Introducing our writers and creators
Counting Down to Christ-mas - Te Taha Taiao - Ka Tangi Te Tītī
Tēnā koutou
Only a few more weeks until we begin our Counting Down to Christ-mas. We are looking forward to sharing this year’s theme Te Taha Taiao - Ka Tangi Te Tītī (Alongside the natural world - the Tītī calls) with you.
There’ll be at least one more email setting the scene ahead of the daily emails that will start arriving on 1 December (5am NZDT) and go through until 25 Decemeber.
This year we’re offering the full series for FREE. Whether you’re a paid subscriber or free subscriber you’ll receive the daily emails and can access content on the website.
Have a friend or colleague interested? Share this post with them!
Sign up buttons are below to register an individual or a group (groups are also free for 2024)
Writing, creating and curating Te Taha Taiao - Ka Tangi Te Tītī
Caroline is joined in the writing, creative contributing and curating of our Countdown to Christ-mas this year by Rev Jacynthia Murphy. We thought we’d introduce ourselves to you ahead of getting started on 1 December.
Introducing Jacynthia
Jacynthia is of Te Rarawa / Ngāpuhi / Ngatiwai descent and spent her young life frolicking on the Hokianga Harbour. It was here that her whānau would apply culturally sustainable practices to ensure the 'māra kai' (food source) would be ongoing for everyone everywhere.
Jacynthia has, over the years, contributed to webinars, productions, and writings for the United Nations Cop 15 & 16, as well as presenting side-events at Cop 25 & 26. She worked alongside indigenous peoples of Africa (effects from drought), Amazonia (effects from deforestation), and the Arctic (effects from glacial melt) in the Prophetic Indigenous Voices on the Planetary Crisis. Snippets have been included in this years' Countdown series.
Jacynthia is ordained in the Anglican Church and serves in the Hui Amorangi o Te Taitokerau as their Pou Hono working with the wisdom and experience of Kuia/kaumātua. She continues to encourage a better use of natural resources to make more friendlier 'gifts' so as to stop the use of 'fake' purchases in the 'cheap' shops which end up in our landfill that eventually kill our wildlife!
God blessed us with the creation of beautiful things, and we in turn must bless others by using and leaving it in as best a condition as when we received it. Manaaki mai, manaaki atu.
Introducing Caroline
Caroline has been a permanent resident on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula for the last 17 years and has had a connection to this whenua since she was born. As tangata Tiriti it is important to her to to work alongside tangata whenua exploring and encouraging a focus of kotahitanga and appreciating the richness of te reo. She is delighted to be able to work with Jacynthia for this year’s Counting Down to Christ-mas to put together this very special bilingual resource.
Caroline has been a writer for as long as she can remember. Writing is a non-negotiable aspect of her every day life. She brings a creative approach and a quirky and innovative emphasis to interpreting and communicating the Christian faith for others to appreciate. Her writing has featured in many publications and subscribers might also enjoy The Seed Disperser and 5 Senses Virtual Prayer Room. She enjoys many creative pursuits and has had a rich and varied career as a primary school teacher, newspaper sub-editor, Baptist minister and contracts administrator.
Words convey meaning, providing insight, purpose, inspiration and encouragement. This Christ-mas our theme will offer both words that might be old or new to us, stretching us and inspiring us. We begin with the Word, a name that the Gospel writer John uses for Jesus, present with God at the beginning of everything, the beginning of creation. Christ-mas is an opportunity for people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to celebrate what it means for each of us personally to live alongside others in God’s creation, acknowledging what it means to be followers of Emmanuel, God-With-Us. Every Christ-mas brings opportunities for us to be re-enchanted with our faith in our God.
Missed a recent post?
We sent out a post in September Introducing Counting Down to Christ-mas 2024 explaining more about what’s ahead for us in Advent this year. Our most recent post Including te reo in Counting Down has more information for those who speak te reo and would be able to help us by contributing a short video for our daily emails. If you would prefer to choose a favourite word or phrase in te reo please go ahead - or if you’d like to make a video using a word we’ll be including through Advent, send us a message and we can give you a few choices.
 | A guest post by
|