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From the editor

Tēnākoe,Maloelelei,Nisabulavinaka,안녕하세요,Fakaalofalahi atu,Kiaorana,你好,Noa‘ia,Kumusta,Hello!

ThisweekisHolyWeek.Atimethatmeanstherearealotof opportunitiestosharetheGospelmessage.Oneofthethingsthat struckmeasIreadthroughtheaccountofJesus’triumphalentry intoJerusalemisthewaypeoplelaytheircloaksontheroad.

Aperson’scloakwasmorethanagarmentitrepresentedidentity, status,andprotection.Tolayone’scloakonthegroundbefore someonewasanactofsubmissionandhonour,adeclaration:“You aregreaterthanI.Iyieldmyplace,myauthority,mycovering,to You.”

ByspreadingtheircloaksunderJesus’feet,thepeopleweresaying, “YouareourKing.WesubmittoYourrule.”

Yetweknowthatmanywhoshouted“Hosanna”wouldlatershout “CrucifyHim.”Why?BecauseJesuschallengedtheirexpectations. Hedidn’toverthrowRome;Heoverthrewpride,sin,andselfsufficiency.

Thequestionforusis:Whatcloaksarewewillingtolaydown?

Arewewillingtolaydownthecloakofself-rule?

Thecloakofpride?

Thecloakofcomfortorcontrol?

TowelcomeJesusasKingmeanssurrenderingourrightstoHim notjustinmomentsofworship,butindailylife.

Inprayer,

Two Cups

Rev. Brett Jones

National Superintendent

Ihavealotofcoffeecups.Ineedthem.Allofthem.It’simportanttohave therightcupfortheoccasion.Ihaveasmallcupthatisjustrightformy longblackinthemorning.Ihavetheperfectflatwhitecupandsaucer-in factIhavemorethanonesowecanshareacoffeetogether.Ihavea takeawaysizedcupthatfitsinmycar’scupholder.Andmore…it’sallabout therightcupfortheoccasion

InMatthew26wediscover2cups:TheCupofSalvationandtheCupof Suffering.2cupsforabigoccasion.

ThecupofsufferingisfirstmentionedearlierinMatt20:22-23.Jimmyand Johnny’smumcomestoJesustoaskforspecialtreatmentandJesussays toJamesandJohn:

22"Youdon'tknowwhatyouareasking,"Jesussaidtothem."CanyoudrinkthecupI amgoingtodrink?"

IntheOldTestamentthecupissometimesusedasametaphorforblessing butfarmoreoftenit’susedtosignifyjudgmentorpunishmentinmost casesinresponsetowrongdoing,forexampleinIsaiah51

17Awake,awake!Riseup,OJerusalem,youwhohavedrunkfromthehandofthe LORDthecupofhiswrath,youwhohavedrainedtoitsdregsthegobletthatmakes menstagger.

Weseeacupthatleadstosuffering.Oratleastamajorhangover!

ComingtoMatthew26,JesuspraysatransparentprayerinGethsemane: "MyFather,ifitispossible,maythiscupbetakenfromme.YetnotasIwill,butas youwill."

Herewehaveaprayerwhichappearssimilarbutisdistinctlydifferent. Jesusacceptedthathisdeathwasinevitable. Butinthefirstprayerhe’s askingthatthecupbetakenfromhim. Herethetakingawayisnotfrom himbutbyhim. ThecupofsufferingcanonlybetakenawayifJesusdrinks it.Takenawayfromus.TheCupofSuffering. Acupfortherightoccasion.

TheCupofSalvationiscentraltotheLastSupperwhichJesuscelebrated withhisdisciplesintheweekleadingtohisdeath TheJewishfestivalofthe PassoverprovidesuswiththehistoricalandtheologicalsettingbutJesusis changingitup:

27Thenhetookthecup,gavethanksandofferedittothem,saying,"Drinkfromit,all ofyou.28Thisismybloodofthecovenant,whichispouredoutformanyforthe forgivenessofsins.Matthew26:27-28

Somethingnewiscoming–withhisveryfirstactionhe’schangingthings–atPassovertherewereaseriesof4cupsthatwouldbedrunk–buteach onewoulddrinkfromtheirowncup.HereJesusisinvitingthemtodrink fromhiscup It’sareversal,he’sdrinkingourcupthatwemightdrinkfrom his.

Wehumanbeingsarecapableofgreatandwonderfullove.Iguesswetake afterourFather.Yetthereisnotoneofuswhogetsitrightallthetime.Our wrongdoing,ourflaws,ourself-centredness–thesethingsattimesdefine usinwaysthatwe’drathernot.

Jesusissaying,withthisnewcovenantyouarenotdefinedbyyourwrong doing,yourflaws,yourstuffups–you’redefinedbywhetheryou’vepicked upthisnewcovenant.Thisisnotlikeacontract–it’sarelational commitmentImaketoyouinthisactofsuffering.I’lltakeontheburdenof everythingyou’veeverdonetohurtanotherperson,everythingyou’veever donetohurtyourself.

Augustineputitthisway:

Iwillreceivethecupofsalvation.Whatisthiscup?Thebitterbutsalutary cupofsuffering,thecupwhichtheinvalidwouldfeartotouchifthedoctor didnotdrinkitfirst.Thatiswhatthiscupis;wecanrecognisethiscupon thelipsofChrist,whenhesays,Father,ifitcanbeso,letthiscuppassfrom me.Itisaboutthiscupthatthemartyrssaid,Iwillreceivethecupofsalvation andcalluponthenameoftheLord.

TheCupofSalvation:therightcupfortheoccasion. ThisEastermaywebepeoplewhoworshipJesuswhochosetodrinkfrom thecupofsufferingthatwewouldnothaveto.Maywedrinkdeeplyfrom thecupofsalvationaswecometoHiminsurrender.Andmaywebe cupbearerstoallthoseforwhomJesusdied.

SUNZ Children's Ministry Training

Inspirationalandrelevanttrainingforallinvolvedin children and families ministry. Our annual training conferencesaredesignedaroundyourneedstoprovide innovativeandeffectiveideasforministryinAotearoaNew Zealand.

Ourconferencesmodelcreativewaysofengagingwith theBibleandreflectthoughtfulengagementwithrelevant anduptodateissues,withchallengeandencouragement.

Wellington 10th May

The Street Church

Auckland

24th May

Mt Albert Baptist Church

Christchurch

7th June

St Aidans, Bryndwr

Cost $95

Find out more and register here:

East City Wesleyan

E a s t e r E g g s t r a v a g a n z a

Easter EngagementAroundthe Country

Papakura Wesleyan

163 Dominion Road, Red Hill, Auckland 2110

Good Friday Service, 18 April 6:30 PM,

Resurrection Sunday, 20 April 10 AM

Redoubt North Wesleyan

51 Diorella Drive, Clover Park, Auckland 2019

Passover Celebration - Thursday evening 17 April

Good Friday service - 10 am Friday 18 April

Resurrection Sunday service - 10 am Sunday 20 April followed by baptisms at Maraetai Beach (12 noon)

The Well Christchurch

364 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch 8023

GOOD FRIDAY, 18 APRIL 2025 - 7PM

Tenebrae Service of Shadows

Our Good Friday gathering follows Jesus' journey through shadows into the darkness of death. A sombre and reflective service of scripture, prayer, silence, and Holy Communion.

EASTER SUNDAY, 20 APRIL 2025 - 9AM & 11AM

Resurrection Sunday

Join us on Easter Sunday as we celebrate our risen Lord Jesus Christ and the new life we have in Him.

East City Wesleyan

219 Burswood Drive, Botany

GOOD FRIDAY, 18 APRIL 2025 - 5PM

"Two Crosses"

Join us for Good Friday worship in a creative, reflective space. We'll be reflecting on the two crosses either side of Jesus at the first Easter We're gathering for a meal from 5.45pm (catered) and for a Prayer Walk from 5pm if you want to join us.

EASTER

SUNDAY, 20 APRIL 2025 - 10AM

"Seeing is Believing"

This Easter we ' re celebrating the risen Jesus in our family service. We'll be engaging with 3 different responses to SEEING Jesus at the first Easter!

Last year we participated in this initiative through a 24-7 prayer roster for WMCANZ. We will be sharing that again closer to the time but we would encourage you to think about how you could encourage participation in this initiative within your own setting.

Here are three ways you can engage with this initiative:

Yourchurchcan prayfor24hours, settingupaprayer roomandjoiningin thisinitiativeby participatingatany pointduringtheten days.

Your church may be large enough or passionate enough to cover the ten days of continuous prayer!

Your church can partner with churches in your city and region or within our denomination/ movement and cover the ten days of continuous prayer together This may look like one centralised prayer room in a town or city or multiple prayer rooms across these ten days. Not only are we praying, but we are gathering in unity together to seek God. For resources and to sign up go to: https://www.247prayer.nz/pentecost-prayer

Formation Pastor - The Well Christchurch

AreyouadynamicspiritualleaderwithaheartforseeingpeopleformeddeeplyinChrist?

TheWellChurchisseekingafull-timeFormationPastortojoinourpastoralteam. As FormationPastor,youwillbepartoftheSeniorLeadershipTeamandplayacrucialrolein leadingandoverseeingtheFormationMinistryatTheWellChurch.Youwillberesponsiblefor providingstrategicandpracticalleadershiptotheFormationTeamLeadersastheydevelop andimplementarobustdiscipleshippathwaytohelpchurchmembersgrowtowards maturityinChristwithinthecontextoflovingcommunity.

WhoWe'reLookingFor

Astrong,vibrant,personalrelationshipwithJesusChristandapassionformaking discipleswhomakedisciples

Passionateabouthelpingpeoplegrowintheirfaithjourney

Significantexperienceinleadinganddevelopingeffectivediscipleshipinitiativeswithina churchcontext

Excellentcommunicationandteachingskillswiththeabilitytoengageandinspirepeople ofallagesandbackgrounds

Aproventrackrecordofrecruiting,training,andempoweringvolunteerleaders

Strongorganisationalandadministrativeabilitieswiththecapacitytomanagemultiple prioritiesandprojects

Acollaborativespiritandtheabilitytoworkeffectivelyaspartofapastoralteam

CommittedtothetheologicalbeliefsandministryvisionofTheWellChurchandthe WesleyanMethodistChurchofAotearoaNewZealand

Alicensedorordainedministeringoodstandingwhois(oriswillingto)becomean ordainedministerwiththeWesleyanMethodistChurchofAotearoaNewZealand (WMCANZ)

WhatYou'llBeDoing

LeadingandsupportingtheFormationMinistryTeamleadersintheimplementationofour discipleshippathwayacrossChildren'sMinistry,Youth,Intermediates,AdultDiscipleship, andPastoralCare

EmbodyingandpromotingTheWell'svisionforspiritualformation

CollaboratingwithTheWellChurch'sLeadershipTeamtoensureFormationalignswith theoverallvisionanddirectionofthechurch

Recruiting,training,andsupportingvolunteerleaders

Providingpastoralcareandguidancetoleaders,andensuringpastoralcarepathways andsupportsareinplacewithinformationalcommunitiesandthewiderchurch

ManagingtheFormationandPastoralCareministrybudgetsandresources HowtoApply

Afullpositiondescriptionisavailableonrequest.Interestedcandidates,pleasesend: Pastoralresume,Theologicalbeliefstatement,Visionforspiritualformation,Ministry referencestoclint@thewellorg

Event Calendar

Good Friday | 18 April

Easter Sunday | 20 April

Easter Monday | 21 April

Anzac Day | 25 April

National Council | 29 April

Donations

We invite you to make donations to the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Aotearoa-New Zealand. Join us to make a difference and reach the lost with the grace and holiness of Jesus Christ. Using the WMCANZ bank account number below, please include your first initial and surname in the particulars field and 'donation' in the reference field.

03-0206-0380248-000

Particulars: e.g. 'J Smith' Reference: e.g. 'Donation'

Please email accounts@wesleyan.nz with your details to receive a donation receipt.

Thank you!

Looking for your local Wesleyan Methodist Church? Click here to find your nearest Wesleyan Methodist church. Services are held in English, Fijian, Rotuman and Tongan with several churches using multiple languages in their worship. Scan