The Puriri Centre Takapuna Community Hub
Blog-News-Notices-Articles-REFECTIONS
News and views about community and spiritual growth at the Puriri Centre Takapuna
Welcome to the Puriri Centre Community Hub Blog!
We’re passionate about empowering our community through personal and spiritual growth, fueled by the spirit of collaborative development. As a faith-based organization rooted in Takapuna, we strive to be an anchor for connection and growth.
This blog is a space to share insights, experiences, reflections, and knowledge. We hope it sparks inspiration and equips you on your journey. Join us as we build a thriving community together!
Celebrating Japanese Culture: A School Gathering at the Puriri Centre
The Puriri Centre at Takapuna Methodist Church recently became a hub of Japanese cultural exploration, hosting a vibrant event that brought together students from five secondary schools across Auckland. This gathering, titled “Karehashi”, focused on celebrating and learning about Japanese culture, was a collaborative effort between Orewa College, Albany Senior High School, Takapuna Grammar School, Mt Albert Grammar School, and Lynfield College. Around 200 senior students participated, forming mixed teams of four or five, each team comprising one student from each school. This setup fostered inter-school connections while encouraging students to immerse themselves in various aspects of Japanese culture. The event featured
Oops, I Did it Again!
From Bach to Brubeck: A Musical Journey at Takapuna Methodist Church Music lovers are in for a treat this September with a unique recital featuring the enchanting sounds of the organ and oboe. On Sunday, 8 September 2024, at 4:00 pm, Takapuna Methodist Church will host an unforgettable concert titled “From Bach to Brubeck: Classic to Jazz,” showcasing the talents of Helen Lukman-Fox on the organ and Stuart Lithgow on the oboe. This special event promises to be a captivating journey through a rich tapestry of musical genres. The programme will include both organ solos and collaborative pieces for organ
We are in this together
We gather with humble hearts, recognizing we haven’t always been the best caretakers of this beautiful Earth. In our pursuit of convenience, we’ve taken too much and given too little back, neglecting the unity of all life and the Spirit of God within it. Today, we acknowledge our shortcomings and seek forgiveness. May we open our hearts to the divine light that guides us in healing the Earth and ourselves. Together, let’s take bold actions, inspired by the unity of all life. We are all in this together, united by the divine light that illuminates our path. Every step we take
Puriri Centre on a Journey Towards Sustainability
Takapuna Methodist Church and the Puriri Centre are engaged in a journey towards sustainability that honours the profound interconnectedness between humanity and te taiao (the environment). In Korero Mai: Earth Our Parish, Te Aroha Rountree eloquently puts it, “I am the environment, and the environment is me,” highlighting the spiritual interconnectedness of God’s creation through the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga. This guardianship is not just about stewardship but intergenerational sustainability, woven into the whakapapa (genealogy) of creation itself, emphasising our reciprocal responsibilities to nurture and sustain each other across generations. This is our tiriti with God as a community of creation. As part
Celebrating Community Spirit with Neighbours Aotearoa!
A neighbourly greeting to our Takapuna and surrounding communities! This March 2024, we’re gearing up for something truly special, and it’s all thanks to an initiative that began at the Takapuna Methodist Church. We’re talking about Neighbours Aotearoa, a fantastic way to bring us closer to our neighbours and strengthen our community bonds! Did you know? Neighbours Aotearoa has its roots in a small yet powerful idea that sprouted right here in Takapuna back in 2009. It’s grown into a nationwide celebration of connection, friendship, and community spirit that lights up our neighbourhoods every March. Neighbours Aotearoa is all
Gathering Around with RESPECT
Our friends at RESPECT use the ground floor of the Richardson Centre, which is part of the Puriri Centre in Takapuna. They also use two rooms near the outside courtyard next to the Old Sunday School Hall. They wanted a picnic table for the courtyard, so they applied to the Devonport Takapuna Local Board for a grant to buy one. Now, everyone can enjoy the picnic table, including people from Lollipops, RESPECT, and other groups who use the Puriri Centre!
Community Enabler Vacancy
Community Enabler Wanted to Support North Shore Local Communities Are you interested in leading this parish in supporting rapidly changing North Shore communities to make their places better for everyone through community led development? You understand and value the contribution community expertise and experience can offer to both people and place. You value relationships and confidently build trust and relationship with diverse groups on issues that matter to them. You are confident working in agile and iterative ways that grow local leadership and agency and that support learning by doing. You are a joiner as much as a leader and can work confidently
World-Renowned Organist Lights Up Takapuna
German organist Hans Hielscher seated at the console of Takapuna Methodist Church’s George Croft organ after his recital on 18 February 2024 On February 18th, the Takapuna Methodist Church hosted a special music event. Fifty people came to listen to Hans Hielscher, a famous organ player from Germany. Hans has been playing the organ at the Marktkirche in Wiesbaden, Germany, since 1979. He learned music in Germany and France, and even studied the carillon, a bell instrument, in The Netherlands. Hans has played the organ in nearly 4,000 concerts all over the world, including in the United States, Europe, Japan, and New
Harmony in Liberation: Embracing the Spirit of Life and Love
IntroductionRealigning Connections Aotearoa is at a crossroads, facing environmental and social imbalances—from climate change and biodiversity loss to poverty and homelessness. These challenges compel us to restore equilibrium between our society and the environment. For the well-being of all generations and the nurturing earth we share, it’s essential to rebuild our connections with the natural world and each other. Unveiling New Horizons In the passage of Mark 1:21-28, Jesus’ act of setting a man free from afflictions is a profound call to personal liberation. It mirrors our need to break free from ingrained attitudes and traditions that prevent us from experiencing true
Zero Waste Wãnanga First Step to Takapuna Methodist Church Becoming an Eco Church
Join us at Takapuna Methodist Church on Sunday, 17th March, for our Zero-Waste Education Programme, Oranga Taiao. This event, deeply embedded in te ao Māori, extends beyond simple waste reduction to promoting a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. Embrace Zero Waste: As our planet faces critical environmental challenges, adopting a zero-waste lifestyle is more vital than ever. Oranga Taiao, infused with te ao Māori principles, will guide you in deepening your connection with the earth and sky. Event Schedule Opening Worship (10:00 am – 10:15 am): Reconnect your spiritual and ethical values with nature. Educational Sessions (10:15 am – 10:45 am): A Rocha
Crafting Compassionate Communities: The Heart of The Puriri Centre’s Mission
At The Puriri Centre in Takapuna, our mission is deeply rooted in compassion. This isn’t just a word for us; it’s a call to action. Vision We envision communities where everyone feels valued, connected, and creative. Our strategic plan is our roadmap to making this vision a reality. Living lives with meaning and purpose At the heart of our work is the belief that everyone deserves to connect and live with purpose and meaning. We take inspiration from our Methodist tradition, enriching it with new energy and ideas. By embracing inclusivity, kindness, and generosity, we’re creating a sanctuary for all. Ambitious plan
Embracing Life’s Voyage with Aroha
A Journey Beyond the Horizon Upon the open sea, where a solitary sailboat ventures beneath the sun’s nurturing glow, we see more than a vessel—we see a metaphor for the expansive journey of life. This vibrant yet serene seascape recalls the narrative of Jesus calling his disciples by the Sea of Galilee, a timeless call to seek a profound purpose beyond familiar shores. The Call to Sail with Heart and Soul Just as the fishermen were called to embrace a new adventure, the winds of potential beckon to us. Amidst the whisper of the wind and the rhythmic dance of the
Help Shape the Puriri Centre: Take Our Survey
Hello Takapuna community! Big news is afoot: The Takapuna Methodist Church is now the Puriri Centre, a place of community and togetherness. We’re all about opening up to new ideas and opportunities, and guess what? We need your input to make it shine. This centre has been a part of our lives for over a hundred years—think of all the celebrations, the quiet moments, the gatherings that have left their mark here. It’s time to add our own chapter to that story, and we want you to help us write it. Community Use Survey We’ve put together a quick survey
Embracing the Soulful Song of Water: A Journey of Senses and Spirit
Water’s Whispering Embrace: Have you ever felt the cool kiss of rain on sun-warmed skin, or listened to the rhythmic lullaby of ocean waves? In those moments, you’ve touched the soul of water, a presence woven into every thread of our existence. It’s a journey, not just physical, but a dance of senses and spirit. Aotearoa’s Refreshing Rejuvenation: Imagine, on a scorching day, the taste of a cool, clear stream, a life-giving elixir that trickles down your throat, reawakening your being. Feel the gentle drops of rain, like a warm summer shower, a comforting hug from the heavens. Listen to the
Church adopts new identity after big apartment development foiled
Rangitoto Observer – Page 14 – September 29 2013 Stymied over a well-advanced plan to build 50 apartments on the rear of its prominent corner site, the Takapuna Methodist Church has instead opted to rebrand under a new ‘Puriri Centre’ banner.Housed in a distinctive century-old Spanish Mission-style hall and 1959 church building in pink concrete-block on a site at the corner of Lake Rd and Tennyson Ave, the parish had planned a major development which would have allowed it to refurbish its heritage buildings.It planned to build six levels of apartments across the rear of the property and ultimately have a cafe
Talk to us
Have any questions? We are always open to talk about your community activities and projects and creative ventures and how we can help you.