Bishop Richard’s December message
There are three key themes I am constantly seeing as important in the life of the church:
BEING JESUS FOCUSSED – focussing on the mission and ministry Jesus gives us, and His Good News
HOPE – there is always hope and to encourage a sense of hope.
CHANGE – being prepared to respond to and be part of change, helping congregations and ministry with change, and even encouraging change.
I encourage you to allow these three themes to influence how you approach being part of God’s church and mission.
This year has certainly been a busy and changing year with:
- My installation as Bishop for NSW and ACT District and NZ District and church, thank you for the support, prayers and encouragement.
- Visits to congregations and leaders in New Zealand, Church Workers gatherings in September, including 5 Way Forward presentations.
- The church wide pastor’s conference and synod in October where the prohibition of women being pastors was removed, so now congregations have the option of calling qualified men and women as their pastors. You can obtain an easy-to-understand guide to this decision at https://tinyurl.com/3f4wwspe
- Preparing Mark Tung and Felix Tong for ordination as Specific Ministry Pastors
- Preparing for call and a Call meeting for Manawatu parish
- Attending online meetings for Council of Synod, Gateway Trust, and Church Workers
- Arranging care for congregations and communities
Through all this we have been truly blessed as a church, even though life is not always smooth or easy.
Some blessings we will definitely see in 2025:
- Installation of Joel Cramer as Pastor of St Paul’s Wellington
- Installation of Mark Tung as Specific Ministry Pastor for Botany Chinese congregation
- Lutheran Church of New Zealand Synod 2025, On an Adventure with Jesus from 20 June 2025
And no doubt God has some unexpected blessings for us throughout 2025.
As a church in New Zealand, we have been also blessed through those who are serving us, remember the church is God’s people gathering together and being His living body, who are responding to His grace and love that we receive through the word and sacraments. So, thank you to those serving on Council for Synod and Gateway Trust – Andy Marr, Warren Paltridge, Dennis Mollet, Andy Marr, Andrew Mattiske, Lesley Johnson and Phil Husband, our District Administrator Debbie Venz, and recently retired Finance Administrator Karolina Przybytek-Chrobak. Also, a special thank you to all our pastors, lay workers, local church council members and everyone serving in our local congregations. You are being a blessing not only to the Lutheran Church in New Zealand and your local congregations but also helping the church be the living body of Christ who blesses the wider community. We appreciate all the time you contribute and your willingness to serve as God’s disciples and missionaries in New Zealand.
Remember we are always looking for more people who believe they are being called to formal ministry either ordained or lay ministry…if you believe God is calling you or would like to discern if God is calling you, feel free to contact me to discuss this with me and what to do next.
Finally, I encourage you to reach out to me should you feel the need to do so. You can call me directly at +6128660 1200 or email me at richard.schwedes@lca.org.au. You can also set up a time for a TEAMS or ZOOM meeting.
May God, you rest with God, as you reflect on 2024, and walk forward with God is you move into 2025.
Bishop Richard Schwedes
December 2024
