Issue 19: 20 October 2005
Nga Rangatahi o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa News

Called To Love, Called To Serve
Manu Karakia Commissioned in first for Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa.

In a moving service in the presence of friends and whanau, the first Manu Karakia in Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa were commissioned on 16th October at Te Hepara Pai Church in Otautahi by the Bishop of Te Wai Pounamu, Right Reverend John Gray.

Rawinia Gray, Hinekura Hollis, Sharlene Smith, and Christopher Douglas-Huriwai were commissioned and licensed as the first Youth Ministers Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa has seen.

Bishop John had the special pleasure of commissioning his own daughter Rawinia as one of the Manu Karakia.

The candidates had been through a rigorous process of selection and discernment, including an intensive and challenging wananga focusing on their spiritual formation in preparation for ministry (see following story)

Each Manu Karakia will now set out on their ministry pathway. Rawinia has a vision of developing a music ministry to rangatahi; Hinekura will develop community networks to support rangatahi; Sharlene is bringing together rangatahi for ministry encounters; and Christopher’s vision is to hold creative and engaging karakia in Te Hepara Pai.

Manu Kokiri (Youth Enabler) Reverend Terry Timutimu has the role of supporting the Manu Karakia. He is very excited about the ministry of the Manu Karakia: “these four talk the language of rangatahi. They will reach out to rangatahi in a way the rest of the Church cannot. They will challenge us and change us as a Church.”

Te Māra Rangatahi Ministry School will provide nurture in the form of guidance, support, training, communication and networking throughout the 2 year term for each Manu Karakia.

Te Māra Kaihautū, Ven. Hirini Kaa, believes that the Manu Karakia will be the renewal of the Church “beyond our current limitations. The Manu Karakia will carry our mission to the under 40s, who comprise 80% of our Maori population. This is not just about the future, it’s about right now.”
 

Being in the Presence of God
First Manu Karakia Training Wananga “Intense, but wow!”

Te Wai Pounamu Manu Karakia candidates were put through a challenging weekend to kick off their ministry training.

The Manu Karakia Spiritual Formation and Discipleship Wananga was held at Wainui, an hour southeast of Otautahi, from 7-9 October.

The wananga set out to stimulate the Manu Karakia to further develop their personal relationship with God in Christ. “Christian ministry must begin with this fundamental relationship” Manu Kokiri (Youth Enabler) Reverend Terry Timutimu said. “Spiritual formation, at least the beginning of it, is the necessary foundation for Ministry formation.”

The theme of the wananga was “Being in the Presence of God”. The wananga included many hours of prayer and silent reflection, along with sessions including biblical reflection and an experienced Mihinare priest sharing his faith journey. Participant feedback included “intense, but wow!” and many thoughts about God’s love and support for the Manu Karakia candidates as they approached their ministry.

Te Māra Rangatahi Ministry School Kaihautū, Ven. Hirini Kaa was pleased that the two Te Tai Tokerau Manu Kokiri, Kersna Cherrington and Tapu Laulu, were able to be part of the wananga Team. “it shows the strength that Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa can bring to support Manu Karakia across the Hui Amorangi.”

Spiritual Formation and Discipleship is one of 6 core skills that Manu Karakia will train in. the others are Evangelism and Mission; Karakia; Mihinaretanga; Safe Practise; and Tikanga. Training takes place over a 12 month period.

TE KUPU NEWS

Te Tai Tokerau Manu Karakia Training Wananga
The Spiritual Formation and Development Wananga for Te Tai Tokerau Manu Karakia candidates will be held from 11-13 November in Tamaki Makaurau. Contact tapu@rangatahi.org.nz for more info.

Youth Yeah!
Youth Yeah! is a celebration of the young people in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Youth Yeah! starts on Advent Sunday (27th November), and lasts for … a year! Awesome! For more info visit the website www.youthyeah.com
 

TE KUPU LINK

ExploreFaith.org
http://www.explorefaith.org
This site is “spiritual guidance for anyone seeking a path to God”. Answers your questions about faith, Church, God; has tonnes of prayer resources; covers heaps of things! And Marcus Borg is an advisor! Awesome site!



TE KUPU INFO

Te Kupu is published fortnightly by Te Māra Rangatahi Ministry School. Feel free to copy this and distribute it to your networks. For more information visit the Te Kupu website at RUIA, www.rangatahi.org.nz. Contact the editor Nikii O’Callaghan on nikii@rangatahi.org.nz