Stand together to support and protect innocent victims of the Syrian conflict. We need to send a message to the world: the people of Syria are NOT forgotten; New Zealand will NOT stand idly by as girls and boys, men and women, are deliberately targeted in this conflict; New Zealand will NOT neglect the most … Continued
This Sunday (the first in Advent) we launched the Christian World Service (CWS) Christmas Appeal at Durham Street. At nearly 80 years old, Farazia is working hard in her garden in South Uganda. She has to grow feed to feed her grandchildren who have been orphaned by HIV and AIDS.Her grandchildren spend hours each day … Continued
To celebrate the opening of Aldersgate, a new centre for spirituality, inclusion & social justice at the heart of Christchurch, we are sponsoring an art competition on the theme of “The Essence of Aroha”, for any children of primary or intermediate ages. Entries on A4 or A3 paper need to be delivered to Aldersgate,309 Durham … Continued
Celebrating a first birthday (and a few several years older at the same time) in our church community.
With the Aldersgate construction nearing completion, on a beautiful sunny summer morning at 7:30am on Thursday 28 Nov, Durham Street Methodists provided a sit-down, full-English cooked ‘thank you’ in the form of a breakfast for 65 workers (architects, designers, managers, builders, tradies and many others) who had contributed in one way or another to the … Continued
On 20 October 2019, Durham Street Methodists had a taste of the first, of what may become a regular feature in our new building – Cafe Church
Don’t miss out on the Aldersgate Opening Celebrations from the Behind-the-Scenes Sneak Peek Tours on Sunday 23 Feb, through to the Opening Celebration, Dinner and Festival of Music on 29 Feb to 1 Mar 2020. To keep in touch with what’s happening, register today by emailing opening@aldersgate.org.nz
Durham Street Methodists are behind an adventurous national Spiritual Well-being Project, that aims to help foster an environment where spirituality can flourish across the secular-religious continuum, and promote spiritual wellbeing. The origins can be traced back to the ecumenical 1988 Women’s Spirituality Conference at Rangi Ruru in Christchurch . Thirty years on, 50 women from around Aotearoa … Continued
The Christchurch Methodist Mission were named last night as a finalist in the Westpac Champion Business Awards. Along with Cholmondeley and Christchurch City Mission, they are up for The Press Champion Community Impact Award. It is great to be recognised for their efforts, especially in housing, and particularly in leading the HousingFirst initiative in Christchurch along with 5 other organisations. Most of … Continued
STOP PRESS: People’s generosity has been so effective, there is now a good supply of sturdy shoes available for those who need them. NO further donations are required at this time. Thank you. Do you have any pre-loved shoes the are not being used – men’s or women’s shoes? If the answer is yes, then … Continued
Last month’s meeting of the Men’s Group demonstrated their artistic abilities as they each painted a favourite picture.
Durham Street Methodist has been recognised as an Affirming Church by Diverse Church – NZ’s rainbow Christian network. You can check out their listing of Affirming Churches. According to Diverse Church NZ’s criteria, an Affirming church is one that accepts people into their community regardless of their gender identity or sexuality, including same-sex couples; they … Continued
Following the terrible attacks on the Christchurch mosques on 15 March, Durham Street Methodists, Community & Public Health, and Social Equity & Well-being Network (SEWN) called a lunchtime meeting, Being Unbreakable, to debrief, regroup and share ideas to consider how the sense of love and connectedness in our city could be supported to continue and … Continued
There was a great turnout and a beautiful warm sunny afternoon for the inaugural Interfaith Peace Train Bike Ride on Sunday 26 May. The bike riders, skateboarders, scooter riders and walkers started at Al Noor Mosque, and visited Buddhist, Hare Krishna, Jewish and Christian places of faith being ending with a cuppa at Linwood Ave. The … Continued
It is a tradition that when a significant building reaches the stage of its roof being completed, that the client organises a ‘roof shout’ for all those working on the construction. We celebrated ours for the Aldersgate Centre on 10 May. It involved providing a burger lunch for the workers and support staff (around 70 … Continued
A lunchtime meeting was held on Monday 6 May, at Community and Public Health, to debrief, regroup, and share ideas and support for a future more inclusive Christchurch following the terror attack of 15 March. “This terrorist sought to tear our nation apart with an evil ideology that has torn the world apart. But instead we have … Continued
After an Easter morning breakfast shared with Knox Presbyterians, a larger than usual gathering at Durham St Methodist church participated last Sunday in an Easter service led by Philo that included balloon blowing, origami butterflies and other surprises. It was a celebration that Resurrection is not just something to believe in, but to enact in … Continued
The Next Steps Expo 2019, held on Monday 15 April, was about offering school-leavers with disabilities and their parents/carers information on the options for community activities and resources available to them in Canterbury. Durham St Methodists were represented at the Expo for the first time by our team of Ben, Darryn, Philo and Sue and … Continued
In a rare joint statement, the world’s religious leaders appear on a video to offer unanimous advice to us all: make friends of people of other faiths. Click on the link below to watch the video and hear their collective call. Huffington Post article
The Prime Minister has announced that the Islamic call to prayer will be broadcast on state broadcasters TVNZ and RNZ tomorrow (Friday 22 March) to mark one week since 50 people were gunned down at the two Christchurch mosques. Thousands of fellow Cantabrians are expected to form human chains around Al Noor and Linwood Mosques … Continued