Weekly Notices - 1st February
While Kofe is away on a well deserved holiday, in lieu of her usual weekly message, it is a good time to be reminded of the background to our beautiful Centennial banners
Ideas for the banners were initially discussed by Annie Ogilvie, Fiona Taylor & Kristin Hoskin and the final concept and design was drawn by Fiona Taylor.
A team including Annie Ogilvie, Thelma Kent & Frances Schulz assisted Fiona with the painting.
The banners DELIGHT in God's creation and beauty accompanied by the words of St Augustine.
"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.
For LOVE is the beauty of the SOUL"
They feature the Cross motif we know so well and which was modelled from the small cross above the Church porch entrance, The Kowhai, a signature tree found around the church glows and NZ native birds piwakawaka represent the soul. The kereru sits atop the ti koūka as a signpost pointing the way. Seedpods symbolise growth and regeneration. The filmy ferns creep in as a nod to our early plant life. The healing heart-shaped kawakawa leaves were painted from leaves picked up by Annie at Waitangi treaty grounds and echo the finials on the cross. The woven border surrounding it represents community. The overall flow and movement of life is captured with a suggestion of stained glass the pieces connecting and flowing together as one.
This Sunday’s Service (1st February)
Theme: The Sermon on the Mount.
Sentence: What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8
Collect:
Teach us, Jesus,
how to live and worship
without being worldly or greedy.
Drive from our lives what spoils them
and make us temples of the Spirit;
for the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Readings: Micah 6: 1-8 & Matthew 5: 1-12
This Sunday (Feb 1st) is our final Combined 10am Service.
We will resume with our two morning services on Sunday February 8th
Our mid-week (Wednesday 10am Service) will resume on February 11th.
Repair Café - In the Hannan Centre,
Thursday 29 January, 5.30 to 7pm
Let’s REPAIR rather than throw away.
FREE event! Share far and wide!
We will help fix your stuff and teach you how to do it yourself.
Bring torn or holey clothes, stuck zippers, furniture, headphones and cables, sunglasses, ceramics and pottery, toys, shoes, jewellery, blunt knives (to sharpen), broken plastic objects etc. We can also help you with some technology advice, such as how to install WhatsApp to talk to your relations overseas, or why your phone is doing something weird today, or how do I put it on ‘do not disturb’ … etc
Volunteers willing to help are very welcome! Please contact Lerks Stedman: 022 021 5270
This year, we will be heading for an earlier than usual Easter.
This means that our holy season of Lent will be starting at a much earlier date also: Ash Wednesday on the 18th Feb.
In light of this, if your Home Group would be interested in studying the diocesan Lent Journey for this year, please let the Vicar know so that orders can be placed with Theology House.
“In the Spirit of Lent—Year A. This study centres around the Gospel readings from the Lectionary, with a series of striking artworks by Sarah West, and a written reflection for each week. Including prompts for deeper discussion and simple prayers, this is an ideal resource for small groups.
To allow the Vicar a brief break, the decision has been made for Sunday 1st Feb to be conducted as an extra 10am Combined Service.
The Rev Ron Hay will be preaching and Russell Stedman and the band will be leading this “11am style No Communion” service.
Many thanks and “pats on the back” to Russell and Ron!
The Vicar will be on Annual Leave from Sunday afternoon, 25th Jan until Thursday 5th Feb. In her absence, please direct any enquiries to the Vicar’s Warden,
Mrs. Jo Ashton-Martyn.
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
The church is currently 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.
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.