White Ribbon 2021

Message from White Ribbon NZ Ambassador, Very Rev Ray Coster

Greetings, I write to share with you this year's theme for White Ribbon Day 25 November, 'Shine a Light on Violence Prevention', and to offer resources. Resources include a free beeswax candle for parishes so you can join with Moderator Rt Rev Hamish Galloway and me to shine a light through prayer.

About three years ago, I was privileged to attend a ‘Blind Date – Concert in the Dark’ piano recital in Milan, Italy. The pianist was Cesare Picco, a famous Italian piano improviser, composer and writer. The striking thing about this concert was that once it started, the concert hall was in total darkness. I have never experienced such darkness in my life. The only sensorial dimension was the music. Without light it is impossible to see, or even be aware of our surrounding reality.

This year, the theme of White Ribbon is Whiti te rama - Shine a Light on Violence Prevention. Unless we shine a light on one of our nation’s saddest societal malaise, it remains in the dark where it stays hidden. Many of us remain unaware, sensing nothing of the pain and heartache, sadness and sorrow of what happens behind the doors of too many of our homes.

To the victims of such violence, can I suggest that there is the hope of the One Who Sees: “Even the darkness will not be dark to you, … for darkness is as light to you.” Psalm 139: 12

As people who walk with God, our task in the Church is to give hope by shining a light, not only on the problem of domestic violence, but even more so on the hope of prevention and the things that work to prevent violence.... Download the full message from Ray.

Shine a Light - Free White Ribbon Prayer Candles for Parishes

If your parish would like a free beeswax PCANZ White Ribbon prayer candle, please email your name and PCANZ parish name to: angela@presbyterian.org.nz before 25 November 2021. There are only 100 candles and these will be sent to PCANZ parishes on a first-in basis - so get in quick and request yours now!

White Ribbon 2021 Worship Resources

Very Rev Ray Coster has prepared White Ribbon 2021 worship resources for parishes, please download these:

PCANZ Moderator Right Rev Hamish Galloway leads us in a White Ribbon prayer, written by White Ribbon NZ Ambassador Very Rev Ray Coster, and encourages us to light a candle to shine a light in the darkness. To order a free beeswax candle, see above.

Presbyterian Support NZ White Ribbon 2021 resources & webinar

Presbyterian Support NZ, through its Presbyterian Support Northern Shine (specialist domestic violence service) offers a White Ribbon Day introductory family violence webinar titled ‘Shine a Light on Family Violence Prevention’. Learn about the complexity of domestic violence, issues such as coercive control and entrapment and more. PSNZ hope the webinar will be “a way of enabling people within our congregations to engage with the PCANZ’s commitment to foster safe and loving homes”. Webinar presenters: Margaret Fitzgibbon (PSN Shine Team Leader FV Education, DVFREE and Professional Community Training) and Mira Taitz (PSN Shine, Senior Family Violence Educator/Trainer). Webinar date: White Ribbon Day, Thursday 25 Nov 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm. RSVP by Thurs 11 Nov here. See PSN White Ribbon resources.

See further resources on the White Ribbon NZ website.

White Ribbon NZ have a number of videos that you can share, see all videos here. New videos include "Stories of Change" for this year's Shine a Light campaign.