Community Letter

Summer 2008

All that was poured into human evolution through Christ's coming, worked in it like a seed. Slowly the seed must ripen. Only a little part of the depth and content of the new Wisdom has flowed into physical reality up to the present. We are only at the beginning of Christian evolution.

Rudolf Steiner

Dear members and friends of The Christian Community,

a plant seed is small, but full of potential. It needs the right conditions, earth, sun, water and plenty of time to slowly take in the matter around it and, transforming it, lifting it, enlivening it, finally bring into outer existence the beauty and strength of the plant being. Our Christian Community likewise is still very small. In her midst she bears the seed of the Holy Act of Man's Consecration. This seed is alive! It has the power to transform, to lift, to enliven every human soul. Conditions for growth are that human beings expose their souls to this seed. This will happen, here, or where ever people become aware of the gift, the chance, the blessing that comes with Christ's deed. Then the Holy Act will do its work. It will conduct spiritual light into human being's lives and bring meaning to earth existence.

At my next visit, we will have entered the time of lent , the commemoration of the fact that the living of the divine being on earth inflicted endless suffering and pain on him which finally led to his martyr's death on the cross. The altar will be veiled in black. This may make us realize how little the spirit is welcomed on earth. In trying to follow Jesus through the stages of His Passion we become initiated into the deepest mysteries of earthly human life. - At this weekend, our congregation will host the National Council of The Christian Community. Therefore our normal programme will be restricted. If you wish to take part in a gospel study, please consider coming to Te Ra on Thursday. The community is invited to meet with the guests from the council on both days after the service at a shared meal (please bring plate) On Sunday, we will have our Noon talk, together with the priests and the council, about yet another aspect of our theme of prayer .

After the experience of the divine suffering during lent, the joy of resurrection and the victory of spirit over matter will become all the more fulfilling. For our congregation, the joy of Easter will this year merge into the joy of 5 children getting confirmed on the 30 March.

On Saturday 29, at 6.00 pm, the community is invited to meet with the students. After a shared meal the young people will introduce themselves to us and one adult member will speak about his/her encounter with Christianity and The Christian Community. Later, at 7.00 pm, Hartmut Borries, who as Lenker will celebrate the Confirmation service, will speak to the adults about the significance of this act. Please invite other parents with younger children who might be interested in the confirmation for their children, to come to this talk. The actual Confirmation service on Sunday is not only meant for family members, but all the community (aged 14+) is very much expected to come and support this moment, when children are blessed to courageously embrace the full human experience. The Sacrament will be followed by a reception with shared meal.

Then, at ANZAC weekend (24-27 April), in the middle of school term holidays, you are heartily invited to be part of the Christian Community's National Conference: “Prayer – and the future of the earth” . The future of the earth certainly depends on many things. At this conference we will focus on the crucial contribution which will come from strengthening the inner moral nature of the human soul and gaining direct communication with spiritual beings in support of this future. Contributions will be made by the priests of The Christian Community Hartmut Borries, Kevin Coffey and myself of NZ and Rosalind Pecover from Sydney . A number of gifted artists will hold workshops and facilitate exercises, supporting the theme from their perspective. The guest speaker, who has practiced Buddhist meditation as a monk for many years, will speak about prayer in the Buddhist tradition. And, last but not least, their will be many contributions from groups and members of the congregations adding more aspects to the full scope of this vital subject.

Parallel to the conference we are planning a children's camp at a nearby location so that parents with children can attend the Conference.

Please click >> here for details of the conference, including a registration form and brochure. In many ways our community in the Wellington area will act as host of the conference. So we will ask and hope for some help from you. However, due to the venue at Te Ra Waldorf School having limited space (maximum 70 people) we need to ask all people of the Wellington area to likewise send in their Registration Form early to ensure attendance.

If you have children, or know of them, who have recently entered school, now would be the time for them to be introduced to our Children service and religion lessons. Do contact me, or bring them along, so that their life may be blessed!

With warm greetings to all of you,

Yours, Martin

 

In addition to the general Services, special individual blessings ( Sacraments ) can be received within the Christian Community at important turning points in life or at special occasions:

-at the beginning of life the Baptism

-at the threshold to youth the Confirmation

-for lifelong partnership the Marriage

-at approaching death the Anointing

-after death the Funeral Service

-throughout life a Sacramental Consultation

Please turn to the priest for further inquiries and appointments.

 

All services and events of The Christian Community are open to anybody. They are financially provided for by all who enjoy supporting and contributing towards the well-being of the community. Participating first as 'Friends of the Christian Community' , they might still want to maintain a more loose connection. When the life within the Community becomes convincing and the reality of the presence of Christ is felt, then someone may connect whole heartedly. He/she is welcome to become a Member of The Christian Community as part of the body of Christ. If you consider membership or wish to become a member please turn to a priest.