Auckland Unitarians

Come and celebrate Suffrage Week at Auckland Unitarians on Sunday September 15th at 11am, 1A Ponsonby Road.

On 19 September 1893 New Zealand women won the right to vote in elections. As a result, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to extend this right to all women. Suffrage Day celebrates the aims of the movement for gender equality and is a reminder of the ongoing issue of equality for women.

Auckland Unitarians: the first faith community to be an accredited Living Wage employer.

Today the Living Wage rate of $27.80, announced on 1 April this year, comes into effect.

More than 56000 workers, employed by accredited Living Wage Employers around Aotearoa, will be earning at least $27.80 an hour. Regular contracted service providers to these businesses, will also be getting a boost to $27.80 per hour.

The Living Wage ensures that our lowest income earners are able to survive and thrive. The Living Wage provides families with the opportunity to afford the basic essentials and do some of the fun stuff, like a dinner out or a weekend away.

We celebrate the commitment of 380+ Living Wage Employers to paying at least the current Living Wage rate. We understand businesses are operating in a very tough economic climate. We thank Living Wage Employers for continuing to do the 'right thing' for their workers, for their business and for the wider community by paying the Living Wage. This commitment is transforming lives!

The Living Wage rate is calculated by the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit and is released on 1 April, or nearest business day and must be implemented by 1 September of the same year.

🔗For more information on the calculation of the rate see link
https://www.livingwage.org.nz/lw24

📧 For more information on becoming an accredited Living Wage Employer, please contact our Accreditation Team [email protected]

Join us for “Organising Action in Aotearoa” – the second of six public forums marking this 40-year anniversary of neoliberlism.

This event will bring together voices from diverse backgrounds to explore the intersections of social justice and organising for action in Aotearoa. 🔥🔥🔥

Our panel of community leaders and activists will discuss challenges, share stories, and inspire collective action for a more just and equitable future. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be part of the change!

A panel discussion will feature:

Rev Alec Toleafoa who has has dedicated his ministry to supporting urban street communities, youth in custodial settings, and developing youth leadership. His passion for justice stems from his involvement with The Polynesian Panther Party in his youth. Today, he contributes to the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust’s Educate to Liberate programme, which has been part of New Zealand’s history curriculum since 2011, promoting Pacific People’s history and the Panthers’ pivotal role.

Faiesea Ah Chee, Pasifika & Youth Advocate and member of the Youth Advisory Group for the Ministry for the Environment. One of her passions is climate change in her home country of Samoa and how important it is to her to weave a brighter future for Pacific nations and preserve the indigenous languages and oceans.

Ibrahim Omer is a prominent figure in New Zealand’s social justice landscape, with a remarkable journey from refugee to advocate. Fleeing Eritrea as a teenager to escape an oppressive regime, Ibrahim spent three years in Sudanese refugee camps before being welcomed to New Zealand. In Wellington, he worked tirelessly in minimum-wage jobs while pursuing his education. He became a key figure in the Living Wage Movement, advocating for better pay for cleaners at Victoria University of Wellington. His passion for social justice saw him rise to leadership roles, including Chair of the ChangeMakers Resettlement Forum and a position on the Living Wage national governance group.

💥💥💥This is a FREE event with light refreshments and we hope to see you there!!! 💥💥💥

We aren’t big on miracles but come and join our 8pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Celebration at 1A Ponsonby Road, next to the Arts Centre.

Come and join us for our Christmas Carols by Candlelight service, 8pm Christmas Eve; speaker Rachel Mackintosh. We promote Christmas as a time of beauty, peace, generosity, kindness, family in its broadest sense and, of course, merrymaking. This is why we still celebrate Christmas. It’s not really a miracle – we celebrate because humanity needs it. All of us; Catholics, Protestants, atheists, humanists, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, earth-centred indigenous peoples, LGBTIQA+, pagans and seekers.

There will be a shared supper after the service; if you can bring some food to share this would be appreciated, but if not, don't worry.

We're not having a service on Sunday morning 24th, just the Christmas Eve service at 8pm.

Sunday November 26th 11am. Speaker Paul Tonson is giving a talk entitled 'Rabbi Jesus the teacher." The first in a series of 3 talks about differing views of Jesus. Early Christian writings emphasise Jesus as teacher before shifting to a view of Jesus as divine
During 20 years ministry in the UCA, Paul Tonson identified with the progressive Christian community and with an agnostic stance towards Christian dogma.
Paul says; “I am committed to dialogue with other voices, in order to open my beliefs and my life to the test of authenticity which can be most effectively offered not by a fellow believer but by the Other, including those of no faith.”

History was made Sunday when we rededicated our fully restored organ first installed in 1904. Now if we could just restore the minister. Come see and hear what a difference it makes.

https://youtu.be/oBYQY-z7-Uo
Beautiful voice. Beautiful venue 😊

☆ Theia - Pray 4 Me (official visualizer) ☆ 𝓣𝖍𝖊𝖎𝖆 - 𝓟𝔯𝔞𝔶 𝟜 𝓜𝖊 (official visualizer) 💒♥Listen here: https://bfan.link/theia-pray-4-me• directed and edited by • makeup by ...

Our Free Food Pantry has been looking unloved. If you are in a position to do so, please help support those who are in need in our community, by dropping off a can or packet of food, as you pass by.

Take what you need and leave what you can.

We are open for services again, or you can Zoom in from home…

When the world is in crisis, imagine or perish.
https://youtu.be/Zj04ebartXI

Unconstrained Imagination with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 17th July 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/unconstrained-imagination/0...

The absurdity of the human condition is both very painful and very laughable. It’s ironic and incongruous, and poignantly imperfect. But that’s also half the fun of it.
https://youtu.be/4K34j_Sxd3o

Keeping your balance in an unbalanced world with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 12th June 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/keeping-your-balance-in-an...

We resist forgiving the poor their debts incurred just to survive, forgetting that we need their forgiveness for rigging the system to enrich ourselves at their expense. https://youtu.be/xUy66TGN0QU

Forgive us our debts with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 5th June 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/forgive-us-our-debts/0:00 We...

Unitarian beliefs tiptoed through the TULIPS to get along. Once proclaimed they defined them. https://youtu.be/BmAbV5LbT9s

Outed as a Unitarian with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 29th May 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/outed-as-a-unitarian/0:00 W...

Our magic is not waving wands or pulling rabbits out of hats. It’s the heritage of ancient psychologies … understandings of the world as infused with life, consciousness, presence, and underlying patterns. We don't abandon logic — but join it with insight and heart to get a more insightful picture of the world.
We work to liberate and empower minds and spirits.
That’s precisely the magic that we do here.
https://youtu.be/_K2r2MEgCUw

The importance of napping to spiritual health with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 15th May 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/the-importance-of-napping-t...

In an age of anxiety, it is important to nap. It is a spiritual discipline.

https://youtu.be/4wW_jeVapdY

The importance of napping to spiritual health with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 15th May 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/the-importance-of-napping-t...

How long will NZ remain the freest country in the world just after Sweden and Finland when like a virus authoritarianism creeps around the globe? https://youtu.be/1oIqvYyCZW4

Fifth UU principle versus creeping authoritarianism with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded by Auckland Unitarian Church 8th May 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/fifth-uu-principle-versus-cre...

Finding wisdom begins with questions not answers. https://youtu.be/aCqqVGARlQE

Why?…Because! with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded by Auckland Unitarian Church 24th April 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/why-because/0:00 Welcome0...

On Palm Sunday, Jesus’ story is still incomplete. Holy Week still awaits us. Easter is still only a promise.

I was once asked “How do you Unitarians handle Easter?”
“Very carefully,” I said, smiling, using the old saw about mating porcupines…https://youtu.be/kKrFmu40E8E

Are we the better plan? with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 10th April 2022For more information see:-https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/are-we-the-better-plan/0...

South Canterbury company to restore 118-year-old piece of Auckland heritage An Auckland church has put its faith in the hands of a Timaru company to restore a 118-year-old pipe organ.

Life leaves stress marks. Having character means wearing them without apology. They are not Scarlet Letters to hide or to beat ourselves up for. https://youtu.be/QFeAHzuRmEc

Stop hitting my friend with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 3rd April 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/stop-hitting-my-friend/0:00...

Sweet are the uses of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything. ~Shakespeare
https://youtu.be/25Wckhr5K4o

Teetering without tottering with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 27th March 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/teetering-without-totteri...

The safest place for ships is in the harbour, but that’s not why ships were built. And neither is a faith community.
https://youtu.be/fjoXEdwo78Y

A failure of nerve with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 20th March 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/a-failure-of-nerve/0:00 W...

Once again Rachel hits a home run with her talk dedicated to International Women's Day. https://youtu.be/hsgGSAWf2I0

Transform a scream into a song with Rachel MackintoshRecorded by Auckland Unitarian Church 13th March 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/transform-a-scream-into-a...

With what is happening in Ukraine is it possible to be a part time pacifist? https://youtu.be/4Qgb6FDiV00

Come dream a dream with me with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded by Auckland Unitarian Church 6th March 2022For more information seehttps://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/come-dream-a-dream-with-me/...

Who are we? Does it change with life experience or is life experience changed by who we are? https://youtu.be/cAPfvqYIGbw

“It is impossible to step in the same river twice” with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded at Auckland Unitarian Church 27th February 2022For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/it-is-impossible-to-st...

Please sign our petition for a world of work free from violence and harassment. Call on the government of Aotearoa New Zealand to ratify ILO Convention 190.

Help us create a safe world of work I've called on government to sign C190 to end violence and harassment at work. Will you?

Church is perhaps the drawing board where we map out what God wants. But the workshop is outside.

Let's have one Sunday off: There will be no service on Boxing Day, Sunday 26 December. Services will resume via Zoom on Sunday 2 January, 11.00am

We see things not as they are, but as we are, the saying goes. It turns out, seeing is not believing so much as believing is seeing.

Questions will save us from our blindness. They will plunge us into the freedom of unknowing. https://youtu.be/hB28xeQcmhE

Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing with Rev. Clay NelsonRecorded by Auckland Unitarian Church 19th December 2021For more information see https://aucklandunitarian.org.nz/seeing-is-not-believin...