Ephesus E symbolProgramme


Home
Aims & Objects
Contacts
Gatherings
Programme
Links


2023 Program for the year







1 October
Topic: Pre-election seriesDo we really want a good society  Part 3
Presenter:
Sue Brown, Ngaio Parish - "Generating Hope". Ian Harris, Tawa to facilitate

17 Sept
Topic: Pre-election seriesDo we really want a good society  Part 2
Presenter:
Paul Barber, Salvation Army Social Policy Analyst. Maxine to facilitate

3 September
Topic: Pre-election seriesDo we really want a good society  Part 1
Presenter:
Rhonda Swenson, Trinity Union Church. Jeanette to facilitate

20 August
Topic: The Western Tradition of Individual Salvation.  A visual lecture by Dominic Crossan
Presenter: Ian Harris, Tawa

6 August
Topic: The Western Tradition of Individual Salvation.  A visual lecture by Dominic Crossan
Presenter: Ian Harris, Tawa

16 July
Topic: Where I am on my faith journey now. 4-5 Members of Ephesus to present on this theme
Presenters: John Maindonald, Maxine Cunningham, Clare Morrison, John Morrison

18 June
Topic: Impermanence in religion, philosophy, art and quilting
Presenter: Shirley Dixon

21 May
Topic: "Saving Jesus from the Church" - YouTube of Robin Meyer's lecture to Pitt St, Sydney, 2016
Presenter: Ian Harris, Tawa

7 May
Topic: Hygge
Presenter: Implementation group

16 April
Topic: A Post Easter Liturgy
Presenter: Margaret Rushbrook and other members

2 April
Topic: The Execution of Jesus - A visual lecture by John Dominic Crossan
Presenter: Ian Harris, Days Bay

19 March
Topic: "The mystery of all things is insoluble by us"-Darwin in his Life & Times - a journey to Orthodoxy and back
Presenter: John Maindonald

5 March
Topic:After Jesus Before Christianity
Presenter: Ian Harris (Days Bay) & Margaret Rushbrook

2022
Program for the year

2 October
Topic: Looking at Religious Icons from a contemporary perspective
Presenter: Shirley Dixon

16-18 September
CROSS CREEK WEEKEND with Colin Gibson

4 September
Topic: "Mountains" Liturgy
Presenter: Jim Cunningham

21 August
Topic: Stories of Under-heard people
Presenter: Adrienne Jansen

7 August
Topic: Science at the edge
Presenter: Murray Jansen & Trish McBride

17 July
Topic: An evening with John Dominic Crossan (video)
Presenters:  Ian Harris (DB), Ian Harris (Tawa), Rob Wilkinson

3 July
Topic: Wesley Community Action
Presenter: David Hanna

19 June
Topic: Our Universe: Ourselves: a liturgy for Matariki

15 May
Topic: Wellington City Mission - those living on the edge
Presenter: Murray Eldridge

1 May
Topic: I've been thinking (session two)
Presenters: Ian & Karen Harris, Jenny & Gavin Watson, Rob Wilkinson

17 April
No Meeting - Easter weekend

3 April
Topic: Three Days: Ephesus Liturgy for Easter
Presenter: Jeanette Brunton

20 March
Topic: I've been thinking (session one)
Presenters:
Trish McBride + Murray and Vicki – promotion of Trish’s book ‘It’s a Love Quilt, Later Faith Patches’
Wendy Matthews – ‘The Power of Now’                                      
Ian Harris(Tawa) – ‘Symbolism of the Braided River’

6 March
Topic: What is the Gospel?  Is there a gospel for the modern world?  If so, what is it?  If a young person asked you “What is the Gospel”, how would you answer?  Just a sentence or two will suffice.
Presenter: Ian Harris (Days Bay) with input from the Westar Institute’s Christianity Seminar










2021
Program for the year

5 Dec
Topic: An Ephesus Christmas Liturgy
Presenter: Volunteers - TBA

21 November
Topic: Funerals – planning – Creative Farewells
Presenter: Jim Cunningham & David Simmers

7 November
Topic: Growing Old Gracefully! 
Presenters: Jeanette & Rob

17 October
Topic: Hymns will always come and go, but there will always be Songs of Praise - session 2, bringing us up to date.
Presenter: Bruce Cash

3 October Topic: Free Speech?  Hate Speech?
Presenters: Rob and Ian (Tawa)

19 Sept
Topic: This is New Zealand" - who were we in 1970 - where are we now?


Starts at 5pm, No supper, please wear a mask and keep social distance


Presenter: Karen Harris and Adrienne Nichols

5 Sept
No meeting due to COVID

15 August
No meeting due to COVID

1 August
Topic: What are the political roadblocks to addressing inequality, poverty and housing?
Presenter: Greg O'Connor, MP for Ohariu

18 July
Topic: Experiencing our spirituality through creativity
Te Puna Wairua - releasing the spirit through creativity
(art, poetry, writing, tapestry, photography)
Presenter: Margaret Rushbrook

4 July
Topic: Liturgy on Jonah
Presenter: Fina McDougall

20 June
Topic: Workshop on Climate change recommendations, political and personal actions we can take/adopt
Presenter: T.B.A.

6 June (QB weekend)
Topic: 21 Lessons for the 21st century - Yuval Harari – a further indepth study.
Presenter: Jenny & Gavin Watson

23 May
Topic: Hymns will always come and go, but there will always be Songs of Praise - session 2, bringing us up to date.
Presenter: Bruce Cash

9 May
Topic: Hand in Hand: Blending Secular and Sacred to Enlarge the Human Spirit.  A celebration and presentation of Ian Harris’s new book.
Presenter: Ian Harris (Day's Bay), Richard Randerson

18 April
Topic: Autumn Harvest Liturgy
Presenter: Graham Millar

21 March
Topic: Loss and Resiliance
Presenter: Trish McBride

7 March
Topic: Easter - The Last week
Presenter: Jim Cunningham

2020 Program for the year

6 Dec
Topic: St. Nicholaus story
Presenter: Adrienne, Rob and others

15 Nov
Topic: Bring and Reflect
Presenter: Maxine

1 Nov
Topic: "All those Pauls" ctd
Presenter: Jim, 2 Ians and Jeanette

18 Oct
Topic: "All those Pauls"
Presenter: Jim, 2 Ians and Jeanette

4 Oct
Topic: Cobid-19 and the Sabbath
Presenter: Rob with Jim and Jeanette

20 Sept
Topic: Book reviews
Presenter: Maxine

6 Sept
Topic: Heroes, Heroines and Saints
Presenter: John Maindonald

16 Aug
Topic: Loss & Resilience
Presenter: Trish McBride

July 31 -
Aug 2
 Ephesus Weekend Cross Creek
Presenter :
John Thornley, Palmerston North, who will share his knowledge of popular music.  "Straddling the spiritual and secular opens up depths in the faith journey."

July 5
Ephesus 30th Anniversary Dinner

June 21
Topic: Midwinter Liturgy
Presenter: with Graham Millar

June 7
Topic: Living with the gods
Presenter: Sirley Dixon

May 18 (virtual mtg)
Topic: Do I want things to go back exactly the way it was before lockdown?
Presenter: Maxine and four others for discussion

May 3
(virtual mtg)
Topic: meet and catchup session


April 19
No meeting - Covid-19 lockdown

April 5
No meeting - Covid-19 lockdown

2019 Program for the year

Mar 3
Topic: Being Human
Presenter: Ian Harris (Days Bay)

Mar 17
Topic: Being Human - making Meaning
Presenter: Jim Cunningham

April 7
Topic: Easter Symbols
Presenter: Shirley Dixon

April 21
NO MEETING - Easter Weekend

May 5
Topic: Liturgy - Easter - Emmaus Road
Presenter: Ian Harris + Group

May 19
Topic: Exploring Well-being Budget - Wellness Happiness
Presenter: Jeanette

June 2
Topic: Film Evening  "As it is in Heaven" 5:30
Presenter: Jenny & Gavin Watson at their home

June 16
Topic:Being Human - Mental Health
Presenter:
Noel Tiano

July 7
Topic: Psyche Shadow and Soul – Christendom from a Jungian perspective
Presenter: Rev Dr Susan Jones

July 21 Topic: 'Reflections on our own gathered wisdom, a reading and theological reflection’
Presenter: Trish McBride

August 2 - 4
Ephesus Weekend - Poetry & the Religious Imagination. The moral & theological challenge of climate change
Presenter : John Howell

August 18
Topic: Music
Presenter: Bruce Cash

Sept 1
Topic: Liturgy - The Season of Creation
Presenter: Graham Millar

Sept 15
Topic: Biblical Literalism - A Gentile Heresy
Presenter: Margaret Rushbrook & Maria Cash

Sept 22
NO MEETING - 5th Sunday

October 6
Topic: The Patterning Instinc
Presenter: Karen & Ian Harris

October 20
Topic: Neo-Confucianism
Presenter: Shirley Dixon

Nov 3
Topic: A Christian Progressive Voice?
Presenter: Ian Harris (DB) + others

Nov 17
Topic: A Question for the 21st Century
Presenter: Rob Wilkinson

Dec 1
Topic: Christmas Liturgy
Presenter: Ian Harris (DB) with Group to Plan




2018
Program for the year

Dec 2
Topic: Christmas Liturgy and Meal
Presenter: Maxine Cunningham

Nov 18
Topic: The Early Explosion of Christianity - what can we learn?
Presenter: David Simmers

Nov 4
Topic: There are so many issues for NZ children. Think of the recently released report from UN on our very poor place on the list of countries for school children's achievement. Poverty was one of the reasons offered.
What can the Commission do? What can we do?
Presenter: Children's Commissioner Judge Beecroft

Oct 21
No meeting - Holiday weekend

Oct 7
Topic: Happiness
Presenters: Adrienne Nicholls and Maria Cash

Sept 16
Topic: How to choose what causes we contribute to - Part 2
Presenter: Archie Kerr

Sept 2
Topic: Musical masterpieces confronting comfortable religion;Beethoven’s Mass in D and Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem
Presenter: Bruce Cash

Aug 19
Topic: How to choose what causes we contribute to
Presenter:  Archie Kerr

Aug 5
Topic: Digging Deeper into the Lord’s Prayer.  Has the Lord’s Prayer passed its use-by date? Comments when the topic came up in May suggest it has. Or is there a way into it that may refresh it for a vastly changed world?
Presenter: Ian Harris will build on Kenneth Bailey’s insights in Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, and see where that leads.

July 15
Topic: A closer look at forgiveness - A woman’s reflections on personal and professional experiences
Presenter: Trish  McBride

July 1
Topic: Christianity in the 21st Century
Presenter: Sir Lloyd Geering

June 17
Topic: 'Speculative (Science) Fiction & Religion' or 'Holy Sci-Fi!'.
As preparation for discussion Rob suggests you might like to read the attached 1955 short story by Arthur C Clarke
called 'The Star'
Presenter: Rob Wilkinson

June 3
No Meeting - holiday weekend

May 20
Topic: "Stories, Parables and Teachings in the New Testament seen through Mid-Eastern eyes" based on the work of Kenneth Bailey.
Presenters: Jim Cunningham and Ian Harris (Days Bay)

May 6
No Meeting - Holiday weekend

Apr 15
Topic: “What makes me sad; what makes me mad; and what makes me glad.” ( in terms of our faith journey )
Several Ephesus members will kick start us on this topic.
Presenter: Margaret Rushbrook

Apr 1
No Meeting

Mar 18
Topic:  Easter Liturgy
Presenter: Maxine Cunningham & helpers

Mar 4
Topic:  One hundred and still notching up the score: Honouring Lloyd
Presenter:  Jim, Ian (Days Bay) & Helen

2015 Program for the year

July 5
Topic:   A mid-Winter Liturgy
Presenter:   Adrienne, Ian (DB), Jeanette, Robin

July 19
Topic:   "Here we stood" - a German religious miscellany
Presenter:  Shirleyt, Noel and granddaughter

Aug 2
Topic:   The Seven Signs of a Jewish Mystic
Presenter:  Ian (DB)

Aug 16
Topic:   Art in the Chapel
Presenter:  Dr Chris Longhurst

Sept 4 - 6
Topic:   Cross Creek Weekend
Presenter:  Colin Gibson

Sept 20
Topic:   The Act of Forgiving
Presenter:  An Ephesus working group

Oct 4
Topic:   DVD
Presenter:  Ian Harris (Tawa)

Oct 18
Topic:   Impact of and Responses to the new Pope
Presenter:  Jim Lyons

Nov 1
Topic:   "Reasonable Enthusiast" - John Wesley
Presenter:  Frank Hanson

Nov 15
Topic:   Restorative Justice
Presenter:  Kim Workman

Dec 6
Topic:   Christmas Session
Presenter:  Jim and Maxine Cunningham

2014 Program for the year

Mar 2
Topic:   What life is like living in Saudi Arabia as a Christian
Presenter: Rodney Harris

Mar 16
Topic:   Response to two speakers at VUW's Writer's Week in March. Diarmid MacCulloch and Francis Spufford - Having Faith in the 21st century
Presenter: Jeanette Brunton

Apr 6
Topic:   An Easter Liturgy chosen from Jill's resources
Presenter:

May 4
Topic:   Post-Easter bible study on "Searching the Old Testament to find meaning in the death of Jesus"
Presenter: Lloyd Geering

May 18
Topic:   Robin: Calvin's contribution to our world view
Presenter: Jim Cunningham

Jun 8
Topic:   What do you think about God? Members are encouraged to bring a symbol/object that speaks to you about God in some way
Presenter: Maxine Cunningham

Jun 22
Topic:   Pete Segar's Gospel
Presenter: Ralph Pannett

July 6
Topic:   Lionel Sharman, author of 'Matter and what matters'
Presenter: Adrienne Nichols

July 20
Topic:   Cross Creek Weekend - Exploring the issues NZ is facing this election

Aug 3
Topic:   Rabbi James Cohn's book 'Minds of the bible"
Presenter: Margaret Pannett

Aug 17
Topic:   A Liturgy chosen from Jill's resources
Presenter: Adrienne Nichols




2012
Program for the year

March 4
Topic: Bibliodrama - Robin Lane

March 18
Topic: A Feast of good news story telling and liturgy

Last session we experienced one form of story telling for a purpose. The bible is full of stories which show people trying to understand their place in the world, living sometimes recklessly, bravely or foolishly. 21st century people can discern motives, meanings, actions that illuminate lives now.

Our turn for story-telling now. In all our lives, there probably have been events which have jolted us out of our normal pattern, or events which, when we look back on them, we see them as turning points, as impellers of change in thinking, in our way of seeing the world.

An example. Eight years after my husband died, I went back to the Northland beach where my parents had camped with their children for several years. I sat under my father’s ‘laughing tree’, where he rested, recovering from angina episodes. I became aware of my decision to change my name back to my birth name, and to shift to another house, which would be the first one that I alone had chosen and owned. I realised later that this decision had a deeper meaning than a name and a home change. I was taking a major step along the way to becoming more fully my own person. (Though that process never ends, of course.) Becoming fully human is one way I understand the Good News that Jesus brought us.

Over this week, how about reflecting on some key events in your life? Pick some out that have helped you arrive at your current understanding of Good News/Gospel. Be ready to tell others in a small group.


1 April
Topic: Ressurection come to life: Myth and Ritual
Jill & Ian Harris

15 April
Topic: What Book, Film or Music has moved your heart?

Betty Knight         Rachel Carson       The Silent Spring
Currently, what are the issues in Aotearoa New Zealand that cause concern with regard to the use of chemicals or certain technological methods? Do we need further controls in place?

Ivan Frost             Kahil Gibran          The Prophet
Something to think about: "When you are joyous look deep in your heart and you shall find only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."

David Simmers      Joseph Conrad       Lord Jim
What characteristics of Lord Jim have the quality of myth? That is, what qualities in the story help us navigate our way through life?

David Patchett      Personal reflection on Auschwitz     

Noel Cheer           Richard Holloway   Leaving Alexandria
In light of the recent resignation of Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury, do you think he might have concerns about the state of the church similar to those of Richard Holloway.

Jill Harris              Paul Tillich           from chapter 7: Shaking the Foundations
The name of this infinite and inexhaustible depth and ground of all being is God. That depth is what the word God means. And if that word has not much meaning for you, translate it, and speak of the depths of your life, of the source of your being, of your ultimate concern, of what you take seriously without any reservation. Perhaps in order to do so, you must forget everything traditional that you have learned about God, perhaps even the word itself. For if you know that God means depth, you know much about Him. You cannot then call yourself an atheist or unbeliever. For you cannot think or say: Life has no depth! Life itself is shallow. Being itself is surface only If you could say this in complete seriousness, you would be an atheist; but otherwise you are not. He who knows about depth knows about God.

May 6
Topic:New Atheism - Alain de Boton
Noel Cheer

May 20 Topic:Calendar for Aug-Dec
Hymn Writing for Ephesus

June 17
Topic:Fairy wings and lipstick? Feminist theology and ideas about good social roles for young women in C21
Maxine & helpers

July 1
Topic:Sacred sites - stones, mountains, visits to sites
Bronwyn

July 15
Topic:Economics prequel (including sustainability)
Ian

August 5
Topic:TBA

August 19
Topic:TBA

September 2
Liturgy: Wilderness, Exile, Salvation
Jill

September 16
Topic:TBA

October 7
Topic:TBA

November 4
Topic:The Writing on The Wall: Artist as Prophet
Ralph

November 18
Topic:Open session - artists as prophets - bring & share group discussion and liturgy

December 2
Christmas liturgy

2011
Program for the year

Feb 6
Topic: Planing session

March 6
Topic: Centering ourselves - Bronwyn White
Discussion and setting some our programme for the year

March 20
Topic: Precis and discussion about the book: The Spiritlevel
Betty Knight and Archie Kerr

April 3
Topic: Understanding the moral mind (Jonathan Haidt) (video & discussion)
Peter Cowley & Ralph Pannett

April 17
Topic: Palm Sunday liturgy
Jim and Maxine Cunningham

May 1
Topic: Quilting (Part 1) (I don't think this is all about needles and thread!)
Shirley Dixon

May 15
Topic: Quilting (Part 2)
Shirley Dixon

June 5
Topic: The Death and Resurrection of Jesus - What significance do they have (if any) for progressive Christians?
Lloyd Geering

June 19
Topic: Life as Gesamtkunstwerk (change to programme advertised earlier)
Ralph Pannett

July3
Topic: Playing your ˜best song" on an island near mars
Bronwyn White

July 17
Topic: Planning the rest of year programme
Jeanette Brunton

August 5 -7
Ephesus Weekend Away at Cross Creek

August 21
Topic:  What am I passionate about? This is an opportunity for you to hear and explore the fascinating interests of some of our members. There may be some surprises.

September 4
Topic: Session centred on the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, which has been called the most influential book in the English language. How come? What makes it so? In an age where new translations stream from the presses, does this version matter any more?

September 18
Topic: Lloyd Geering will be presenting - What is our Gospel?
This topic was originally intended to be follow-up to my last presentation, which seemed to undermine traditional Christianity. So does the Church have a Gospel anymore? For the Gospel to be Good News it must be relevant to the changing cultural situation. This presentation will show how the 'Gospel' has changed very much in the past and then offer some suggestions for today.

October 2
Topic: A Christian view of community in relation to current political priorities.
And your Homework is: We are beginning a series of pre-election sessions focusing on vulnerable children.
The topic includes the issues of the effects of poverty, violence and inequality.
These, along with Rowan Williams on Christian community and politics, were the top topics you identified at our planning session that you wanted to explore.
As a frame for this exploration, we start with considering our understanding of Christian community. How different is it from New Zealand now? Archbishop Rowan Williams gives us a good starter. We have invited Grant Robertson, MP for Wellington Central to give his take on the New Statesman leading article, and to comment on the politicians’ comments following. Noel Cheer will chair the discussion. I am sure there will be a lot of it!

October 16
Topic: Getting to grips with some answers to these questions of October 2.
Colleen Davey will tell us what it’s like at the ‘coal face’ of her job, and we shall explore some information from one of the many reports recently published about children.

November 6
Topic: We shall hear about a GP’s experience on the front line, and consider what we could do in response to the issue of children, their future and ours.

November 20
Topic: Robin Lane will be leading the following presentation: A Fresh Approach to Prayer
This session will look at prayer in a fresh way. I think it is a basic human activity. It’s origins lie in our biological and cultural past. My hunch is that it comes from the human activity of wishing!
We will explore:
- What is prayer for you? Try writing in down in no more than 25 words.
· We will look at the worlds of physics and psychodrama (its notion of tele) to suggest an understanding of prayer.
· Please bring a photo, a picture or a drawing as aid to contemplation.
· I suggest you dress in comfortable clothes.
Here is a thought to contemplate: “Attention is an act of love”

December 4
Christmas Liturgy and Celebration

2010
Program for the year

March 7
Topic: Shirley & Lloyd geering in Iran
Facilitator: Shirley Dixon

March 21
Topic: Pains of glass and bitter paradise (an Easter reflection)
Facilitator: To Be Advised

April 4
No Meeting (Easter)

April 18
Topic: Exposee of plans for the rest of the year!  based on three interweaving themes.
Facilitator:

May 2
Topic: Adam, Eve and Oedipus as examples of myths that
a) lost their power through being literalised
b) were revived and made relevant through psychology.

Facilitator: Rob Wilkinson

May 9
Topic: Jesus as Logos, Christ as Mythos
Facilitator: Ian harris (plus others)

May 30
Topic: Stardust and time - Celebrating Mythos and Logos
Facilitator: Jill Harris and others

June 20
Topic: Introduce Segment 2 on Compassion, including Karen Armstrong’s address to the TED conference in 2008 and the Charter for Compassion.
Facilitator: Other details to be arranged

July 4
Topic: Compassion in action: Exploring the theme.
Facilitator: Allen Wright & Colleen Davey

July 18 Topic: Compassion in action - Quality of life when time is limited.
Facilitator: Maxine Cunningham

August 1
Topic: Compassion: the impossible dream?
Facilitator: Keith Carley

August 15
Topic: Meditation/Liturgy rounding out the compassion theme
Facilitator:

August 27-29
Cross Creek weekend away

September 5
Topic: In Pursuit of Happiness: How do we live religiously in a consumer-driven society?
Facilitator: Ian Harris & Maxine Cunningham

September 19
Topic: Community responses to the sustainability challenge, including transition towns
Facilitator: Frank Cook

October 3
Topic: Ian Pool will lead the session following his paper to the Sea of Faith conference on "Population, Development and Wuality of Life: Compassion and Sustainability"
Facilitator: Ia Pool

October 17
Topic: A liturgy on nurturing the environment and the harmful impact of consumerism on it
Facilitator: Jill

November 7
Topic: What is real prosperity
Facilitator: Ian Harris & Rob Wilkinson

November 21
Topic: Practices and disciplines that would help us walk the talk
Facilitator: Robin and Rob

December 5
Topic: Christmas Liturgy, incorporating the Many Tables reflection and communion.
Facilitator: Maxine

2009 Program for the year

March 1
Wotif? Tomorrow
Facilitator: Jill Harris, Presenter: Jill Harris

March 15
Is the Church really necessary?
Facilitator: Ian Harris, Presenter: Richard Randerson

April 5
Hoiw do we make sense of Easter?
Facilitator: Robin Lane, Presenter: Jeanette, Hilary, Archie

April 19
Post Easter liturgy
Facilitator: Jill Harris, presenter: Volunteers?

May 3
Jim Symons on US religion
Facilitator: Ian Harris

May 17
The biological basis of religion
Facilitator: Archie Kerr, Presenter: Archie kerr

June 7
Darwin's influence on society
Facilitator: Noel Cheer, Presenter: Noel Cheer

June 21
Ecclesiasties, nature of God
Facilitator: Archie Kerr, Presenter: Lloyd Geering

July 5
Ecclesiasties - a conversation
Facilitator: Archie Kerr, Presenter: Lloyd Geering and Ken Irwin

July 19
Demonising people we don't like
Facilitator: Ian Harris, Presenter: David Hanna

August 2
Compassion, human rights and reconciliation
Facilitator: Robin Lane, Presentor: Robin lane

August 16
Bring a book to talk about
Facilitator: Rob Wilkinson: presenter: Adrienne

August 21-23
How are ya going, mate?
Facilitator: Jill Harris, presentor: Cross Creek Planning Group

September 6
So much to be thankful for - Spirit and faith in contemporary music
Facilitator: Elizabeth, presenter: Bronwyn

September 20

New Growth - Spring celebration
Facilitator: Elizabeth, presenter: Margaret Rushbrook


October 4
Compassion continued
Facilitator: Rob Wilkinson, presenter: Alan Wright & Coleen Davy

October 18
A fresh look at Paul
Facilitator: Robin Lane, presenter: Jim Cunningham

November 1
Transforming moments
Facilitator: Rob Wilkinson, presenter: Robin Lane

November 15
The Postcolonial Turn: Reading the Bible in Aotearoa New Zealand in Conversation with Achsah.
(Judges 1, 11-16) and (Joshua 15, 15-19)"
Facilitator: Adrienne, presenter: Dr Judith McKinlay

December 6
A Christmas “event”
Facilitator: Elizabeth, presenter: Margaret Pannett

2008 Program for the year




March 2 On "My name is Judas" by C K Steed
Facilitator: David Simmers

March 16 Is Christ redundant?
Facilitator: Ian Harris 

April 6 Post Easter liturgy
For some people, the concept of the Christ has become outmoded or suspect. With a change in perspective, that need not be so. Following on from the last session, Ian Harris will suggest a way of understanding the Christ that he considers not only intellectually and spiritually valid, but also positive for the world of secular modernity

April 20 Jung and Ephesus
Facilitator

May 4 Jung and Ephesus
Facilitator: lloyd Geering

May 18 Falling for Science: Spirituality and Science
Facilitator: Bernard Beckett

June 1 No Meeting

June 15 Spirituality of Aotearoa - Tuwhare, Hotare, Randerson
Facilitator: Ralph Pannett

June 27-29 "Otaki" Weekend, Theme: Our reaction to Lloyd Geerings "Big Ideas" from the documentary "The Last Western Heretic"

July 6 Bring & Share  -  poems, art, literature, etc

July 20 Religious themes in Country Music
Facilitator: Chris Nichol

August 3 Reclaiming liturgy
Facilitator:  Maxine & Jill

August 17 Movement in Liturgy - Crow's Feet dance group
Facilitator: Jan Bolwell

Sept 7 L. colo: I till (to till * to till the earth * to cultivate the Earth * to vandalise the Earth)
‘The sedge has withered from the lake, and no birds sing’  (Keats)
Facilitator: Jill

Sept 21 GAIA Hypothesis
how it relates to our spirituality, conservation and our way of life
Facilitator: Dave Lowe

Sept 29 SOF conference in Blenheim

October 5 The view looking back - Reflections on 40 years in the Ministry
Facilitator: Jim Cunningham

October 19 Engaging with the next generation on "what matters"
Facilitator: Ken Irwin

November 2 Public Interest vs Common Good - with scenarios
Facilitator:Rob Wilkinson

November 16 What do we tell our grandchildren - Great stories  to be told
Facilitator: John McIntyre, kilbirnie Books

December 7 Christmas Liturgy "A Christmas Carol"
An exploration of a great Christmas Myth based on  Charles Dickens' story.
Facilitator: Adrienne Nicholls, Hillary Hunter & Betty Knight.

2007 Program for the year

March 4 Liturgy - Leaves of our lives
Facilitator: Jill Harris

March 18 Have you sold out to the devil?
Facilitators: Ian & Jeanette

April 1 Easter Liturgy - Betrayal, defwat - yet the vast red dawn
Facilitators: Robin & Jill

April 15

Human accomplishment. If Christianity has contributed largely to the advances of Western civilisation in past 800 years, what will happen as that base crumbles? (based on book by Charles Murray)
Facilitator: Ian


May 6 Human accomplishment: The Ephesus Questions
In our session on April 15, Charles Murray offered some intriguing observations in his grand overview of 2750m nyears of accomplisment in nthe arts and sciences.  There are more intriguing observations to come.

Iam harris will outline them this Sunday and then we shall have the chance to discuss their implications for the present day, and especially their relevance to Ephesus.

May 15 Human accomplishment.
If Christianity has contributed largely to the advances of Western civilisation in past 800 years, what will happen as that base crumbles?

Or another angle...
The True, The Good, The Beautiful
A look back on 2750 years of the pursuit of excellence  in the arts and sciences, as described by Charles Murray in his book Human Accomplishment - and a look forward at the implications of his findings for the future.
Facilitator: Ian Harris

May 20 Reframing Her: Biblical Women in Postcolonial Focus (2004) by Judith McKinlay
Betty Knight and Irena Lowe presenting ideas from the book

June 17 Buddhism. How to respond to the world we are living in? How to deal with secularisation?
Facilitators: Camilla Browne, Soka Gakkai

July 1 Creating a civil society
Facilitator: Robin

July 15 What is the most potent/revolutionary idea of/for the 21st century?
Facilitator: Noel

July 27-29 Otaki weekend. Ethics.Civil, Civic, Civilising: the art of living together
Facilitators: Lloyd, Nicky Hager

August 5 City of God: a drama based on the novel City of God by EL Doctorow introduces the story, characters and ideas of a book which talks about the modern reality of God and “a quest for an authentic spirituality for the 21st century” (reviewer). It is set in New York and has been described as “the first Sea of Faith-type novel”.
Facilitators:  Jill and others

August 19 Liturgy. The universe, ourselves.
Facilitator: Jill

Sept 2 What do we tell the grandchildren? Ethical wills. What’s left when you’ve left?
Facilitators: Ken and Archie (info from Rob)

Sept 16 What would an Ephesus funeral be like?
Facilitator: Ian

October 7 Landfall after sailing across the Sea of Faith
The Sea of Faith conference can challenge, inspire new thinking and infuriate. It's an opportunity for like-minded and unlike-minded people to debate, to make friends and to enjoy 

November  4 Liturgy: The Continuing Story
Facilitator: Jill

November 18 Exploring Meditation
- Linking modern knowledge and ancient wisdom
- Making meditation an element in daily practice
- Practising meditation
Facilitator: Robin lane

December 2 Christmas Liturgy

2006 Program for the year

Feb 19 Regathering and socialising
18:00 at Jill & Ian's home at 9a Tui Road, Days Bay, Eastbourne.

March 05 "Lets bake a cake"
Review of the 2005 session and forward discussion.
Facilitator & Coordinator: Norm Ely

March 19 Are you a Stoic and Don’t Know It?
A modern look at Stoicism
Presenter: David Simmers.

April 02 Easter Liturgy – Nature or Supernature
Easter 14th to 17th April, Anzac Day Tuesday 25th April.

April 23 (*) Bibliodrama 1
Presenter: Robin
* note different date due to Easter

May 07 Bibliodrama 2
Presenter: Robin

May 21 Bibliodrama – Liturgy – ?

June 11 (*) New Words out of Old 1
Presenter: Rob
* Note different date due to Queens Birthday

June 25 (*) New Words out of Old 2
Presenter: Rob
* Note different date.  

July 09 (*) New Words out of Old Liturgy – A Midwinter Liturgy - ?
* Note different date

July 21-23 Otaki Weekend --- Two forms of resistance to Hitler (A Modern Interpretation), preceded by the Film “Downfall” on the Friday
Presenters: Robin and Others

Aug 06 Hiroshima Day
Presenter: Adrienne

Aug 20 Winter Liturgy
Presenter: Jill

Sept 03 What we owe to anchient Iraq
Presenter: Lloyd Geering

Sept 17 The search for meaning
Presenter: Neville Glasgow

Oct 01 SoF Conference at Marton. At least 10 of our members will be attending the SoF Conference there will be no meeting on this date.


Oct 15 Myth
Presenter: Kill Cunningham

Nov 12
Note changed date
Pakehatanga
Presenter: Ken Irwin
Exploring putting some Maori frameworks into our rituals & liturgies

Nov 26
Note changed date
Travelling through Time and Space with Dr Who
Presenter:Adrienne.
What is the Time? Which Space? An opportunity for Ephesus members to share personal times and spaces with each other.

Dec 03 Christmas Liturgy
Presenter: Elizabeth Earnslaw and others

2005 Program for the year

March 06 Where do I Stand?
Over the years members of Ephesus have journeyed along many paths of faith, mostly Christian.  Some withing Faith/Church communities, some not.  Where do some of those now stand?
Presenters: Adrienne Nicholls, Elizabeth Earnslaw, David Patchett, Hilary Hunter, Noel Cheer, Gavin Watson.
Facilitator and Coordinator: Norm Ely

March 20 Where do we Stand?
Following on from the March 05 session, the question now arises do other members share the same, similar or quite different views to the presenters at the previous meeting.
Facilitator and Coordinator: Norm Ely

April 03 Where do others stand? Program 1
Presenter: Pushpa Wood, a Hindu, will speak to us on 'Her personal journey into her faith"
Coordinator: Elizabeth Earnslaw

April 17 Where do others stand? Program 2
Presenter: Joellen Duckor, Para Rabbi
Coordinator: Elizabeth Earnslaw

May 01 Where do others stand? Program 3
Presenter: Rehaha Ali, a Muslim
Coordinator: Elizabeth Earnslaw

May 15 Liturgy for Pentecost
Coordinator: Maxine Cunningham

May 29 Rituals around Death, Celebration of Life. Program 1
Over the next three sessions we will look at various aspects of the above topic.
Coordinator: Shirley Dixon

June 19 Rituals around Death, Celebration of Life. Program 2
Over the next three sessions we will look at various aspects of the above topic.
Coordinator: Shirley Dixon

July 03 Rituals around Death, Celebration of Life. Program 3
Over the next three sessions we will look at various aspects of the above topic.
Coordinator: Shirley Dixon

July 17 An ethical question?
Coordinator: Norm Ely

Aug 07 Otaki retreat weekend

Aug 21 Amnesty International - Current work in progress.
Presenter:Rev John Murray
Coordinator: Noel Cheer

Sep 04 Re-imaging traditional religious images: The Madonna
Our task is to look/re-look at some wonderful old images of the Madonna (limited here to paintings) mainly from the Renaissance Period.
We will consider the traditional Christian content, investigate the surplus of meaning beyond their original context and explore re-readings from a radical or secular perspective.

Sept 18 Film (Together) and discussion

Oct 02 WHERE MOUNTAINS RISE TO OPEN SKIES
A session to involve us in singing, enjoying ourselves and incidentally doing a race through the aspects of: context, language, imagery, human rights, peace, creation, the NZ component and carols.

Also along the way, editors, alterations and misprints, composers I have known and the amazing NZ Hymnbook Trust

Presenter: Shirley Murray
Coordinator: Norm Ely

Oct 16 The UN at 6-: Still humanity's best hope
Presenters: Dame Lauri Salas and Joe Connell

Nov 06 We live in a new religious era
Presenter & Coordinator: Lloyd Geering


Nov 20 Ephesus - We're going on for 16 - let's bake a cake!
    *  What ingredients do you want in the cake mix?
    * What kind of a cake would you like to eat?

Take a moment during the next few days to think about how you'd finish the sentences:

"I keep on coming to Ephesus because ... "

"Ephesus is valuable to me when ...
Presenters: Jill and Ian Harris

Dec 04 Matthew Tells a Story - A recycled liturgy
Presenters: Jill & Ian Harris

2004 Program for the year

March 7  Planning meeting

March 21 Art & Myth
Visit "Signs & Wonders exhibition at Te Papa" before the meeting and discuss.
Coordinator: Ralph Pannett

April 04 Easter Liturgy
"From Darkness to Light: Our Experiences of Resurrection".
Coordinator: Bronwyn White

April 18 Let's explore a myth
A mythic story will be told and then we will deconstruct it.
Coordinator Jill Harris

May 02 Shifting Sands – Foreshore, Seabed and Treaty issues

A Special meeting arranged by the Joint Churches in Johnsonville at Johnsonville Uniting Church (our normal venue)

May 16  So What? Where now? What do we do?

Coordinator Elizabeth Earnshaw.

May 30  Myths that shape NZ today
What are the most powerful myths that shape our lives?
Coordinators Norm Ely and Ian Harris

June 20 

Myths for our future in NZ
Myths that will Last; that we Need; that will (or should) Die.
Coordinator Ralph Pannett


July 04 

'The historical progression of myth'.
A sketch of the shape of myth from that of ancient Babylon to that of Marx.

Talk by Lloyd Geering
Coordinator Robin Lane

Also see book review of The Eden Myth


July 18 Liturgical outcome
Coordinators Jill Harris, Maxine Cunningham, Peter Cowley

July 30 - 
Aug 01
Otaki weekend
Power of Myth Videos; discussion; walks; camaraderie.
Friday evening to Sunday afternoon at Otaki. Accommodation on site or as you wish. 
You can attend the whole weekend or any part thereof. Details to follow.

Aug 08  Perspectives on aging.
A series of new explorations begins.
Coordinators Maxine Cunningham; David and Pauline Patchett; Jill Harris

Aug 22 To Be advised

Sept 5 To be advised

Sept 19 To be advised

Oct 3 To be advised

Oct 17 To be advised

Nov 7 To be advised

Nov 21 To be advised

Dec 5 Christmas Liturgy and Meal
Details to follow.

2003

Program for the year

March 2

Decisions to continue meeting at Johnsonville..
Themes confirmed and planning groups arranged up until mid-August.  Further planning group will be needed for ‘Exciting insights from the world of Science” to begin mid-year.  
“Getting to know each other”   exercises to discuss who we are, where we come from and what some of the important things are in our lives.
Facilitator – Margaret Rushbrook.


March Film evening at Lighthouse Theatre in Petone, followed by takeaways and discussion at Ian and Jill Harris, Days Bay.  See my forwarded email from Jill Harris – dates Friday 28 or Sunday 30 March – reply to Jill

March 16

Spirituality as manifest in the “New Zealand Anthology of Spiritual Verse”
Jill Harris


April 6 Session 1, “In Search of the Sacred”  Robin Lane

Easter No Meeting

May 4 Sacred Space, Sacred Time (Ralph Pannett)

May 18 Session 3,  Liturgy – theme of “In search of the sacred”

June - Queens Birthday No Meeting

June 15  Winter festival dinner as part of a liturgy

June 27-29 Otaki Weekend  (Group 3 – to arrange)

July 6  Bi-culturalism – The Way Forward on Bi-culturalism - Group 4: 

July 20 Bi Culturalism - Group 4

August 3

Liturgy – on theme of Bi-culturalism  - Jill Harris


August 17

“The Column” – Ian Harris


Sept 7

Sept. 21

Constructing a Believable God”.  Prof. Gordon Kaufman.  

David Simmers  (From the books of Professor Gordon Kaufman.) “Constructing a Believable God”.*  ctd.


Sept. 26-28

SOF Conference.  Inglewood


Oct. 5


Oct 19

Science Series
(1)  “Soil and Soul”, Jeanette Brunton

(2)  Exciting Insights from the World of Science.  Ralph is coordinating ideas for this at the moment with Ian Hunter, Maire, and Jeanette and Elizabeth.


 November 2

Prof. Lloyd Geering – Fundamentalism.  

Jim Cunningham, Chairperson


 November 8 or 9th  

Spring ‘Happening”  – something outside – an outing – social occasion – David and Pauline Patchett – more later.


 November 16

Soapbox   what are your passions?  Noel Cheer to coordinate helpers – need volunteers soon.


 Dec 7

Christmas meeting - Liturgy, end of year. (Group 7 to organize – will ask for volunteers at end of October.)


For any problems or issues with this website, email the webmaster