St Martin’s Presbyterian Parish
21 September 2014
Celebrating Community
You start building a good neighbourhood when you yourself decide that you will be a good neighbour. (Robert Waldrop)
WELCOME AND NOTICES
• Session report ~ Wayne Barton
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Called as Christians to the building of community,
we come to worship as a people committed to the kind of communication that makes genuine community possible:
a sharing of the joys and hopes, the sorrows and pain,
that are part of belonging together; committed to
breaking down barriers and walls that separate people
from one another, in order to create newness of life
in the Church, and in the world around and beyond us.
HYMN: Community of Christ (Tune: Little Cornard WOV 107) 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 (AA)
OPENING PRAYER
STORY-TIME: Old Turtle
HYMN: Christians Are All Kinds of People
Christians are all kinds of people,
they’re average, they’re short, and they’re tall;
from all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of outlooks,
our gracious God uses them all.
Christians are all kinds of people,
not even especially good,
But God’s love is mighty, and that is what counts,
with mercy as wide as the sea;
it reaches to you and to me.
Christians are all kinds of people,
they’re smilers, they’re grouchers, they’re clowns.
In all kinds of weather, wherever they gather,
you’ll find every kind of them round.
Christians are all kinds of people,
and sometimes all kinds are in me.
God uses all kinds of people,
the black, and the pale and the tan;
new born and the aged, the fit and disabled,
they all have a part in the plan.
God uses all kinds of people,
with problems, with hang-ups, with scars. © Stan and Pauline Stewart
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS
READINGS: Acts 16: 11-15 David Beaumont
Luke 8: 1-3 Lyn Steele
LITANY: Lord, can this really be?
Left: Lord, can this really be?
is this your Church, the people that I see,
who gather here and worship you with me?
Right: And must I love them all,
shoulder their loads, and answer when they call,
forgive their faults and raise them when they fall?
Left: Are these the ear, eye, hand,
your body, Lord, bound firmly in one band
and learning to keep your great command?
Right: Is this the very place,
the school of love, where we would see your face,
and through your Spirit gain enabling grace;
that all the world would see us live as one?
All: Lord, could this really be?
Lord, let it really be? from William Rutherford (adapted)
Community and Social Justice: Being a good neighbour
~ Cassie Welch
HYMN: When I Needed a Neighbour Were You There (WOV 558)
When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour, were you there?
And the creed and the colour and the name won’t matter,
Were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?
When I needed a healer, were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer were you there?
Wherever you travel, I’ll be there, I’ll be there,
Wherever you travel, I’ll be there.
THE OFFERING
`Our church’, we call our place of worship, but we are wrong.
The church belongs to God who loved it into existence,
watched over it from the beginning, and is already forming its future.
And yet, because of all we give, of love and loyalty, faith and work, time, money, prayers, is it not also `ours’, this church?
Not so. These also are God’s gifts to us, and so God, we give you of your own, in Jesus name. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: We are Many, We Are One
We are many, we are one, and the work of Christ is done when we learn to live in true community, as the stars that fill the night, as a flock of birds in flight, as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine; as the branches of a tree, as the waves upon the sea, as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
All division is made whole
when we honour every soul,
find the life of God in every you and me,
as the fingers of a hand,
as the grains that form the sand,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the threads upon a loom,
as a field of flowers in bloom,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine.
We will join creation’s song,
make a world where all belong,
build as one in peace and loving harmony,
as the voices of a choir,
as the flames within a fire,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine;
as the snowflakes in the snow,
as the colours of a bow,
as the cluster of the grapes upon the vine. © Colin Gibson (FFS)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special welcome to Cassie. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
REMINDER: Daylight Saving begins next Sunday – adjust your clocks!!!
NEXT SUNDAY there will be the baptism of Niamh Gaffaney.
BECKENHAM-ST MARTINS GUESS WHO IS COMING TO LUNCH: Next Sunday 28th September 12.30pm. Last chance to sign up TODAY. Lists are in the Lounge. Sonya 339 7038.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD: Please return your full shoeboxes next Sunday. Cash donations to offset costs also welcome. June 332 8874.
This is hospital chaplaincy appeal week. Donation slips are available for anyone who would like to make a donation. Your money will be used locally.
NOTICES cont…
FIRESIDE is not meeting this month as we are participating in the Quiz Night.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 23rd September: Meet 9.30am in Plunket St off Neville St for a walk in Hillmorton. Coffee at Marilyn’s 960 2484. Sonya 339 7038.
CARING & SHARING: Wednesday 24th September “Irene’s Plan B”. We enjoyed everyone’s company last month when we shared the wonderful music, so a warm welcome to EVERYONE to come along. 2pm in the Beckenham Methodist Church Lounge. Be prepared!! Irene 332 7306.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am – 12noon in the lounge at Beckenham Methodist. $3 per session. New faces always welcome. Beverley 332 7786.
WANTED: Plastic bags which held compost or potting mix for putting horse manure in to sell to raise money for our link building. Contact Lindsay Day 981 1587.
A FUNDRAISER: Horse manure for sale. $2 for a 15-20 kg bag. Lindsay 981 1587.
INTER-FAITH JOURNEYING seminar Saturday 18th October: please sign the list if you are interested in attending.
FOOTCARE CLINIC: Next Session Monday 20th October 1-4pm.
PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wed & Thurs 9am-12noon & Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. 7 Wilsons Rd. www.stmartins.org.nz.
THIS WEEK’S HUB REPORT is displayed on the wall in the Lounge.
PRELIMINARY NOTICE: We are combining with the Opawa-St Martins Anglican Parish for a Used Clothing Rummage Sale on Saturday 8th November at St Anne’s Hall, Wilsons Rd. As well, we will also be selling jams and chutneys. Any questions? Please contact Lyn 332 0865.
SPRING CARNIVAL at St Mark’s Anglican Church. 101 Opawa Rd, Saturday 27th September from 9am. Wet or fine. All are welcome.
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Sun 21st Beverley; Mon 22nd Hilary; Tue 23rd Daniel.
Hub Activities for the week 21st -28th September 2014
St James’ Presbyterian Church
Tue 23 Sept Music for Pre-Schoolers in the Hall Lounge
7.30pm Parish Council meet.
Fri 26 Sept 4.30pm Friday Kids
Sat 27 Sept 7.30pm The Plainsmen Chorus will be performing at the Villa Maria College, 21 Peer Street, Upper Riccarton. $20.00 per ticket or $15 for unwaged and Seniors. Let’s have a great night out with our own Ken Shields and his friends!
St Martin’s Presbyterian Church
All events at Beckenham Methodist, 83 Malcolm Ave, unless otherwise stated
Sun 21 Sept 9am Morning Worship – celebrating community
Tue 23 Sept 7.30pm Indoor Bowls, Salvation Army, Southampton St. Bruce 332 7786
7.30pm Quiz Night
Wed 24 Sept 9.30am Walking Group. Contact June 332 8874.
2pm Caring & Sharing. All Welcome. Irene 332 7306.
Thu 25 Sept 10am-12noon Crafty Crafters. $3. Beverley 332 7786.
Sun 28 Sept 9am Morning Worship – Music Through the Ages part 2
12.30pm Guess Who’s Coming to Lunch?
*** NB: Daylight Saving begins!!****
Spring Carnival – Saturday 27th September 9am – 1pm
St Mark’s Anglican Church, Opawa Rd.
Wet or Fine. All Welcome. Donations of goods also welcome – ph 980 9983.
Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church
Mondays: 9.30 am & 10.40am Tai Chi in lounge contact Brian 338 6228
7.30 pm Spreydon Indoor Bowls. Pat 353 0265
Tuesdays: 10.00 am mainly music @ Hoon Hay. Eleanor 960 4824
Wednesdays: 8.00 – 11.00am Vege Co-op in halls. Shilo 338 3943
10.00 am Craft Group. Linda 322 4437
1.00 pm West Spreydon Ladies Indoor Bowls. Sheila 960 4412
7.00 pm Scottish Country Dancing. David 322 7954
7.30 pm Parish Council meets in study
Thursdays: 9.30 am & 10.40am Tai Chi in lounge contact Brian 338 6228
7.30 pm Spreydon Indoor Bowls. Pat 353 0265
Fridays: 7.00 pm LIFT – Youth programme. Matt 027 389 0000
5.00 pm Messy Church in hall
Saturdays: 9.00am – 12.00pm Ballet Group. Suzie 338 1017
Cashmere Hills Presbyterian Church
Sun 21 Sept 10.00am Morning Worship
Mon 22 Sept 9.30am Pre-School Music
7.00pm Christchurch South Parents Centre Classes –
www.parentscentre.org.nz/christchurch-south/
Wed 24 Sept 10.00am Forum – discuss last Sunday’s Readings. All Welcome
1.30pm CREST (Cashmere Residents Emergency Response
Team) meeting
Thurs 25 Sept 10.30am Prayer Group – contact Barbara 332 8668
7.00pm Christchurch South Parents Centre Classes
Sun 28 Sept 11.30am Healing Service
5.30pm Sunday Night Lights