The Puriri Centre Takapuna Community Hub
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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!
When Bigger Barns Aren’t the Answer
We’re told to prepare for the future by storing up — money in the bank, food in the cupboard, plans in the diary. Bigger barns, better locks, more “just in case.” But what if the real danger isn’t in having too little… but in holding on too tightly? In an old story, a man’s land produces more than he needs. He decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. It’s sensible. Safe. Strategic. But that night he dies, and everything he saved is left behind. It’s a confronting thought: you can win the game of accumulation and still lose the
Woven by Love: A Symphony of Souls
Weaving the Tapestry Together: Finding Unity in Our Beautiful DifferencesFrom Takapuna to the wider world we share Have you ever felt the need to shrink yourself just to fit in – to quiet your voice, to hold back who you really are? In today’s world, that pressure is real. But here at Takapuna Methodist Church and the Puriri Centre, we’re learning a different way: a way that encourages us to bring our full selves – our stories, colours, and uniqueness – into community. At a recent Sunday gathering, we were reminded that the Spirit doesn’t sing a single note. It sings in
Woven into Hope, Healing, and Courage
Falling Into Life: When the World Feels Undone Let’s be honest – the world feels a little off-kilter lately. One moment you’re picking up groceries; the next, the shelves are empty. Politics is loud, the climate unpredictable, and the systems we once trusted seem unsteady. It’s easy to feel like everything is unravelling. The noise, the uncertainty, the constant change – it’s a lot. But what if this unraveling isn’t the end? What if, underneath the tension, something deeper is being rewoven? What if we’re not falling apart, but falling into life? That was the invitation shared during Sunday’s reflection at Northcote
Woven into Life: Hope, Wholeness & Reconnection in Chaos
When the news feels heavy and the world seems to be coming undone—through rising prices, political shouting, and broken systems—it’s easy to feel disoriented and afraid. But into this unraveling, a deeper truth is offered: the Spirit of God is not absent but at work, weaving us into connection, into courage, into life. At the heart of this recent Takapuna Methodist Church service at the Puriri Centre was the belief that we are not falling apart—we are falling into life. Instead of breaking down, we are being broken open. In this sacred unraveling, something profound is emerging: a divine thread pulling us
Stripped by Empire, Embraced by Love
Good Friday is not just a day of mourning.It’s a day for truth-telling. And the truth is this:Jesus was executed by an empire afraid of Love —not sentimental love, but bold, liberating, earth-rooted Lovethat exposes systems of power and invites real transformation. Jesus was stripped by more than soldiers.He was handed over by religion allied with empire,by politics clinging to order, by economies built on fear.He disrupted the marketplace, declared jubilee,called for land to be restored and people set free. That was then — but it’s also now.The machinery of domination still rolls on:displacing people, desecrating Earth,and silencing truth
Not Just Palms and Praise: The Protest of Palm Sunday
Not Just Palms and Praise: Palm Sunday as Sacred Protest A reflection from the Puriri Centre We often picture Palm Sunday as a peaceful celebration — palm branches waving, crowds singing “Hosanna”, children in costumes, smiles all around. But what if Palm Sunday wasn’t a parade? What if it was a protest? Beneath the palm-waving joy lies a powerful truth: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was not a feel-good moment. It was a bold, public act of resistance. It challenged the powers of the day. And it still challenges us now. Two Processions. Two Powers. On one side of the city, Jesus arrives
Not Algorithms But Love: The Church’s Call in a Digital World
Not Algorithms, But Love: How the Church Can Lead with Aroha in a Digital Age What does it mean to be the Church when the world is shaped by algorithms, not prayer books? When young people are being discipled more by TikTok than by Sunday school? After watching the Netflix series Adolescence, I was struck by how real and raw the digital world has become for our young people. It shows us a world where misogyny hides behind emojis, algorithms quietly push extremism, and being online is both a lifeline and a trap. It’s confronting—but also a wake-up call. So where is
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
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!
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
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Have any questions? We are always open to talk about your community activities and projects and creative ventures and how we can help you.