I’m writing this at the end of January, and it seems like we are well into the new year already. I said “happy new year” to someone last week and the response was “when does it get too late to say this?” Not quite what I was expecting. When is it too late to say Happy NewYear to someone if you haven’t seen them since last year? I figured the end of January was probably as long as I could stretch saying this to someone meaningfully. I’ve been visiting other churches in Dunedin over the last few Sundays while I was on leave, and was struck by a sermon about new beginnings and endings. For something to start, something else has had to end. We were challenged as to what needs to end in our lives so something new can start. Not in terms of a new year resolution, but in terms of how we live our lives for God. A few years ago I had the policy that if I was to take on a job/position/hobby/something new then I had to let something that I was already doing go. I had to make space for that new “thing” to take wings and grow and for me to give it the time to do that. If I couldn’t at that time let something go, then I couldn’t take on anything new. At times it got frustrating for me, at other times I ignored my own policy and just took on morecommitments, making as much space for them as I could within the 24 hours of each day and myalready full days. Over the last couple of years, I was challenged to write downeverything I was involved in. Reality set in as I realized just how committed I was, and that I really couldn’t give 100% to all of those commitments, and to myself. I’ve given up a lot of those things over the past 2 years as I have been training for ordination. I’m on that new journey, a new beginning- to be the best I can in ministry and as a servant of God- so I needed to intentionally make the time and space for that to happen. New beginnings take energy, take work to keep them going. This new year will bring joys and sorrows to each of us, may we share both with each other. As I heard recently, a joy shared is a joy doubled, a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved. Lamentations 3:22-24 “The Lord's kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. Deep in my heart I say, “The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!”” (CEV) And to those I haven’t seen or talked with yet this year– Happy New Year! Rachael Masterton National Chaplain

National Conference & Youth Forum is happening this year on June 23 - 25, 2023 at Christchurch North Methodist Church, 68 Harewood Road, Papanui GB & IFG leaders and helpers and chaplains are warmly invited as are youth delegates. Conference will commence at 9.30am, Saturday June 24th & conclude following the church service on Sunday morning. Accommodation will be at Tasman Holiday Park, 39 Meadow Street, Papanui, Christchurch and is booked from Friday evening until Sunday morning, with no formal activities planned for Friday night. This enables those with a long way to travel to arrive on Friday and be ready to start promptly at 9.30 Saturday morning. Travel between venues is by individual arrangement. A suggestion is if you are arriving by plane, perhaps an Area (or 2 combined) might consider renting a car for the duration from the Airport. COSTS Attending Registration fee $350 (includes 2 nights accommodation) Day attendance only $250 (includes Saturday dinner) Please make payment direct to our bank account: BNZ 02-0280-0025236-02 (Please include your name and Area)

It's happening again!! Hey everyone! Fonomarae registrations are officially open - we are so excited and looking forward to seeing who will be joining us in around 10 months time! Forms are available to download here: For help printing - print on the short-side double-sided to have both pages up the same way. T-shirts are by default a semi-fitted t-shirt. Full women sizing chart can be found here to double check waist and hip measurements (chest shown on reg form - measurement is for right around the body), but your normal size will be a snug fit or for slightly loose, get the next size up. Pioneers - We would like to invite those girls who will be finishing Pioneers this year, to still attend as a girl. Especially if they were registered to come to the cancelled Fono, we'd love to have them. When it's time to send them in: Due - Forms due in by 14th April with non-refundable deposit of $150 Double check - all parts filled in, signed in 6 places Payment can be made from your Area direct to GBNZ. Please direct credit to Fonomarae bank account 12-3011-0726812-00. Include "Area Name", "Deposit" and number of registrations as reference (e.g. 7 reg). Please scan your forms to: fonomarae@girlsbrigade.org.nz and please include in the email, how many forms we should be receiving (same as above e.g 7 registrations). If you would like to post your forms in, please flick us an email to confirm they are on their way to us or GBNZ. Flick us an email if you are unsure about anything on the form - ages of girls, leader requirements, activities, t-shirts.... or about paying/collating/sending them in. Next up, you'll receive a little publicity video and some travel information. Thanks heaps! Looking forward to receiving them :) Yours in Camping 2.0 (or is it 3.0...) Judith, Porsha and the team

A Patrons Perspective: I first saw Jill Clarke at the 1st Kamo Girls’ Brigade prize giving last year, and after hearing of all the positions that she held in Girls’ Brigade like International President, National Commissioner and Asia Pacific Chairman, I knew that this was the lady that I wanted to interview. I thought it would be interesting to know how she came to these positions and how girls like me could get to them as well. Growing up on a farm in Maungaturoto, Jill didn’t attend Girls’ Brigade, in fact Jill didn’t even know that her own church had Girls’ Brigade Company. She became involved in the Girls' Brigade because of her own children. She first found a Boys’ Brigade for her eldest and then Girls’ Brigade for her daughter. After she volunteered as a parent helper at her Company for 9 years, the Junior leader at the time had to leave so she took on that role. At that time it was uncommon to be commissioned after not doing leadership courses through Girls’ Brigade. She never strived for the role, but others could see the benefit of her being the Junior leader, as she was a hardworking woman who loved teaching about life and the gospel. Jill found that Girls’ Brigade taught girls valuable life skills that they don’t learn in school like camping and knitting. Jill also wanted to share the Gospel with the girls as she is a very God orientated person, saying that leading girls to follow Christ was her main motivation to be a leader. Having a family and running her own business, Jill had to juggle between personal and Girls’ Brigade commitments. She said it was hard but she just had passion for Girls’ Brigade and knew that this is what God wanted her to do. Jill Clarke shows us that if the opportunity is given to you, go for it. God gives you opportunities and Jill is a prime example of someone who has used her gifts and talents to encourage today's girls and tomorrow's women with what God has given her. Based on experiences shared with to me, she used every chance to honour God by serving Girls’ Brigaders and her community, both Nationally and Internationally. As part of her International roles in Girls’ Brigade Jill went to other countries like Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. She saw that girls didn’t have many opportunities because the parents favoured boys over girls. She pushed to teach the girls life skills that they wouldn’t have been taught at school, so that they could get further and struggle less in the future with jobs. Jill also made it a big deal that girls found their way to Christ. One of the things Jill loves about Girls’ Brigade are the friendships she made along the way. She still has friendships which originated in Girls’ Brigade that have turned into long life friends. She said it was easy to make friends through Girls’ Brigade when travelling Nationally and Internationally. Jill showed leadership skills in every role she participated in, whether it was being a Parent helper to being International President. She knew and trusted that God gave her opportunities and she did everything in her power to work hard in those positions. Jill was the true epitome of the Girls’ Brigade motto, “seek, serve and follow Christ”. By Rebekah Smith

In our February issue of Connect, we launched our COVID-19 Framework. This framework applies to Girls’ Brigade Companies, iconz4girlz Units, Areas, and National activities and will support Companies/ Units/ Areas/ National teams in: Understanding the approach to returning to face-to-face activities. Assessing hazards and risks related to COVID-19 and putting control measures in place for everyone to follow. Completing the approval process to be ‘Covid-Ready’. Clearly communicating with leaders, parents/ carers, children and young people. ALLLeaders-in-Charge of Age Groups and Company Captains/ Unit Senior Leaders are expected to read the framework and be involved in reviewing and completing the Group Action Log and Covid-Ready Risk Assessment. We would encourage all Companies and Units planning to start back in Term 2, to have a read, start conversations, and get approved documents, so you're all ready to go for Term 2. GBNZ COVID-19 Framework If you have made the decision to meet virtually (online) or by giving girls packs to work from while we are in the current Traffic Light setting please let the Support Centre know as soon as possible. Likewise if you have not started meeting at all, please let the Support Centre know as soon as possible.

In 2019 Girls’ Brigade New Zealand presented a strategic plan to the moment outlining how we plan to move our organisation into the future. As part of this strategic plan it was identified that there was a need to look at the makeup of our organisation, and how this was branded. In 2021 the movement, at the AGM, was presented with a series of proposals from a marketing representative. The Girls’ Brigade Board would now like to revisit these ideas with the entire movement, and get feedback on it. We have broken the presentation into parts to ensure we receive accurate feedback about the various aspects being looked at. This first section we are seeking feedback on relates to the overall structure of Girls’ Brigade and IFG. GBNZ Branding Document - Overall Structure GBNZ Branding Feedback Questions - Overall Structure Please email all feedback or questions to marketing@girlsbrigade.org.nz by the 25 March 2022.

Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” I’ve just sent this verse to a lady I am working with, reminding her that she is strong. She’s got a lot going on at the moment, and like her, we all need some encouragement at times. I don’t know about you, but the events of the world and New Zealand at the moment are really testing most of us. I learnt the hard way a couple of weeks ago that I needed to walk away from absorbing all the news that was coming at us. It seemed like nothing was positive news, or news we could rejoice in. This Sunday (6 March) is the first Sunday of Lent. Jesus is in the wilderness, being tested. He stands firm, and has an answer for each of Satan’s temptations. What answers do we have for the testing we are experiencing? Can we confidently say “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8) or “It is said, do not put the Lord your God to the test”. (Luke 4:12). What is it you need (if anything) at the moment? Please, don’t feel hesitant to ask for help, or if you can, offer help. You are strong, and our future is clear - through God we have eternal life. Let us pray: Generous and gracious God, may each of us draw closer to you today, so that your love, your strength, your goodness and grace and increasingly reflected through us to others. As we face each day, as we face each test, may we be reminded of how strong we are through you; may we be reminded that we are assured eternal life, and that we are not alone, we have our powerful family of sisters and brothers in Christ around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Annual General Meeting of The Girls’ Brigade New Zealand Incorporated (GBNZ) will be held ONLINE (via zoom) on Saturday 13th August 2022, at 10:00am. AGM papers and details to attend the AGM will be sent out in due course. AGM Registration is due by 2nd July 2022. Link to AGM Registration

Greetings to you all as we head towards our third day of level four lockdown which, for some of us it will be longer than others. On behalf of the GBNZ Board I am contacting all our GB and IFG leaders to provide you with information from the Mental Health Foundations "5 Ways to Wellbeing": Connect – Reach out to friends and whānau for a chat. Remember it is ok to disconnect from social media and news sites, too. If that is causing you stress and anxiety, then it isn't serving you. Take Notice – Look out for the little things in life that bring you joy and happiness. Practicing a little gratitude journaling by writing down 3 things you are grateful for can really change your mood. Keep Learning – Take some time to learn something new, or grow your knowledge. There are so many things you can learn online, or from books or your friends and whānau. Give – Anything we can do for others always helps us feel better. Remember to stay in your bubble, but if you can reach out on the phone to someone who is struggling and alone or help people in your own home, it's always nice to do something for someone else. Be Active – Move your body, shift your mood! You can exercise in your own home or out walking in your own neighbourhood. Remember, healthy body, healthy mind. Please find attached a Social Media Announcement that you are welcome to use to keep families and members informed. At times like this life can be stressful and unsettled but we would like to take this opportunity to remind you to lift everything to God in prayer while also looking after yourselves and loved ones. Further information can be found on the Ministry of Health's website https://www.health.govt.nz/ As more information is made available we will endeavour to communicate this to you. Please take care of yourself, reach out if you need help, reach out to others if you see them needing help. He waka eke noa – We are all in this together. Feel free to make contact with the GB Support Centre if you have any questions

BOOK NOW International World Day of Prayer – 12th June 2021 We are delighted that Rev. Tara Tyme-Campbell will be hosting our International World Day of Prayer on June 12, 2021 (0700 & 1300 BST.) Led by the Caribbean-Americas Fellowship, it is a space where our GB International family from various cultural backgrounds will share in praise and worship as well as celebrate 128 years of GB. Let us support and encourage each other during these challenging times! Please book online here before Wednesday 9 June (midday, BST): https://forms.gle/1Yd9uPydaqy867iW6 The service will be led by Rev. Tara Tyme-Campbell. Find out more here LEAD//FOLLOW online equipping webinar for leaders – Empowering the next generation of GB leaders Join with Ruth Chikasa, GB International’s Ambassadorial Patron and former GB International President, to explore how we can empower the next generation of GB leaders. Saturday 26 June 2021, 0700-0830 & 1300-1430 (BST, UK time) Please check the time in your own country here (be aware we are now on BST not GMT) You can book online here Booking will close on Wednesday 23 June at Midday UK time. The webinar will be led by Ruth Chikasa. You can find more information and register here

We’ve recently celebrated Pentecost Sunday in our Churches. Pentecost is always the 7th Sunday after Easter, and it marks the beginning of the Christian churches mission into the world. At our church we had a birthday cake and candles. We had three people testify about why they do the work they do for the church. Three very different testimonies but all ending with the same message – they love to share the grace of God with others. Our mission into the world isn’t’ just about being in the world (after all we didn’t get good marks at school just for turning up to eat our lunch), it’s about doing God’s work in our communities. And, of course, Girls’ Brigade and IFG are excellent ways to do this. What message are we giving the girls each week? What message are we sharing with the parents/guardians/families? Are we being intentional about it, or just hoping that our default actions are good enough. Are we intentional about our devotions each week, or do we grab a book as we rush out of the house and thumb through for a story we haven’t done for a while. If you were asked to talk for 3 minutes on why you do what you do in GB/IFG what would you say? I’d love to know. Feel free to email me and we could share in the next newsletter (names removed if you preferred). Let’s make this church birthday count. A new day/week/year to make a difference in the name of Christ. Let us pray: Sisters in Christ, I pray that you will go into the world. Realize your visions, fulfil your dreams, see new visions and dream new dreams. And as you do, know that the Holy Spirit is guiding you and encouraging you every step of the way. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.