Weekly Notices - 21st December 2025
As the year draws to a close for us, may I take this opportunity to thank each of you, as members of our beautiful parish family, for a wonderfully successful 2025. We have had a year full challenges, both seen and unforeseen, and I am just so grateful that each of you spent the time and energy to be working with me through these challenges. It really does make a difference if you have the right people beside you, and over the last couple of years, I have indeed noticed the difference you all have made. So Thank You so much for the things you have done towards the running of St Aug’s, and holding this spiritual family together. As we head into a well-earned break now, may I invite each of you to prayerfully remember the ‘highs’ we were blessed with over 2025:
A highly responsive and responsible Vestry Team and Regeneration Committee
Home Groups which continued to meet and encourage each other
The return of our burgled items so soon after our Feb break in, and the amazing support we received from our community
The successful and timely repair of our flat roof
Our Prayer Ministry leaders and the constant upholding of each of us in prayer; the very special Prayer Weekend in November.
These are but a few, but before I close, may I also thank our wonderful, dedicated Parish Administrator, Paula Cox – who, through various health challenges during the year, so competently held this place together.
We wish everyone a very special, holy Christmastide and an extraordinary 2026.
May God always bless St Aug’s.
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s Service (21st December)
‘9 Lessons & Carols’ (Combined 10am)
With our Christmas Tree glittering in our church space and filling us all with the spirit of Christmas, may we ask that parishioners bring in Christmas presents for us to take to the Christchurch City Mission please.
Each small item must be clearly labelled with its age;
appropriateness, and 'Boy / Girl.'
Let us work together to bring Hope and Joy into the lives of underprivileged
children around us.
Thank you all for your kind generosity.
From now and through to the end of January we will only be holding one Combined 10am Sunday Service.
Our mid-week (Wednesday 10am Service) will continue until December 24 and then re-start in February 2026.
Here are some snapshots of last week’s wonderful Christmas mainly music/Christingle Service. Thanks to Rowena and her mainly music for organising & running this service!
Statement from our Bishop, the Rt Rev Dr. Peter Carrell on the Bondi Beach tragedy.
The act of terrorism in Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, intentionally shooting to kill Jews and not Gentiles, has shocked Australians, Kiwis and the rest of the world. We should reflect on how we might support efforts to find a just peace in the Middle East without rhetoric which fuels anti-semitism.
It is anti-semitism when we blame Jews living locally for Israel's actions far away. We should ask why Russia's aggression against Ukraine does not engender anti-Russian killings away from Ukrainian battlefields, but Israel's aggression in Gaza and the West Bank engenders murderous hatred of Jews outside of Palestinian-Israeli battlefields.
It has been astutely observed that anti-semitism was significant in Western culture until the Second World War, then more or less absent as news of the Holocaust sunk into our consciences.
But now anti-semitism is back with a vengeance, supported by an ironic mix of left and right wing politicians, influencers and podcasters.
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.