WELCOME AND NOTICES: The Board of Managers’ Report
CALL TO WORSHIP:
We come this morning to celebrate the outreach of our congregation:
to recognise men and women of the parish who have taken up the challenge. In worship, we focus on God’s love in action, shown through God’s people. May we hear the voice of the Spirit encouraging us in the task of making God’s love visible in the community.
HYMN: Every Day I will Offer You
Every day I will offer you,
loving God, my heart and mind,
every way I discover you
in the work your hand has signed;
help me see I’m your image, and
you have dreamed what I might be,
every day in your Spirit,
I’ll find the love and energy!
Every day I will look to Christ,
and give thanks for wine and bread
through the pain and the emptiness
where your world cries to be fed;
help me see I can work for change,
and wherever I might be,
every day in your Spirit,
I’ll find the love and energy!
Every day I will take your word,
answer your compassion’s claim,
celebrate every sign of hope,
every deed done in your name;
help me see you are always there,
and your light can shine through me,
every day in your Spirit,
I’ll find the love and energy! © Shirley Murray (AA)
OPENING PRAYERS
STORY TIME: The Giving Tree
INTRODUCTION TO and THE READINGS
Exodus 3: 1-12 Irene Gray
Acts 16: 1-3a; 11-15 Lindsay Day
HYMN: Will You Come and Follow me © WGRG, The Iona Community (VU)
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same?
In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.
this I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
Volunteers’ Reflections:
Sarah-Jayne Hawkins
Lindsay Day
HYMN: In Loving Partnership (Tune: Church Triumphant WOV 1)
In loving partnership we come,
seeking, O God, your will to do.
Our prayers and actions now receive;
we freely offer them to you.
We are the hands and feet of Christ,
serving by grace each other’s need.
We dare to risk and sacrifice
with truthful word and faithful deed.
Loving community we seek;
your hope and strength within us move.
The poor and rich, the strong and weak
are brought together in your love.
In loving partnership, O God,
help us your future to proclaim.
Justice and peace be our desire,
we humbly pray in Jesus’ name. © Desert Flower Music (VU)
Fern Wakefield
Awards for Those Who Serve
THE OFFERING:
Gracious God, we give you thanks for the many gifts you give; and for the many people who touch our lives.
Today as we celebrate those who give their time and skills to serve the outreach of this congregation, we bring this food and money for your blessing. May these gifts be used, not only to build us up, but to show your love in action to others, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HYMN: Take My Gifts
Take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me,
gave me light and food and shelter,
gave me life and set me free.
Now, because your love has touched me,
I have love to give away;
now the bread of love is rising,
loaves of love to multiply!
Take the fruit that I have gathered
from the tree your Spirit sowed,
harvest of your own compassion,
juice that makes the wine of God;
spiced with humour, laced with laughter-
flavour of the Jesus life,
tang of risk and new adventure,
taste and zest beyond belief.
Take whatever I can offer-
gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen,
talents of the hand and mind,
things made beautiful for others
in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you,
God who first of all loved me. © Shirley Murray (AA)
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: We Sing a Love (Tune: Woodlands WOV 109)
We sing a love that sets all people free,
that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
enfolds like earth, springs up like water clear:
come, living love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
come, caring love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
to be itself, despite another’s scorn,
a love that stands alone and undismayed:
come strengthening love, live in our hearts today.
We sing a love that, wandering, will not rest
until it finds its way, its home, its source,
through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today. © Stainer & Bell (CH4)
THE BLESSING
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
Congregational Meeting TODAY after Morning Worship to receive the nominations of Barry Moore and Hilary Moore for election as Elders; and to elect four members to the Ministry Settlement Board. Bruce Hudson, Session Clerk.
ALPINE PRESBYTERY meets Friday 8th & Saturday 9th May. On Friday evening the 50th anniversary of the Ordination of women to ministry will be celebrated, along with 60 years of women ordained as Elders. Women Elders are warmly invited to attend.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 22nd April: Meet 9.30am in the main Riccarton Bush car park off Kahu Road. Coffee at Riccarton House. If you have any queries please phone Barbara and Alan 337 6202.
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CRAFTY CRAFTERS: Thursdays 10am – 12 noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces are always welcome ?. Beverley 332 7786.
FIRESIDE Tuesday 28th April 7.30pm at Joan’s. More information next week.
MEN’S GROUP Thursday 7th May 6pm at Merchiston. Details next week!
ANZAC Day Service: An invitation has been extended by the Vicar and Churchwardens of the Anglican Parish of Opawa-St Martins to join them at St Anne’s Anglican Church, 7 Wilsons Rd, on Saturday 25th April at 10am. Morning tea will follow the service. Everyone is welcome to attend.
FOOT CLINIC: Next session Monday 4th May 1-4pm. Ph Judith 332 1577 to book.
Please ensure Anna has any notices by 9am Thursday each week.
Beckenham-St Martins Guess Who is Coming to Lunch Event
Sunday 3 May 12.30pm
Hope you will join us for this opportunity to get to know each other better.
Guests pay $5 to the Host to cover expenses. Hosts are asked to provide a simple lunch and can indicate how many Guests they would like.
Feel free to put your name on both the Host and the Guest list if you are happy to be either. Lists will be in the Lounge.
Guests will be handed an envelope with directions to their Host’s home at the morning service on 3 May.
RECOGNISING OUR VOLUNTEERS 19th April 2015
CARING & SHARING Wednesday once a month
Irene Gray, Joan Scott, Barbara Simmonds, Fern Wakefield.
COFFEE & CHAT Tuesday/Wednesday weekly
Aubrey McLeod, Audrey Dunnachie.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursday weekly
Beverley Hudson, Audrey Dunnachie, Lyndsey McKay.
FOOT PAMPERING Monday every 6th week
Joan Averis, Allison Blackler, Sarah-Jayne Hawkins, Anneke Howie, Beverley & Bruce Hudson, Audrey Dunnachie, Judith Mackay, Sonya & David Hodder, Jim Maunsell, Lyndsey McKay.
WALKING GROUP Wednesday weekly
June Service, Judith Mackay, Sonya Hodder.
KNITTING GROUP (Beckenham Primary School) 2nd/3rd term Wednesdays
Beverley Hudson, Lyn Steele, Deirdre McKean, Jill Grierson, Elizabeth Penwell, Lyndsey McKay.
Crafty Crafters: Joy Rajma, Jessie Tilbury, Vicky Fraser.
GARDEN TO THE PLATE (St Martins Primary School) Tuesdays
Beverley Hudson, Lyndsey McKay, Lindsay Day.
FUN DAY & NEIGHBOURHOOD BBQs
Elizabeth & Gilly Penwell, Sonya & David Hodder, Barbara & Rob Meier, Hilary & Barry Moore, Alice Shanks, Warren Pettigrew, Bruce Hudson, Aubrey McLeod, Lyndsey McKay.
READING RECOVERY PROGRAMME (Phillipstown School & Glenelg)
Allison Blackler, Margaret Shanks, Fern Wakefield, Joan Scott, Beryl Prentice.
SIT AND BE FIT Thursday weekly: Anneke Howie
WALTHAM COMMUNITY COTTAGE: Fern Wakefield
INDOOR BOWLS Tuesday weekly: Bruce Hudson