News

Jonathan Robinson writes...

What a great event on Saturday, as we celebrated the graduation of those who had been disciplined and persistent enough to finish their courses of study. I enjoyed the power-point slides that had been prepared as each one came up. The slide giving us just a little bit of the story of where the student had come from and what they had enjoyed about Carey. I’m looking forward to graduating myself next year, if, God willing, I too can demonstrate the discipline and persistence I need to do so.

It is not uncommon to hear people complain about theological education as a poor place to be formed spiritually; as a place where we get so stuck on words and ideas and we forget about God and discipleship. But thinking about those people who walked up to collect their hard won certificates, diplomas and degrees, I realise that the sort of study we are involved in is great formation and preparation, not just because of what we learn, but also because it requires discipline and perseverance. Jesus Christ warned us to count the cost before becoming his disciples, to take stock to not just look at the beginning but to look at what it would take to get to the end (Luke 14:25-33).

Paul fills his letters with exhortations to keep going, in Romans 5 he even tells his readers that suffering is a good thing because it teaches us to persevere. By that measure study is a good thing too. It teaches us to persevere, to finish what we started, to focus on the end even when in the middle we would often rather give up.

If you are like me, in the middle of a course of study and the end seems a long way away, be encouraged by Saturday’s graduation, one day it will be over and you will have achieved what you set out to do. If you are like me, in the middle of a Christian journey and you sometimes wonder if you are going to make it, be encouraged by Jude 24-25: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”Because unlike study, where let’s be honest, it all depends on you, in following Jesus we have someone else far more reliable and powerful to rely on, the one who can get us to the end, and instead of being presented with a certificate (nice though they are) you get to be presented faultless before the Lord and maker of the universe.

Now that will be a graduation ceremony like no other!

TUESDAY 30th

Community Worship 11:15am-12pm

Facilitated by Melanie Carroll and Geoff Dixon

Easter Communion

“The Power of the Gospel”

After Dinner Mints @ lunch

Val Goold: Val is the Head of Student Ministries for Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship (TSCF), and oversees and resources the teams that work on each university campus. She also sits on the Boards of Interserve (NZ) and Laidlaw College. Val has recently reconnected with her Māori heritage giving her new insight on her own life.

WEDNESDAY 31st

Carey Prayer in the Chapel

12:40-1:00pm

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

Easter Camps!

1-5 March

Mystery Creek and Canterbury

SECOND HAND BOOK SALE

Derek Christensen teaches as an adjunct lecturer at Carey in the areas of World Religions, Tentmaking and Marketplace Christianity. He is about to cull his personal library quite significantly and is offering Carey students the first run at buying these books.

From Monday 29– Wednesday 31 March, these books will be available to buy at reasonable prices.

In the chapel foyer area. Cash and cheques only.

MID SEMESTER BREAK

From Friday 2 April until Friday 23 April, normal classes and formation activities will be in recess. However office and library hours will remain the same. The Dining Room will be shut though from 5pm each night.

Easter Break:

Please note that on Tuesday 6 April (immediately following Easter) Carey, including the Library will be closed.

Everything will re-open as usual at 8:30am on Wednesday 7th April morning.

Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship is delighted to announce the launch of Catalyst books.

Catalyst books http://www.catalyst.ac.nz/store

Catalyst books is a new unique kiwi online Christian bookstore which enables people studying or working in the marketplace to find quality books from a Christian worldview in their discipline or profession at fantastic prices with free shipping.

Please keep an eye on your belongings and avoid leaving bags, computers and other valuables unattended. This applies to the library as well as other parts of the college.

Please also check with the librarians in advance if you intend to leave something there overnight. Otherwise they will not know if you are coming back!

CLEAN UPS

If you open it, please shut it.

If you dirty it, please clean it and put it away.

If you move it, please put it back where it came from.

Please keep an eye on general tidiness around the place, particularly with dirty dishes in the library and dining room.

Please also remember—water only in the lecture rooms.

CAREY MASTERS COURSE

Carey is thinking of developing a Masters course and wants to know what you think.

If you have an interest in Masters study and want some input at this early stage into our thinking please contact Myk Habets (myk.habets@carey.ac.nz) for a briefing document and then provide your feedback directly to him by email or come to a small forum.

Tuesday 30 March, 1:00 – 1:30

upstairs meeting room.

PEER SUPPORT

If you are a first year student and would like some mentoring or study support from a second or third (or forth or fifth!) year student, please talk to Melanie Carroll from the Student Association. Put a note in her pigeon hole with your contact details or email her on melanie_carroll@xtra.co.nz

She will set you up with someone to chat with one on one or in small groups about assignments, essays, the library and anything else you need help with! If you have been at Carey for a while and would like to help out new students, please talk to her too.

CALLING ALL BARISTAS!!

If you have barista experience and are keen to give a small amount of time each week (in the break in classes on either Monday or Wednesday) to serve your community at Carey please get in contact with Graeme Todd on 0210424280 or graeme@ctuh.co.nz