Weekly Notices - 30th August 2026
After a week of General Synod discussions and debate, many of us left the island kingdom of Tonga with a renewed enthusiasm for, among other things, Climate Change, and Equity within the church. The sessions were long and intense, and demanded our full focus as we sat in inter-cultural dialogue to look at the impact of declining numbers and a change in cultural perspectives when it came to our respective parishes and dioceses.
It was interesting to discover that in the larger picture of parish operatives, St Augustine’s was actually doing quite well! I was drawn to the factors of ‘failing’ parishes within our wider church, and realised that even as we stand as one of the many parishes facing the on-going difficulties of member involvement, we remain a parish that is proud of our identity and our ‘unity through diversity’ ideology where our two congregations can come together and celebrate each other with warmth and integrity.
It was good to sit with others from churches throughout NZ and the Pacific, to learn of their growth strategies and to embrace our differences. It was good to listen to the passion of people from Tikanga Maori and Tikanga Pasefika, and at the end of each day, to be so warmly held by the hosting parishes of Tonga. It was good to be in group of delegates under the adept leadership of our Bishop, Peter.
May God continue to bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (30th August)
Theme: Discerning and doing God's will, even through struggle and sacrifice, as we walk towards the Cross.
Sentence: If you want to become a disciple of Jesus, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow him. Matthew 16:24–25
Collect:
God of unchangeable power,
our strength at all times;
guard us from all dangers and support us in all difficulties
that we may live victoriously now and forever;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen
Readings: Romans 12: 9 – 21 & Matthew 16: 21 - 28
30th Aug – Being the 5th Sunday, Kofe will be holding a 10am Combined service in our contemporary style, led by Russell and the Band. This will be a Eucharist service.
From the Prayer Working Group
Just over a month now till our 24-Hour Prayer Event on 2-3 October!
Each week we will be releasing further details of this special weekend as we endeavour to fulfill the teachings of Jesus:
"My house will be called a house of prayer" and follow the Biblical call to prayer.
AI & Humanity Conference
Cashmere Presbyterian Church — August 2026, 6pm on Fri, 28 Aug to 4pm on Sat, 29 Aug at Cashmere Presbyterian Church, 2 MacMillan Avenue.
The AI & Humanity Conference 2026 is a one-and-a-half-day public gathering designed to inform, equip and inspire a general audience about Artificial Intelligence-its rapid developments, its practical applications, and its deeper implications for our lives, communities and humanity itself. The conference is hosted by Cashmere Presbyterian Church and explicitly welcomes all people, regardless of faith background.
The event aims to:
Demystify AI for everyday people—what it is, how it works, where it is headed
Provide practical tools and skills to engage AI confidently in personal and professional life
Explore the ethical, social, and human dimensions of AI—including perspectives from both faith and non-faith traditions
Create a safe, curious, and collegial space for honest conversation about threats and opportunities
Connect Christchurch/Canterbury people with leading New Zealand voices on AI
Guest speakers are Dr Stephen Garner (Laidlaw College, Auckland), and Dr Matthew Galloway (Victoria University of Wellington—Te Herenga Waka).
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.