Weekly Notices - 15th February 2026
A few days before we begin our Lent journey with Jesus Christ, it is apt that we are reminded of the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness – foraging for insects to eat, water to drink and looking deep within Himself as the Son of God. It must surely have been a very difficult time!
I cannot imagine myself doing this in its totality – the lack of family & friends around me for that length of time, alone, is enough to make me cringe! I think back of the days I had to spend in isolation after returning from my Dad’s funeral back in 2022, during Covid, and how hard it was, after the first few days of Scriptural discipline and prayer, to continue on my own, barricaded from life outside the hotel I was in!
However, we take courage from theologians who have mapped out our way of thinking, and dwell on what they had to say:
“Even the darkest moments of the liturgy are filled with joy, and Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten fast, is a day of happiness, a Christian feast.: Thomas Merton
“Lent is a time of going very deeply into ourselves… What is it that stands between us and God? Between us and our brothers and sisters? Between us and life, the life of the Spirit? Whatever it is, let us relentlessly tear it out, without a moment’s hesitation.” Catherine Dougherty
I wish you well in this sombre but holy season, and I pray that self-reflection and prayer will led you all through this wilderness season.
May God bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (15th February)
Theme: Jesus as the fulfilment of the Law and Prophets
Sentence: Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Psalm 119:1
Collect:
God of Israel old and new,
write in our hearts the lesson of your law;
prepare our minds to receive the gospel
made visible in your Son Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9 & Matthew 5: 21-37
This year, we will be heading for an earlier than usual Easter.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday next week on the 18th Feb @ 7pm:
- come and join us as we begin our journey through Lent, being marked with the cross of humility, mortality and penance.
This year, we will be heading for an earlier than usual Easter.
Beginning with Ash Wednesday next week on the 18th Feb @ 7pm:
- come and join us as we begin our journey through Lent, being marked with the cross of humility, mortality and penance.
Palms please
If anyone has any palms that need trimming we need palms for Palm Sunday. Either drop off at church on Morning of Friday 27 March or give Kristin a call before the 27th to arrange to come and collect 0272263072.
The church is again being opened to the public each Thursday afternoon between 1 - 3pm.
This is a great opportunity for you or others you may know to walk through our beautiful doors and sit in the quiet holiness of our space. Everyone is welcome, and we thank Kristine & Mick Mckey for this ministry.
Messy Church
We are aiming to run one sometime in Term 1 next year.
See the photos below to see what our previous ‘Messy Church’ session looked like!
What is ‘Messy Church’? Messy Church is a church for everyone who may not feel comfortable attending a ‘normal’ church service and who don’t yet belong to a church. It typically includes a meal, hands-on activities such as arts, crafts, meeting God in the outdoors, science activities and more, which are suitable for all ages.
Check out the NZ ‘Messy Church’ website! www.messychurch.nz
Please be warned that with the commencement of our roof repairs we have LOTS of scaffolding around the place to be aware of. In particular this affects parking near the Hannan Centre ramp.
Be careful out there!
(And here are a couple of shots of the team in the skyline)
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.