Tēnā koutou katoa. Greetings to you all.
All of us wherever we live in the world are facing unprecedented times with the pandemic of the Covid-19 virus. Our Director, Lesley Snyman updates us on how Vaughan Park is ensuring the safety and well-being of guests and staff.
Whilst we find ourselves in the middle of a dynamic situation, we want to assure our guests that Vaughan Park is still very much operational. We continue to welcome guests to our Centre. The safety of our staff and all visitors to our facility is our first priority at this time, and always. We have implemented additional cleaning schedules as well as having set up numerous sanitisation stations around the Centre. We are constantly monitoring the situation, and any decisions are made in line with guidance by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the Diocese of Auckland. If circumstances change, we will update our Facebook and the website immediately. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this worrying ordeal.
Callie Mead has recently been appointed Guest Registrar. “We are truly blessed to welcome Callie to the team”, says Director, Lesley Snyman. “I’m really enjoying myself. The team here have made me feel so welcome” says Callie. “Not at any point have I felt like the ‘newbie’!”
It was a blessing to welcome back teachers from St. Mary MacKillop School. This photo was taken after a service of worship in the Ruatara Chapel.
A group from the Te Pihopatanga o Tai Tokerau and Auckland Dioceses gathered together at Vaughan Park from 25th – 27th February. The retreat was co-facilitated by the Rev. John Payne and the Rt. Reverend Te Pihopatanga O Tai Tokerau.
Happy Birthday to Dr. Bex Lewis, our Scholar for March and April. Here she is (first left and almost!), enjoying a birthday morning tea with some of our awesome team!
Poet Ana Lisa de Jong and her sister, artist Shelley Cruikshank are facilitating a day retreat to create and play with poetry and art. Book your place now.
Facilitated by Linda Gow, this day retreat will explore the concept of mindfulness and how mindful awareness can enhance our lives and our ministry as Christians. Find out more and register.
A Senior Lecturer in Digital Marketing at Manchester Metropolitan University and a Visiting Research Fellow at St John's College, Durham University, Bex has been invited to speak at various events in Aotearoa New Zealand in March and April. Her event diary is @ drbexl.co.uk/events.
Guests and visitors observed the first day of Lent at a service of the Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes, presided by Archdeacon, The Venerable Sarah Moss of the Diocese of Auckland and The Venerable Dr. Lyndon Drake, Kaiwhakamana Amorangi ki te Pihopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau, and Pirihi Whakahaere mo te Takiwa o Manukau.
We are regularly posting resources onto our Moments, Facebook and Twitter pages for you to use and share in prayer, liturgy and contemplation during Lent, Holy Week and Easter. Take a look:
vaughanpark.nz/moments
facebook.com/longbay1043
twitter.com/vaughanpark
The Corrymeela Community on the north Coast of Ireland has written some prayers to uphold us in these uncertain times. You can read them here.
God of the good news that spreads faster than fear,
God of the courage that comes from the heart:
Be with us as anxieties rise
and with us as uncertainty grows.
Be with us when children ask difficult questions,
And with us when parents seem farther away.
Remind us that to be a community does not always mean
to be physically present beside those we know well.
It also can mean being spiritually present
with those who feel very alone;
and that you as our God, the God made flesh,
are also the God who calls us from the tumult
and tells us to be still
and to know
that you are God
with us.
Amen.
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Ma Io koutou e manaaki, e tiaki, i nga wa katoa.
May your God bless you each and every day.