After going to the General Elections as a nation last week, it is good to be welcoming Anna Strong (from Christians Against Poverty) into our midst, to be reminded about our call from God that we are to care for the poor and heal the sick.
When we hear about the challenge to heal the sick, we tend to balk and wonder at the depth of this call. How do we – regular people with perhaps no medical background at all – provide healing for others?
Well, if we look at this call and challenge put before us, we are reminded of God’s implicit mercy and compassion, and reinforces for us, the belief that God is not only concerned with physical ailments, but also the physical and emotional struggles of His people. We are constantly assured that God cares deeply about our health and desires for us, complete restoration and well-being.
Recently, we had our Parish Pastoral Care Team established and commissioned – on our behalf, these gracious people are finding the time to sit with our people and listen to their stories and support them. They are being healers in God’s name, lightening peoples’ loads and just being God’s awesome presence.
Let us not forget that a simple smile can brighten someone’s day. A quiet greeting can make someone feel included. A gentle hug shows we care.
May we never become too complacent to be God’s healers!
May God always bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (15th November)
Theme: Sharing our gifts and talents as we wait for the Lord.
Sentence: God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:9–11
Collect:
We pray Lord Jesus,
that you take the old water - our busy conscientious lives,
and turn them into gospel wine,
that everyone may see your life and thirst;
for the glory of your holy name.
Amen
Readings: 1Thessalonians 5:1-6 & Matthew 25: 14 – 30
THIS 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:
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.
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.