NCV Christmas Service

Some of the residents who attended

The 2011 NCV Christmas Service was held in the Main Common Room on Monday 12th December. This provided an opportunity for residents to gather and consider the meaning behind the Christmas season. The Master of New College and New College Village, Prof. Trevor Cairney, spoke on Luke 19:1-10, not a passage which people regularly associate with Christmas but one that speaks directly to the reason for Jesus’ earthly ministry . Trevor drew some important conclusions from the passage, challenging residents to look beyond the Christmas narrative and instead to consider the person of Jesus and the claims that he made.

The Master adds the star to the tree

During the service the Dean of NCV, Dr John Quinn, also gave some historical background to the traditions around Christmas time: the use of conifers as Christmas trees, the tradition of decorating trees with baubles and lights, and the origin of the term “carol” to describe Christmas songs. NCV’s always-able musicians led the residents in some well-known Christmas carols: “Silent Night”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Once in Royal David’s City”, “O Holy Night”, “Joy To The World” and “O Come All Ye Faithful”. To finish the evening residents joined together in decorating the NCV Christmas Tree and enjoyed some traditional Christmas food: pannetone, Christmas cake, and fruit mince pies. Two residents, Tim Amos and Laura Sharpe brought along a most impressive gingerbread house which they had made to share. It was an impressive structure, and delicious, too! As always, the NCV Christmas Service was a great way to start the holiday season with the NCV family!

NCV Christmas Service

NCV Public Lecture

On Monday  (18th April), historian Dr Chris Forbes from Macquarie University came to New College Village to give a public lecture on the topic “Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead”.

The event was open to anyone within the NCV and across the campus. It was attended by 70 people many of whom were Christian and some who were not. Dr Forbes drew on various sources to argue for the historicity of the resurrection. It was a fascinating and thought provoking evening for all in attendance.

NCV Public Lecture

Easter Choir Musical

On Saturday 18th April a group of NCV residents presented a special event for Easter, the inaugural 'NCV Easter Choir Musical'.  This event provided a retelling of the events around the first Easter using song and dramatic readings. 

The NCV Choir

A choir made up of 14 residents performed for about 40 people, with five members of the choir doubling up to perform dramatic readings as well. The residents rehearsed weekly for five weeks leading up to the event, providing an outlet for those residents with a vocal inclination.

Premilla's creations

As with all NCV events, food is always important, and afterward those attending and performing enjoyed a delicious supper prepared by John and Premilla.  Some intricately decorated chocolate cupcakes were on offer, along with toasty warm hot cross buns and chocolate Easter eggs. There was also plenty of delicious hot chocolate to go around, fresh off the stove!

Performing the Musical in the Main Common Room

Easter Choir Musical

Another first for the NCV - Our first Christian service!

It seems like every week there is something new at NCV. We celebrated our first Christian service at Easter. The service was based on an early Christian service called Tenebrae. The name Tenebrae is the Latin word for "darkness" or "shadows." The service involved a series of Bible readings, songs, prayer and some brief comments from me. At the end of the service we enjoyed a supper together of traditional Easter Hot Cross buns. About 45 people came including a contingent from New College.

Above: Just before the service in the Main Common room

Above: Some animated discussion after the service, coffee and Hot Cross buns (yes, Rebecca in the centre made an unexpected appearance, it was good to have her back)

I hope to commence monthly services in the Main Common room on a Monday evening starting in May.

Another first for the NCV - Our first Christian service!

Bible Study at the NCV

New College Village welcomes people of all faiths or no faith at all. In the present diverse community with over 50 nationalities we have residents who are Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Orthodox believers, Catholics and all types of Protestants. However, since the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church founded New College, we offer Christian ministry consistent with the Anglican Thirty-Nine Articles of Faith. We choose to say 'Christian' ministry rather than 'Anglican' because we wish to stress that we offer residents the opportunity to find out more about Christianity based on the teachings of the Bible, rather than just Anglicanism.

One of our activities is a Bible Study that Carmen and I run each Monday night. We have 40 people who have registered for this group, with about 25 attending each week. We have been studying the Gospel of Mark, a book in the New Testament that provides the story of Jesus life and teaching. We meet in the Main Common room where we start with supper, I usually give a brief talk, we break into groups to read part of Mark and explore some questions together and to pray, and then I wrap up.

Above: Enjoying a barbecue together on the Rooftop Terrace

Last week we met together first for a barbecue. This was a great chance to get to know each other a little better. Residents of NCV are free to join this group at any time, the only requirement being that they are interested in knowing more about the Bible's teaching.

Above: The Master turns his hand to cooking!

The NCV will be holding its own Easter Service on Thursday 9th April at which we will read passages of Scripture that tell of the last hours of Jesus' life prior to his crucifixion and resurrection, there will be music and I will give a short message. This will be a Tenebrae service. Tenebrae (which is the plural of the Latin word for 'shadows' or 'darkness') is a Christian service celebrated on the eve of Maundy Thursday and sometimes Good Friday and Saturday. Our service will be focussed on the Bible readings that tell of Jesus last hours as he approaches death on the cross.

It has been encouraging to see how many people are interested in knowing more about the Bible's teaching.

Bible Study at the NCV