This meeting is to further develop and put into formal decision-making about items that were discussed at the Assembly earlier this year.

There will be a Joint Meeting of the Council of Ministers and the Board of the New Church in Australia on the day before, Friday November 18th .

The Agenda for the General Meeting is being sent out.

Next Row: Kevin Attwater, Lesley Longstaff, Tammy Rush, Graham Hanna, Lyn Rocke.

Next Row: Richard Keyworth, David Moffat, Graham Hall, Wayne Kasmar.

Front Row: Ruth Duckworth, Bev Shepherd, Judy Robinson, Pauline Merrit, June Johnson, Ros Taylor, Gaye Heldon. Photo, Len Robinson

Ian Arnold was also present at times over the two days.

The Assembly in Canberra was successful in being time for representatives from around Australia and New Zealand to meet up, to speak out, express feelings, suggest plans for the future and hear quite a number of varied presentations. The various motions and decisions that were made will be taken to a General Meeting later this year, for action. I believe everyone who was there was very pleased to have been part of it. Everybody contributed.

The Presentations that were given at the Assembly included the following:

New New Church Models; “What’s Gone Wrong?”; Churches, Education and Young People Today; Are you an internal person or an external person?; Baptism and its relevance to the organised New Church in Australia; Our organisational structures, communications and activities; Where have all the young people gone?; The Writings and the Word.

Other agenda items included:

Where do you see the New Church in the future? (Strategic Plan); Succession planning for NCIA Directors; The Swedenborgian Church of North America; The Ordination of Women; The Australian New Church College Business Plan; The name of the College; Individual/Associate membership of the NCIA; NCIA Constitution and By-Laws; NCIA Trading Name; Bereavement and Wedding Cards; National Register

I felt that the Assembly gradually picked up its own momentum and it became closer together over the two days. I also felt that the relationship between the Board and local Societies will have been very much helped by having the Assembly.

It was said and agreed that we should hold an Assembly every few years, to keep the process going and to bring people physically together.

I had the enormous pleasure to step down from my national Presidency and to induct Rev. David Moffat into the Presidency early on the first morning. It was very moving. David did an excellent job of chairing the Assembly for virtually the whole of the two days.

The induction included a well-worded service and the laying on of hands, and the presentation of a President’s copy of the Word which includes inscriptions of three previous Presidents.

After the service everyone came in a circle around David and gave him their blessing, a hug, and some  encouraging words. This was a significant moment for the New Church in Australia and New Zealand.

We all wish David well in his new position for the church.

The A.G.M. will be held on 20th March 2016 in the Church Hall after the service. Two motions will be introduced, 1, to change our financial year from 1st Jan – 31st Dec to 1st July – 30th June in line with the tax year.

Motion 2 In keeping with modernising our Church in the 21st century, a name change that will give a clearer impression of what we are. Adelaide New Christian Church Inc. being a suggestion. (The AGM decided on Adelaide Christian New Church).

Descendants of Rev. Edward George Day were in Adelaide staying with family for Christmas and as they had recently started a genealogy search, contacted the Church. June Johnson was able to give them much information concerning Rev. Day who from 1850 took over as Leader then Minister for the next 34 years. The family was delighted to see and photograph a wall plaque, pictures and other items.

Shirley Brock celebrated her 90th birthday in December. Shirley is the wife of Ian Brock, son of Rev Charles Brock.

Three members from Adelaide will be attending the upcoming N.C.I.A. assembly in Canberra, and we look forward to it.

Randall Rabone

MELBOURNE

Christmas seems a long time ago but it is still relevant to report on our activities. Christmas worship began with a musical service including advent songs and hymns played by Helmut Lopaczuk on the accordion. The following Sunday was a Toy Service with the toys being given to the Salvation Army. Our Lessons and Carols service involved a number of the congregation including Rev. John Teed reading the final lesson from the first Chapter of John and then giving the blessing. Christmas morning was a highlight as we were privileged to have Rev David Moffat conduct worship and administer the Holy Supper. David, Pam with Alycia, Alex and Ebony were on a family visit to Melbourne. It was delightful also to have two overseas visitors staying with congregational families.

We are delighted for Elke & Klaus Drevermann on the birth of a granddaughter, Alyssa, a sister to Emily. Graeme Scoble has stepped down as organist at Mt. Waverley after many years. A set of CDs, plus music sourced in other ways, are being used for hymn singing most Sundays. 28th February was a special day with the service conducted by Rev. Ian Arnold from Brisbane including the Holy Supper and the baptism of Charlie Francis, second son of Linda & Michael and another grandson for Neville & Alexis Jarvis. Following the service members and friends joined the Francis family for a light lunch in the hall.

20th March was a busy day for us with Palm Sunday, Harvest and our Annual General Meeting. We welcomed Judy & Len Robinson from Ballarat and greatly appreciated Judy’s leading of the worship. The fruit and non-perishable food brought by the congregation made a lovely display and was subsequently donated to the Salvation Army. During the service Helmut Lopaczuk declared his faith in the Sacred Scriptures and the teachings of the New Church as part of his commitment on becoming a member.

Following the service the AGM was held. After the administrative matters had been dealt with a proposal was put forward from the Board that we trial holding Services of Worship on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month only with an alternative activity on any 5th Sunday. Should a major Christian festival fall on a 2nd or 4th Sunday, a special service would be held. It was recognised that continuing with weekly services was putting too great a burden on our two Worship Leaders, Karl Robinson and Neville Jarvis, and this was the main reason for the change. The proposal was agreed to.

Just before Easter, Margaret Parker fell and broke her right ankle in 2 places. She’s now recovering in hospital and we wish her a speedy rehabilitation.

Numbers were swelled at our Good Friday service, led by Karl Robinson, with a visit by members of the Melbourne Unity Church including its Minister, Rev. William Livingston. Rev Chris Skinner used to give talks on Swedenborg’s teachings to this group. Neville Jarvis led the Easter Sunday service which was also well attended with some of our out-of-town members and other visitors attending.

Alexis Jarvis

BRISBANE AND SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

Our Christmas service and following lunch was attended by around 60 adults and children. The Society then went into recess until the 1st Sunday in February. This Service was the last prior to Angus, Kaylene Glenn and children departing to America for an undetermined time. All will be missed at our Services and we look forward to the occasional visit . This year we were able to celebrate Easter Sunday with a good attendance.

The search for new premises is continuing without much success so far, however we are optimistic of securing premises which with some modifications will become our new Church.

All in the Brisbane Society trust everyone had a Holy, Happy, Joyful and safe Festive season.

Diane Thompson

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

A time of Celebrations – and Decisions
On Friday 11 March, a celebration of a very special sort was enjoyed by Rev. Richard and Gill Keyworth. Their continuing and faithful work, nurturing many children for over thirty years at Hope House, was recognised in a ceremony at Government House in Wellington. Gill and Richard along with other foster care providers received in recognition of their services to New Zealand, the Excellence in Foster Care Award. Each recipient was given their award by Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand, and Lady Janine Mateparae. This was all the more special as the Governor General is also the patron of Fostering Kids.

Richard and Gill had a wonderful time. The Keyworths enjoyed the opportunity to meet with and share stories of the remarkable work so faithfully and diligently carried out on behalf of some of the most vulnerable in our country. Imagine the narratives and expertise present at the ceremony and the extra celebratory events organised to honour the work and the workers, most of whom had been foster carers for 30 and 40 years. So quite rightly the recipients were feted. Flights to and from Wellington. Accommodation at a top hotel. Meals that were described by Rev Richard as “slap up” and very “posh”. Tours of Government House, Parliament and also the War Memorial Museum and the acclaimed Peter Jackson commemoration of the Great War. And then a ferry to Eastbourne before returning home to the family. And already there is a brand new baby. Richard said that Gill stood up and addressed the organisers at the gala dinner and said how she felt really appreciated for the work. It is wonderful to know that her effort and that of the others honoured at these events have been acknowledged and celebrated. We always hear about the children who fall through the cracks. Fortunately for some Gill and Richard have broken the fall and caught them with loving arms.

The Auckland Society celebrated Easter along with all the Christian Churches around the world. And like many churches it was a time also for people who are not regulars to come and share, reflect and rejoice in the Easter story. Easter Sunday is a special service for all and particularly the children. Rev. Richard Keyworth drew us altogether and retold the stories. There was a lovely model of the garden and the tomb. Real foliage and flowers spoke to both the physical and inward eye. How powerful simple representations are for both young and old. There was sadness and delight bound together as we considered our own personal place in the story and the Lord as our own personal Redeemer.

Several years ago I was in Brazil at this time and was surprised to see shops with Christmas Trees festooned with Easter bunnies. I am not sure whether it was a local or countrywide custom however I appeared to be the only person who was surprised and interested. The general feeling seemed to be about having a break from work. This seems to be the way of things now. Here in New Zealand we grab hold of those days with relish. Buy loads of Easter confectionery, plan to get away and complain about the shops being shut on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Every year there is an outcry from those whose plastic money is melting in their pocket. Every year there is a strident call to repeal the legislation that protects and gives honour to our Holy Festival. Just like the rabble who wanted Barabbas instead of Christ. What is so great about our New Church understanding is the gift of understanding correspondences. It is sobering to consider how we are able to reflect on the “Barabbas and the mob in me” principle. We are reminded that it is easy to blame the rest of society for what we think is going wrong. Here in our Auckland Society we are gently reminded by our ministers (retired!) and each other in our sharing together gatherings that we are all still in the “work”.

Last Sunday we had a Harvest celebration. Again all the children shared in the lesson. Rev. John Sutton led this service and the children’s sermon resonated with the adults too as each person was served a hot roll freshly baked to savour using our senses. The warmth, the smell and the taste providing us with very tangible evidence of God’s provision. Rev. John led us through from seed to farmer to miller to baker to warm bread in the hand and the mouth. After the service a Ploughman’s Lunch was enjoyed. Sustenance again at the physical and spiritual level. How fortunate are the children to have these memories stored away for a day that requires them. The adults had time to learn from and contemplate- “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease. (Genesis 8:22).

In May we are having a Special General Meeting to consider the next stage in the journey for the Ballarat Street Church. Our building is in need of repair. The question is whether or not to proceed. The difficulty in making this decision is linked to the future direction of the church and whether or not we remain on this site or sell the property and relocate or perhaps rent premises and use interest generated to fund a different approach to what “church” will look like in the next phase. This we understand is a situation with attendant questions and decision making processes that some other New Church congregations in Australia are also facing. The answer/s should emerge from our collective concerns, discussions and prayers. Is it a time for trepidation or excitement?

Susan Heeps

SYDNEY (ROSEVILLE)

Going as far back as Christmas we had our Nativity and Gifts Service with 10 children taking part and two excellent adults on stage as well. The back garden Carols was a week later, with a good roll up.

The first Sunday in January was a service in which Linus Christopher was christened. He’s the second child of Joel Duckworth and Eva Iken – and Zoe’s younger brother. A lovely occasion for a lovely little boy. It was also his dad’s birthday.

Our Minister, Julian, became ill with an undiagnosed complaint so that services resuming in February showed some signs of physical difficulty. Julian knelt for the sacrament at the altar and only just managed to stand up again. This led to a period in hospital during which the Harvest service was celebrated with the help of many people in going to the markets, arranging the display, leading the service (thank you to Wayne Kasmar), packing the produce up and whizzing it to Mission Australia.

At the time, I was a student reading religion and psychology in London. I had always been aware of a spiritual yearning and I was particularly interested in the relationship between psychology and spirituality. Until that first encounter, I had never heard of Emanuel Swedenborg but I began attending the church whenever I was back in Birmingham and started to look into the books. I sometimes muse that perhaps older people are attracted to the Teachings because a certain level of maturity is needed in order to understand their complexities and depth; I wasn’t that mature and although the fascination with Swedenborg had begun – I had considered applying to the New Church College in Manchester at the time – I sought the spiritual through other routes.

I completed the undergraduate research degree which was centred upon the psychology of religious conversion. I spent a year or so visiting the Hare Krishnas and Unification Church members – listening to the stories of those who had found a spiritual life amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life. I admired their sincerity but I was unable to even contemplate what I deemed to be irrational beliefs. Part of me believed that this rational aspect might be found in humanistic psychology and psychotherapy and so I decided to enrol on a course in Transactional Analysis. Although the training was insightful, I still felt that something was missing. The trainers spoke about spiritual levels of existence but such beliefs were never part of the model used in the training.

I came across a Buddhist Psychology course and felt this could ‘fill the gap’, so to speak, that was missing in Transactional Analysis. This opened my eyes to the acceptance of a spiritual way of thinking that tried to be both relevant and practical. Yet something still wasn’t quite right. I started to delve back into the Writings. Some thirty years had passed since my initial explorations of the Teachings . Over this time I had married, adopted two children, established an educational business and had studied a wide range of spiritual traditions and psychologies. These experiences had paved the way for me to connect with the Teachings in a way that just hadn’t been possible in my youth . This is where my real journey into the Writings began.

As study had been a large part of my life, it felt natural to see how I could undertake a more formal course of study of the Teachings. A Google search led to my joining the Australian New Church College. I saw that the course could lead to ordination and although I was unsure as to what that actually meant or was even possible ( I am resident in the UK) I felt a deep recognition that ordination was something I should works towards . I joined the course as the first UK based student. I was now a student of the ANCC – with Julian Duckworth as one of my tutors – Divine Providence does indeed move in mysterious ways!

Studying with the Australian New Church College as a UK based student meant adapting to the Australian time zone. Tutorials in the first year were at 6am, UK time, and in later years 7am. The first Logopraxis sessions started at 11.30pm and often finished after 1am! But these were small sacrifices compared to the opportunity to study the Doctrines and to learn how to apply them in my life. The years spent as a student seemed to fly by and my enthusiasm and commitment to the Teachings deepened as I began to feel the Lord’s presence in my life.

I have been a teacher for most of life and have taught a range of subjects to children of all ages as well as adults. Now there is an opportunity to follow my passion – to teach the Heavenly Doctrines and the path of regeneration. The Teachings are relevant and much needed in a world where spiritual teachings are available at the click of a computer key or at a weekend workshop.

My life with the Teachings has been one of completing circles and ordination completes another circle. It is both personal and spiritual – to make an outer acknowledgement to an inner calling – to recognise and answer the call of the Lord. I feel ordination will support me as I continue to develop an outreach programme.

I have just finished presenting at a ‘Mind and Body Festival’ in Birmingham. I gave a talk about the Teachings to the spiritually curious and answered questions at our stand – amid the dream catchers, amethyst crystals, yoga books and colourful mandalas of the other stalls.

Photo Above: Robin with his wife, Sab and their two daughters, Sophia (5) on the right and Amelia (7) on the left.

From Monday January 4th to Sunday January 10th – at Arcadia, 40 kms north west of Sydney – 67 people coming – several day visitors – interesting morning sessions – challenging and original afternoon onsite activities – evening program – Thursday outing is to the Northern Beaches (Newport, Avalon, Palm Beach, Barrenjoey Lighthouse and Pittwater area) – and a very helpful management at Vision Valley.

Thank you very much to those people who have been involved in the setting up and putting together of this Camp.

NEW CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA ASSEMBLY MAY 6th and 7th 2016

This is a very important opportunity for the church to come together nationally and discuss the future life and needs of the church. Being an Assembly, it is not a decision-making meeting but a sharing of views, which can be taken forward for further work and ratification.

It will be held at Greenhills Centre, just outside Canberra.

There are currently 31 people who have booked to come or indicated that they will be there. People will be attending from all societies in Australia and New Zealand, plus some other individual people. A program is in the process of being drawn up and this will include a number of papers and presentations, some organisational and some spiritual.

It is a long time since we have had a national gathering or Conference, and it is good and timely that we are doing so mid next year.

At the start of the Assembly there needs to be a short Annual General Meeting (a requirement), and this will be followed by the appointment and induction of Rev. David Moffat as the incoming President of The New Church in Australia.  

Our huge thanks to David Millar for undertaking the miracle of changing mere text into website beauty.

Please note the following regular quarterly deadlines and issue dates each year –

Autumn             March 10th for issue by March 20th

Winter               June 10th for issue by June 15th (New Church Day, 19th)

Spring               September 10th for issue by September 20th

Summer            December 10th for December 15th (before Christmas)

Ian writes…

Carla Caranog, a delightful younger member of our Church in Bataan, newly graduated, and whose first teaching job is at our School, has sent via email attachment quite a few photos, now forwarded and which I am sure you will appreciate and enjoy. In several of the pictures photos of the late Bishop Louis King and Mrs Freya King are held up. They – especially Mrs King – were the founders of the School 12 years ago.

After numerous emails, finding access to the previous content and thereby easy reconstruction, the new site is now launched.

Have a look here: http://newchurch.net.au/

It is the intention in the very near future to also redirect the previous website location to point to the new site, so www.newchurch.org.au can continue to be used to get viewers to the same content. This will ensure that the numerous links from other sites are not lost and because this web address occurs very high up the Google search list due to the length of time it has been registered and the amount of visitors it has received.

It is the NCIA Board’s hope that the new site will prove a useful reference for many users and as such the site includes a couple of new features that we encourage you to explore:

• There is a Calendar of Events, where you could consider listing any events that you think are of a national interest; linked to this is a list of Upcoming Events which allows for a link to more detail directly from any page on the site.
•  Latest News sections have been added by location to allow for Societies’ information to be easily uploaded and organised for quick access.
•   There is a featured post section on the front page which can be used to highlight particular posts on the site.
•  In keeping up with the times, links have been set up to member Society Facebook pages and the NCIA’s own Facebook site.
•  An ability for sharing of pages has been added so that interested readers are able to quickly share a page with their friends either on various Social Media sites or by Email.

This is a new website for the New Church in Australia and we would be happy to receive any feedback you would like to provide on its function and usefulness. Please don’t hesitate to email our secretary Kevin Attwater at attwaterk@bigpond.com or the website developer Chris Kendrick at kendrickau@hotmail.com.

Christine Kendrick

The Treasurer’s report showed a current slight decline in our financial position after a more buoyant period earlier this year. The Australian New Church College covered current active students’ studies, and David Millar’s involvement with people in the USA and in the UK while he was recently overseas. David Millar’s contract will be extended for 3 years from January 2015 to December 2017. Membership of the NCIA was discussed at length, the need for Police Checks, the renewed NCIA website, Summer Camp in Victoria in January 2015, The New Age journal in its paper and online versions, and the next Joint Meeting between the Board and the Council of Ministers, likely to be at the end of April 2015.

The current Board members are: Rev. Julian Duckworth (President), Rev. David Moffat (Vice-President), Kevin Attwater (Secretary), Graham Hanna (Treasurer), Christine Kendrick (Lay Member), Carolyn Heldon (Lay Member). The last four of these are the Administration Sub-Committee.

Meet Dr. David Booth, President of Christian Health Aid Team. What an honour to interview such an obviously talented, knowledgeable, inspiring, and philanthropic man. Dr. David Booth is not only a well-renowned oral and maxillofacial (jaw) surgeon, teach, mentor and academic, he is also founder and President of Christian Health Aid Team (CHAT), a Perth-based not-for-profit organisation providing volunteer dental services to orphanages and children in Vietnam. Dr Booth was appointed Emeritus Surgeon in 2001 and was a State Finalist Senior Australian of the year in 2010. Dr Booth has had a full and complete clinical career and now admirably continues to support the development of better medical services in under developed countries. He graduated as a dentist in 1959 at the age of 22.

Dr Booth has been involved with the New Church, of which there is only  one in Perth (…there are in fact two (Editor)) He previously helped out as Leader. He also helped with the development of the New Church College, providing the ability to train ministers in Australia. Apparently, ministers had to train overseas prior to the formation of the New Church College. The New Church is based on the concept of loving God and loving each other. The group believes in ‘a positive Christianity’, one that looks for the best in one’s self and others while remaining accountable to a higher standard and taking responsibility for one’s life. The Christian Health Aid Team clearly demonstrates a commitment to values common to Christianity and the New Church.

Lastly, I asked Dr. Booth what motivates him. His answer is a true reflection of his passion and commitment to helping others…

“Helping others to learn, and passing on my experience and knowledge to others is important to me. Knowing that I am helping children who would otherwise not receive dental treatment is also important to me.”