Fortnight, it is timely to provide information to parishioners in order to clarify the objectives of this commendable organisation.

Fair trade is an organised social movement which promotes standards for international labour, environmentalism, and social policy in areas related to the production and distribution of Fairtrade labeled goods. The movement focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries. The FAIRTRADE Mark is an independent consumer label which appears on products as an independent guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal.

I find it intriguing that Fairtrade have chosen to use the term Third World to describe developing countries in some of their marketing such as the icon above. It is certainly true that the term third world is commonly used nowadays when referring to a country with an underdeveloped economy. However, the origin and true intent of the original term can be traced back to the Cold War where it was used to describe those countries not in the first two; i.e. the NATO Pact and WARSAW Pact membership countries. In theory, New Zealand technically became a third world country when it was expelled from the ANZUS treaty after banning the visiting of ships with nuclear weapons or propulsion.

Alternatively, one could argue that if the current interpretation of the term constructively encourages people to imagine countries or peoples with suffering, starvation and degradation through misfortune and circumstance, then perhaps the term's current widespread use may successfully contribute to the commendable intentions and objectives of the Fairtrade organisation!

Historically, the use of modern technology in the huge industry of food production has given the world solutions to our survival by creating more efficient ways to harness energy resources to produce food, and it has given us a certain amount of mastery over our resources and sources of energy (albeit short-term with some of these resources). Modern technology has enabled us to have fewer people involved in food production, which in turn enables a large part of the population to work on other areas of technology. However, as technology has improved our quality of life, the threshold between survival and comfort has become unclear in some more of the affluent economies. Following current logic regarding third world terminology, in what now must be the first and second worlds, the human focus on technology has shifted the emphasis of our economy from our formerly basic survival needs to fulfilling our luxurious and materialistic wants. While there is nothing wrong with the concept, sadly, the producers of goods and services in some of these underdeveloped countries can suffer from unethical and unsustainable exploitation in the process.

Consequently, the strategic intent of the Fairtrade organisation is to deliberately work with marginalised producers and workers in these underdeveloped countries in order to facilitate the move from a position of vulnerability to one of security and economic self-sufficiency. The Fairtrade organisation aims at empowering these producers to become stakeholders in their own organisations and actively play a wider role in the global arena of commerce to achieve greater equity in international trade. The Fairtrade development agencies have recognised the important role that consumers could play to improve the situation for producers. The principle of buying direct from farmers at better prices should ideally help to strengthen those localised organisations by marketing their produce directly through their own global charitable retail outlets and catalogues, where charities can offer consumers the opportunity to buy products which were bought on the basis of a fair trade. The Parish of Saint Aidan supports the principle of Fairtrade, and serves our parishioners as one of the Fairtrade retail outlets.

To succeed in the enterprise, the Fairtrade organisation offers goods at a reasonable price, and the producer organisations that supply Fairtrade products are inspected and the standards are set and certified by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). They receive a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production and an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects.

The Fairtrade labelling system was actually created in the Netherlands in the late 1980s. The Max Havelaar Foundation launched the first Fairtrade consumer guarantee label in 1988 on coffee sourced from Mexico. Today FLO co-ordinates Fairtrade labelling in 20 countries including the UK, and these Fairtrade proponents include a wide array of international religious, development aid, social and environmental organizations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Caritas International. The label has a quality control in the standards of goods offered for purchase, and for a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. The Fairtrade Foundation licenses the FAIRTRADE Mark to products in the UK which meet FLO standards. In addition, the supplier (brand-owner or main national distributor) must sign the Foundation's Licence Agreement which provides a licence to use the Mark.

In support of this worthy organisation, we ask our parishioners to support Fairtrade.
For more information, check their website at: www.fairtrade.net

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