The St Martins facilities will remain closed under Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions

Sunday Service: Many thanks to Rev Anne Stewart and the team from Village Presbyterian Church (Papanui & Bryndwr) for making this available to the people of St Martins. There is also a midweek reflection which will be e-mailed to you.

Moderator’s live streaming of devotions every Sunday at 9am. Go to the Moderator’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/modpcanz/

Watch Sunday’s service from Beckenham Methodist: the video link/s are available after 11am from their webpage:  www.bmc.nz  Services/Reflections

Want to re-stock your pantry? Sue has the following for sale:

Bottled – Black Boy Peaches, Pears, Plums, Peaches, Tomato Puree

Chutneys – Pasta Sauce, Relishes, Tomato Sauce

Jams – Feijoa & Ginger, Feijoa & Pear, Feijoa & Lemon

Chilli Sauces – some with only a little sugar in them.

Kasundi – tomato relish

Give her a phone call 960 7657 to place an order. As we will be in ‘Level 3’ from Tuesday, and you will be able to travel a little further, Sue will leave your order in her letterbox for you to collect and leave money there.

Charitable Giving Tax Credit 

Our treasurer, Joan Macdonald, will have your receipts available for you once the COVID19 lockdown is over.

You may have been considering donating your Charitable Giving Tax Credit to the church. For more information, contact Joan – 337 1648.

Moderator’s Anzac Day Message
Greetings

“Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends.” (John 15:12-14)

The words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ring and echo loudly in our situation today.

In fact, as we all attest to this truth in life, it is the sound of Jesus’ words that permeate our being as we move from Easter toward Anzac Day. Easter was very different this year, with the crowds and gatherings, worship and fellowship, meals of fish and bread, communion – all carried out using digital communication. This is an unprecedented situation due to unusual times affecting the whole world. What stands out for me each and every year is: “Jesus died on the Cross, for you and I”.

ANZAC Day appropriately follows Easter on our calendar. The underlying theme of the Cross is echoed by the soldiers that died for “God, King and country”. Their lives, their commitments, their sacrifices were for you and I, which is commemorated on ANZAC. It is poignant, significant and sacred.

Many lives were lost. We are forever indebted to the brave men and women who died on the frontier of the battlefields for our freedom, for all that we have. We will never forget them. We remember and recall ANZAC every year, and we educate our children about this alliance. We will remember them: they are our heroes, our champions, our “game-changers”.

Today, in our world and in our country, we have new heroes, champions and “game-changers”. These new heroes are the many men, women and children who have stepped up, arisen, “taken the bull by the horns” and made a difference in the lives of many during the Covid-19 crisis. To all the essential workers (police, nurses, doctors, firefighters, rest home carers, orderlies, supermarket workers, chaplains… the list is long), thank you. Bless you.

Your service for the masses, for our country, is both courageous and brave. You are valued and loved, appreciated and cherished. You risk your lives every day against an unseen enemy – Covid-19. You work is in the same order of sacrifice as our Lord Jesus on the Cross and the soldiers on the battlefields. Your lives are on the line every time you step up and step out. We salute you and keep you and your loved ones in our prayers. We will not forget you.

Jesus said, “I came that you may have life, life in all its fullness”. (John 10:10)

Blessings,
Right Reverend Fakaofo Kaio, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

A Prayer for Anzac Day:

Almighty God and Heavenly Father, whose kingdom rules over all and in whom there is perfect freedom. We give you thanks at this time for all who have served in the defence of this country.

As we remember those men and women who served – in the ranks of our Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Navy and Police, we give thanks to you, gracious God, for their great sacrifices in conflict and in captivity – for the cause of peace and freedom. In our nation of wealth, prosperity and comfort, let us not forget the cost of these privileges which we now enjoy. 

We pray for peace. Have mercy on our broken and divided world and banish the spirit that makes for war. We ask that leaders of nations and governments will pursue freedom, justice and the welfare of all peoples.

We pray for ourselves. In the midst of worldly turmoil and lockdown, make us yearn for peace – not only with each other – but peace with you through our crucified and risen Saviour.  Trusting in Him for the forgiveness of our sins, help us to look forward to His kingly return.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

From the Council: Unite Against Covid-19

Under Alert Level 3 you still need to Stay Home, Save Lives. If you’re going out for fresh air, stay local. Take care of yourselves and stay connected with family and friends over the phone.

Some takeaway businesses will be open.

If you need welfare assistance, call the CCC helpline 0800 24 24 11

When walking the dog, keep them on the lead.

Recycling will be sorted again from May – please make sure you only put recyclables in the yellow bin.

The Eco Depots will be open from Tuesday.

For health advice, contact Healthline 0800 358 5453. If you are feeling unwell, call your GP before you visit.

Call the free Government Helpline 0800 779 997 (8am-1am) 7 days a week if you need advice.

Keep an eye on the official website – Covid19.govt.nz – for updates.