WELCOME & NOTICES
CALL TO WORSHIP:
Come let us give thanks to God together
For our God always keeps His promises
Let us sing hymns and make music together
For our God always keeps His promises
Let us acknowledge His presence among us
For our God always keeps His promises
Let us remember all the wonderful things He has done for us
For our God always keeps His promises
Let us open our hearts and minds to the wonder of worship
For our God always keeps His promises
Let us find consolation in the assurance of the truth of God’s word in scripture. For our God always keeps His promises
HYMN: Dear Lord and Father (Tune: Repton WOV 519(ii))
Dear Lord and Father of mankind forgive our foolish ways
reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives thy service find
in deeper reverence praise.
In simple trust like theirs who heard beside the Syrian sea
the gracious calling of the Lord let us like them, without a word
rise up and follow thee.
O Sabbath rest by Galilee. O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love.
Drop thy still dews of quietness,till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress and let our ordered lives confess the beauty of thy peace.
Breathe through the heats of our desire thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire.
O still small voice of calm. ©JG Whittier
OPENING PRAYER
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN ~ Wayne Barton
SONG: Christians are all kinds of people (please remain seated)
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 & Pauline Stewart
INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS:
Psalm 111 Joan Scott
Ephesians 5: 15-20 Irene Gray
REFLECTION: Forgiveness
A TIME OF QUIET
HYMN: In Heavenly love abiding (Tune: Penlan WOV 504)
In Heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear;
and safe in such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid;
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?
Wherever He may guide me,
no want shall turn me back;
my shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim;
He knows the way He taketh,
and I will walk with Him.
Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will soon be o’er me,
where the dark clouds have been:
My hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
My Saviour has my treasure.
and He will walk with me. ©Anna Laetitia Waring
THE OFFERING (together):
Loving God, this is the time when we offer up that which matters.
This is the time for good gifts of love.
This is the time for giving of ourselves.
This is the time for the healing of the nations.
Bless, O God, all that we offer this day;
And send us to love and serve the world, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
WE GREET ONE ANOTHER
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: Be still, my soul (Tune: Finlandia WOV 48)
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake,
all now mysterious shall be clear at last.
Be still, my soul: the tempests still obey
His voice, who ruled them once on Galilee.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then you shall better know His love, his heart
who comes to soothe your sorrow, calm your fears.
Be still, my soul: for Jesus can repay
from His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
when we shall be ever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
sorrow forgotten, love’s pure joy restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
THE BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you: the Lord make His face
to shine upon you and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen.
ST MARTIN’S NOTICES 16th AUGUST 2015:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea following the service.
Many thanks to David Beaumont for leading our worship this morning.
***PLEASE NOTE: FROM NEXT SUNDAY our service is at 9am.***
New Season’s orange marmalade and crab apple jelly for sale today beside the kitchen door. Sue 960 7657.
WEDNESDAY WALKERS 19th Aug: Meet 9.30am in carpark south of New Brighton Library, Marine Parade. Coffee at Salt on the Pier Café. All Welcome. Barbara & Alan.
BOARD OF MANAGERS meeting Wednesday 19th August 7.30pm in the Lounge.
CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am -12noon in the Lounge. $3. All Welcome.
Opawa St Martins Anglican Parish presents “New Zealand Families at War” – local people sharing stories of New Zealanders at war 100 years ago. TODAY 3pm at St Mark’s Church Hall, Opawa Rd. Entry by koha. All Welcome.
ST MARTIN’S PARISH OFFICE HOURS: Wed & Thurs 9am-12noon and Fri 9-11am. Phone 332 6192 or email stmartpresch@xtra.co.nz. Website: www.stmartins.org.nz. Any notices to Anna by 9am each Thursday please.
St Martin’s 2016 Calendars $20 each. Contact the Office .
ALPINE PRESBYTERY Newsletter is on the noticeboard in the Lounge.
BECKENHAM METHODIST CONCERT Sunday 23rd August at 2pm in the Church. $10. Children under 10 free. Bring family and friends and enjoy our musical talents.
DIVERSITY IN WORSHIP WORKSHOP: Saturday 29th August 9.30am-3.15pm, St Luke’s, cnr Main North & Daniels Rds. $10 per person or $30 per parish. Registrations to lindacowan@xtra.co.nz by 19/8 please.
Christchurch Housing Forum presents Shamubeel Eaqub, Economist and author of ‘Generation Rent’. Wednesday 2nd September 12-2pm at Oxford Tce Baptist Hall. Please RSVP by 20/8 – ph 379 1122 or email projectsupport@tpa.org.nz
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 17th Sam; Tue 18th Andreas, Doug.
From Rev Dr Colin Marshall re: TURAKINA MAORI GIRLS’ COLLEGE.
On Wednesday the Church was informed that the Minister of Education has decided to initiate consultation on the future of Turakina Maori Girls’ College due to concerns regarding its falling roll and the financial position this places the school in.
The Minister of Education states that she has not made a decision about the future of the school. She is seeking the views of interested parties about the possibility of closing the school in January 2016. This consultation process will finish on 11 September 2015.
This news is unsettling. The Church has long been a strong supporter of Turakina. We have rejoiced in its many outstanding students who have gone on to high achievement at university and to become outstanding M?ori women leaders.
The next few weeks will be a time of great uncertainty for the staff, students, whanau and community of Turakina Maori Girls’ College and for Te Aka Puaho. Te Aka Puaho has reached out offering pastoral care and support.
Our Church has both an historical and ongoing relationship with Turakina, however this role is only in an advisory and support capacity. Being an integrated school for the past 34 years, the operations of the school are government funded, while the hostel and catering operations are self funding, primarily through fees charged to parents.
Over the years the school has experienced ongoing financial pressure due to a fall in the roll, and rising operating costs. Being a low decile school, there has been pressure on some parents to fully pay hostel fees.
I know that many of you have supported the school over the years.
Since October 2008, the Church has committed $130,000 in funding to the school hostel and made administrative and management support available to the Board of Proprietors, including the CoA appointment of Kathie Irwin as Commissioner of the Turakina Maori Girls College Board of Proprietors. Te Aka Puaho has assisted the school with a $80,000 loan. Presbyterian Women provided over $60,000 in scholarships to students.
Together our Church and the school’s Board of Proprietors have explored many fundraising options seeking ways to improve the school’s financial viability.
The Church will be writing to the Minister of Education as part of the Ministry’s consultation process. Submissions are encouraged from all within Turakina’s community, these can be sent to: Jann Marshall, Director of Education, Ministry of Education, Private Bag 3012, Whanganui 4540 or Jann.Marshall@Education.govt.nz
We ask for your prayers at this time for the staff, students and whanau of Turakina.