A Rounded Experience

In 1972 I attended my first South Island School of Theology at the Methodist church’s own outstanding property at Kawarau Falls,near Queenstown. Thirty-seven years later, Bev and I have just had three days at another.

The venue for the School is now Lakeland Park Christian Camp, a few kilometres along the lake front. The people have changed but the same elements were there. There was worship and guidance in meditation; there was strong intellectual input on leadership theory and the nature of God; there were practical exercises in preparing rituals for “fresh expressions” of the faith of local community; and we had some uproarious laughter, especially when the group experienced our murder mystery dinner on the last night. Comfortable accommodation and excellent meals rounded out a full and satisfying experience.

We think that people in any local church might hope for the same things. There should be satisfying worship and nurturing of the spiritual life. There should be good teaching on the bible and our life in God. People in a church fellowship should welcome opportunities of service through practical Christianity. Hopefully, too, people will be looking for new ways of being the church in the local community. And we think also, parish people should be having fun. If the Christian life fails to bring laughter and good cheer, especially in the face of difficulty, then it has failed altogether.

So we invite readers – and our own people back home – to look to worship, study, service and “fresh expressions” of life in faith. And have fun!