News

Derek Christensen  writes...

What is the most unusual announcement you have ever heard in a worship service?

I was at two conferences in Thailand last month, both at the same hotel/conference centre.  Both were to do with the placement of Christian professionals in a strategic part of the world.  There were two other groups also at the same site with the same purpose at the same time, something like 500 people in the one place with the one purpose.  But few will remember the conferences they attended for the inspiration, the strategies developed, the people they met, at least not as their first memory.  Their first memory will be the fact some 90% of all of the people there through that two week period, got food poisoning.  Few escaped.  Most got to the point of just waiting for it to happen, the first signs of queasiness, the sweaty hands and head, the stomach that began to say, "I want out" and then the dash for you know where to do you know what.  At least there was a choice of ends from which the problem came but that was little comfort at the time.  And yes, I became part of the 90% and not the 10%.

Back to the announcement.  It was made by a doctor at one of the conferences who asked for volunteers to provide stool samples, so the Thailand health department could do tests to try and isolate the problem.  Talk about giving your all for the Lord!  Anyway, many did give samples and the laboratories tested them and nothing was done.  We learnt later that this particular hotel has this particular problem at this particular season every year.  They just don't tell the groups that book and it so happened this year's outbreak was by far the worst ever.

The point of what I am saying?  The point is that sometimes being involved in God's work is a very down to earth thing, doing very mundane things simply because they have to be done.  Our bodies are part of the deal.  And they have to be fed, watered, nurtured, repaired and controlled.  As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:23-4, our bodies have in the old fashioned words of the KJV, 'less comely parts' and they need looking after too.

At the first Easter, Jesus made the grand sacrifice of his life but that involved his body being treated terribly.  It meant pain, blood, indignity, exposure, humiliation.  But he did what had to be done.  His heavenly status gave no protection from the earthly requirements of a physical body like ours.

Sometimes what we are asked to do for the Kingdom is totally mundane, sometimes embarrassing, sometimes so ordinary we are tempted not to bother.  That temptation must have been real for Jesus.  I'm glad he didn't give in to it.

MONDAY 2nd

Community Worship

12.:40-12:50pm

"Prayerstop"

Reflection and worship facilitated by George Wieland

TUESDAY 3rd

Community Worship

11:15am-12pm

Easter Communion

Facilitated by Robyn Mellar-Smith and Mike Warring

After Dinner Mints

Rodney Macann

Rodney was appointed the National Leader of the Baptist Churches of NZ in November 2006. Having co-pastored at Wellington Central Baptist Church for 16 years, Rodney comes to the role with a wealth of experience. He is also well-known for his bass-baritone operatic voice.

WEDNESDAY 4th

CHIPS PRAYER

9:00-9:25am  - chapel

Praying for the college, community & country

Community Worship

12:40-1:00pm

Worship for the whole community - creative, visual reflection.

ester 1

**VERY IMPORTANT ACADEMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS**

We Carey staff love the opportunity of interacting with you and teaching you. However, we have had a couple of matters becoming more of a problem in recent years. One is a tendency for a small minority of students to push boundaries with essay extensions. Some changes of policy will kick in for semester two with a view to Carey operating in a tighter manner in this area (we will advise of these changes later). In the meantime please note that there is already a policy in force that requires all work to be in by the end of the semester (22 June). Apart from the most exceptional circumstances, we will not be allowing any work to come in after that date. Please note and plan accordingly now.

The other concern is with plagiarism, especially the copying of large chucks into essays or even lifting almost all of an essay off the internet or some other source. Essays are designed to test your understanding and thinking. Copying big chunks does not test that - it only tests your ability to copy. Our policy on plagiarism is tightening up. Plagiarism can result in failure of courses and suspension of the right to undertake further study. So please, stay well clear of plagiarism.

Sorry to be a grump but our college must be fair to all and maintain standards of excellence and integrity.

Laurie Guy

CAFÉ THEOS

Thursday 5 April; 2-3pm

Come for coffee, conversation, and divine communion! Now there's an offer hard to refuse!  All welcome. See Myk Habets for details.

DIY THANKS

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the DIY day last Tuesday. We certainly got the best weather of the week for it! It makes a massive difference to have your help around the place and relieves the load on a number of people who work hard to keep the grounds tidy and others who work on the inside of the buildings. Hope you met some new people and had some fun while you were working.

OVER THE BREAK

6-20 April  - Easter/Mid semester break

23-27 April  - Study week

During these three weeks there are no weekly classes, but there will be a couple of block courses.

The library hours remain the same during the break.

CAREY CLOSED

Carey will be closed Good Friday, Easter Monday over the Easter break. The college will also be closed on Tuesday 10 April - please keep this in mind if you need to be in contact with anyone. 

EASTER CAMPS

There will be a large number of Carey people involved in Easter Camps around the country this weekend - taking seminars, leading youth groups and talking to people about what Carey offers. Please keep these people in your prayers as they plan, prepare, facilitate and share.