WHILE OUR CHURCH BUILDING IS REPAIRED WE ARE MEETING EACH SUNDAY AT THE MINERAL & LAPIDARY CLUB 11O WALTHAM RD (NEXT TO WALTHAM SCHOOL) AT 10AM.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME YOU.
Sunday 24th September 2017
PLEASE NOTE: NEXT Sunday 1st & also on Sunday 8th October our morning worship services will be at St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, 101 Opawa Rd at 10am. There is a carpark off Vincent Pl.
Session Report:
Minutes of the AGM were approved. We noted that the suggestion of delivering a leaflet to neighbours of the church building explaining work is about to begin has been actioned.
Investments – Arising from the AGM, Session has considered the matter of where we hold parish investments and has set a new policy of investing in ways that are ethical. Eg with Christian Savings. We acknowledge that simply investing with a big bank leaves us open to the reality that some of the investment will be supporting arms, alcohol, fossil fuel, and other companies that are harmful to the life of God’s earth. Our investments should serve the new Kingdom Jesus proclaimed. We will however leave our operating accounts with the current banks.
Worship – on Christmas Eve which is a Sunday we will not have a morning service. Instead we will just have an evening service.
Members Roll – we have completed a major revision of our rolls. The session has created a Seniors Member Roll to acknowledge members who no longer are able to regularly worship with us. We are aware that some will be changing email addresses and request that you let Anna know your new address.
Staff – a new employment contract has been signed with Anna in our church office. An accurate account of staff leave is now being kept by our session clerk.
Building Work – we are thrilled that work has begun on strengthening the church building. A short term contract has been agreed with Simon Construction to undertake preliminary work while we wait for the City Council to approve the consent.
Mission Discernment – Helen Clyde Smith from the Presbytery addressed us to explain the need for all parishes to keep working to discern their future and what God is calling them to be. Session has agreed we need to continue to address this question and would like to set up a small group to work with a Mission Enabler from the Presbytery to continue to wrestle with this. Other parishes who have wrestled with this have discerned a variety of responses. One parish has determined it is dying and asked how can we die well. Others have decided to use resources to employ fresh leadership to focus on new ways of worship or being active in mission in their community. You may be interested in being part of (or feeding into) a group that will seek to discern where God is calling us as a congregation, (God may be whispering to you!) and if so talk with Dugald.
Notices:
A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Please stay for morning tea after the service.
Fireside Women’s Group meets this Tuesday 26th September 7.30pm at Joan Macdonald’s 15 Locarno St. All women are very welcome.
Wednesday Walkers 27th September: Meet 9.30am at the Valley Inn carpark for a ramble in Heathcote Valley. Coffee at the Inn. All are welcome. Anneke 328 7459.
Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12 noon at Beckenham Methodist. $3 per session. Bring along your own craft project, or learn a new skill! Contact Beverley 384 7814 for further details.
CAN YOU HELP? We are looking for people to join the morning tea roster for next year, and also the door duty roster. For more information or to sign up, please see Joan Scott.
BACON FUNDRAISER Hellers Short Cut Middle Bacon – 400gms (12-14 slices) – $8.00 per packet. LAST CHANCE to order today. Delivery date to be advised.
South Brighton Voices presents “Salute to the Past” with guest artists Hannah & Caleb Brand on Sunday 1st October 2pm at the Wainoni Methodist Church, Avonside Drive. Programmes $10, children $2 (includes refreshments).
The Rev Ben Truman will be inducted as Vicar of Opawa-St Martins Anglican Parish this afternoon at 4pm, at St Anne’s Church.