NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a cuppa and conversation after the service.

Congregational meeting following worship TODAY to confirm terms of call for a new minister.

Foot Clinic TOMORROW 1-4pm in the Lounge. Talk to Judith for more information.

Wednesday Walkers 10^th March:  Meet 9.30am in Ashgrove Tce near the old footbridge. Coffee at Joan’s. All are welcome.

Next Sunday -an experiment to keep us connected with other sisters and brothers in Christ.

I want to let you know about an experiment that we’ll be running next Sunday.

Next Sunday (14 March) the congregation in St Andrews Takaka will be without a worship leader or preacher. We, here at St Martins will be providing both for them, via an advanced technique using Zoom to broadcast our service directly into the church at Takaka. Very little will be different for us here in Christchurch except that we might get one of their congregation to read the Bible passage and we might have their pianist lead us in singing “Now unto Him”. Apart from the backs of your heads showing, no one will appear on camera except me, the person leading the prayers and possibly the pianist, so you don’t need to worry about privacy issues. If you have any concerns about this please see me after the service this morning.

If we can bring these two congregations together and if this works, the advantages for us and for any under-resourced congregations throughout the Alpine Presbytery (anywhere on Planet Earth actually) are huge. I’m hoping we can demonstrate that with minimal investment in technology any congregation can provide leadership-in-worship to other faith communities who may not have the resources to provide leadership for themselves.

Last year during the great lockdown in April and May we learned how to provide a fully participatory worship experience for a scattered congregation and how to maintain the local community of faith in good heart. I’m hoping we can move quickly to offer this service to our own members here at St Martins – to those who can’t attend worship in person but could attend in person via Zoom if, for example, they were ill at home, in hospital, or away on holiday.

This experiment we plan to run next week takes this already proven ability to whole new level.

I’m very excited about it and if you have any questions about it please ask me. I’d be delighted to explain it further. .Don

CAN YOU HELP? Please consider donating Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage. These can be dropped off in the basket in the foyer before 28^th March. Thank you.

City2Surf Sunday 21 March – plan your route to church carefully – you may need to allow extra time!

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: Ashgrove Tce. Joan 338 8700.

Wednesday 7.30pm Global Voices choir. Nick 027 2255142.

Thursday 10am – 12 noon NO 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. Graeme 020 40923543.

A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a cuppa and conversation after the service. Many thanks to Rev Sandra Wright-Taylor for leading our worship this morning.

Congregational meeting following worship on Sunday 7^th March, to confirm terms of call for a new minister.

Wednesday Walkers 3^rd March:  Meet 9.30am in Domain Tce near Lincoln Rd. Coffee at The Waiting Room. All welcome. Janette 021 0756780.

Pastoral Team meeting TOMORROW 9.30am in the foyer. Please let us know if there are any changes. Lyndsey 388 1264.

World Day of Prayer ecumenical service THIS Friday 5 March 7pm Beckenham Methodist Church, 83 Malcolm Ave. All welcome. Supper will follow the service.

CAN YOU HELP? Please consider donating Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage. These can be dropped off in the basket in the foyer before 28^th March. Thank you.

CLEANERS REQUIRED please for March & April – please sign the list on the noticeboard in the foyer if you can help. Thank You.

What’s on This Week:

Monday 9.30am-12noon St Mark’s Elder Care. Therese 337 1225.

Monday 9.30am Pastoral Team meeting. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Monday 12.45pm Hillsborough-Heathcote WI. Jennifer 332 3314.

Tuesday 10am – 2pm South Elder Care. Jeannette 332 9869.

Tuesday 7.15pm Christian Meditation Group. Contact Dugald 380 5024.

Tuesday 7.30pm Session/BOM Extraordinary meeting at church. Don.

Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: Domain Tce. Janette 332 1240.

Wednesday 9.30am Port Hills U3A.

Wednesday 7.30pm 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. Graeme 020 40923543.

Handmade Easter cards are available from the foyer $3 each. Janette.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS BUS TRIP to Geraldine on Thursday 11^th March. We will be leaving from the church at 9.30am (please be here by 9.15) and returning c3.30pm. Cost for the bus is $28 – please let Jeannette Beaumont know if you would like to join us, and payment is required by this Thursday, with apologies for the short notice.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES

Palm Sunday                  28 March 10am

Maundy Thursday          1 April 7.30pm – an invitation to join our Anglican neighbours, St Mark’s School Hall, 33 Cholmondeley Ave.

Good Friday   2 April 9.30am

Easter Day      4 April 10am

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a cuppa and conversation after the service. Many thanks to Rev Chris Elliot for leading our worship this morning.

Don is on leave until 2 March. Please contact Irene 332 7306 for any urgent pastoral matters.

Congregational meeting following worship on Sunday 7^th March, to confirm terms of call for a new minister.

Wednesday Walkers 24^th February:  Meet 9.30am in Halswell Library carpark. Coffee at the Old Vicarage. All are welcome. Judith 027 6881861.

Pastoral Team meeting Monday 1^st MARCH 9.30am in the foyer. Please let us know if there are any changes. Lyndsey 388 1264.

World Day of Prayer ecumenical service Friday 5 March 7pm Beckenham Methodist Church,83 Malcolm Ave

Women of the Republic of Vanuatu have prepared this year’s service.

Women, men and children of all ages are called to ‘Build on a strong foundation’ and live in unity, love and peace in the context of ethnic and cultural diversity. All welcome. Supper will follow the service.

CAN YOU HELP? Please consider donating Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage. These can be dropped off in the basket in the foyer before 28^th March. Thank you.

From Christian World Service: Thank you for $296 from your parish this past Christmas – your donations are a lifeline to people who need help so their families have good food, clean water and safer communities.

What’s on This Week:

Monday 9.30am-12noon St Mark’s Elder Care. Therese 337 1225.

Tuesday 10am – 2pm South Elder Care. Jeannette 332 9869.

Tuesday 7.15pm Christian Meditation Group. Contact Dugald 380 5024.

Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: Halswell. Judith

Wednesday 12.30pm Fireside pot-luck lunch. Margaret

Wednesday 7.30pm 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. Graeme 020 40923543.

ASH WEDNESDAY 17^th February: You are warmly invited to an ecumenical service at 7.30pm this Wednesday here at St Martins. There will be readings, reflection, prayer and imposition of ashes for those who wish. All are welcome. The service will be led by Rev Dr Don Fergus & Rev Canon Ben Truman, Vicar of the Anglican Parish of Opawa-St Martins.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a cuppa and conversation after the service.

Don will be on leave 19 February – 2 March. Please contact Irene for any urgent pastoral matters.

Wednesday Walkers 17^th February:  Meet 9.30am outside Meshino’s Café 75 Rutland Street for a St Albans walk. Morning tea at the Café. Looking forward to seeing you. Barbara & Alan McKinnon   021 1263801  or 337 6202

Grand Opening of the MenzShed: THIS Saturday 20^th February 10am-2pm. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Gary: stmartinsmenzshed@gmail.com for catering purposes.

Pastoral Team meeting Monday 1^st MARCH 9.30am in the foyer. Please let us know if there are any changes. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Elder Care on Tuesdays…we are still looking for volunteers. Can you help once a week, once a fortnight, once a month? Talk to Lyndsey 388 1264.

An Invitation: See Anna before 21 Feb if you would like a ticket:

What’s on This Week:

Monday 9.30am-12noon St Mark’s Elder Care. Therese 337 1225.

Tuesday 10am – 2pm South Elder Care. Jeannette 332 9869.

Tuesday 7.15pm Christian Meditation Group. Contact Dugald 380 5024.

Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: St Albans. Barbara & Alan 337 6202.

Wednesday 7.30pm Ecumenical Ash Wednesday service.

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. Graeme 020 40923543.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday 5 March 7pm, Beckenham Methodist Church, 83 Malcolm Ave

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER (a women led, global, ecumenical movement) Women of the Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean have prepared this year’s service. The black and white sandy beaches, coral reefs with coloured fishes, lovely birds, fruits and nuts in the forest, all make the islands a pristine environment but they are vulnerable to frequent tropical storms, earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis and active volcanoes.

Women, men and children of all ages are called to ‘Build on a strong foundation’ and live in unity, love and peace in the context of ethnic and cultural diversity like Vanuatu and so many other places around the world.

World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation which enables us to hear the thoughts of women from all parts of the world; their hopes, concerns and prayers. The preparation for the day is vast. An international committee is based in New York and there are national committees in each participating country. Regional conferences meet to consider the service and then local groups make their plans.

Finally at a church near you on Friday 5 March 2021 people will gather to celebrate the service prepared by the women of Vanuatu. The Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 170 countries. It begins in Samoa, and prayer in native languages travels throughout the world – through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 39 hours later.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship here today. Please stay for a cuppa and conversation after the service.

Wednesday Walkers 10^th February:  Meet 9.30am in Domain Terrace near Lincoln Road. Parking on the east side of the road. Coffee at The Waiting Room.  All welcome. Janette 021 075 6780

Grand Opening of the MenzShed: Saturday 20^th February 10am-2pm. All are welcome. Please RSVP to Gary: stmartinsmenzshed@gmail.com for catering purposes.

Pastoral Team meeting Monday 1^st MARCH 9.30am in the foyer. Please let us know if there are any changes. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Elder Care on Tuesdays…we are still looking for volunteers. Can you help once a week, once a fortnight, once a month? Talk to Lyndsey 388 1264.

An Invitation: See Anna before 21 Feb if you would like a ticket:

What’s on This Week:

Monday 9.30am-12noon NO St Mark’s Elder Care. Therese 337 1225.

Tuesday 10am – 2pm South Elder Care. Jeannette 332 9869.

Tuesday 7.15pm Christian Meditation Group. Contact Dugald 380 5024.

Wednesday 9.30am Walking Group: Sonya 339 7038.

Wednesday 7.30pm Global Voices. 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 returns. Anneke 328 7459.

Thursday 5-7pm Familial Trust Mentor Group. Graeme 020 40923543.

Meeting of the session and board of managers on Thursday 28 January.

• The lights in the church lounge have now been upgraded.

• The agreement St Martins parish has with the Menzshed is to be updated. The Menzshed opening is on Saturday 20 February at 10.00am -2.00pm.

• Parish Council will meet on the third Thursday each second month starting in March.

• We are delighted to announce that Charlotte Houston has agreed to edit The Messenger and at the same time we express our deep appreciation to Anneke Howie for the work she has done as recently retired editor.

• As we update parish records we are aware of new Government requirements regarding the collection, storage and use of information we gather from you as parishioners.

• The next meeting of the Parish Council will be on Thursday 18 March at 7.30pm.