“First Saturday” Gatherings

“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.”
-Hebrews 10: 24 - 25, Good News Bible

First Saturdays are a monthly gathering via Zoom on the first Saturday of each month, with the goals of connecting and encouraging AAANZ members and friends around Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The Zoom opens at 3.30pm (Sydney time) for informal sharing.

The hour between 4pm and 5pm is usually recorded, and includes a short meditation, and some discussion around a specific topic.

After 5pm, there's time for those who want to stay a little longer to hear from and pray for people around the AAANZ network.

Email info@anabaptist.au to request the Zoom link to the meeting, or check your email if you're on our mailing list (First Saturday info will be in the "Events & Actions" mailing).

First Saturdays in 2024:

NEXT DATE: Saturday, May 4, 3:30pm AEST - 5pm, on Zoom

TOPIC: A Conversation With Dr. John D. Roth – “Anabaptism At 500”

ABOUT THIS TOPIC: On 29 May 2025, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) will welcome guests from around the world to The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500. The day-long celebration commemorates the birth of the Anabaptist movement in Zurich, Switzerland. Following workshops, concerts, a panel discussion and self-guided historical walking tours, participants will gather for an ecumenical worship service at the Grossmünster cathedral.

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: John D. Roth

ABOUT JOHN: One of the planners of Anabaptism@500 is Dr. John D. Roth. From 1985 to 2022, John was a professor of history at Goshen College, where he also served as director of the Mennonite Historical Library and editor of The Mennonite Quarterly Review. John has published widely on topics related to Anabaptist-Mennonite history and church life. He is also the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Global Anabaptism at Goshen College and secretary of the Mennonite World Conference Faith and Life Commission.

In July 2022, John accepted a new position with MennoMedia as project director of the Anabaptism@500 initiative. John and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of four adult children and grandparents to five grandchildren. They are active members of Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship in Goshen, Indiana.

If you're on our mailing list, you can find the Zoom link in your emails. Sign up for AAANZ mailings here.

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LATER DATES:

June 1 - Book Study, Anabaptist Essentials, chapters 1 - 3

July 6 - Topic pending

August 3 - Topic pending

September 7 - Book Study, Anabaptist Essentials, chapters 4 - 6

October 5 - Topic pending

November 2 - Topic pending

December 7 - Book Study, Anabaptist Essentials, chapters 7 - 9

ABOUT THE BOOK STUDY SERIES: Anabaptist Essentials by Palmer Becker.

DISCUSSION FACILITATOR: Errol Thompson, from the AAANZ Leadership Committee.

ABOUT ERROL: A long-term follower of Christ who is still struggling to learn the implications of what that means but has found the Anabaptist approach the most encouraging. Having been part of the UK Anabaptist scene for a number of years, he has returned to New Zealand to live out his faith according to how he understands the Anabaptist vision.