We have a new building on site to act as a woodwork workshop. At long last we have a building consent. The classroom will be put on piles and the MenzShed blokes will construct a ramp for disabled access, and attend to fire protections issues. An electronics workshop is being established in an adjacent building.
Realistically it will all be open in March/April.
Jesus often withdrew to places of stillness and solitude to re-orientate his life in God. Early Christians practiced mediation. Today this practice has often been ignored, yet passages like “be still and know that I am God” attract us. Spiritual teacher of our time Fr Thomas Keating said “silence is God’s language”. A new group is starting with the aim of learning and practicing the art of Christian Meditation.
Christian Meditation is based on: stillness, silence and simplicity. The aim is to move closer to union with God by sitting quietly. To aid us in being still we are invited to repeat in silence the word “Maranatha” which means “come Lord”. We come in simplicity, not asking for anything, or seeking to tell God anything, just wanting to be open to God. We are leaving busyness and self-consciousness aside to let God transform us deep to deep. We’re not thinking about anything, spiritual or otherwise, just seeking to be in the presence of God and to be wholly present to God. Those who persevere will inevitably see the results in their lives, “the fruits of the spirit” (Galatians 5): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Meditation does need to be regular, and it does require discipline.
The new group will meet for the first time at St Martins Presbyterian Church, 43 St Martins Road, on Tuesday June 11th at 7pm. If you are interested come and see. The group is not for experts, but for people interested in exploring a form of prayer that is much needed in our time. Our aim is to meet weekly for those who can make it, but to also encourage a daily personal practice of mediation.
For more information make contact with Dugald at dugaldwil@gmail.com or go to www.christianmeditationnz.org.nz &/or www.wccm.org
This Sunday we will be joining the St James’ congregation at 10am.
Next week (28th Aug) we will be at Cashmere Presbyterian, and from the 4th September we will be worshipping at the Canterbury Mineral & Lapidiary Club Hall, 110 Waltham Rd.
St Martin’s Sunday services will be held at Beckenham Methodist Church at 9.00am.
The Beckenham Methodist Parish Council has confirmed their willingness to shift their service to 10.30am, allowing for a shared morning tea at 10.00am.
Opportunity for discussion about services will be given at the Annual Meeting on 9th September.
Excerpted from an email from Chris:
A small group had to make a decision today to “close” the church, following receipt of the PCANZ’s Policy on Earthquake Prone Church Buildings.
Sunday’s service will be held at Beckenham Methodist Church at 10.00 am. For more information please ring or e-mail Anna. She will work in the office until Friday and Parish activities will continue in the lounge until Friday.
By Sunday we hope to be able to give more information regarding venues for Sunday worship and weekday activities.
Depending on the final report from the engineers, it may be necessary to call a special meeting of the Board and Session on Wednesday evening 15th August.
At present it is day by day. Hopefully we can reassure people that our shared life will go on regardless of buildings.