Issue 22: 1 December 2005
Nga Rangatahi o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa News

Responding to God’s Calling @ Matauri
Manu Karakia Commissioned in Te Tai Tokerau.

Over 100 people gathered at Tapui Marae in Matauri Bay on 27th November for a beautiful karakia to celebrate the commissioning of seven young people as Manu Karakia. Dayanna Popata, Frank Pritchard, Lavinia Rangiwai, Kimi Rewi, Andrew Tamihere, Michael Tamihere, and Tessa Wolff were commissioned and licensed.

The karakia was led by Christopher Douglas-Huriwai (18), who was one of the first four Manu Karakia commissioned in Te Wai Pounamu in October. Bishop Brown Turei, the Bishop of Aotearoa, and Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu led the commissioning. Pihopa Brown preached a well received kauwhau on responding to God’s calling which in his experience, while not always a clearly defined event, is something that must be responded to.

Each of the Manu Karakia have a very diverse ministry ahead of them. Kimi will work in South Auckland in the field of Tamariki Ministry, working with children aged 2-15 based at Te Karaiti Te Pou Herenga Waka in Mangere. Dayanna and Lavinia will work with rangatahi in South Auckland; Dayanna in a “youth group” environment and Lavinia working with “at-risk” unemployed teenagers.

Frank has selected liturgical ministry as his area, working with the ministry team in Manukau Takiwa but focusing on ministry to young whanau and children. Andrew, Michael, Tessa will work in the field of community and whanau ministry, developing a ministry to those in need.

Te Tai Tokerau Manu Kokiri (Youth Enabler) Tapu Laulu believes that this marks a new beginning not just for rangatahi ministry but also for Te Pihopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau: “These Manu Karakia can minister to other rangatahi. We can now extend the mission of our church, and especially Bishop Kito’s Decade of Evangelism and Renewal, to all God’s people.”

Whiti Te Ra!
Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa Launches Youth Yeah!

Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa launched Youth Yeah! at a moving dawn service at Matauri Bay, the place connected to the arrival of the Gospel in Aotearoa. In a chilly but beautifully clear morning the sun broke over the rangatahi, pakeke and kaumatua gathered at Tapui Marae in Matauri Bay.

The celebration began with te whakaaraara, a karanga welcoming in the new year. This was followed by songs, himene and prayers. The Bishop of Aotearoa, Bishop Brown Turei, who travelled up from Turanga for the celebration led the prayers. One of the waiata sung was “Whiti Te Ra!” which was composed by the late Venerable Anaru Takarua to celebrate the arrival of Christ in our midst.

Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu led a reflection on the importance of the event, including the fact that the rangatahi were part of something important not just historically, but also for the future of the Haahi.

In 1814 Ruatara, who had travelled to Australia to make connections with Pakeha brought back Samuel Marsden. Ruatara, who was from Matauri Bay, spent some time at his pa with Marsden before they set off to Oihi for the famous Christmas Day kauwhau which marks the arrival of the Gospel on these shores.

Almost 200 years later the Church has marked the importance of youth ministry in its midst by setting aside a Year to celebrate youth ministry. Youth Yeah! is a celebration of the young people in the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

TE KUPU NEWS

Youth Yeah! Resources
TORU: Anglican Centre for Youth Ministry Studies have developed an awesome resource for use in your Whare Karakia on Sundays. These prayers are based on the readings for Sunday, and have been written by youth groups from across the whole Church. You can find these free resources by visiting the Youth Yeah! site at www.youthyeah.com/resource.htm

Te Wai Pounamu Kura Hotoke
Te Hui Amorangi o Te Wai Pounamu will be holding their Kura Hotoke from 10-15 January 2006. This hui will include a dynamic and exciting rangatahi programme. For more information please contact terry@rangatahi.org.nz
 

TE KUPU LINK

Youth Yeah Official Website
http://www.youthyeah.com
Just because we can't plug this site enough, check it out now! Submit your ideas for Youth Yeah! , Add your events to the calendar and just generally keep up to date with Youth Yeah!
Check it out!



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