COMMUNITY SUNDAY ~ Celebrating Waltham Cottage
AN UNCANNY DAY
Tena Koutou, Katoa. Tena Koe.
Greetings in the name of Christ. And also to you.
NOTICES & BIRTHDAYS
CALL TO WORSHIP: We gather together this day to celebrate the community outside our doors.
We care about the community outside our doors. We want to share God’s unconditional love with them, but sometimes we don’t know how.
Engaging with our Community asks of us vulnerability, trust, openness, acceptance, risking ourselves.
We sometimes separate ourselves from the community for we are afraid of what it may ask of us. We are afraid of moving out to the challenges we may meet.
Yet, Christ calls us to move outside these doors. To share his love. Remember we are not alone, God is with us.
HYMN: Community of Christ
Community of Christ, who make the Cross your own,
Live out your creed and risk your life for God alone:
The God who wears your face, to whom all worlds belong,
Whose children are of every race and every song.
Community of Christ look past the Church’s door
And see the refugee, the hungry and the poor.
Take hands with the oppressed, the jobless in your street,
Take towel and water, that you wash your neighbour’s feet.
Community of Christ, through whom the word must sound –
Cry out for justice and for peace the whole world round:
Disarm the powers that war and all that can destroy,
Turn bombs to bread, and tears of anguish into joy.
When menace melts away, so shall God’s will be done,
The climate of the world be peace and Christ its Sun;
Our currency be love and kindliness our law,
Our food and faith be shared as one forever more. ©Shirley Murray
PRAYER:
WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Gillian Cree
HYMN: How Much Am I Worth?
How much am I worth? What value’s in me?
Do I count, if I stand or I fall?
If I’m weak or I’m strong, if I win or I lose,
Am I someone, or no one at all?
I am worth everything, everything, everything,
I am worth everything in the eyes of God;
You are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God.
I am that bird that dropped to the ground,
That tiniest bird of them all,
And nobody knew, and nobody cared
But our Father, who cares for us all.
We are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God;
We are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God.
I am that stone that fell from a ring,
That was precious beyond all compare;
And they hunted the house, till they cried out with joy
When they saw it, still gleaming, down there.
I am worth everything, everything, everything,
I am worth everything in the eyes of God;
You are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God.
I am that child who felt lost and afraid,
When she saw just how far she had roamed;
But they scoured the hills till they found her again,
And rejoicing, they brought him safe home.
We are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God;
We are worth everything, everything, everything,
We are worth everything in the eyes of God.
How much am I worth? Do I matter at all?
When I’m thinking it through may I see
That I’m worth all the love of the Son of God,
Who laid down his life just for me. ©Colin Gibson
BIBLE READING:
John 13: 4-5, 12-17 Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
Jill Grierson
CELEBRATING WALTHAM COTTAGE
FILLING THE CUPBOARD ~ you are invited to put your tins in the cupboard.
WE WELCOME Adrienne Carmichael, Community Development Worker and Jillie Toogood, Community Wellbeing Facilitator – sharing the life of Waltham Cottage with us.
COMMUNITY AFFIRMATION (please stand):
We are a community, a source of love, laughter and sharer of tears. We are a people prepared to take risks, working together, that one day this world will be a place where people can live in peace, justice and freedom. This is our hope, this is our faith, that we dare to believe, always and in spite of everything, in God’s power to transform. ©Iona Community
OFFERING (together): Gracious God, we bring before you gifts of money and food to be used in your service. With these gifts we have given tins of food to be given to Waltham Cottage for distribution within the community. Bless those who give and those who receive them. Amen.
TIME TO GREET ONE ANOTHER
PRAYERS FOR OTHERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: Every Day I Will Offer You
Every day I will offer you, loving God my heart and mind
Every way I discover you, in the work your hand has signed;
Help me see I’m your image, and You have dreamed what I might be –
Every day – in your Spirit, I’ll find the love and energy!
Every day I will look to Christ and give thanks for wine and bread.
Through the pain and the emptiness where your world cries to be fed; Help me see I can work for change, and wherever I might be.
Every day in your Spirit, I’ll find the love and energy!
Every day I will take your word, Answer your compassion’s claim,
Celebrate every sign of hope, Every deed done in your name;
Help me see you are always there,
And your light can shine through me,
Every day in your Spirit, I’ll find the love and energy! ©Shirley Murray
BLESSING:
Go now into God’s world in peace and love. May the breath of God bring life to all we do, the grace of Christ be clear within our humanness and the Spirit lighten our hearts with delight.
THREEFOLD AMEN.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Tue 24th Deirdre; Wed 25th Aescleah; Fri 27th Tony; Sat 28th Martin.
NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, Please stay for morning tea and the Congregational Meeting following the service. Thanks to Rev Lyndsey McKay for leading our service today.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 25th Nov: Meet 9.30am cnr Ilam Rd & Memorial Ave. Parking restricted, suggest catching the Orbiter (9.06 PMH/9.12 Barrington – alight two stops past the University). Coffee at LB & Co. June 332 8874.
NEW ROSTER available – please check to see if there is a copy for you.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am -12noon in the Lounge. $3.
WINNIE BAGOES FERRYMEAD FUNDRAISER: TODAY at 5.45pm.
CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR WALTHAM COTTAGE: please bring these along from 29 November, until 13 December, and place under the Christmas Tree. Gifts are required for men, women, teenagers & children. PLEASE DO NOT WRAP YOUR GIFTS. Edible items acceptable (preferably on 13 Dec). Boxes of chocolates are especially handy. Donations of wrapping paper also very welcome. Thank you for your support.
DEADLINE FOR ‘MESSENGER’ articles is TODAY. Anneke 328 7459.
QUALITY USED CLOTHING SALE Saturday 30th January 2016 9am at St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, 101 Opawa Rd. We will also be selling jams, pickles, preserves, cakes, sweets etc… All donations gratefully received.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays & Thursdays 9am – 12noon, and Fridays 9-11am. Phone 332 6192, Email: stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.stmartins.org.nz. Any notices to Anna by 9am every Thursday please.
RISINGHOLME SINGERS: The final concert for the year will be held today, Sunday 22 November, at the Heaton Intermediate School Performing Arts Centre, commencing at 2.30 pm. The programme includes a range of works, some audience participation, a Christmas music bracket and a bracket of songs from Fiddler on the Roof.
Tickets ($15) available at the door for. Any enquiries to John Shanks.
ALPINE PRESBYTERY NEWSLETTER is on the noticeboard in the Lounge.