Tamaki PIPC in the season of Covid-19, Level 4 alert

 Kia ora te whanau!  Greetings to our church in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The season we are in is one many if not any have NEVER experienced.  Where we could roam, have choice whether to go or not, take part or stay away from are no longer choices we make.  Due to the Corona Virus we have been restricted to the comforts of our homes.   Things we take for granted we may be just realising the importance of - their significance in our lives.

Some homes across New Zealand have found this a daunting time.  Others have found it frustrating and many lonely.   Greater still many have shared their gratitude for this time to simply reconnect, realign and structure households in ways that some had left behind and some yet to experience due to life's busyness.  Mums and dads are less distracted and retraining the mind, hearts AND ears to tune into the voices of their children.  Many have expressed their gratitude also for this being a time to simply rest in the care and company of loved ones.

Many have missed the normality of attending church for practices, groups and services.   In place of this we have meet the last three Sunday's via our Facebook - live.



We kick off our live meetings at 9.30am with Sunday School Superintendent Rasalama at 9.30am for Sunday School, Sing-along with Parish adminstrator/teacher and musician Aloema Fainuu, 10am with Reverend Elama Maea for our morning service. 

For Sunday School we have provided resources and in the form of video links and discussion points for families to interact with, available at 9am that morning before our live meets at 9.30am.



Daily our young people from Bible Class are posting Bible readings along with a daily challenge and song for families.   God bless you BC!

An impressive stat - we have had up to 63 households tune into these morning sessions.  More than the live bodies in attendance most Sunday mornings!  Praise God! God willing after we this season we're in of lockdown we will be seeing many more people face to face!

Please visit our Tamaki PIPC Facebook, you are welcome to share any of our Sunday School content across to your own church pages if they help!

 In this time, let's not have our hearts and minds in lockdown!  Keep those daily routines going, mornings especially are important to establish and maintain for well being all around for every member of the household.  Routines routines!

God in the highest place.

In Christ's peace

Andrea Bakulich Tele'a
Sunday School Secretary

Happy retirement Tamā and Tinā Setefano

This year we celebrate with our spiritual parents 36 years of ministry at Tamaki PIPC! Praise be to God for his guidance and protection over you both and your children. Many have been blessed by your devotion and love to God's work. You only need to scroll through this blog to see some of the wonderful works we have done together!

This is not farewell - rather a celebration post of all that the Lord has blessed us with.  God be honoured and praised for all that has been accomplished for His Kingdom.

Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 Let us now look ahead to what the Lord has in store for us 2017, God willing :)

Please post any comments or messages you have for our Tamā and Tinā - Leiite and Lealofisa Setefano here. We'll be sure to pass these messages directly to them. We wish them an amazing retirement full of joy and new journeys!

Purpose Driven Lives

Exams are done and dusted!  Well done to all the children, teachers and parents who have worked tirelessly in preparation for exams this year.  We had a really fun build up to the exams with a sleepover for the seniors, and a whole day of fun study for the primary and intermediate levels.  While our numbers were not huge this year - there was definitely a sense of excitement and comfort at participating.  Awesome stuff kids!

Grade 9 Family Service

Grades 9 present to us the story of Joseph...his journey from jail to being given the position 'Governor of Egypt' by the king of Egypt.  Thank you for the message Grade 9 and your teachers.  We thoroughly enjoyed all you delivered today.
God bless you as you head into the assessment season for year 11.

Samoan Language Week 2014

TAOFI MAU I AU MEASINA - Samoan language week 2014 from SchoolTV on Vimeo.

Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Samoan Language Week: Sunday 25 – Saturday 31 May “Taofi mau i au measina: Hold fast to your treasures”. Minister of Pacific Island affairs launched the Samoan Language week in Auckland at Pt England School. This was a wonderful occasion where we shared the celebration with our own local Samoan language nest - Aoga a le Teuila. Tamaki College Samoan group were also part of the celebrations, ending our time together with a beautiful song all about the beauty of Samoa, it's way, language and youth. Watch the movie to see our very own church members taking part in this special time together. Malo lava!

SandS - Sure and Steadfast latest

Another massive night of fun for the boys. Alongside the challenges a lesson upon being a 'Warrior' for the Lord. Check out the really challenges the boys completed. Thanks for the year leaders and members of SandS. Looking forward to seeing this group grow more in the new year. God's blessings warriors!

Post by Tamaki PIPC Bible Class.

Lotu a Tamaiiti 2013

It's a wonderful time watching so many young children and young adults declaring God's word in Samoan. There is also the joy in seeing how the confidence to share from the stage has developed so much since last year. A great big hand for all the students, teachers, parents, Tama and Tina for the job of preparing for this Sunday. We the parish and invited guests were blessed many times with the messages shared. Malo lava le taumafai ma le faasoa tamaiiti.

Harvest Sunday - Spring time@Tamaki

Tamaki of old saw this annual event through the years. Church stage heavy laden with the first fruits from families to bless those in need with. This Sunday the Sunday School revived this old activity and turned it into one big fun day. Everyone was dressed up as farmers and had a ton of fun playing many neat games in the church hall. Thanks to all our families who contributed to this Harvest Sunday. Next year the entire parish will be invited to take part and no doubt we'll have a number of groups/people to bless it with in the GI community. God bless Farmers!

Papa's and Mama's

It's been a year of difference with the celebrating of Mama's and Papa's who have passed on to be with our Lord. We would like to pray a blessing upon all the children, grandchildren and families who have experienced the loss of a loved one this year. We know that it is a very sad and difficult time and we also know how even greater our Lord's comfort and peace is. We pray that you will grow in strength from day to day in our Lord. That you will have complete assurance in the love of our heavenly Father who is the keeper of all. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. How awesome are these truths family! God's comfort and peace as only He can give be yours.

S a n d S Sure and Steadfast

SandS stands for Sure and Steadfast. It's the name of our boys group hosted by Tamaki PIPC for the community of Glen Innes and further. It was a great night of messages from God's word. Fun team challenges and a yummy meal. We look forward to posting more about our night together. Any boys aged 8 years through to 18 are welcome to attend. We meet every second Tuesday of the month. Our next meet is next Tuesday - 14th May. Come along!

Young girl - arise! Talitha Club has started!

Talitha Club has started for the year tonight! A steady flow of beautiful girls entered the Tamaki PIC hall adorned with pink flowers, clothing and jewlwery for our opening night. We had 31 in total which is a record for Talitha in it's 3rd year of operation. A highlight were 5 young girls from our Glen Innes community who were brought along by friends in Talitha PLUS our new members who have just turned 8! Tina Lealofi shared a lovely message with us about the woman and her alabaster jar of expensive perfume. Matthew 26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. As Tina read 5 of the girls acted out this story. Message for the year from this 'Let us be sweet fragrances for our Lord' - 'Be a sweet smelling perfume'. This message was followed by a beautiful high tea prepared by the Talitha leaders. Competition was on - the three teams had an activity involving butterflies and calendars to complete in only 10 minutes! The SenTees won this comp - securing 100 points, this being the start of year long challenge. Photos and video to come soon girls. In the meantime - this is homework: post here what you enjoyed about this evening and what you're looking forward to doing this year as part of Talitha. Young girl - I tell you - ARISE!!' Next club night - Tuesday 9th April.

Love your music?? Check it out!

What an exciting opportunity! Be sure to contact Aloema if you're interested. Even if you just want to find out more about Essence and how you might help. Bless you!

Sunday School is ON!

Sunday School starts this week! It's great to hear about all you've been doing in the break. We hope to bring you some stories soon from different parts of our parish. In the meantime, please help get the news out that we're starting this Sunday - 10th March. 9.30am in the hall - get ready for a year of exciting learning together. Your teachers have met and already planning some fun events - Gala Days, Day Out, Fun Days and more. See you on Sunday!

Christmas Eve @ Tamaki

We pray that you have all had a wonderful time with family and friends over Christmas.  We can see that a number of you have been hunting for our Christmas post - so here's part 1.  Our Christmas Eve service was led by our Sunday School with the theme 'The Greatest Gift'.  Songs, dances, Bible readings, prayers and play were all about this theme.  What is the greatest gift??  That's right - it's baby Jesus and his life that allows today to have salvation and more.

Here are a few shots from the evening.  Pray that you stay well and safe as we prepare to greet the New Year.  You are very welcome to post comments sharing about your Christmas.  We'd love to read all about it.

Rev Wayne

The Moderator of the Te Aka Puaho (Maori Synod) the Right Rev Wayne Manaaki Rihari Te Kaawa visited our parish last week and led our morning service.  He gave an address in favour of the recommendations from the PI Synod Task Group report in the recent General Assembly.

Those present in the Tamaki service loved his knowledge around our connected history via our people and the waka Takitimu.  We learnt that it was built in Samoa and also another waka that there was another  built in the Cook Islands - Aitutaki.  This alongside sharing of his upbringing and experiences were well received as many parts of this sermon we could relate to...so there was a lot of laughter and smiles to be seen.
We pray a blessing upon Rev Te Kaawa and all the ministers in the Maori synod.  People who work as volunteers in the work of ministering and leading of people to Christ, supporting themselves through jobs such as truck driving and chaplaincy...inspiring stories to be greatly encouraged by.    Thank you for sharing with us on this day Rev Wayne Te Kaawa.  Kia Ora.  Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou

Grades 5, 6 and 7 service on Obedience

The theme of our Family Service last week was “OBEDIENCE to God”. This was based on well-known biblical stories of Abraham, Moses and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Grades 5, 6 & 7 demonstrated through these Biblical heroes that regardless of the situation they were in or the difficulties they faced, they were always obedient to God. This was all summed up in the class song ‘I love to love you Lord’ by Ron Kenoly.

Obedience was also witnessed amongst our audience through our BF Obstacle Course taken out by Ray and Norietta.  In addition, we were treated with an item under the leadership of Aloema by 7 of these students which together formed ‘7th Heaven’ and performed their first item ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’.
A special thank you to the families of Grade 5, 6 & 7

SandS - Sure and Steadfast. Tamaki Boys Group

Boys group has started!  It was small but certainly exciting first gathering for the boys a Tamaki PIPC.  Tama joined in for the evening with devotion, singing and a time of fellowship.  The following Sunday, all boys and leaders were invited on stage to be prayed over and blessed - launch of the boys group!  The name they've decided to go with is 'SandS'.  This stands for S - Sure and S - Steadfast, which is the boys group motto.  You'll find that this is the motto for the Boys Brigade that many young boys and men in the past PIC have been  a part of.

Looking forward to the new year and what it holds for this group.  God bless!

NZ SSU Prize Giving 2012

Congratulations to all our special place winners at our NZ SSU prize giving last week.  They were Jordenne Eteuati, Hossanah Setefano, Legatasia O'Brien, Lamepa Laufili, Neta Setefano, Josie Mate, Teiho Tengaru and Andrea Tele'a.

Congratulations also the entire Sunday School as all our efforts collectively won us 2nd place overall in division A as well as 2nd place in the arts'n crafts competition.  Well done to you all.  We were encouraged throughout the evening about the blessings that come to those who keep sitting the exams year after year.   Committing His word to memory and then walking it out is the difference.  Don't stop - keep going!  Teachers your work matters :)

Lotu a Tamaiiti 2012

Today we are reminded of the precious gift we have in children. Many happy children, parents, grandparents and families enjoyed the Lotu a Tamaiti at Tamaki PIPC.

It was service that had so many different and valuable messages. I think this has been a year with the least tears from nervous children!  Shows the great job parents and teachers have put into preparing the children for their items today.

Some made us smile, laugh and cry as we received and reflected on their messages. Well done to all our children, teachers, Tama and Tina who prepared another uplifting White Sunday for us all to enjoy and grow from. We hope you had an enjoyable lunch with family and friends. God's blessings be upon us all as we venture into the last few months of the year.

Ia manuia outou matua, ae ola matou le fanau. Ia soifua ona o Iesu.

There will be more video to come, we've posted this early for those of you we can see already wanting to post about today's lotu a tamaiiti.  Well done on being so eager to share the love!

Holy Spirit Thou Art welcome in this place!

BC, Monday 10th September 2012. Cast me not away from thy presence oh Lord, take not your Holy Spirit from me...

We studied various verses from the Bible that outlined different aspects of the Holy Spirit. After reading verses below we had to create a picture of what we had read using coloured paper. The Holy Spirit is so so great yet so personal and helpful in all our times need, despair, joy and happiness! Thank you Lord for the truths that we sang, spoke and shared about!

Genesis 1:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Joel 2:28-29
King James Version (KJV)
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Isaiah 11:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
11 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;