Tārore – Butterfly Wing Flaps of Hope and Trust

 Otumoetai –  29th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year C – 2025

Readings
First Reading -  Isaiah 65: 17-25
Psalm -  Psalm: 121
Second Reading -  2 Timothy 1:8-14                                                                       
Gospel -   Luke 8: 22-25

What I want to say:

Remember Tārore and the ripple effects of her death
retell the story including a reflection on God our keeper from Psalm 121
Invite conversation about what this story has to offer us today.

What I want to happen:

People find hope in this story

The Sermon    

     1.    Introduction:

This Sunday we remember Tārore
little girl whose death sent ripples throughout Aotearoa
-        even though she was from Waharoa – near Matamata
o   important story for us in Waiapu
-        important story for us as Anglicans
-        important story for us in this troubled time    

     2.    Tārore

what do we know – talk neighbour
-        feedback

 3.    The Story using Joy Cowley’s book with add ons

Going to use Joy Cowley’s book
Add things as we go
indicate by raising my hand
     -        Tārore and her whakapapa
     -        Alfred and Charlotte Brown and their school
o   Tārore and gift of the Gospel of Luke
     -        Reading at the campfire,
o   Ngakuku also becoming a Christian
     -        Journey to Wairere Falls
    -> as gathered in fear for night prayer Tārore asked to choose reading
ü chose reading we heard from Luke
ü calming of Storm
o   little group was like those disciples
o   felt like being tossed and turned
o   like those disciples
§  afraid
§  wanted to say to Jesus – don’t you care
·       save us!
ü invited them to trust Jesus
o   meet them in their fear as he had the disciples in story
o   that he would calm their storm and keep them safe.
    -        Tārore is killed and kete with gospel taken
    -        Ngakuku takes her back to Waharoa
    ->  remembered story Tārore had read at that last evening prayer
ü also wonder if also remembered Psalms like one heard today

    4.    Psalm 121

-    psalm about God’s providence and guidance
-    names God as our keeper
-        acts as watchmen keeping people safe
o   protecting them from harm
-    Ngakuku suggested that it was their previous conflicts that had led to his daughter’s death
    -    now time to trust God the keeper
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil
            Yes it is the Lord Who will keep you safe”
-    I’m not sure if Ngakuku thought of this
    -    Genesis 2:15 in the NRSVUE translation states: "The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it"
-        keep is more than protecting
o   is about tending and nurturing
Ngakuku invited his people to not seek utu
-        instead to trust God the keeper
-        one who keeps his people from evil
-        who tends and nurtures
-        protects and saves
-        invites them to tend and protect others

    5.    The Story continues

-   Uita is curious about the book
-        not the taonga – treasure he had hoped for
-        Uita and Ripahau (deviate from book)
o   asked to go to Waharoa and ask forgiveness
-        spread of the way of peace around the motu
-        Katu and Te Whiwhi in Otaki (deviate from book)
-        missionary journey south
-        Bishop Selwyn
-        Māori missionaries
->    Ngakuku and his missionary work
ü majority mission work was done by Māori missionaries to own people
ü Here in Waiapu and us as Anglicans
    -        Where she is buried

    6.    What do we take from this

-        what do we take from this
-        own time of turmoil and trouble
o   struggling churches
o   deepening divisions
o   climate change
-        what might we take from this story
-        invite you talk to your neighbour for a moment

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