Plan your journey to Aldersgate this Sunday, April 11 with the ASB Christchurch Marathon and its associated road blocks in mind. All the events will start and finish outside the Christchurch Town Hall on Kilmore St, which will be closed from Park Tce to Durham St North and from Durham St North to Fitzgerald Ave. Bus services will continue and … Continued
…to get a church full of people of all ages cheerfully whistling “Always look on the bright side of life”? The same thing that gets all the kids excitedly bashing an egg-shaped piñata with a wooden spoon – only to discover has all kinds of things inside (birds, butterflies, flowers, bunnies), except no Easter eggs? … Continued
Till late last century, it’s probably true to say that your average protestant Christian believed in a god who offered their son to be killed like an animal sacrifice, as payback so humanity was relieved of its own death penalty for ‘sin’ or separation from God, each other and creation. And all we humans needed … Continued
On Sunday afternoon an overflowing Aldersgate Chapel celebrated the amazing life of Barbara Stephens, loving sister, faithful ecumaniac, wild and direct advocate, creative thinker, servant leader, generous and supportive friend. As part of the service Jill van de Geer encouraged people from all the organisations and groups Barbara was linked to and influenced – from … Continued
Aldersgate was alive last Sunday for a special celebration to close Pride Week in Christchurch. Just under 60 people of all ages took part in a colourful and creative celebration, under the theme of We Are Loved. Opening with the haunting sounds of the song “Draw the circle wide” from our lock-down friends at Eastminster … Continued
The re-launched Theology Discovery discussion group got off to a strong start in February, with 16 people enthusiastically sharing food for thought as well as finger food. The focus was on applying the lessons from liberation theology to better understand how we should act in our context today. We were able to draw on the … Continued
While there are up’s and down’s from week to week, it’s very encouraging to see a gradual growth in the number of children as a part of our inner-city congregation. Not only do they come with mums or dads, but are just as likely to come with grandads, grandmas, aunts or friends. They bring a … Continued
Do you have any pre-loved but good quality shoes that are not being used – men’s or women’s shoes? If the answer is yes, then we know a place they can be put to good use, and you can help make ‘happy feet’! The same, if you have a spare jacket in good condition. Darryn, … Continued
Waitangi was a weekend of celebrations for Durham Street. It began with the beautiful wedding of two of our more recent members – May and Natalie – on a stunning sunny Saturday of symbolism in Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula. We continued with celebrating the baptism of Mina Hunt as a part of our Sunday … Continued
On Monday evening 20 or so people from church and community came together to talk in the post-election environment about: What would it take to end poverty in Aotearoa New Zealand; What policies are needed; Is there the political will to make it happen? We heard simulating and to-the-point presentations from our three panelists: Jill … Continued
The second Sunday in Advent is traditionally Peace Sunday, and at Aldersgate it was celebrated by inviting different faith leaders to share their understanding of peace, in their faith tradition. The panel of speakers included: Imam Ibrahim Abdelhalim, Muslim Chaplain, Canterbury University Robert Hunt and Pimmy, New Zealand Buddhist Council Rev Philo Kinera, Durham Street … Continued
In kicking off a day-long hui hosted by Aldersgate, Braided: Te Awa Whiria Conversation on Spirituality, Deirdre Carroll (Ngāi Tahu from Ngāi Tūāhiriri Marae) asked, while we know where to go to get a sticking plaster, do we know where to go to replenish the unseen spiritual element within us? Dr Lucy D’Aeth (Canterbury District Health Board … Continued
In this Season of Creation, Durham Street Methodists celebrated River Sunday with a symbolic ‘river of life’ flowing down the middle of the Chapel, during our Sunday Gathering this week. Dorothy offered a challenging reflection on a hospitality for the excluded that empowers – and it all centred around a gift of water (from an … Continued
Around twenty people participated in a thoughtful and challenging discussion after church on the up-coming referendum on the Cannabis Legalisation & Control Bill. We had the advantage of some excellent, evidence-based input from top quality speakers on webinar: Chloe Swarbrick, Green MP Prof Joseph Bowden, Otago University & Advisor to Prime Minister’s Office Dr Debra … Continued
Durham Street Methodists enjoyed a combined service and hosted a church lunch for Vanefonua Tonga Youth Group on Sunday 27 September. Thanks to the Youth Group for sharing their action songs and helping to lead our worship. Thanks to David and the other volunteers for organising a magnificent three course lunch for us all to … Continued
Ram, our friend from The Dirty Apron cafe, took time out to teach a team of almost a dozen volunteers from Durham Street Methodists on the intricacies of the commercial espresso machine in the Aldersgate kitchen. Look forward to higher quality beverages at up-coming church events!
Registration is now open for this on-line programme to help you uncover the ways gender multiplicity is all throughout Scripture, how trans and gender non-comforming people can enliven gender for all people, and how trans theology can deepen your faith. Thanks to virtual technologies, we can now join in on this US-programme on trans theology, … Continued
This week we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week), as September 14 commemorates the presentation of the 1972 Māori language petition to parliament. We are all encouraged to use this Wiki o te Reo Māori to ‘welcome Māori language into our lives’ (whakauruamai hoki te reo Māori ki tōu ao), and … Continued
Most of the congregation participated with their own colourful contributions to a giant 5×5 mural to celebrate the commencement of Matariki. The result will stay on display for the season of Matariki in the Toi Gallery, at the Durham Street entrance in Aldersgate. See how many Matariki symbols you can spot in the mural – … Continued
This week our long-awaited Aldersgate window was successfully installed. The original Aldersgate in London was the spot where founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley’s “heart was strangely warmed”. His faith became real and visceral. It also impelled him into the world of poverty and the marginalised, so that he (and the church) would never … Continued