We have a NEW Zoom link – please use this one and delete any other ones you may have:
You are invited to Sunday worship with the St Martins Presbyterian congregation via Zoom. To join us, just click on the link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09
Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158
NOTICES:
A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a light lunch and conversation after the service.
Parish Council – we have a vacancy with the retirement of Ken Austin. Please see Irene if you are interested.
Wednesday Walkers 18th August: Meet 9.30amat the Beach Café car park on the corner of Beach Rd and Broadpark Rd, North New Brighton for a walk round the Waimairi Beach area before having coffee at the Beach Café. Barbara & Alan 021 142 7668.
Sue has enough jars – please do not leave any more. Thank you.
Cleaning Roster: Volunteers are URGENTLY required through to the end of October. See the orange notice on the board in the foyer to sign up today!
A date for your diary: Parish Garden Party Saturday 16th October at Merchiston.
What’s on This Week:
Monday 9.30am-12noon St Mark’s Elder Care. Therese 337 1225.
Monday 1-4pm Foot Clinic. Judith 332 1577.
Tuesday 10am – 2pm South Elder Care. Jeannette 332 9869.
Tuesday 7.15pm Christian Meditation Group. Contact Dugald 380 5024.
Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: Waimairi Beach. Barbara & Alan.
Wednesday 7pm Global Voices choir. Nick 027 2255142.
Thursday 10am – 12 noon Crafty Crafters. Bring along your own craft items or learn a new skill. $3 per session. Jeannette 332 9869.
Thursday 1.30pm Sit & Be Fit. Anneke 328 7459.
Thursday 5-7pm Familial Trust mentor group. Nadine 981 1093.
Thursday 7.30pm Parish Council meeting.
Men’s Group: We do not have an official men’s group meeting this month but all men are invited to attend the Fireside Group meeting on Wednesday 25th August 1.30pm in the church (see details below). Any queries, please contact Rob Connell 384 4320.
FIRESIDE Wednesday 25th August, at 1.30 pm in the Church Lounge. The speaker is Glen Buckner, National Operations Manager, for the Salvation Army Reintegration Service, which assist with helping those on release from prison, with housing, safe and supported transition back into the community. The support focuses on employment, accommodation, education and training, health and wellbeing, skills for life, family and community support. An invitation is extended to the St Martins Men’s Group, the congregation and anyone interested to hear more about this group’s aims and service. A request for toiletries for both men and women, eg. toothpaste and toothbrushes, shampoo and conditioner, shavers, etc to go towards the “Welcome Pack” each person receives. Monetary donations also welcome. Fireside Ladies, could you please bring a small plate for afternoon tea.
The Hope Seminar Sunday 19th September 5.00-8.30pm, Transitional Cathedral. Theme “Shalom – Wellbeing & Climate Change” Register at www.arocha.org.nz
The Cathedral is hosting a community fundraiser on Saturday 28th August 9am-3pm. $20 to have a stall. Enquiries to muircarole@gmail.com
From our friends at Waltham Cottage: Thank you so much for inviting Laura & I to talk at your Sunday morning service on 18th July. It was wonderful to share about the activities at the Cottage especially as the St Martins Presbyterian congregation do so much for the Cottage community…your continued support is greatly appreciated. Cheryl Batwell & Laura Gardener.
Charter for Compassion
The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
The Charter for Compassion (2009) is a document that transcends religious, ideological, and national differences. Supported by leading thinkers from many traditions, The Charter calls on us to activate the Golden Rule around the world.