Ekalesia Sydney

Address

135 Shane Park Road, Shane Park 2747, NSW, Sydney, Australia

Office Bearers

Minister: Rev. David Teaurere
Assistant Minister: Tumatetenga Taimoe
Secretary: Rangi Marsters
Assistant Secretary: Tapaitau Tapaitau 
Treasurer: 
Assistant Treasurer: Pange Rongo
Public Officer: Ben Ruapuna
Representative to CICC General Assembly:

History

The Cook Islands Christian Church of Sydney was the first CICC branch to be established in Australia. Some historic facts about the church:

  • 5 October 1980 – church began in a family residence at Burwood
  • 2 years later as the numbers increased, members then moved to one of the council halls in Burwood
  • Christmas Day 25 December 1984, the church celebrated its new place of worship, Helena Uniting Church in Auburn. Church remained here for more than 17 years.
  • 1997-2010 – moved to Tilba Uniting Church in 1997 to 2010
  • 2010 - moved to Bidwill Uniting Church

Administration

Management in the church comprises the Minister as chairperson for all meetings.  The overall administrator is the Secretary, assisted by the Treasurer and the Deacon‘s meeting.  The Treasurer looks after the church’s finances and reports regularly to church meetings and the monthly Deacons’ meetings.  The church follows the policies and guidelines contained in the CICC Manual 2010.

Departments

There are 4 departments in the Sydney Cook Islands Christian Church; Deacons’ Meeting, Sunday School, Women’s Fellowship, and Christian Youth.  Each department has their own regular programs and activities which, except for the first, are linked to those at the national level.

Meetings

All departments hold regular individual meetings to monitor the progress of their own programs. The parish as a whole has a combined meeting at the end of every 3 months. In these quarterly meetings, developments in each of the departments are reported, as well as reports from the Minister, Secretary and Treasurer. Irregular meetings are also convened as and when the need arises.

Minister and Deacons of the Sydney Ekalesia

Protocols

Religion is very much a way of life for most Cook Islanders irrespective of their denomination. Church-goers cherish this a lot and portray it in the way they dress and attend services. On communion Sundays, men wear white suits and women wear white dresses.

During the actual services, the following are observed:

  • Quietness at all times unless part-taking in the hymns
  • No cameras & videos are to be used inside the church, except for special functions (e.g. wedding) which must be arranged beforehand
  • Casual wear (singlets, shorts, etc.) is not preferred.

The church has its own set of rules including the above listed. These are reminded to the congregation in February each year. The rules are required in order that the service in the church is holy and sacred in worshiping God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. After the service, feel free to chat with the Minister and members.

Sermons

The CICC follows the Scripture Union Bible Reading Plan which sets out daily scripture readings.  It is quite common for all services to be based on the day’s reading.  Sermons are conducted in the local language (Cook Is Maori), unless visitors are present in which case the Minister makes a brief translation of his message in English.  No other foreign language is used.  Sermons are prepared and presented by the Minister, Assistant Minister and any visiting Minister or Assistant Minister from another Ekalesia.  Deacons and fully ordained members of the church who are talented, through practice and training, also take part in delivering sermons.  In the meantime, only men conduct services in the Church.

Regular Church Services

Other/special services include the following:
  • Rekapi (pre-communion): Wednesday prior to Oroa
  • Oroa (communion): 1st Sunday of each month
  • Etene (post-communion): Wednesday after Oroa
  • Pentecost: As per calendar
  • Teretere Apii Sabati: 3rd Sunday of May & November
  • Teretere Mapu: 3rd Sunday of February & August
  • Church parade: 2nd Sunday Feb. to Nov.
  • Youth rally: 2/3 per annum on set dates
  • Easter: As per calendar
  • Christmans/New Year: As per calendar
  • Mothers/Fathers Day: As per calendar

Order of Sunday

Main service

The order of the main service (2pm Sundays) is as follows:
  1. Notices and announcement
  2. Offerings and its dedication
  3. Invocation
  4. Sunday School hymn (imene Apii Sabati)
  5. Prayer of confession/Lord’s prayer
  6. Bible reading
  7. Traditional hymn (imene tuki)
  8. Bible reading
  9. Prayer of thanksgiving/intercession
  10. Traditional hymn
  11. Sermon
  12. Sunday School hymn
  13. Vesper


A normal service of the above order runs for about an hour, with the actual sermon taking from 15 – 25 minutes. Variations of the above order happen during special services. Functions and ceremonies are also held in the church, for example baptism, marriage, bereavement service, and so on.

Seating Seating is arranged in 3 rows. The Sunday School taking up the middle row and the two groups in the Ekalesia take each side.

Other information The Sydney Ekalesia is the Headquarter of the CICC in Australia. It is a member of the NSW CICC Council and the Australia CICC Council, and participates in all programs and activities organized by these 2 councils.

 

Contact for more information

Parish Minister Rev. David Teaurere
Phone: 96287475
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Secretary
Rangi Marsters
Phone: 96753410

 


Treasurer
James Marsters
Phone: 96772080
Mob: 0421247457
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