Wishing you all a blessed and joyous Christmas, filled with God’s grace and love.
Here’s our Zoom link –
Topic: St Martin’s Sunday Worship. To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09
Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today. Please join us for morning tea following the service.
CHRISTMAS AT ST MARTINS
Tuesday 24 December 7pm
A service of Lessons & Carols
Wednesday 25 December 10am
Christmas Day celebration
Sunday 29 December 10am
Combined service at Hoon Hay Presbyterian, 5 Downing Street.
January services are all at St Martins.
On the 5th & 19th we will be joined by our neighbours from Beckenham Methodist.
Volunteers to serve morning tea on 5th January still required please.
Donations: if you would like to support the ministry at St Martins our bank account is: 03-1598-0011867-00. Please include your name as a reference.
Wednesday Walkers: over summer we will meet 9.30am at South Library – all are welcome. Check with Sonya 027 253 3397 for details.
CWS Christmas Appeal envelopes can be placed in the offertory plate on any Sunday until 26th January.
CONSERVATION – Week 12. We all know that alcohol is not good for us and it’s not good for the planet either. Like nearly everything, it has a big carbon footprint. It would be far better that vineyards grew crops for biofuel rather than alcohol for human consumption. What can you do? Cut back on alcohol consumption. It will be good for you. Instead, burn the alcohol in tractors. warren.pettigrew@raztec.co.nz
The Parish Office re-opens on Thursday 23rd January.
Come, Christmas Child
Come, Christmas Child, come again in your wonder,
changing the world with the light that you hold;
burst through the mist and the dust of the ages,
Word for our time to unwrap and unfold.
Come to be born in a comfortless cradle,
come where our cruelties keep us in chains:
Herod still hunts for our innocent children,
Rachel still weeps and her sorrow remains.
Bring us your mirror of hope and compassion,
bring us your mindset that mends and restores,
bake us the bread of new life you will offer,
knocking once more on humanity’s doors.
Come, Christmas Child, in the festival’s flurry,
come in the silence, the pain and the night,
come in the hearts that are faith-filled as Mary’s,
bringing the joy of the love you invite.
Shirley Murray