NWELCOME AND NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP
The story of creation has not ended, but continues through
God’s goal of wholeness; wholeness to be realised in the world around us, and in our personal lives.
God continues to create, calling us onwards in the journey towards fullness of life; calling us to be co-creators, guided by the Spirit moving within us.
HYMN: Sing Praise and Thanksgiving
Sing praise and thanksgiving, let all creatures living
now worship their maker with gladness and song;
all glory and honour we come to him bringing:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God!
Our lives of his making he brings to their waking;
in darkness he held us in his gracious care,
now into the light we are called from our sleeping:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God!
Lord, frame our desiring to do your requiring,
that unto your glory be all that we do;
and where we have faltered, give strength and give healing:
O praise to the Almighty,
sing praise to our God! ? C.A. Gibson & M. Barclay (WOV)
OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Alice Shanks
SONG: Christians Are All Kinds of People
Christians are all kinds of people, They’re average, they’re short, and they’re tall, From all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of outlooks, Our gracious God uses them all. Christians are all kinds of people, Not even especially good, but God’s love is mighty, and that is what counts, with mercy as wide as the sea; it reaches to you and to me.
Christians are all kinds of people. They’re smilers, they’re grouchers, they’re clowns. In all kinds of weather, wherever they gather, You’ll find every kind of them round. Christians are all kinds of people, And sometimes all kinds are in me.
but God’s love is mighty, and that is what counts, with mercy as wide as the sea; it reaches to you and to me.
God uses all kinds of people, The black and the pale and the tan, New Born and the aged, the fit and disabled, They all have a part in the plan. God uses all kinds of people, With problems, with hang-ups, with scars,
but God’s love is mighty, and that is what counts, with mercy as wide as the sea; it reaches to you and to me. ©Stan & Pauline Stewart
READINGS: Psalm 8 Warren Pettigrew
Mark 7: 24-37 Audrey Dunnachie
SERMON: Crossing boundaries – challenging assumptions
A TIME OF QUIET
HYMN: Who is My Mother, Who is My Brother?
Who is my mother?
Who is my brother?
All those who gather round Jesus Christ:
Spirit-blown people
born from the Gospel
sit at the table, round Jesus Christ.
Differently abled,
differently labelled
widen the circle round Jesus Christ,
crutches and stigmas,
cultures’ enigmas
all come together round Jesus Christ.
Love will relate us –
colour or status
can’t segregate us round Jesus Christ:
family failings,
human derailings,
all are accepted, round Jesus Christ.
Bound by one vision,
met for one mission
we claim each other, round Jesus Christ.
Here is my mother,
here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit, round Jesus Christ. © Shirley Murray (AA)
OFFERING
You have gifted each one of us, living God:
some with spontaneous friendship, some with the ability to plan,
some with an observant eye, some with a generous nature,
some with warm compassion.
Bless our gifts of personality, the gifts that make us who we are.
Bless these gifts of money and food, that together all these things may advance the Way of Jesus, in our church family and this city. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
HYMN: Jesus Shall Reign
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
People and realms of every tongue
declare his love in sweetest song;
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where Jesus reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honours to our King;
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen. C/A
THE BLESSING
HUB LUNCHEON
St James’ Church Hall
Sunday 14th October at 12.30pm
Cashmere Hills are assisting St James in hosting St Martins & Hoon Hay parishes. $5 per person. Numbers are limited to 25 per parish. Preference will be given to those who didn’t attend the Progressive Dinner. Please sign the list in the foyer if you wish to attend. Sonya 339 7038 & Judith 332 1577.
OTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Morning tea will be served after the service, followed by the Annual Meeting.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session TOMORROW 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist – please note change of date. Lyndsey 388 1264.
CUPPA & CHAT: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. All welcome. Aubrey 930 2525.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 12th Sept. Meet 9.30am in Gardens carpark (off Armagh St) by the footbridge to the kiosk. If wet, walk postponed to next week. If weather is doubtful, phone for a decision after 8.30am. Coffee at Robert Harris, YMCA, 12 Hereford Street. All Welcome. June 332 8874.
CHRISTCHURCH APW Wednesday 12th September at Cashmere Hills Presbyterian Church 9.45am. The Rev Dugald Wilson from the presbytery will give up to date information regarding the earthquake damage to church buildings in the city and what they think will be happening to many of them. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and hopefully to receive some answers. There will be a Sales Table. Allison 332 0554.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS meets every Thursday 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome. Beverley 332 7786.
THE PARISH OFFICE is CLOSED. Anna can be contacted as usual on Wed & Thurs 9am – 12 noon & Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz.
EMAIL ADDRESSES: Please make sure Anna has your CORRECT email address so we can keep you informed about what is happening.
KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEBSITE: www.stmartins.org.nz
“Unite & Celebrate” Youth Service Sunday 23rd September 7pm at St Mary’s Halswell. Come early for toasties at 6pm. Gold coin donation. Worship led by St Aug’s Youth Band. Speaker: Christoph Zintl. Ph Paddy 332 2725 for more information.
Chris would like to have another go at having the Prayers of the People written and led by members of the congregation. If you would like to be part of a prayer roster, please email Anna who prepares the rosters (stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz). This would begin in November.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Wed 12th Allan; Thu 13th Peter.