News

Myk Habets writes: A growing percentage of the population find shopping to be a spiritual experience. Report after report around the world is recording the phenomenon. These people, often called metrospirituals, have certain similar characteristics: they have a respect for the environment and other cultures, they want to get in touch with their so-called ‘inner selves’, and they often explore ancient physical practices to do this. So why are they called metrospirituals? Because they seek this spiritual experience through retail therapy, they are willing to pay top dollar for products which may help them live these values with style. An example of the sorts of products metrospirituals consume, would be courses on ecological friendliness, organic products, fair trade goods, self-healing classes, yoga, holistic wellbeing seminars, and a variety of workshops and expensive guru-led practices. Pop-culture expert James Twitchell has said that “for metrospirituals the sensation associated with buying for-a-cause goods can be similar to the feeling of rapture others seek at church.” Makes interesting food for thought, doesn’t it? We often ask where people are on a Sunday morning as they are not in church. The answer may be they are enjoying the products of their metrospiritual cravings. Surely then the church had better wake up to this trend and put something on the smorgasbord of for-a-cause consumables. Is this the new evangelism for the 21^st century?

I know of one such ministry initiative which is directly appealing to metrospirituals, called Bright Hope International. This is a Christian aid agency which works with people in developing countries and partners with them in aid and development programmes, and at the same time bringing the message of Good News to them. One project is run out of Northern Thailand, the so-called ‘golden triangle’, where they are establishing coffee plantations in place of opium crops. It is coffee-with-a-cause and is called La Mai. The farmers are promised a set and fair price for their coffee beans and thus enjoy a standard of living which allows the family to eat and educate their children so they don’t have to sell their daughters into prostitution and lose their sons to drugs. What a great initiative. You can get the coffee by calling Christchurch 3410933. Tastes good too! Compare that with some other groups who campaign supporting for-a-cause initiatives and yet never actually establish these initiatives themselves. A TV episode on intrepid explorers aired a programme with Paul Henry examining one such group. He made a number of really interesting and useful points which basically amount to the fact they these people protest, picket, lobby and campaign, but actually don’t provide much by way of solutions. Now that is just one man’s perspective, but I appreciated it. It is like the old time preachers standing on a street corner telling people about hell but never giving them so much as a glimpse of heaven. So much of our Christianity today seems to be about protesting the way others live and pointing the finger. Metrospirituals are searching for something more than hip, environmentally and socially friendly products. They are looking for fulfilment and purpose and meaning. Jesus said, ‘I have come that you may have life, and life to the full!’ (Jn 10:10) Oh man – abundant life that is satisfying and whole. Now that is good news! And that is a for-a-cause product which would be attractive to any metrospiritual if we could just get past the protesting and on to the positive difference the Good News actually makes.

How about asking yourself what the Good News has to say to metrospirituals and see how the Gospel is able to take shape and form in that context. It may surprise and comfort you to see how relevant God’s Word is to any situation. It may also help equip you and I to talk to our metrospiritual friends at work and in social environments.

Oh one more tip – perhaps better not to call them metrospirituals to their face!

TUESDAY 5th

Community Worship 11:15am-12pm

Gospel Then & Now

2 Timothy 2:8-10 – George Wieland

Facilitators:

Tracy Morgan and Eamon Sullivan

After Dinner Mints @ lunch

Nicola Burrows: A graduate of Carey with a Bachelor of Applied Theology and a Diploma of Pastoral Leadership, Nicola is in her second year as associate pastor at Laingholm Baptist Church in West Auckland.

WEDNESDAY 6h

Carey Prayer in the Chapel

12:40-1:00pm

Praying for the college, community, country and people. All welcome!

UPCOMING EVENTS — MUSIC WEEK!

11-14 May

NZ Music Month in May has become a Kiwi cultural fixture. This year it's coming to Carey! Are you a muso, songwriter, rapper, singer, composer? We need you!

Here's how you can participate in Carey Music Week:

Tuesday (11.15am-12.00pm): Music in Worship

Bring a song, music, dance to contribute to worship; be part of a group (playing, singing, leading) leading our worship through music. See George Wieland if you can help (george@carey.ac.nz; 526 6593)

Tuesday (12.00-1:00pm) and Wednesday (1.00-1.45pm):

Lunchtime Cabaret Showcase

Carey musical talent - 5 min (or less) slot with minimum equipment (open mic style). Must be able to set up in seconds and willing to perform over eating and chatting noise! Open to all sorts of music (doesn't have to be "worship" or for a "Christian" market, but it can be). On your own or form a group! Acapella, instrumental, vocals...go for it! Sign up for Tuesday or Wednesday slots in the dining room.

Carey Music online

Go to careyonline and find where you can upload video or audio clips of your music....under the news section (‘Carey Music week’).

COFFEE!!!

Mondays and Wednesdays;

10.45am-11.15am $2 a cup

OPEN TUESDAY

Each year we hold a number of open days. This is an opportunity for people to come and be a part of what is happening around Carey, sit in on a lecture, meet staff and students, ask any questions they have and generally get a feel for what study and this community is like.

The first one for this year will be held on 19 May from 8:45am-4:00pm. Please do encourage who may be contemplating study either in the second semester or in 2010, to come to this day. Contact Neroli to register (registrar@carey.ac.nz or 0800 773 776).

LIBRARY NEWS

Today we welcome a new library manager, Siong Ng. Siong is originally from Malaysia, but from the 1990s came from Australia and then New Zealand. She has been working at Mt Albert Public Library and we look forward to her being part of the staff team.

ACADEMIC UPDATES FOR SEMESTER TWO

Please note the following clarifications about course listings for Semester two.

* MB6/736 Revelation is available as an on-site and distance paper.

* MM6/786 Christian Social Work is being taught as a block course in Christchurch from the 21^st-25^th September as a level 6 and 7 course

* MM662 Forming Faith Communities is no longer being offered.

* MM681 Cross Cultural Studies block course in July and August is no longer being offered.

NB: Russell Thorp is away from Carey until Monday 18 May. If you have specific course enquiries please connect with Neroli Hollis.

Please also remember that if for some reason you are not planning on submitting an assignment, please communicate this to the Registrar rather than just not submit.

CAREY DIALOGUES

TUESDAY 26 MAY

“Open Theism and Classical Theism”

Three times a semester during chapel staff engage in a theological dialogue. The upcoming dialogue concerns a fast growing theology that asks questions like: Does God change his mind? and ‘Does he ever change it in response to our prayers and actions? It asks if God knows the future, if he changes, and if he is more like us than we care to admit? Mick Duncan will speak to the openness theology and put forth a case for the merits of that way of thinking while Myk Habets will represent classical theism (or orthodoxy). A key part of these dialogues is the questions put forward from students so do feel free to come prepared to ask some questions.

TOWARDS A KIWI-MADE PREACHING SYNOPSES

At this recent day long event, collated synopses of the sessions were made available. For anyone interested, there are some spare ones on the counter at reception. Distance students, if you would like one, just email with your address rachel.murray@carey.ac.nz

HEALTH AT CAREY

You will be aware from news reports that cases of swine flu have now been confirmed in NZ.flu or ordinary flu, the precautions to stop of the spread this are usually commonly known however please do be aware of these and adhere to them for the sake of yourself and others....

· stay at home and away from others if you are sick

· cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and put used tissues into rubbish bins

· avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth – germs spread that way

· be careful to wash hands often with soap and dry them thoroughly – hand hygiene is critical: even when you start to feel better there is still a risk of infecting others, so keep to the 20/20 rule – 20 seconds washing and 20 seconds drying.

· keep surfaces clean at home, work and here at Carey.

Please also contact a GP or medical centre if you’re experiencing signs of severe flu such as rapid or difficulty breathing, chest pain or severe vomiting.

At Carey...given that we have a kitchen area that is ‘multi-user’, it is important that anyone using it is careful about cleaning up carefully after you have finished. This includes the cleaning of benches and the proper washing up and putting away of dishes.

Thank you for your help in this.

STUDENT CONGRATULATIONS!!

To Anne Harrison and Wayne Sheddan on their marriage on 18 April.

To Shaun and Sharon Hutson (2nd year PL) on the birth of Emily on 26 April.

LAIDLAW-CAREY GRADUATE SCHOOL (LCGS)

Carey and Laidlaw Colleges combine to offer masters and doctoral programmes of study through LCGS. On Tuesday 5 May, Anne Albers, LCGS Registrar, will be with us for lunch. Any current or prospective postgraduate students, please feel free to talk with Anne, raise issues with her, or get information. Anne will be available immediately after lunch in the upstairs meeting room (opposite the Ministry Training offices).

CENTRE FOR INTERCULTURAL STUDIES THISWEEK

Sylvia Everett from Rambai Mukti Mission will be on site this week. If you are interested in finding out more about this organisation and their work or how you might be involved, please do connect with her over lunches or in the Intercultural Studies room.