This Sunday in the Church, we mark Remembrance Sunday. We have walked through All Saints Day and All Souls Day, when we remembered those Saints who have gone before us and those around us today, and those we have loved who have also been called to eternal rest.
Remembrance Sunday is held to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian service people in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
Remembrance Sunday reminds us that true remembrance is comprehensive—it includes soldiers, civilians, emergency services, and all who suffer in conflict. It shapes our values and responsibilities today.
Our designated Gospel teaches us that remembrance is not only about looking back but about living forward. We often misread the signs of our times, expecting one thing and encountering another. The parable reminds us to cultivate readiness of heart rather than prediction of events.
So as we move closer to our Season of Advent, let us look ahead with anticipation and ready our hearts and minds for the birth of our Saviour, holding in our hearts those who battled in war for the lives we enjoy today.
May God always bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (8th November)
Theme: Let us rejoice in the righteousness of God in years past and look ahead with joy in preparation for His coming
Sentence: Watch and be ready, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42, 44
Collect:
Father,
let us not serve you grudgingly like slaves,
but with the gladness of children
who delight in you
and rejoice in their work;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
Amen
Readings: Romans 8: 35 – 39 & Matthew 25: 1 - 13
At the 5pm Evensong THIS Sunday (8th November) in the Transitional Cathedral, Kofe (and Mrs Kristie Ferguson) will be installed as new canons of our Cathedral.
All are welcome to this service.
Next Sunday, 15th Nov, we will be hosting Anna Strong from Christians Against Poverty, an organisation that has grown in its help and guidance offered to the needy.
In 2007, Heather and Gareth Jones arrived in Aotearoa. They had four local contacts and scarcely enough money to cover two months’ expenses. However, they were armed with experience. They had spent the previous ten years serving people living in unmanageable debt and poverty at CAP UK. Faith-filled, they believed God would go before them and make a way.
Heather and Gareth met with compassionate local Pastors who could plainly see the needs in their neighbourhoods. Partnerships formed. With these churches’ wisdom and insight combined, CAP UK’s poverty alleviation service model was adapted to a New Zealand context.
Within two months, two local churches were visiting the homes of 25 clients – providing life-changing help to people throughout our nation.
From those small seeds, CAP NZ’s reach now extends from Whangarei to Tīmaru… Thirty-five church partners are running Debt Help & 101 local churches run CAP Money courses in their communities – bringing generational impact!
Welcome Anna!
See you all at 10am, Sunday 15th Nov, and bring a plate for morning tea if you can
Vestry is putting out a call to all who are able and willing to join us as we clear cobwebs,tidy up storage spaces and generally,
wash down our church in preparation for Advent and Christmas.
There are several spots in our buildings that need attention, so bring your mops, rags, brushes
and whatever you know will help. 9.30am Saturday 21st November.
More For Your Diaries:
Saturday 7th Nov – NZ General Elections & Parish Prayer Meeting (see below)
Sunday 15th Nov – Combined 10am Service with CAP speaker Anna Strong addressing us.
Saturday 21st Nov – 9.30am: Spring Working Bee at St Aug’s
Sunday 29th Nov – Combined 10am Service with Sumner Silver Brass Band, and Diocesan Safeguarding officer Phil Trotter speaking to us.
OUR NEXT PARISH PRAYER MEETING – SATURDAY 7 NOVEMBER
For about a year now, a group of anywhere between 5 and 10 parishioners have gathered monthly to pray primarily for our parish. This group is made up of our parish Prayer Ministry Team, and includes the Sunday Intercessors, the Email Prayer Requests Group and the Prayer Working Group members. Our fellowship is always so positive and so enriching!
We have decided it’s now time to open this Prayer Meeting up to the whole parish.
YOU ARE INVITED!!!!!!!!
WHAT? Monthly Parish Prayer Meeting
WHEN? First Saturday of the month from 10-11am
WHERE? In the Hannan Centre
WHY? This month our intention is to principally pray for our Elections, which fall on the same day. Why don’t you drop into the Hannan Centre on your way to the Polling Booth and spend an important hour praying especially for our nation on this very important day
We will also include time to pray for our parish, our family and friends and our own personal needs
We want to assure you that, for those who feel uncomfortable with praying aloud, there will be no pressure to do so! It will be quite ok if you just listen to the prayers being offered and participate by joining in in silence. Your presence alone will be an encouragement to us – and will delight your Father God. Just as you love to spend time with your children, you can be sure that God loves to spend time with you!
Will you join us on Saturday the 7th November at 10am in the Hannan Centre?
Here’ s what our ‘milk bottle flower garden’ looked like when they were ‘glowing’ at night time. Unfortunately the nearby street lamp was shining on them which made it hard to capture their ‘effect’ in a photo. Grateful thanks to Francie for all her efforts in this!
Recently, the announcement was made that our Sunday morning services will be merging into a combined service each week, at 10am.
This has been a difficult decision for Vestry to make, and we ask your prayers over each other as we come together. With a couple of combined services scheduled for November, we will making the change-over on Christmas Day.
Our musicians are working together to ensure that the calibre of worship music is not lost - through an alternation of the organ and the 11am band.
We are also planning for Communion to be offered to you every Sunday.
Click here to view the timeline which brought us this far.
Please continue to hold St Aug's closely in prayer.
City Mission Food Basket:
A GREAT BIG THANKS to those who are regularly donating to our Food Basket at the back of the church (and the recent generous donations). Every little bit counts! Your valuable contributions help the poor and needy in our city survive. Keep it coming!!!
Helpful info
Giving
Groups
It’s easy to connect and get involved with some great social and faith-focused groups that meet regularly across the parish. You can find out about all our regular groups on our Groups page. If you have any questions, just click the contact button to connect with the group’s organiser.
Need prayer?
We’d love to pray for you. See the ‘Prayer Support’ section on the Help & Support page for more information on how we can help with your prayer needs. There are confidential and anonymous options available.