WELCOME AND NOTICES & SESSION REPORT

CALL TO WORSHIP – together
Jesus, you have called us into this fellowship of your people;
a community of love and support.
Jesus, sign of peace in a divided world,
you have called your church to be a sign of unity,
drawing people together in harmony.
Jesus, you hold out the promise of newness, calling us to use
all God’s gifts, embracing change and opportunity.

HYMN: Joyful, Joyful We Adore You (Tune: WOV 92)
Joyful, joyful, we adore you,
God of glory, God of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before you
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day.

All your works with joy surround you,
earth and heaven reflect your rays,
stars and angels sing around you,
centre of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain,
sound their praise eternally.

You are giving and forgiving,
ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living,
ocean-depth of happy rest.
Source of grace and fount of blessing,
let your light upon us shine,
teach us how to love each other,
lift us to the joy divine. C/A

GATHERING PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Eleanor Barton & William Penwell

Stir up Sunday

Stir up our hearts as a People of God
As we make this cake…What is it we have brought?
Sweet and tasty butter, sugar and syrup; symbols of all in our church which enrich and grow our life as God’s people.

And what do we seek here?
Our prayer is that God’s Spirit will empower us to both celebrate and live the joy that is Christ’s gift and to have courage to embrace new opportunities.

READING: Psalm 133 Tony Blackler

HYMN: God of Beauty, Truth, and Grace (Tune: WOV 239)
God of beauty, truth, and grace,
you have richly blessed this place,
fertile land and flowing streams,
people filled with hopes and dreams:
grant that we may honour you
by our plans and labours too.

As the trees grow straight and tall,
soft in springtime, bright in fall,
may our lives be strong and true,
rooted in our faith in you.
Grant that we may cherish here
every season, every year.

As the birds their carols raise,
may our voices sing your praise,
speaking words of love and cheer
to your children far and near.
Grant us quiet, gentle touch
when our words might be too much.

With the passing of the years,
full of laughter mixed with tears,
may each generation show
ways to nourish, ways to grow.
Grant us thoughtfulness and care
for each life that’s here to share. © J. Parker Huber (SiC)

Stir up the heart of our community
As we make this cake …What is it we bring?
We bring eggs – symbols of the new life which is our gift in Jesus.

And what do we seek here?
We pray for the new life emerging in the city and communities of Canterbury; that God’s Spirit will enable our communities to move forward with goodwill and co-operation.

READING: Mark 4: 1a; 3-9 Tony Blackler

POEM: May God’s Spring-time Surge Through Us
(Frances Hawkey (alt))
Stir and embrace our World
As we make this cake…What is it we bring?
We bring flour, baking powder and essences: symbols of the common humanity we share with all people.

And what do we seek here?
We pray that God’s Spirit will enable all in our world to enjoy God’s unlimited love and the sense of being part of one human family.

Stir our own hearts
As we make this cake…What is it we bring?
We bring mixed fruit and peel – symbols of the variety we enjoy in each other, and of the mixed-up nature of our own lives.

And what do we seek here?
Our prayer is that God’s Spirit will empower us with all our strengths and weaknesses, to be the body of Christ, with the vision and will to turn crisis into opportunity.

POEM: Planted in Every Human Heart

HYMN: Past and Present (Tune: WOV 478)
Past and present, with our dreaming,
join to make us what we are;
ancient wisdom, ancient follies
shape the way we love and care:
Give us reverence,
give us wisdom,
from the past for life today. (final line repeated in each verse)

Make us mindful of the present –
every force, each strength, each flaw;
free us from those selfish motives
which consume us more and more:
give us vision,
give us courage,
for this modern age of change.

We must face the future’s challenge
to create a better earth
hand in hand with all who labour
dream and suffer for its birth,
for through sharing
and through caring
we shall build community. © Selah Publishing (STSA)

A TIME OF QUIET and THE OFFERING

WE GREET ONE ANOTHER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

HYMN: God Gives us a Future (Tune: WOV 170ii)
God gives us a future, daring us to go
into dreams and dangers on a path unknown.
We will face tomorrow in the Spirit’s power,
we will let God change us,
for new life starts now.

We must leave behind us sins of yesterday,
for God’s new beginning is a better way.
Fear and doubt and habit must not hold us back:
God gives hope, and insight,
and the strength we lack.

Holy Spirit, teach us how to read the signs,
how to meet the challenge of our troubled times.
Love us into action, stir us into prayer,
till we choose God’s life,
and find our future there. © E J Smith (TIS)

THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Morning tea will be served after the service.

CHRISTMAS CAKE STALL: The Fireside Group will be having a Christmas Cake Stall at Church on Sunday 2nd December in the lounge following worship, An opportunity for you to stock up on your Christmas baking. Allison 332 0554.

Thank you to all those who supported last week’s Tanzanian lunch. We had 31 participants and raised $325 for Your Sisters Orphanage. If anyone else wishes to contribute, please place donation in envelope marked “Your Sisters Orphanage” and hand it to Joan Macdonald, Treasurer.

FIRESIDE meets on Tuesday 27th November 7.30pm for an informal gathering at Joan’s in Pentonville Close. Enquiries to Margaret 366 8936.

CUPPA & CHAT: Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. All welcome. Aubrey 930 2525.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 28th November: Westlake Walk at 9.30am. Meet by the playground at Scott Park in Checketts Ave. To get there: leave Halswell Rd at Lillian St. There is a dairy on the corner. From Lillian St, which is short, turn right into Ensign St, then almost immediately turn left into Checketts Ave. This is much easier than it sounds! Margaret 366 8936.
We welcome non-walkers to join us at 10.30am at The Old Vicarage for coffee.

CARING & SHARING meets for the final time this year on Wednesday 28th November 2pm at Beckenham Methodist. We will have some music from ‘our’ orchestra and a chance to sing some Christmas carols followed by afternoon tea – everyone is welcome. While most of the group are over 60, some of us are younger and still enjoy the afternoon. PS: It’s free! Fern 332 4725.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS meets every Thursday 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.

GIFTS FOR WALTHAM COTTAGE: We will once again be collecting Christmas gifts for Waltham Cottage – men, women, teenagers and children. Please DO NOT wrap them as they are sorted and given to individuals by the staff. Bring them along on Sundays 2, 9 & 16 December. Christmas baking and wrapping paper also very welcome. Many thanks.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session Monday 10th December 1-4pm at Beckenham Methodist. Please phone Anna to book.

PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wed & Thurs 9am – 12 noon & Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192. Email: stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. WEBSITE: www.stmartins.org.nz

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 25th Aescleah; Mon 26th Pat (90); Tue 27th Tony; Wed 28th Martin (80); Fri 30th Judith.
HUB PROGRAM 26th November – 2nd December 2012
St Martins, Cashmere, Hoon Hay & St James: committed to sharing & mutual support

St James Spreydon
Tues 27 Nov 9.30am Little Kidz Music in Hall Lounge ( Kay 339-2370)
7.30pm Parish Council
Thurs 22 Nov 7.30 pm Women’s Dessert Evening 46D Bowenvale Ave. 337-0611
Fri 30 Nov 11.30pm Whareora Community Lunch
4.30pm Friday Kids in Kids Room
Sun 2 Dec 6pm Chch Presbytery Youth Service at St Albans Korean Presbyterian Church, 75 Packe St.

Cashmere
Mon 26th 9.15am Pre-School Music – contact Heidi 332 8460
Wed 28th 10.00 am Forum – discusses last week’s readings and sermon
Thurs 29th 10.45 am – 12 noon Prayer Group at 20 Major Aiken Drive
7.00pm Choir Rehearsal in Church
Sunday 2nd Dec 10.00am Communion service, with guest preacher Rt Rev Ray Coster, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. This will be followed by a BBQ here. Please bring as follows a contribution to the meal: – surnames A – E finger food; sweets/slices; F – L, fruit; M – Z, salads. Sausages will be provided.

Hoon Hay
Mon 26th 9.30-10.40am Tai Chi in lounge. Brian 338 6228
7.30 pm Spreydon Indoor Bowls . Pat 353 0265
Tues 27th 10.00 am mainly music. Eleanor 960 4824
Wed 28th 1.00 pm Ladies Indoor Bowls. Sheila 960 4412
7.00 pm Scottish Country Dancing. David 322 7954
Thurs 29th 9.30-10.40am Tai Chi in lounge. Brian 338 6228
7.30 pm Spreydon Indoor Bowls. Pat 353 0265
Fri 30th 5.00 pm Messy Church – new way of experiencing church with craft activities, story and a shared meal
7.00 pm LIFT – Youth program. Matt 027 389 0000