Blessings and Family Stories

This week we continued the theme of blessings/karakia and whakapapa/family connections. Mainly because we had a bunch of people who hadn't done it before. We tried out using the pepeha/personal introduction as inspiration for a creative or family story. One is included here, hopefully more in future.


BLESSINGS FOR FOOD

Bless this gift of food
Prepared by many hands
Many cooks won't spoil this broth
Enjoy
May your belly swell with pleasure

- Robert


God of wild berries and cultivated kumara, god of freshwater trout and seafood gathered from the beach, god of barn and chickens and free roaming deer; by the hand of the hunter, the farmer and the fisherman, this food has come to us. As we eat, let us acknowledge their work and Your provision. Let us eat to satisfaction, but not to excess, mindful of demands on earth and sea; let us strive in gratitude to return to You what You have given us.

- Helen Ledger


We all came together the same way
Mother nature bless us today
Thank you for the kai to make us strong
From young as babies as we carry on
Let us enjoy this meal for all
And help our talents big or small
Bring us luck and enjoy our kai
Thank you Lord, kapai
In Jesus' name, Amene

- Vincent Clayton



THE JACKSON FAMILY

The 'Bangalore' left England in 1853 with the Jackson family on it. They sailed over to New Zealand which took about three months. After the boat landed in Lyttleton, they got off and looked around in dismay. Only a couple of houses and a long walk over the Port Hills greeted them. Struggling up the hill they saw the Canterbury Plains stretching into the distance, covered in bush with only a small settlement of houses in Christchurch. The family consisted of mother, two daughters, six or more sons, a son-in-law and grand daughter. My great-great-grandfather, Ambrose Jackson, was about eight at the time. The family settled in Papanui where the elder boys worked with bricks. Ambrose eventually lived in Waimate by the Hunter Hills where he was a fruit grower.

- Gail Palmer



THE FLYING MIST

The 'Flying Mist' arrived on a windswept rainy day. William, Helen and baby Euphemia looked out at this new land. Their new home. They had travelled across the oceans for three months to arrive to weather that was all too familiar to this young Scottish family. Well, at least it can't get worse they thought. As they got closer to land they saw it looming up ahead - the monro they later learned was called 'Bluff Hill'. They looked at their possessions and wondered how they were going to get themselves up and over this monster.

- Christine Philp