Acts 10:44-48
John 15:9-17

Love is what makes the church different from the world. Love that meets every challenge -  Jesus washed Judas’ feet when he knew of his up-coming betrayal.

How do we measure up?

We are a bunch of people from a mixture of  Wellington churches, with no fixed agenda except a desire to go after God together.

We want to focus on his beauty, and majesty, to worship the one who heaven calls wonderful counsellor, might God, everlasting father, Prince of Peace.

John, in his gospel, documents seven miracles or “signs” of Jesus; seven “I am” statements of Jesus. Today we look at the last of these - “I am the true vine”.

The people of Israel were God’s vineyard; on the Old Testament the vine was symbolic of prosperity and peace, and of God’s chosen people. But the vine is useless unless it bears fruit…

The Palestinian/Israeli conflict is a continuing tragedy rarely out of global news headlines. As Christians,  it has a special resonance for us as this conflict is unfolding in the land of the Bible.

Often it can be hard to sort through the varied ideas about how Christians should approach the issue. TEAR Fund NZ is committed to exploring the different viewpoints and encouraging healthy debate.

On Thursday May 17th at 7.30pm at All Saints, TEAR Fund NZ presents the film ‘With God on Our Side’ (running time less than 90 minutes), followed by Q and A with the Rev Dr Stephen Sizer, Anglican priest and scholar on both Christian Zionism and the Palestinian Christian community.

The film demonstrates that there is a biblical alternative for Christians who want to support all the peoples of Israel-Palestine, a theology that doesn’t favour one people group over another but instead promotes peace and reconciliation for both Jews and Palestinians.

Entry free. All are welcome. More information from http://www.tearfund.org.nz/sizer/

• Chief Executive of Tear Fund NZ, Steve Tollestrup has issued this statement in response to complaints received about Stephen Sizer’s visit.

May I begin by stating categorically that TEAR Fund:

1. Supports the right of the Jewish people to have a national homeland with safe and secure borders.

2. Considers anti-Semitism as abhorrent and evil.

3. Rejects unconditionally violence and takes seriously Christ’s call to be peace-makers and good Samaritans.

I have had the opportunity to spend time with Stephen Sizer and his wife Joanna over the last week and have repeatedly heard him at length support a Jewish homeland, reject anti-Semitism and urgently calling on the church to be praying for peace.

Stephen’s message is not complicated: Christians have a mandate to see that Palestinians as well as Israelis are also provided with rights and a secure future for their families. Further he (and TEAR Fund ) affirm that the Palestinian church be supported and equipped to be a witness of Christ and a peace-maker in the region.

Stephen was interviewed this week on Radio Rhema. Listen here: http://www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3792:newsrun-stephen-sizer-interview&Itemid=17

THERE were gasps of surprise and delight this morning at All Saints as dreadlocked pioneering priest Justin Duckworth was announced as the 11th Bishop of Wellington.

Justin, 44, was elected by last month’s Electoral Synod of the diocese, and his appointment has now been approved by the House of Bishops and General Synod. A statement from Archbishop David Moxon was read and a video interview with the bishop-elect was played to worshippers.

Justin, a founder of Urban Vision, is currently based with his wife Jenny and family at Ngatiawa, a contemporary monastic community near Waikanae.

Last year Justin and Jenny published a book ‘Against the Tide, Towards the Kingdom’ about their ministry and the story of Urban Vision.

He describes the Anglican Church in Aotearoa/New Zealand as “a total treasure, but a treasure that needs to be dusted off”.

Justin succeeds the Rt Rev Tom Brown, who retired last month after 15 years as Bishop of Wellington. He will be ordained and installed as bishop on Saturday June 30th at a service in Wellington Anglican Cathedral, starting at 1pm.

You can read more about him at http://anglicantaonga.org.nz/News/TIKANGA-PAKEHA/Dreadlock

You can see a video interview with Bishop-elect Justin, shown at All Saints to enthusiastic applause, and across the diocese today, here:  http://wn.anglican.org.nz/

Or an interview on “Campbell Live” at http://www.3news.co.nz/Justin-Duckworth-not-your-ordinary-bishop/

On National Radio: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/20120430 (Scroll down to 8:27)

And on Rhema’s Breakfast show: http://www.rhema.co.nz/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3677:new-anglican-bishop-justin-duckworth&Itemid=15

He was also profiled in The Saturday Herald http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10803617

Please pray for Justin and Jenny and their family as he prepares for this challenging new role leading our diocese:

Good and gracious God,
light of the faithful and shepherd of souls:
we give you thanks that you have called Justin Duckworth
to be the bishop of our Diocese,
to feed your sheep with your word
and to guide them by his example;
give us grace to pray for Justin, Jenny and their family,
support, guide and strengthen them with your Holy Spirit,
and bring us all to walk in the steps of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

In a highly charged and threatening scene - a courtroom - salvation, not condemnation, that is on offer. Peter is bold in speaking out about what he had seen and heard. We must sing His praises too.

Jesus said “I am the Good Shepherd”. What does it mean to live our lives walking in the way of the Good Shepherd?

• The Good Shepherd knows his sheep. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice, listen, and follow him.
• The Good Shepherd knows his purpose. We need to draw people to the Good Shepherd, by living the calling. It will require us to be persuasive, creative and committed.
• The Good Shepherd knows and is known by the Father.  He loved the Father and was obedient, even to death. We too must be willing to obey and to love.

Mark is an evangelist, Anglican church vicar and innovator, and has co-written the Family Time course with his wife Lindsay.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from his experience and be encouraged by stories of God at work in the world.

Saturday May 5th, 9.30am-3pm at St Alban’s Church, 339 Albert Street, Palmerston North. Cost $25.

More information and register at http://newwine.org.nz/events/mark-melluish-and-mark-aldridge/

City Missioner Canon Susan Blaikie says more donations are urgently needed to take the mission through to its annual appeal in June.

The food bank is particularly low on baked beans, spaghetti, tinned fish, cereals and tinned or packet soup.

You can drop off your donations in the basket at the back of church, and All Saints member Mary will take down to the mission HQ in Newtown.

Please act now to help families in need in our city.

We need to create missional communities with missional people. We can do this by:

• a rhythm of daily committed prayer
• practising hospitality
• practising learning formation

Simon shares some ideas of how we can do this.

Are we “heads down” or “hands up” people?