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
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today.
The Golden Rules for worship under “Red Light” setting:
- If you’re coming to worship in person, you must hold a vaccine pass
- If you’re sick or feeling unwell, get tested and isolate if you’re required to. Use Zoom on Sundays.
- If you plan to be in Church, wear a mask that is firmly in place and fully covers your nose and mouth.
- Please continue to wear your mask until seated at morning tea.
- You must sign in using the app or the paper copy – this is mandatory.
Wednesday Walkers 16th March: for those not going on the bus trip, meet at South Library 9.30am. Coffee at Novel Café. Sue 960 7657.
Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage: please consider popping in a couple of Easter treats when you do your groceries over the next few weeks. Any donations gratefully received. Bring them along to church by 3 April. Thank you for your support.
Articles are now being sought for the next ‘Messenger’ – please email any contributions to Charlotte & Sally (hooty@xtra.co.nz) before Friday 25th March. Thank you.
Dates for your diaries:
Movie Night Saturday 30th April 5.15pm “Fiddler on the Roof”
Parish Breakfast Sunday 1st May 8.30am
Parish Lunch Sunday 3rd July to celebrate our 94th anniversary
EASTER Services:
14th April 7.30pm Maundy Thursday service at St Mark’s School Hall
15th April 9.30am Good Friday Service
17th April 10am Easter Day Holy Communion
Couplands Hot Cross Buns – this is a fundraiser for St Mark’s Opawa Building project (which is very nearly finished). $5 for a packet of six. Traditional & chocolate available. See Anna to place an order by 1 April. Delivery date 13th April. Payment with order appreciated.
Batteries – there is now a container in the foyer for used batteries – bring along any old small batteries that are used for the numerous devices we look at or wear in our ears. Do not dispose of them in the red bin!
| Presbytery Autumn Gathering will be held on Zoom on Saturday 26th March from 9.30am—12noon. Documents regarding any items for vote will be circulated in advance, and voting will be conducted via email. Anyone is welcome to attend, however we do ask that you register to access the Zoom link. There will be opportunities to connect in smaller breakout rooms. A timetable for the morning will be made available closer to the time. Register here: alpine.infoodle.com/f/AutumnGathering2022 |
THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS
Monday 9.30am NO St Mark’s Elder Care Therese 021 2516282.
Tuesday 9.30am South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869.
Tuesday 7.15pm Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007.
Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: South Library. Sue 960 7657.
Wednesday 7.30pm Global Voices (lounge) Nick 027 2255142.
Thursday 10am Crafty Crafters (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869.
Thursday 1.30pm Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 0774065.
Thursday 5.30-7.30pm Familial Trust mentor group. Vanessa 981 1093.
Friday 10.30am Sing & Sign (lounge). Rebecca 022 0862211.
From the Moderator:
Last week we opened our fridge to find some cupcakes with a note from our 4-year-old neighbour Liam, “We love you Hamish and Anne!”. We were out, our doors were unlocked, and Liam claimed ‘neighbourly fridge rights’ (there have been other times when he has come in looking for chocolate!). And so, last night I harvested blackberries, apples, pears, peaches, and grapes from our garden and handed them over the fence to Liam’s mum. In the same spirit, earlier in the year, they did a big pick of our raspberries, made jam, and sent a jar back across the fence.
And then there are a group of elderly Chinese folk in our neighbourhood who wander past each night. I have taken to giving them fruit from the abundance of our harvest. It seems to me they are humbled and thankful for the connection even more than the food. Now, they always look in and wave as they pass by.
What warmth that comes with this sort of neighbourhood. In Otautahi Christchurch, we learnt about this in the wake of the earthquakes when we saw a massive rise in neighbourly connection. And after the Mosque attacks, our Muslim friends reported neighbours who had previously been strangers reaching out hands of support and friendship.
It seems to me that this is deeply inline with core Christian values. The Christian church has a rich tradition of gathering around food. There is obviously the magnificent gracious love and acceptance of the Lord’s Supper. But I am also thinking of the meals shared by the early Christians in various places around the Roman Empire. They were revolutionary and winsome in the way Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female were welcomed and included!
These are examples from then and now of the core Christian value of being a good neighbour. I absolutely endorse Neighbours Day 2022!
Right Rev Hamish Galloway Moderator Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ moderator@presbyterian.org.nz
Kai Connections is the theme for Neighbours Day 2022. A common denominator amongst all communities in Aotearoa is how kai (food) brings us together. During March, Neighbours Day Aotearoa has free online sessions based around making and sharing kai.