Sea of Faith — Dunedin

 FROM THE ACTING CHAIR

This newsletter comes to you from the Acting Chairperson as Alan, our newsletter editor, is having a well deserved break in the North Island for a few weeks. Please read the newsletter carefully as there are a number of important notices. Many of you were unable to attend the March meeting as it was the beginning of the Easter break so I will try to bring you all up to date with changes and future events.

THERE WILL BE NO MEETING IN APRIL. After some discussion we decided that we would cancel the meeting for April 25th which is Anzac Day. A number may find it difficult to attend a meeting on this public holiday. Also, it would coincide with the Anzac concert, the first concert in the renovated Town Hall which some members wish to attend. The next meeting will therefore be on May 23rd when we will have further discussion on the euthanasia question. Margaret Feist will lead this, with reference to a paper written by the late Robbie Highton. This will be an important follow up to the talk given by Richard Egan and there will be plenty of time for members to discuss and share ideas raised by the euthanasia debate.

Chairperson: Gretchen Kivell
Treasurer: Ruth Morgan
Newsletter editor: Alan Jackson
Webmaster: Ian Fleming
Librarian: To be filled
Committee: Marjorie Spittle [Immediate past Chair], Margaret Feist, David Kitchingman, Frances Smithson, Peter Wishart

As Gretchen is unable to take up the position of Chairperson until she retires in June, Marjorie will carry on as Acting Chairperson until the end of June. Copies of the Minutes of the AGM 2012, Chairperson’s, Treasurer’s, and Webmaster’s reports are posted on the website.

The Library: Peter Wishart retired from his position as Librarian which he has held for several years. Peter was thanked for the great work he has done in storing, transporting the books to and fro and administering the library for us. Appropriately, after the AGM, Peter gave us a very informative and clear update on the composition of the library which has recently increased with the addition of 60 books donated by Margaret Feist. Peter made us aware of the richness of the books we have available
and the number of first class writers represented in the library, many from our own country.
The new Committee will discuss how the library will operate in the future and report decisions made at the meeting in May. In the meantime we are grateful to Ian Fleming who offered to catalogue all the books and list them on the website where you will be able to peruse them.

The Quiet Time: Members present were asked what they thought of the quiet time at the start of the meeting, as the trial period for this had come to an end. There was unanimous support from those present, a number of people stating that they appreciated the break between the eating and chatting to a cooling off time where we could focus our thoughts on the meeting ahead. As there was a small attendance, we will continue on a trial basis in the meantime and would like to hear opinions from other members, either for or against.

We have made a firm commitment to hosting the 2014 National conference at St Hildas Tolcarne Boarding House in October 2014. We will have considerable help from the steering committee with this but will be very pleased to have help from as many as possible in the run up to the conference later next year. Marjorie has agreed to convene the conference committee.

The meal and timing:
We continue to enjoy the excellent food provided by St Barnabas. It is quite a rush for those helping with the clean up in the kitchen to complete the job by 6 p.m. We have decided to start the meal at 5 p.m. and would like people to complete eating and drinking by 5 40 p.m. Members can then have time to chat and socialise and we will all be ready to start at 6 p.m. with the formal meeting.

Meeting at Mornington Methodist Church:
Instead of our April meeting we would encourage members to attend an address by James Veitch on the work of the Jesus Seminar [with particular reference to John’s gospel] at Mornington Methodist Church, Galloway Street, at 7.30 p.m. on 17th April. Admission is $5.00 and includes a light supper. Everyone is most welcome. You are also invited to attend the meal beforehand, if you wish, at 6. 00 p.m. The meal costs $15 and needs to be pre-booked by ringing Colin Gibson 453 6662.

Thank you for being patient in reading and digesting all of the above information.

Next meeting: May 23rd
Topic: Euthanasia.
The meal : 5.00 p.m. till 5. 40 p.m. $3
Meeting only: 6.00 p.m. $2