Ngā Here - The Many Connections James Beck

E ngā maunga whakahī o te motu, tena rā tatou katoa, welcome to season two of Ngā Here.

Now just to recap In our first season of Nga Here, I came up with this crazy plan. 

I was looking at the health of our planet and the wellbeing of the people who live in Aotearoa - and I had some pretty big questions. Questions about what our faith and what the Bible might have to say about the way that we live and about how we care for creation and each other. Questions about why the Church doesnt seem to be doing too much to care for God's creation, And questions about how Māori and Pākehā can learn from each other and grow together as we care for the whenua.

So - last time I invited two strangers who were asking similar questions to come to Christchurch for a weekend - to head off the grid to the secluded hut on Banks Peninsula - hidden in the middle of beautiful native bush surrounded by birds… so we could fully immerse ourselves in Creation, to explore these big questions.

Now what I didn’t expect was how many other people were also asking these same questions. So many people listened and got in touch to let me know that they had been wrestling with the same questions.

And, after talking for hours and making season one of Ngā Here, we quickly realised that we had only just scratched the surface. I actually came away from our first weekend in the hut with a totally new perspective on how Christians should be caring for creation here in Aotearoa.

Now that first kōrero was amazing - But I also left the hut with some new questions that I just haven’t been able to get out of my mind. Questions about how we can feel more connected to the places where we physically live when we are also living in an online, disconnected, concrete-covered world. Questions about how we should care for and respect the whenua - when the economic system we’re in seems to see it as something to be used and abused?  And as weird as this might sound… Questions about the difference between dirt and soil - and how so much of the stuff that we take for granted, might actually hold the key to living a truly abundant life here in Aotearoa.

So with all these questions in mind - we decided to get the crew back together again! And to go back to the hut to continue the kōrero.

So if you’re keen -  I’d love you to come on another crazy, beautiful, journey with us - as over 6 episodes we explore Ngā Here - the many connections that exist between Creation, the Bible and living in Aotearoa.

So Nāu mai Haere Mai!

Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the wonderful Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.

 

E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku rau rangatira mā, tēnā rā tatou katoa.
Welcome to episode two of the second season of Ngā Here.

Last time on Ngā Here, we had just got the team back together. We went to a local reserve and planted a few native plants and had a whole bunch of conversations about how we locate and connect ourselves and what happens when we are in a relationship with a place. 

Since last time, we unpacked our bags,  made a cup of tea, and settled in for a conversation about how supermarkets have changed our world.

Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the astounding Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā rau rangatira mā, tēnā rā tatou katoa, and welcome to episode three of the second season of Ngā Here.

Nau mai, tauti mai, piki mai rā.

Last time on Ngā Here we had a deep conversation about the disconnection that many of us feel as a result of the many changes that have taken place in our world over the past 100 years. We also talked about how the Bible helps us to understand who we are, and our place in the world in light of the disconnection that some of us are feeling. 

We ended episode two, by being honest about the fact that while the bible can transform the way that people see themselves, others and the world, it can also be very strange. Especially some of the stories that we find right at the start of the Bible. So that is where we pick up the conversation. 

We also have a kōrero with a soil consultant called Canaan Ahu. He is passionate about healthy soil and he works with farmers to help them understand a regenerative approach to farming.

A massive mihi to Canaan and Tony for being a part of this kaupapa.

Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the astounding Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.

E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku rau rangatira mā, tēnā rā tatou katoa,  and welcome to episode four of the second season of Ngā Here.

In the last episode, we discussed our relationship with the whenua, and what it might mean for us to see God as a gardener. We pick up in this episode by discussing what it might mean for humans to be wise stewards of God's good creation.

We also have a kōrero with Miriama Buchanan from an organisation called Para Kore. You can find out more about them at https://www.parakore.maori.nz/

A massive mihi to Miriama and Para Kore for being a part of this kaupapa
Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the astounding Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.

E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku rau rangatira mā, tēnā rā tatou katoa, and welcome to episode five of the second season of Ngā Here.

In the last episode, we discussed what the abundant life is really about, and what it might mean for us to change the way we engage with our stuff. We pick up in this episode by talking about the story of the human naming the animals in Genesis 2.

We also have a kōrero with my friend Michael Reynolds. Michael runs an amazing kaupapa called Roimata Food Commons, and another incredible project called Toha Kai. Roimata Food Commons is a community garden based in the heart of Woolston, right next to the Ōpāwaho River, just before it joins Ihutai - the estuary and then flows into the sea.

A massive mihi to Michael for being a part of this kaupapa.

Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the astounding Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.

E aku nui, e aku rahi, e aku rau rangatira mā, tēnā rā tatou katoa, and welcome to episode six of the second season of Ngā Here.

In the last episode, we discussed proximity and relationship and how the human vocation depends on partnership. We pick up in this episode by jumping into Genesis 3.

We also have a kōrero with Ricky Ehau from Wai-Ora Trust. Wai-Ora Trust is a faith-based community organisation that is dedicated to the restoration of people and the environment.

A massive mihi to Ricky and the whānau at Waiora Trust for being a part of this kaupapa.

Ko te whirika o te taura takata
Ahakoa uaina e te ua
Whitikina e te rā
Te taukaea o te aroha
Ka mau ake tonu e

The braid of humanity
Although it has been weathered by the rain, laid bare before the elements,
The interwoven connections of love
Will hold forevermore

Te Taukaea Aroha Nā Charisma Rangipunga rāua ko Paulette Tamati-Elliffe tēnei waiata i tito. Nā Komene Cassidy te whakapākehā

Ngā Here - Many Connections is a project funded by The Wilberforce Foundation in partnership with Scripture Union. Produced by me, James Beck, with Creative Direction from the Revered Spanky Moore.  Our Music was created by the astounding Chris Williams - check him out on Spotify. Don’t forget to listen to the whole 6 part series of Ngā Here.