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Restoring a broken church
– Restoring a broken world
Mai te Rangi ki te Whenua – From Heaven To Earth
...
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Flyer:
Restoring a broken church - Restoring a broken world
 (2
pages)
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Author:
Wolfgang Rehfus
Date: 5.9.2025
Updated / added:
18.10.2025 added
reconciliation Documentary
"Until We Talk"
(here)
22.10.2025 added "A Rocha
ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25" (here) |
●
Kintsugi for Churches
●
Political priest or Good Samaritan?
●
Reconciliation by actions and deeds!
●
The Blessing and Reconciliation documentary
"Until We Talk"
●
Epilogue: "everything must change" ...
●
P.S. ...
|
«May this
humble and short article be helpful and useful for many churches and people throughout Aotearoa New
Zealand, and indeed worldwide,
because this cry to the world reaches way beyond the situation in Gaza,
which is just the focus in our headlines and minds these days.»,
«Archbishops’
blessing to GB for Palestine»,
The GB Weekly,
26.9.2025 (page 4).
|
Kintsugi |
 |
|
|
Kintsugi, Japanese Art Of Broken Things. Abir
Pothi, 1.11.2023
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Kintsugi for churches
When a church is
broken it needs to be restored. Just like the Japanese art of Kintsugi
mentioned in the Anglican Korero article "Beauty in the breakage: The Abbey
2025 points to restoration - God is restoring a broken world" the broken pieces deserve some golden glue to be united
and restored.
1)
Is our church broken?
Is a
church broken when the suggestion to help starving people in Gaza is slashed
by a premature and not thought-through verdict claiming that it would be too
political for the church to support this?
2)
Is a church broken when
just a week later a prayer is spoken that our faith is only about our love
for Jesus and not about our deeds? Sadly, this prayer indirectly repeated
and cemented the previous verdict not to help, and in addition it felt like
a substitute for communication. We should talk to each other open and
direct, not via ‘prayer-messages’.
And is a church broken when
such a prayer is seconded by additional similar prayers in the fellowship
gathering? Either the group was not aware of Jesus' teachings, or even
mislead and unconsciously manipulated by the sudden and unexpected first
prayer, both not what anyone would want in a Christian Church.
At another church, recently
a video from Family First NZ had been circulated, which (even based on a
reply from an artificial intelligence) praised companies in the US who
stopped or changed their sponsoring to be in line with their new leader,
their new president. By that, these companies actually did just about the
same as had been done by too many almost 100 years ago in Germany. These
companies showed that they have no ethics at all, just marketing and
profit-making (some are well known for that). This video reveals that
Family First NZ is neither ethical nor faith-based, but a rather strong
lobby organisation for Christian Nationalism and such political parties. No
wonder, the video also includes bashing on climate-change and human-rights.
Don’t we realise that Family First NZ is mainly misusing some serious
ethical issues for their misleading and manipulating political propaganda?
It is very sad to see such propaganda being circulated in some Christian
Churches.
3)
«The unity of the body of
Christ is compromised by growing extremism and the failure of the church to
live and love according to the teachings of Jesus and the values of the
kingdom of God.»
4)
It could have happened at
any church, soup & bread wonderful, healthy and delicious, the Vicar’s
message thoughtful, faithful to the point, but at the end of the gathering
someone in the group spoke this unexpected yet intentional prayer about
faith being only about our love for Jesus and not about our deeds. It felt
to me like this broke our church, sudden but unnoticed and subtle. So first
we need understanding, then we need restoration.
|
1)
Beauty in the breakage: The Abbey 2025 points to restoration - God is
restoring a broken world,
Nelson Anglicans, Anglican Korero, Petra Oomen, 27.8.2025
2)
Compare this verdict with more positive examples such as
Archbishops speak out on Gaza,
"Anglican Archbishops ... have called on people of good faith throughout Aotearoa, New
Zealand and Polynesia to stand up for the innocent suffering in the Holy
Land – as more than half a million people in Gaza face famine.",
Anglican Taonga, 1.9.2025
and
Working for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians,
Nelson Anglicans, Bishop's Chaplain Simon Martin, 21.8.2025 (including linked resources, i.e. «A
perspective on the Israel-Hamas war from an Israeli Jewish follower of Jesus»,
Peace and Reconciliation as Mission in a World in Conflict, The Lausanne
Movement - Global Analysis, Lisa Loden, May 2024).
and
also
Archbishop Justin Duckworth dives deep on Palestine,
Taonga News, Anglican Taonga, 18.8.2025
3)
There are serious ethical issues, many are private
by nature. Family First NZ is raising
some valid questions, but to live up to
their name they should genuinely proclaim
ethics based on Jesus' teachings and for example advocate and educate country-wide
organic farming, healthy wholesome foods, climate justice, renewable energies, and stand up
to ban genetically engineering, toxic pesticides and
fertilisers, as well as highly refined
fabricated foods, in order to stop
environmental degradation and to protect all of God's Creation and the health
of all humans, thus the foundation of life for all families and future
generations.
In addition,
watch the sermon
“God's Good Design For Humanity, Part 2 (Genesis 1:26)”, Mike Kelsey,
McLean Bible Church, 29.9.2025
... and study
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise with a bible study on
Genesis 1:26 and beyond, SolarPeace.org, 12.4.2020
4)
«A
perspective on the Israel-Hamas war from an Israeli Jewish follower of Jesus
...
The unity of the body of Christ is compromised by growing extremism and the
failure of the church to live and love according to the teachings of Jesus
and the values of the kingdom of God.
...
If we do not live according to Jesus’ words and actions, to comfort those
who mourn, to be peacemakers, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with our God, we will have failed God’s mission to be living
witnesses to the way of the cross and the gospel of peace. It is precisely
in times of conflict and suffering that the body of Christ is charged to lay
aside the things that divide, to love and to bear one another’s burdens. ...»,
Peace and Reconciliation as Mission in a World in Conflict, The Lausanne
Movement - Global Analysis, Lisa Loden, May 2024
see also
«How
should we respond as Christians to the war in Gaza?»
by Graeme Pollock (Elder at New Generation Church, a Baptist church in
Christchurch) in
Pondering: Are we selective when we talk about Gospel renewal and justice?,
Baptist Church New Zealand, 21.12.2024
|
|
Good Samaritan |
|
|
|
Archbishops speak out on Gaza, "Anglican Archbishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand and
Polynesia have called on people of good faith throughout Aotearoa, New
Zealand and Polynesia to stand up for the innocent suffering in the Holy
Land – as more than half a million people in Gaza face famine.", Anglican Taonga, 1.9.2025
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise, SolarPeace.org,
12.4.2020 |
Political priest or Good
Samaritan?
Can helping starving people
be political? Or, in case it is political, how much more political is it
then not to help? I don’t think the people in Gaza are interested in any
such questions.
When Jesus was healing on a
Sabbath, it was political too, indeed it was illegal at the time, and the
same applies for example when they harvested and ate grains from the field
at Sabbath.5)
So, the question of a
potentially political cause really doesn’t apply, because indeed everything
Jesus did was very political. In fact, it was so extreme that just by the
worldly standards of his time and culture his crucifixion was no surprise.
Much more important
however, is that we are explicitly called by Jesus to love our neighbour and
to help those in need, and we are called to do so without judging the needy.
If people are starving, we
have to feed them!
Jesus was crucified not
only to forgive us our wrongdoings but also to help us waking up and to
follow his teachings. I feel that is much needed. Any love for Jesus, any
faith in Jesus, any following of Jesus needs to be reflected by deeds, no
matter how small or large. We are all different and we all have different
possibilities and talents gifted to us by God, none achieved by ourselves.
By remaining silent or even
oppressing deeds (and the only deeds possible and realistic for us in
situations such as Gaza are donations), the church does act like the priest
in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan, while some small groups out
on the streets actually act like the Good Samaritan. They try to do
what they can, they show compassion by their deeds, they try hard and
creative to raise some funds to pay the parable’s innkeeper to take care and
help the needy. Therefore, it is important that our churches return to the
basics of faith such as Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan to make
clear we are here to help. That is our calling.
6)
Indeed, our God-given
vocation to take care of the paradise we live in, God’s Creation, the very
first commandment in the Bible, does include all humans and can’t be
separated from our call to love our neighbour. And both are an intrinsic
part of loving God, of loving Jesus. All three commandments are inseparable.
We may well call this
the holy trinity of God's commandments.
7)
The holy trinity of
God's commandments:
Love the Lord your God ...
Love your neighbour as
yourself ...
Take care of the paradise
...
|
5)
see
Jesus Is Lord
of the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-11)
6)
see
The Parable
of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
7)
see
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise,
SolarPeace.org, 12.4.2020 ...
«Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind. ... Love your neighbor as yourself.»,
Matthew 22:37,
22:38,
22:39,
compare this with
Deuteronomy 6:5 and
Leviticus 19:18
«Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those
who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.»,
Luke 6:27,
6:28
«The Sermon on the Mount
... love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may
be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you
love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that?»,
Matthew 5:44,
5:45,
5:46,
also translated as «... Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?
...» (Good News Translation)
«If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do
what everyone considers to be good. Do everything
possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge,
my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I
will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the
scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are
thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn
with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.»,
Romans
12:17 –
12:20,
12:21
(Good News Translation)
«If your
enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to
drink.»,
Proverbs 25:21
«Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against
anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.»,
Leviticus 19:18
Jesus said
“No more of this!”
(Luke
22:51) in the
garden of Gethsemane. «When Jesus’ followers saw
what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our
swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the
high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of
this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.»,
Luke 22:49,
22:50,
22:51
and see «Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.»,
Matthew 5:9
and the
entire
«The Sermon on the Mount»,
Matthew 5,
6,
7
and see also e.g.
«Jesus and the Samaritan woman»,
John 4,
and
«The arrest of Jesus: ... Put your sword back in its place, for all
who draw the sword will die by the sword.»,
Matthew
26:52
and
Genesis
1:26,
Genesis
1:28,
Genesis
2:15, and i.e. John 3:16
... as explained in
chapter
The Beginning ...,
(SolarPeace.org, 4.8.2020) in
the
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise,
SolarPeace.org, 12.4.2020 |
|
Reconciliation |
|
|
|
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise, SolarPeace.org,
12.4.2020
|
Reconciliation by actions
and deeds!
«Not everyone who calls me
'Lord, Lord'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those
who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do.»
Jesus’ teachings are very clear regarding our
deeds:
«By their fruit you will recognize them.» also
translated as «You will know them by what they do. ... So then, you will
know the false prophets by what they do. Not everyone who calls me 'Lord,
Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father
in heaven wants them to do.»
8)
and
«My friends, what good is it for one of you to
say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? ... "Show me how
anyone can have faith without actions." ... it is by our actions that we are
put right with God, and not by faith alone.»
9)
or for example
«Who is wise and understanding among you? Let
him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes
from wisdom.» 10)
Just like the recent Anglican Korero
article “Working for reconciliation between Israelis and
Palestinians”, we need reconciliation in our
churches as well.
I think whoever was reading this article and the linked
resources is well prepared and ready for a next step to help, for example a
good deed via donation. This Anglican Korero article was concluded with “Let us be a
people who, grounded in Christ, seek peace, pursue justice, and extend grace
– here in Aotearoa and to the ends of the earth.” – what a wonderful
word by Bishop's Chaplain Simon Martin.
11)
«If we do not live
according to Jesus’ words and actions, to comfort those who mourn, to be
peacemakers, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God,
we will have failed God’s mission to be living witnesses to the way of the
cross and the gospel of peace. It is precisely in times of conflict and
suffering that the body of Christ is charged to lay aside the things that
divide, to love and to bear one another’s burdens.»
12)
So please – let us reconcile our faith
according to Jesus’ teachings. Let us be a good example for other churches,
let us be a Good Samaritan, let us call all churches and people
throughout the Diocese and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand for generous
donations to support the starving people in Gaza. That will also display a
strong message to help stop the evil blockade around Gaza on a political
level. That is exactly what Jesus would do today.
We are called to do more than the
reflecting priest in Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan. Yes, we
can be the Good Samaritan and make a huge difference, if we want to
and if we take Jesus’ teachings seriously.
Based on all we know, the
situation in Gaza commands that there’s no time to be wasted. The Diocese
and the Anglican Missions (or other organisations)
might be helpful in pooling our donations and
selecting trustworthy aid organisations in Gaza.13)
|
8) cf. «By their fruit you will recognize them.» also translated
as «You will know them by what they do. ... So then, you will know the false
prophets by what they do. Not everyone who calls me 'Lord, Lord' will enter
the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants
them to do. ...»,
Matthew
7:16,
7:20,
7:21
(Good News Translation)
9)
cf.
«My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if
your actions do not prove it? ... "Show me how anyone can have faith without
actions." ... it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not
by faith alone.»,
James 2:14,
2:18,
2:24
(Good News Translation)
10)
«Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good
conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.»,
James 3:13
11)
cf.
Working for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians,
Nelson Anglicans, Anglican Korero, Bishop's Chaplain Simon Martin, 21.8.2025 (including linked resources, i.e. «A
perspective on the Israel-Hamas war from an Israeli Jewish follower of Jesus»,
Peace and Reconciliation as Mission in a World in Conflict, The Lausanne
Movement - Global Analysis, Lisa Loden, May 2024).
12)
cf.
«A
perspective on the Israel-Hamas war from an Israeli Jewish follower of Jesus
...
The unity of the body of Christ is compromised by growing extremism and the
failure of the church to live and love according to the teachings of Jesus
and the values of the kingdom of God.
...
If we do not live according to Jesus’ words and actions, to comfort those
who mourn, to be peacemakers, to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with our God, we will have failed God’s mission to be living
witnesses to the way of the cross and the gospel of peace. It is precisely
in times of conflict and suffering that the body of Christ is charged to lay
aside the things that divide, to love and to bear one another’s burdens.
...»,
Peace and Reconciliation as Mission in a World in Conflict, The Lausanne
Movement - Global Analysis, Lisa Loden, May 2024
see also
«How
should we respond as Christians to the war in Gaza?
...
When will Christians promote solutions that help to bring about
reconciliation and an end to the suffering of both Palestinians and
Israelis? May God help the global church if they continue to approach the
conflict only through a narrow eschatological prism and refuse to consider
issues of legality, morality and justice.
...
Donations in support of humanitarian aid work in Gaza can be made through
World Vision or Holy Land Trust.»,
Pondering: Are we selective when we talk about Gospel renewal and justice?,
Graeme Pollock (Elder at New Generation Church, a Baptist church in
Christchurch), Baptist Church New Zealand, 21.12.2024
and
see «The global community ... is currently
spending more money on armaments and the military than ever before.
... 2.7 trillion dollars ... Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde ... the Christian
virtues of mercy, compassion and peace ... Those who want peace must
prepare for peace ... Jesus would ask his followers today: 2.7 trillion
dollars for armaments and far less to ensure that no child ever goes hungry
again and that climate change is solved? How will you justify this imbalance
before God? The man from Nazareth would point out that with a tenth of the
military budget, hunger could be overcome and the climate saved. Political
excuses will be of little help to us here. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
always argues holistically.»,
World record in military spending , (German original:
Weltrekord bei Militärausgaben), Dr. Franz Alt, 03.05.2025
13)
please
see,
check
and compare for example the options to donate
for humanitarian aid work in Gaza
as listed in the following chapter
The Blessing ...
and the example "Until We Talk | Documentary" for reconciliation
below. |
|
The
Blessing |
|
|
|
|
The Blessing ...
«Anglican Archbishops of Aotearoa, New Zealand and
Polynesia have called on people of good faith throughout Aotearoa, New
Zealand and Polynesia to stand up for the innocent suffering in the Holy
Land – as more than half a million people in Gaza face famine.»
14)
Just like the churches throughout NZ joined up
to sing “The Blessing Aotearoa” so wonderfully, we can now join together in
the name of Christ and help with our donations where it is currently needed
most. Thank you very much indeed.
15)
The Blessing Aotearoa ,
«As the world aches ...
God's Blessing over all people, everywhere
...
and your family and your children, and their children, and their
children ...»
Produced by Brooke
and Grant Norsworth
St Paul's Lutheran Community Church,
Upper Moutere
New Zealand, 2020
Reconciliation documentary ...
Until We Talk - Documentary 16)
Mcqueen Film & TV, Premieres April 2025
«Rami is a Jewish Israeli who lost his daughter
Smadar, aged 14, in a Palestinian suicide bombing. Bassam is Palestinian,
and his daughter Abir was killed, aged 10, by an Israeli border police
officer.» Both decided to resist a culture of
vengeance. Both decided to choose love and
forgiveness. The documentary "Until we talk" was completed in
September 2023, shortly before the events of October 7, 2023 and their
tragic consequences. 16)
Reconciliation
in Israel and Palestine: “I found the human, where
an enemy should be”
17)
translated from the original article
"Versöhnung
in Israel und Palästina: Ich entdeckte den Menschen, wo ein Feind sein
sollte“,
taz Verlags und Vertriebs GmbH, 11.10.2025
«During two weeks on the ground in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, Rami
Elhanan and Bassam Aramin managed to touch the hearts of more than 2600
people, often bringing audiences to tears.
...
Bringing Muslims and Jews together: One of the most important
messages they shared, especially with audiences who wanted to know how they
can make a difference was: “We don't want you to be pro-Israel or
pro-Palestinian but we demand that you are pro-peace and against injustice.”
The exceptional friendship between Rami and Bassam inspired Sydney Jews and
Muslims to meet and get to know each other better, after hearing this
powerful story. ...».
16)
During their visit at King David School,
Rami explained: “We are not doomed! It is not our destiny to keep killing
each other. It will not stop until we talk. ... learn to respect each other.
We can be friends, brothers and family. ... our blood is the same colour,
our pain is the same and our tears are just as bitter. ... they bang their
heads against walls of hatred to create cracks which sheds light upon the
world.”
18)
|
14)
Archbishops speak out on Gaza,
Anglican Taonga, 1.9.2025
15)
Please see,
check and compare for
example these options to donate
for humanitarian aid in Gaza
(you might like to use
i.e. the reference "Feed Gaza"):
Anglican Diocese Nelson and
Anglican Church in
Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
*
Anglican Missions,
registered as "ANGLICAN WORLD AID (AOTEAROA) LIMITED", their call for donations
"Hope for the Holy Land",
and their letters to NZ Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding violations of
international humanitarian law in Gaza (22.7.2025),
Forced closure of (10.7.2024)
and rocket attack on Al Ahli Hospital (18.10.2023).
*
Caritas Aotearoa New
Zealand
and their call for donations
"Crisis in The
Holy Land".
*
New Zealand Red Cross
and their call for donations
"Where the need is greatest" and
Global Disaster Fund.
*
World Vision New
Zealand
and
their call
Jerusalem – West Bank – Gaza and
"Conflict in Gaza will have lasting impacts on children's health" (12.5.2024).
Holy Land Trust.
Christian Mission to Gaza.
Samaritan’s Purse Palestine/Israel Conflict Relief.
Watermelon Sisters
and Gaza Soup Kitchen,
see «Golden Bay HeART
for Gaza ... Golden Bay for Palestine is asking for donations ... all proceeds going to the Gaza aid agencies, Watermelon
Sisters and Gaza Soup Kitchen»,
The GB Weekly, 22.8.2025
(page 4).
*) Note for tax
residents in NZ:
«You can claim tax credits for donations you make to approved organisations,
such as registered charities and schools. You can submit your donation
receipts to us to claim 1/3rd of the value of eligible donations over $5.»,
IRD - Donation tax credits, see details on
About donation tax credits (search Approved donee organisations).
Note for churches in NZ:
If your local church is an approved charity, you
can ask your church to accept "Feed Gaza" donations and to
pool/forward such donations to any church-selected trustworthy aid
organisation (and to issue donation tax receipts for
IRD - Donation tax credits).
16)
Watch
Until We Talk - Documentary,
«Rami's 13-year-old
daughter is killed by a suicide bomber in Jerusalem. When the grieving
father meets the Palestinian Bassam, an unlikely friendship begins between
the two fathers. They do not yet know what tragic stroke of fate will bring
the two even closer. After nearly ten years spent alongside these two
extraordinary men, we wrapped our final shoots in Jerusalem and Berlin - and
now, in April 2025, the film finally celebrates its streaming premiere.», Mcqueen Film & TV, Premieres April 2025
«One
of the most important messages they shared ... "We don't want you to
be pro-Israel or pro-Palestinian but we demand that you are pro-peace and
against injustice."
The exceptional friendship between Rami and Bassam inspired Sydney Jews and
Muslims ...»,
"Two
weeks, two fathers and one united message for peace", The Jewish
Independent, Australia, 9.6.2023 (updated 5.3.2024)
«The documentary "Until
we talk" was completed in September 2023, shortly before the events
of October 7, 2023 and their tragic consequences.»,
"UNTIL WE TALK" screening announcement,
https://ParentsCircleFriends.de, Freiburg i. B., Germany, 22.10.2025
17)
Interview
with
Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan, invited
by the Kreuzberg Initiative Against Anti-Semitism,
Reconciliation
in Israel and Palestine: “I found the human, where
an enemy should be”
(Rami Elhanan and Bassam Aramin
were in Berlin to present the documentary film "Until
We Talk"), translated with
DeepL
from the original article:
Versöhnung
in Israel und Palästina: „Ich entdeckte den Menschen, wo ein Feind sein
sollte“, taz Verlags und Vertriebs GmbH, Germany 11.10.2025
18)
See
Creating cracks in the Conflict, Principal's Blog about the
extraordinary true story of Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan (including Colum
McCann’s novel “Apeirogon” telling that true story, "McCann shows that there
exist alternatives to the endless cycles of violence, revenge, hatred and
mistrust"), The King David School, Australia, 2015
and see
“It Will Not Be Over Until We Talk” (Mark 2:13-16 / Luke 7:1-10)
(including some excerpts from the book Apeirogon by Callum McCann about the
story of Rami and Bassam), Nick Morris, First Presbyterian San Anselmo,
27.5.2024
In addition,
watch the sermon
“God's Good Design For Humanity, Part 2 (Genesis 1:26)”, Mike Kelsey,
McLean Bible Church (Washington D.C.), 29.9.2025
... and study
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise with a bible study on
Genesis 1:26 and beyond, SolarPeace.org, 12.4.2020 |
|
Epilogue |
|
|
|
|
Epilogue: "everything
must change" ...
“Everything Must Change: When the World's Biggest Problems and Jesus' Good
News Collide” by Brian McLaren
is a very challenging and thoughtful book taking the reader deep into
history, economy, sociology, ecology and theology. It
is the book for restoration of the world and the
church.
«Once you understand the
Biblical imperative to care for creation, then the next step is to get a
big-picture understanding of how and why our world is broken, and how the
message of Jesus invites us to partner with God to seek its restoration»
(James Beck, Eco Church Director for A Rocha Aotearoa NZ)
19)
“Everything Must Change" by Brian McLaren, «Once
you understand the Biblical imperative to care for creation, then the next
step is to get a big-picture understanding of how and why our world is
broken, and how the message of Jesus invites us to partner with God to seek
its restoration. McLaren’s bold and prophetic voice offers a fresh take on
how the message of Jesus challenges systemic injustice and environmental
degradation. This book is both a critique of the status quo and an
invitation to imagine a different way of living – one that aligns with God’s
kingdom values. It’s a call to action for those ready to see faith and
creation care as deeply interconnected.», James Beck (Eco Church Director for
A Rocha Aotearoa NZ,
associate pastor at The River Opawaho Church in Otautahi Christchurch, and
Environment Advisor at Wilberforce Foundation),
My five essential reads for exploring eco-theology, 5.12.2024
«It is ten years since Laudato
Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis’
Encyclical, was published in May 2015. There he says, “We are not faced with
two separate crises, one environmental and the
other social, but rather one complex crisis which
is both social and environmental”. In A Rocha Aotearoa
New Zealand, we live out this mandate ...
The Eco
Church Aotearoa project is an ecumenical initiative to support church
communities across Aotearoa NZ to actively care for God’s earth as an
integral part of their mission.
... Each church that joins
this movement bears witness to the reality that creation care is central to
Christian mission and discipleship, proclaiming with their heads, their
hearts and their hands that “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
(Psalm 24:1) ... caring for God’s world is not an optional extra but a vital
expression of following Jesus. ... The Eco Church movement is more than a
network – it is a visible testimony that the Spirit is at work in and
through the Church today. When churches care for creation together, we bear
witness to the gospel in ways our neighbours and communities can see and
experience.
...»
(PŪRONGO Ā-TAU - ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25, A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand Trust)
20)
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Eco Church New
Zealand
«Churches across Aotearoa New Zealand actively
caring for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission. ... I feel that
Eco Church is breaking down barriers between churches ... It's a much-needed
initiative and restores care for God's creation at the heart of our faith.
Christians should be leaders in environmental issues.»
19)
My five essential reads for exploring eco-theology,
James Beck (Eco Church Director for A Rocha Aotearoa NZ, associate pastor at
The River Opawaho Church in Otautahi Christchurch, and Environment Advisor
at Wilberforce Foundation), 5.12.2024
ECO CHURCH NZ is a project of A Rocha Aotearoa
New Zealand.
A
Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand
«A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand is part of the A Rocha family of
Christian environmental conservation organisations currently active in over
20 countries around the world. As a family, we focus on environmental
science and research, practical nature conservation, environmental
education, creation care and advocacy through a variety of programmes and
initiatives.»
see also «Season
of Discernment ... God is calling us towards making some brave
decisions. We are the people to carry the burden of making necessary change.
This is the legacy that we will leave for those who come after us. ...»,
Simon Martin, Bishop's Chaplain, Nelson Anglicans, 1.3.2023
20)
PŪRONGO Ā-TAU - ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25
,
A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand Trust
and see chapter
«Laudato
Si’ ...»
in the
Reflections on Corona and Easter –
Taking Care of Paradise, a bible study on Genesis and beyond, SolarPeace.org,
12.4.2020 |
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PS ... |
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Please
tell others ...
|
P.S.
...
During the previous
years (until 2016),
about 3000 persons, politicians, decision
makers and media world-wide have received each SolarPeace-Information. Please see the section
Energy Transition
for all
SolarPeace press releases and additional information.
The press release
UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity» (7.8.2009) had been sent by e-mail to about 4000 recipients and
with registered printed letters to more than 100 Prime Ministers, Presidents
and Ministers in more than 30 countries.
Please pass these information on to other interested people.
Cordial thanks! |
PDF
print versions
for
passing on:
Restoring a broken church - Restoring a broken world
Theological introduction: Reflections on Corona and Easter – Taking
Care of Paradise
UN-Resolution «Climate Change by Radioactivity»
Survey shows: Swiss nuclear power plants don't know what they are doing!
Natural Power – Lifestyle and Necessity
SolarPeace-Flyer
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