Weekly Notices - 12th October 2025
We return this week to our normal 9.30 and 11am services on Sundays after a wonderful, inspirational month of guest speakers taking us through Mission Month in September. Looking back over the series, I am feeling uplifted and encouraged as we look towards our Advent Season 2025. What great insights we have been given by different individuals, and I am deeply indebted to each of our Speakers: Bruce White, Sharron Martel and Geoff King for their preparations and their delivery!
Our Sunday theme for worship this week is “God's faithfulness in spite of our weakness: Go, your faith has saved you,” which takes us beautifully through a time of fatigue amongst our parishioners after months of roof repairs, floor repairs and external boardwalk repairs! We are being reminded that through all of this, God stands with us – if we only believe!
As I left the parish office on Tuesday afternoon, I heard voices in one of our downstairs meeting rooms. Curious I popped my head in the door and saw two of our parish widows sitting on the couch there, heads together and just working quietly as they looked ahead towards our next Messy Church on the 1st Nov. I was blown away, once again, by the dedication and service the people of this parish have, and I walked away with the image of the poor widow offering her last coins as a gift in the temple. We remain strong in our faith because of the service you parishioners offer and I am 100% certain that through this faith, our church will find healing in Christ!
Stay strong, St Aug’s!
May God always bless each of you
~Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (12th October)
Theme: God's faithfulness in spite of our weakness: Go, your faith has saved you.
Sentence: What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Psalm 116:12–14
Collect:
God of compassion,
deepen and increase our love for you
so that we may leave behind the sins
from which you have redeemed us,
and serve you in perfect freedom.
Hear this prayer for your love’s sake.
Amen.
Readings: 2 Timothy 2: 8 – 15 & Luke 17: 11 – 19
Our 11am Contemporary Service Leaders Team is excited to be launching our new look
“Lay-Led Service.”
This is in response to 11am parishioners deep interest in seeing this particular service being led by our lay people, and especially with a time after the sermon for live feedback/questions/sharing personal testimonies.
The Leaders Team have put in many hours of listing and tweaking to make this service a more people-friendly space, and we are excited to bring this to the parish on a trial basis for the next couple of months.
While our ‘Russell & the Band’ Sunday services will remain the same – a beautiful worship event of Psalms, Songs and other Scriptural Readings led by Russell Stedman, other Sundays will also walk into services led by other lay members. The Eucharist will continue to be celebrated on the 2nd & 4th Sunday of each month as well.
You are all invited to join us when we launch this new service:
THIS SUNDAY: 11am, 12th October 2025.
Leader: Dr David Gibbs
24 HOUR PRAYER DAY FAST APPROACHING!!!!
FRIDAY 7 NOVEMBER 5PM – SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 5PM
You are invited to participate in either or both the following ways:
1. Praying at Home
During the 24-Hour Prayer Day you are invited to choose your own prayer slot where you commit to pray at home, either on your own or as you gather a few others around you.
You will be able to sign up on the form at the back of the church on any Sunday from here on.
Booklets will be available for you to take home as a possible guide for your prayer time.
2. Praying in the Church
Running alongside Praying at Home, the church will be open for Prayer on the Friday from 5pm – 9pm, and on the Saturday from 9am – 5pm. On the Saturday, different parishioners will speak for a few minutes, at the start of each time slot, about an area of parish life that they have responsibility for. The timetable for this will be released well before 7 November. Then those in the church (and those who may wish to join in prayer at the same time at home) will pray silently or aloud especially for that particular area of parish life.
Our Diocesan 5 Marks of Mission, adopted to guide us as a church walking into the future:
· To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
· To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
· To respond to human need by loving service
· To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
· To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth
These priorities need not just be corporate or international ideologies; they can be worked into our individual lives as we strive to grow God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Vestry has agreed to the recommendations from our Mission Motivators (Lerks & Joan) to support NZCMS Māori evangelists with our missions giving.
Joan & Lerks have heard Keri-Anne preach and she had shown Lerks around South Auckland, describing her work there.
We think that Māori evangelists will not only bring the gospel to Māori, but could also re-awaken Christian spirituality with everyone that they encounter.
We see this in our younger generation who want to partner with Māori in their future together.
Please click here for more information about Māori Evangelists.
Messy Church at St Augs!
On Saturday 28th June, we held a very successful ‘Messy Church’ activity day for Pre-School & Primary aged children in the Hall.
Many grateful thanks from Rowena, Thelma and the team to all those that contributed to the success of this day. We hope to hold another session before the end of the year!
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 recently.)
Please remember to use our Diocesan Prayer for Regeneration: As the kotuku gently rests upon the tree, come and rest upon us Holy Spirit as we pray for the regeneration of our Diocese… Ever living God, through your Spirit you constantly renew the whole creation; bring regeneration to your Diocese of Christchurch, grant us courage to grow disciples of Jesus, give us vision to reach young people and their families, and strengthen us to create vibrant communities of faith. All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
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.