Methodist and associated musings

Pleased as I am to be serving in an ecumenical appointment here, being Methodist by denomination has come to the fore this week. I neither worship Wesley nor Methodism, but am deeply grateful to both. Revd Loraine Mellor is President of the British Methodist Church 2017-2018 and, with husband John, came to attend the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma's Conference. In a very busy week, they found time to come to PTC for morning tea - thanks for that - and were warmly welcomed as ever by our community. Here's Loraine with the PTC Faculty - most of them - and she and John garlanded, in the beautiful way of things here.

Their visit coincided with the first wedding anniversary of Saimoni and Kathryn, so that was a joyous extra excuse for cake. In this particular matrimonial union, our College's IT manager married the Biblical Studies/Hebrew lecturer. I told her it was a big step just to get quicker Windows upgrades...

We've had a wonderful surge of course enrollments recently, including a bunch of Sunday School teachers from the Wesley Division (the District that uses English as the medium for worship & learning) of the Fiji Methodist Church. (Collective noun for a group of Sunday School teachers is what, do you reckon? Answers on a postcard...) They called me over to do a Saturday morning session and then a group signed up to do one of the Bible courses. It's a great idea to learn with like-minded friends for encouragement and support, and commendable that as Sunday School teachers they've recognised their own need for more confidence in their Biblical knowledge and want to build firmer foundations for faith transmission. So - if you pray - keep the Sunday School teachers of Wesley City Mission in mind, please.

Thinking about Fiji's Methodist Conference again, President Loraine preached at the Ordination service for Presbyters and Deaconesses. No male Deacons in MCF. It was a packed house at Centenary Church in the centre of Suva, and there are lots more photos and videos on the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma's Facebook page. But here are one or two. Below, leading the way, is the MCF President, Revd Dr Tevita Nawadra Banivanua, with former service as a Circuit minister in Wigan to his many credits.

Sunday morning's preacher had been Revd Prince Devanandan, President of the New Zealand Methodist Church, Te Haahi Weteriana Aotearoa. He is Sri Lankan, ordained in the Anglican Church of Ceylon, Diocese of Colombo and migrated to New Zealand in 2003. 'Passionate about community development, public policy, living wage, human rights, climate justice and gender justice. Committed to ecumenism' - says his web profile. It was great to hear his deep and thoughtful sermon on embracing faith not fear; a spot on message for Methodists in Fiji, may I humbly suggest...

And the week before Conference is our solevu - Festival of Praise - joyous, jubilant Church choirs, performing one after the other for a whole week in the rain-drenched, swamp of a local rugby ground, Furnival Park. I tell you, if you want your spirits lifted, click below on one of many videos. Everything was live streamed and recorded. Or for alternatives, go back to the Methodist Church Facebook page, click videos on the left menu, and prepare to be inspirationally serenaded for hours! I'm ever astounded by the commitment, dedication, discipline and phenomenal talent poured out abundantly for the praise of God. 

And friends, if that wasn't enough excitement, hang onto your coconuts because it's only the College bazaar next Saturday. Oh yes! We just had our final briefing. No one should break any table legs, we were sternly warned. I paste a programme below for your delectation and delight and await your kind attendance. Get the green Nasese bus - stops at the gate. Bring money. The College has got a budget deficit the size of Brazil...

Precious people

Well now, what is there to report? It seems to have been a week or two of pausing to appreciate precious people and celebrate a thing or two. Not just in Fiji, but across the wider world of global, mission relationships and friendships too. 

Close to home, Crystal Valerie Tuilomani Kalouniviti came 'round for birthday tea with Mum Lome and Dad Koli. We are now two. We can eat strawberry ripple ice cream very efficiently with a plastic spoon, enjoy sticker books: I got her 'Jonah and the Whale', and, as chance would have it, one of our favourite words in English is 'FISH!' So, ample opportunity for stabbing pages enthusiastically and declaring same when engrossed in a book depicting a spurting whale on most pages...

A hundred years ago (well actually from 2006-2009) I was Director of what was then called the Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies [SOCMS] at The Queen's Foundation for Theological Education in Birmingham, UK. Precious people from those years keep in touch and kindly invite me to things all over the world. Kind eh? I can't go - unless you're offering to pay the air fares - but it's nice to be virtually involved. So here's an ordination I didn't get to...

...when dear Omana's son Vinith was made a Deacon of the Mar Thoma Church. How wonderful! Omana did her Masters degree at Birmingham and was something of a mother to her global year group. She missed the family so much while she was away for studies but bubbled over with faith and commitment, gritted her teeth, prayed a lot, got the job done and returned triumphant. I remember her with a whole lot of respect. Then, every newly ordained Mar Thoma Deacon needs a wife, right? And here she is. The wedding followed soon afterwards on 25th. Congrats and every blessing to Vinith and Seba. 

Then from the same SOCMS year, up pops the Revd DR - congrats for that! - Carlton Turner, speaking at the USPG Conference. You can see and hear him in action by clicking here. Worth it.

Carlton still seems to hang around with that other lively soul, Fr Herbert Fadriquela whom we know well. Having been serving back home in the Philippines with the Iglesia Independiente Filipina, Fr Herbert is now Chaplain to the Filipino Community based in the Diocese of Leicester and offering prophetic leadership on global issues, such as speaking out on the damaging effects of mining in his home community. Here's the Herbert & Carlton double act. Thanking God for them.

And here's what we all looked like in Birmingham UK, 2008, heaven help us all.

Carlton second from left, back row. Omana second from left, front row. Herbert far right, front row. And some woman in a flowery skirt on the front row who was never heard of again...

Back here at Pacific Theological College we've said goodbye to precious people Kasa and Anna Anisi who were my great neighbours last year on campus along with little Emalyn and Lucia, who are all now in Germany. Anna grew up in Fiji right here on campus and Kasa in the Solomon Islands. Will miss you - and your stories and smiles especially, Ema! That particular farewell feast also marked Frederike's end of service as a PTC volunteer. She's been here for a year and been utterly, enthusiastically immersed in absolutely everything to do with community life. Really admirable. Also now back in Germany and heading to University to 'weave her dreams...'

As regular readers will be aware, every event, farewell, service, sports day etc etc etc here requires food to be served afterwards. So I credit, by way of this photo, Jasveer from the Finance Team who cooked up a community chicken curry to feed the masses after last week's sports. It's not all spreadsheets.

And, continuing to sing the praises of precious people, my amazing Goddaughter Lydia only got a FIRST - excuse me - in Law from Oriel College, Oxford!

How about that? Godmomma busting with pride, as you might imagine. Couldn't go to graduation, so by way of celebration we bought 60 cream buns from 'Wholesome Bakery' down the road from College for the community here. What do you mean, that doesn't sound very wholesome? Tch - loosen up! 

'Why have we got buns?' everyone said, tucking in. 'We're celebrating an Oxford graduation', I said. 'Oh great', they beamed, licking the last bits of squirty cream off their fingertips. 'Do they graduate there every day?' 

And that'll do for this one I think. 

Don't forget to celebrate the precious people God's blessed you with. Agreed?