All are welcome to join us at the Mineral & Lapidary Club Hall at 9.30am for our Good Friday Service

WHILE OUR CHURCH BUILDING IS REPAIRED WE ARE MEETING EACH SUNDAY AT THE MINERAL & LAPIDARY CLUB 11O WALTHAM RD (NEXT TO WALTHAM SCHOOL) AT 10AM.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU.

Palm Sunday 9 April 2017

Sunday 9^th April

Palm Sunday

Coming Together as Part of God’s Family

At our discussion about building last week Doug Grierson mentioned the St Martin’s Cross at Iona.  The St. Martin’s Cross was carved from a single slab of stone in the mid to late 8th Century. The most perfect of the surviving crosses on the Isle of Iona, Scotland, it stands in its original position where the monks of the island monastery placed it twelve hundred years ago.

The raised circles, or bosses, are thought to represent God with everything revolving around Him. Intertwined between these bosses are serpents, which in the Celtic world represented rebirth since the snake sheds its old skin; symbolizing our rebirth into a new life upon acceptance of Jesus. The ring around the cross head represents eternal life and is a common feature in Celtic Crosses.

Special Congregational Meeting Sunday 23^rd April

Members will be invited to vote on the following resolution:

“That we proceed to undertake earthquake strengthening and refurbish the church building at 43 St Martins Road at an estimated cost of $868,700.”

New Church Office… is open at 43 St Martins Road. We are still facing some fit out issues but it’s good to have a presence on site again. Call by for a cuppa some time.

Anna is there Wednesday – Friday mornings and Dugald usually there Monday – Thursday mornings. Plans for the church strengthening and refurbishment are available for viewing.

NB: The Office will be closed on Good Friday 14^th April.

Thank you…to Tony Beasley, Robert Beasley, Warren Pettigrew, Lindsay Day, Cyril Morris, Richard Wethey and David Hodder who have contributed skills and man hours to get the Office up and running. This has been a great effort to shift and renovate the building! And thanks to Rosalie Sterritt for donating the teatowels.

Sunday 2^nd April

5th Sunday in Lent ~ The Cross

 Coming Together as Part of God’s Family

Welcome and Notices:

Call to Worship:

God who is beyond us,

maker of heaven and earth–

open our eyes to see the wonder of creation!

God was made known

In the life of Jesus the Christ

Open our hearts to know the deep love of Christ!

God who lives in each one of us as Spirit

Holy fire to kindle our true purpose

Open our beings to each other to confirm that we all belong,

And together we can give birth to your new earth.

Explaining the Proposed Building Project at St Martins Church.

After worship today there is an opportunity to gather around at the church site at 43 St Martins Road to:

1. Have a quick cuppa in the new office
2. Walk through proposed changes at the church in preparation for our special congregational meeting (Sunday 23^rdApril) to determine our course of action.  It is much easier to explain what is proposed on site rather than looking at drawings.

If you wish to take up this opportunity please leave immediately after worship and head round the corner!

Notices:

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, Please stay for morning tea after the service.

The Parish Office has now returned to 43 St Martins Rd

Wednesday Walkers 5^th April: meet 9.30am at the carpark by the Sumner Surf Club, for a walk in Sumner.

Coffee will be at Joe’s Garage. All are welcome.

Judith 3321577

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12 noon at Beckenham Methodist. $3.Beverley 384 7814.

Can You Help? Our auditor has retired so we need a new person to check the books. If you know of someone, please let Joan Macdonald know.

Please fill out an information form so we can update our records.

Forms can be returned to The Minister, Irene Gray or to the church office.

Many thanks to those who have already returned forms!

HOLY WEEK & EASTER

Do we need Easter?  The Rev Dr John England will lead three provocative reflections during Holy Week.

Tuesday 11^th, Wednesday 12^th, Thursday 13^th April at 7.00pm in the Church Lounge at 43 St Martins Rd.

Good Friday 14^th April

9.30am at the Mineral & Lapidary Club.

Easter Day 16^th April

10am Communion Service at the Mineral & Lapidary Club.

A message from the ‘Messenger’ editor:

Please start sending in articles for the next edition as  soon as possible. I will be away for a couple of weeks  so would appreciate items early. Deadline is 1^st May. Many thanks. Anneke. anneke.howie@gmail.com

WHILE OUR CHURCH BUILDING IS REPAIRED WE ARE MEETING EACH SUNDAY AT THE MINERAL & LAPIDARY CLUB 11O WALTHAM RD (NEXT TO WALTHAM SCHOOL) AT 10AM.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU.

Sunday 26 March 2017

Harvest Thanksgiving ~ 4^th Sunday in Lent

Coming Together as Part of God’s Family

Welcome & Notices:

Call to Worship: 

Come let us worship God this Harvest Thanksgiving day

We gather celebrating the gifts of land and sea.

Come and worship God of yesterday, today and tomorrow

We gather remembering our forebears, who tilled, planted and developed this province, alongside the people of the land.

Let us thank God for all that has been.

Let us reach out, that the goodness of life may continue to be shared with all God’s people.

REMEMBER: Daylight Saving ends next Sunday – don’t forget to turn your clocks back!!

Notices:

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, Please stay for morning tea after the service. Thanks to Audrey Dunnachie and the Worship committee for leading today’s service.

Fireside meets on Tuesday 28^th March 7.30pam at Merchiston, 75 St Martins Rd. All women are very welcome.

Wednesday Walkers 29^th March: contact Sonya 339 7038 for details.

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12 noon at Beckenham Methodist. $3.Beverley 384 7814.

Can You Help? Our auditor has retired so we need a new person to check the books. If you know of someone, please let Joan Macdonald know.

Do we need Easter?  The Rev Dr John England will lead three provocative reflections during Holy Week.  Tuesday 11^th, Wednesday 12^th, Thursday 13^th April at 7.00pm in the Church Lounge at 43 St Martins Rd.

Euthanasia: A Duty to Die?
The Transitional Cathedral, Latimer Square, Saturday 1 April, 9.30am to 2.30pm.
A one day seminar on one of the controversial topics of today’s society
BYO Lunch, tea/coffee provided.
Registrations to Jill Short:

admin@theologyhouse.ac.nz

ph: 03 341 3399 by 5 pm 30^th  March.

PLEASE NOTE:

The Parish Office will not be open on Friday 31^st March. Please have any notices for Sunday 2^nd April to Anna by 9am WEDNESDAY. Thank You.

Please fill out an information form available at worship or from your elder if you are already, or would like to be part of the St Martin’s congregation.

Forms can be returned to The Minister, Irene Gray or to the church office.

Many thanks to those who have already returned forms!

WHILE OUR CHURCH BUILDING IS REPAIRED WE ARE MEETING EACH SUNDAY AT THE MINERAL & LAPIDARY CLUB 11O WALTHAM RD (NEXT TO WALTHAM SCHOOL) AT 10AM.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU.

Sunday 19 March 2017

Spiritual Practices ~ 3^rd Sunday in Lent

Call to Worship: 

Children of God, it’s time to take off your shoes,

Let go of the anxieties and worries, and

Wade with trust into the stream of God’s compassionate grace.

We come to be still for a moment, to gather in holy time and space.

Let the healing waters wash your heart.

Take a deep breath as Love soaks into your soul.

We come to know again that we belong,

We are treasured by God,

Listen to the whispering of God

Let the conversations with God begin

We come with our questions

And with our deep desires

To re-orientate our lives in God.

Time with the Children ~ Gillian Cree

Session Notes…

Thank you to everyone who has filled out the Information Form.  This information allows us to update our members roll and ensure other information we record is correct.

Lenten Conversation Groups… three groups are meeting in the congregation and we are enjoying good conversations together.

Midwinter Lunch….everyone is invited to the Cashmere Club on  Sunday 16^th July.  Make a note now.

Buildings…. We hope to have the new office open on Wednesday 29^th March.   On Sunday 2nd April after worship we will have an explanatory gathering at the church, 43 St Martins Road, to talk through the proposed repair.   Later in April after we have received cost estimates we will hold a congregational meeting to vote on proceeding with repairs.

Notices:

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, Please stay for morning tea after the service.

Harvest Thanksgiving:

NEXT Sunday 26^th March. Please bring along donations of dried goods, tinned goods and fresh produce for Waltham Cottage.  Worship Committee.

Would you be prepared to read scriptures in church or lead the Prayers for Others? Please contact the Parish Office 332 6192 if you are interested.

Wednesday Walkers 22^nd March:  Meet 9.30am at location TBC. Ph Janette 332 1240 for details. Coffee at Janette & Cyril’s. All welcome.

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12 noon at Beckenham Methodist. $3.Beverley 384 7814.

Do we need Easter?  The Rev Dr John England will lead three provocative reflections during Holy Week.  Tuesday 11^th, Wednesday 12^th, Thursday 13^th April at 7.00pm in the Church Lounge at 43 St Martins Rd.

Help….we need a little help to paint the new office at 43 St Martins Rd.  The paint is chosen but walls need to be prepared and painted.  Approx  60 m2 of wall plus ceiling.  It would be helpful to get this done this week.  Talk to Dugald  If you could help.

Euthanasia: A Duty to Die?
The Transitional Cathedral, Latimer Square, Saturday 1 April, 9.30am to 2.30pm.
A one day seminar on one of the controversial topics of today’s society
BYO Lunch, tea/coffee provided.
Registrations to Jill Short:

admin@theologyhouse.ac.nz

ph: 03 341 3399 by 5 pm 30^th  March.

PLEASE NOTE:

The Parish Office will not be open on Thursday 23^rd March and also Friday 31^st March. Please have any notices for Sunday 2^nd April to Anna by 9am 29^th March. Thank You.