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December 2006 Dear whoever reads this,

Carol has forced my hand at a 'round robin'. You might be interested to read it and then again well...I'll take the risk. The 'round robin' bit might remind you of a joke - 'What flies and could be used as a football?' The answer of course is a 'round robin'! Strictly speaking I suppose...a spherical robin. You will also probably be aware that I just made that joke up - promise not to give up the day job...more of that later. I guess I will have offended all you ornithologists but do promise that no feathery creatures were harmed in the course of this particular round robin.

The phrase round robin and a sort of oblique reference to that awful joke above reminds me of two things - intertwined.

Compliments of the season to all and, may all the robins you see, not be subjected to the fate of that spherical bag of wind used (sometimes) to promote the human ego or entertain the masses. Speaking of the season, what an excellent start for the great Man U but even more important than that, what an excellent reminder of the 'reason for the season' as they say - namely the eternal Son of God 'contracted to a span incomprehensibly made man'. I once saw a Christian sign 'Glory, glory Man united with God' - that's the immense possibility again as we revel in the Christmas narrative and realise its implications for our little lives and for the whole cosmos. I hope that however you celebrate the Christmas season this year, you will indeed celebrate with the Christ of Christmas in mind and heart.

We've nearly been 'down-under' for a year now. I suppose we are actually settling down having moved out of the vicarage and into the local neighbourhood. It's great - we have neighbours (hopefully not to annoy too much) and we live next door to 'Bob the builder'. He knew a chap called Bob the gardener (he is from the 'old country' as he calls it) and has been orcharding, farming and the like for forty years. He had great pleasure in chopping down a few large bushes, giant cactus-type-plants, and...wait for it...forcing me into preparing and tending my own vegetable garden. In other words, we are feeling settled and that feels good.

Churchy Stuff

We have enjoyed finding our way in this respect - the usual challenges and encouragements in the life of a Parish. People are the 'same the world over' as they say but (according to the very latest census figures) there's only just over four million of them across both islands. Most of them are in the North Island and around Auckland so we are privileged to be South Islanders away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Perhaps you prefer the buzz of traffic jams, immediate response mentalities for urgent business, the air-conditioned office and the boss that is a bit like Ricky Gervais? If that is the case, Motueka NZ is not quite for you. Numbers in church are small generally and that is one of the facts we are getting used to. Motueka is nearly 8,000 souls strong which swells in number when half of Christchurch travel North as holiday-makers to disturb our sunny slumbers. There's quite a few churches in Motueka and generally, they get on quite well together.

I won't go into great detail about the Parish. Like all Parishes, there is an immense need for us as Christians to remain faithful to the Good News of Jesus Christ and to be strengthened in it in order to grow and see others do the same. Whether Carol and I will be 'successful' in that enterprise and manage to get out of the way in terms of the Lord of the Church getting His will done, remains to be seen.

Things I like doing

Apart from the obvious sense of doing what I believe I am called to do - vocation stuff - there are a few things that stand out.

The first is 'walking the dog'. I am quite surprised to be saying this. You might not be aware of the fact that we had to face and implement the very difficult decision to put 'Victoria' down. Consequently the 'littl'un' as I call her accompanies me in the mornings - sometimes before 6 am and we take in the beauty of the nearby estuary inlet looking at Herons, Goldfinches, Fantails, Tui's (also known as the 'parson bird' cos it has white bits below its beak resembling a 'dog-collar'), and other wild-life. You will see that I am no expert in these bird-type matters but I do enjoy the walk. I get a chance to think and pray about all-sorts of things and remember people (like you the reader) - recently I have been quite consistent in doing this. Pixie and I bring the 'weight of the world' matters (whether it is my little world or the actual world) before the Lord in prayer and this is a good thing. She seems to be much better at this sort of thing and with a great deal of doggy ease, enjoys sniffing almost anything, catching up on dog-gossip, and taking the world as she finds it. I'll leave you to decide what distinguishes the beast from the human being and whether, theologically, Pixie can actually pray - perhaps at your next house-group or Lenten study, it could form a mental ice-breaker! After all, serious philosophical and theological discussions have been provoked by the question of how many angels can dance on the end of a pin.

Another thing I like doing is riding my bike. I can get to visit most folk without too much strain. Recently, one parishioner (remaining nameless) suggested an interesting approach to my attempts to visit folk listed in the church directory. She suggested calling on me for a cycle ride and daring me to throw myself into Motueka river. What a refreshing approach to the 'cure of souls'? Why can't all pastoral work be like this! Her suggestion wasn't 'doing away with the vicar' as you might think but rather, helping me to enjoy the Kiwi 'outdoor life'.

Some recent highlights in the year have been just that. Snow on Mount Arthur (approx 5,900 feet) standing guard over Motueka in the middle of a perfectly crisp 'wintry' day and crystal clear blue antipodean (to UK) sky - magic. Similarly, being driven in a 4X4 vehicle up to Mount Campbell (approx 4000 feet) along rugged (African like) roads and enjoying the panorama of the Nelson-Golden Bay coastline.

It hasn't all been like this (honest) - there has been some work (I think).

The Year

It has been pretty much about observing things and finding our way just about on every level of our new life in NZ. That has meant the usual mixture of joys and disappointments (I won't say in what proportion). We keep going forward in faith. I am trying to work out what the Kiwi sense of humour is and, like other things, it will take some time. Meanwhile we press on.

I hope that 2007 is a fantabulous year for you (whatever fantabulous means - I'm assuming a good semantic range of meaning),

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Richard.

Carol's Bit:

Rich reminded me he forgot to mention the Youth Group which has been light relief for us and hopefully a great time for them. The youngsters in our group (only 7 of them) are really keen to get into the Bible and so we have already studied Galatians and Ruth together. Some interesting insights of the youthful kind have kept us in a contemporary application vein! Although Rich prepares most of the Bible stuff I am concentrating on building relationships especially with the 3 girls who seem to appreciate having an independent ear of the female kind. The boys keep us going in a different way especially as they try to tempt Rich into off road cycling and long distance hill walking.

We have mum & dad staying with us for a 2-3 months which has been a complete joy for me as we haven't seen much of them since before we went to Africa so we were long overdue a good stint with them. They have been pretty independent in the day time cycling around the local area and getting to know Motueka pretty well. Because they have a well insulated house our fresh mornings and evenings are keeping them on their toes but on the whole they are enjoying the 'variable' weather here.

Anyway. I'm not going to say much more this time as you've had a good dose of Rich just in time for Christmas. Have a great Christmas and we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year.

Lots of love and blessings from us both. R&C XX

	welcome to aldridgeparishchurch.org	building - growing - praying


			December 2006 Dear whoever reads this, Carol has forced my hand at a 'round robin'. You might be interested to read it and then again well...I'll take the risk. The 'round robin' bit might remind you of a joke - 'What flies and could be used as a football?' The answer of course is a 'round robin'! Strictly speaking I suppose...a spherical robin. You will also probably be aware that I just made that joke up - promise not to give up the day job...more of that later. I guess I will have offended all you ornithologists but do promise that no feathery creatures were harmed in the course of this particular round robin. The phrase round robin and a sort of oblique reference to that awful joke above reminds me of two things - intertwined. Compliments of the season to all and, may all the robins you see, not be subjected to the fate of that spherical bag of wind used (sometimes) to promote the human ego or entertain the masses. Speaking of the season, what an excellent start for the great Man U but even more important than that, what an excellent reminder of the 'reason for the season' as they say - namely the eternal Son of God 'contracted to a span incomprehensibly made man'. I once saw a Christian sign 'Glory, glory Man united with God' - that's the immense possibility again as we revel in the Christmas narrative and realise its implications for our little lives and for the whole cosmos. I hope that however you celebrate the Christmas season this year, you will indeed celebrate with the Christ of Christmas in mind and heart. We've nearly been 'down-under' for a year now. I suppose we are actually settling down having moved out of the vicarage and into the local neighbourhood. It's great - we have neighbours (hopefully not to annoy too much) and we live next door to 'Bob the builder'. He knew a chap called Bob the gardener (he is from the 'old country' as he calls it) and has been orcharding, farming and the like for forty years. He had great pleasure in chopping down a few large bushes, giant cactus-type-plants, and...wait for it...forcing me into preparing and tending my own vegetable garden. In other words, we are feeling settled and that feels good.
		Churchy Stuff We have enjoyed finding our way in this respect - the usual challenges and encouragements in the life of a Parish. People are the 'same the world over' as they say but (according to the very latest census figures) there's only just over four million of them across both islands. Most of them are in the North Island and around Auckland so we are privileged to be South Islanders away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Perhaps you prefer the buzz of traffic jams, immediate response mentalities for urgent business, the air-conditioned office and the boss that is a bit like Ricky Gervais? If that is the case, Motueka NZ is not quite for you. Numbers in church are small generally and that is one of the facts we are getting used to. Motueka is nearly 8,000 souls strong which swells in number when half of Christchurch travel North as holiday-makers to disturb our sunny slumbers. There's quite a few churches in Motueka and generally, they get on quite well together. I won't go into great detail about the Parish. Like all Parishes, there is an immense need for us as Christians to remain faithful to the Good News of Jesus Christ and to be strengthened in it in order to grow and see others do the same. Whether Carol and I will be 'successful' in that enterprise and manage to get out of the way in terms of the Lord of the Church getting His will done, remains to be seen. Things I like doing Apart from the obvious sense of doing what I believe I am called to do - vocation stuff - there are a few things that stand out. The first is 'walking the dog'. I am quite surprised to be saying this. You might not be aware of the fact that we had to face and implement the very difficult decision to put 'Victoria' down. Consequently the 'littl'un' as I call her accompanies me in the mornings - sometimes before 6 am and we take in the beauty of the nearby estuary inlet looking at Herons, Goldfinches, Fantails, Tui's (also known as the 'parson bird' cos it has white bits below its beak resembling a 'dog-collar'), and other wild-life. You will see that I am no expert in these bird-type matters but I do enjoy the walk. I get a chance to think and pray about all-sorts of things and remember people (like you the reader) - recently I have been quite consistent in doing this. Pixie and I bring the 'weight of the world' matters (whether it is my little world or the actual world) before the Lord in prayer and this is a good thing. She seems to be much better at this sort of thing and with a great deal of doggy ease, enjoys sniffing almost anything, catching up on dog-gossip, and taking the world as she finds it. I'll leave you to decide what distinguishes the beast from the human being and whether, theologically, Pixie can actually pray - perhaps at your next house-group or Lenten study, it could form a mental ice-breaker! After all, serious philosophical and theological discussions have been provoked by the question of how many angels can dance on the end of a pin. Another thing I like doing is riding my bike. I can get to visit most folk without too much strain. Recently, one parishioner (remaining nameless) suggested an interesting approach to my attempts to visit folk listed in the church directory. She suggested calling on me for a cycle ride and daring me to throw myself into Motueka river. What a refreshing approach to the 'cure of souls'? Why can't all pastoral work be like this! Her suggestion wasn't 'doing away with the vicar' as you might think but rather, helping me to enjoy the Kiwi 'outdoor life'. Some recent highlights in the year have been just that. Snow on Mount Arthur (approx 5,900 feet) standing guard over Motueka in the middle of a perfectly crisp 'wintry' day and crystal clear blue antipodean (to UK) sky - magic. Similarly, being driven in a 4X4 vehicle up to Mount Campbell (approx 4000 feet) along rugged (African like) roads and enjoying the panorama of the Nelson-Golden Bay coastline. It hasn't all been like this (honest) - there has been some work (I think). The Year It has been pretty much about observing things and finding our way just about on every level of our new life in NZ. That has meant the usual mixture of joys and disappointments (I won't say in what proportion). We keep going forward in faith. I am trying to work out what the Kiwi sense of humour is and, like other things, it will take some time. Meanwhile we press on. I hope that 2007 is a fantabulous year for you (whatever fantabulous means - I'm assuming a good semantic range of meaning), Yours in Christ Jesus, Richard. Carol's Bit: Rich reminded me he forgot to mention the Youth Group which has been light relief for us and hopefully a great time for them. The youngsters in our group (only 7 of them) are really keen to get into the Bible and so we have already studied Galatians and Ruth together. Some interesting insights of the youthful kind have kept us in a contemporary application vein! Although Rich prepares most of the Bible stuff I am concentrating on building relationships especially with the 3 girls who seem to appreciate having an independent ear of the female kind. The boys keep us going in a different way especially as they try to tempt Rich into off road cycling and long distance hill walking. We have mum & dad staying with us for a 2-3 months which has been a complete joy for me as we haven't seen much of them since before we went to Africa so we were long overdue a good stint with them. They have been pretty independent in the day time cycling around the local area and getting to know Motueka pretty well. Because they have a well insulated house our fresh mornings and evenings are keeping them on their toes but on the whole they are enjoying the 'variable' weather here. Anyway. I'm not going to say much more this time as you've had a good dose of Rich just in time for Christmas. Have a great Christmas and we look forward to hearing from you in the New Year. Lots of love and blessings from us both. R&C XX