NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. Please come through to the Lounge after the service for a cuppa and a time to talk.

Farewell Luncheon

On Sunday 23^rd February Dugald will lead his last service with us as our minister before his retirement after 35 years in the ministry.  Following the service we invite you to join together for a barbeque lunch.  Sausages, meat patties, bread, and drinks will be provided, and if you are able bring a salad to share.  Those not bringing a salad may like to donate a gold coin to help cover costs. 

Many thanks to the Session members for hosting this morning’s parish breakfast.

Board of Managers meets this Wednesday 12^th February 7.30pm in the foyer.

Working Bee Saturday 15^th February 9am. Come and help! Likely jobs will include: window cleaning, gardening, shifting of soil from behind the sheds.

Articles are now required for the next edition of the ‘Messenger’.  Email contributions to Anneke: anneke.howie@gmail.com before  Friday 21^st February. Many thanks.

Wednesday Walkers 12^th February: Meet 9.30am in the Carpark between Halswell Library and The Old Vicarage, for a walk around Halswell. Coffee at The Old Vicarage.  All Welcome.  Barbara and Alan 021 126 3801

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces very welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Sermons…most of Dugald’s sermons are available on line from our website.

World Day of Prayer Friday 6^th March 7pm at Beckenham Methodist Church, 83 Malcolm Ave. A service prepared by Zimbabwe with the theme “Rise! Take Your Mat and Walk”.  All are welcome.

Meditation Group: Every Tuesday a group meets here from 7.00-7.45pm to meditate together.  We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God.  For 20 minutes we sit in silence.  In silence you soon discover your mind is far from still, and is dancing all over the place.  However we use a mantra to keep gently refocusing.  In the stillness God is at work transforming us and helping us become more authentically ourselves. 

If you would like to try Christian meditation, join us on Tuesday evenings. Meditation is not only good for your soul, but helps relieve stress and anxiety, and has been shown to be very beneficial for your health.

Fundraising Ideas: We had a very good forum with a large number of ideas suggested for fundraising. Please return the blue form to the silver box in the foyer by next Sunday.

Singing Group will next meet at 9.15am on 16^th February.

Foyer Store Room …. the north storeroom in the foyer is now locked. If you need a key, please contact Anna in the office. 

Court Theatre Group Booking:

“Lysander’s Aunty” Friday 17^th April 7.30pm

‘In this radical comedy, Lysander and Hermia, the lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, run away to the forest…but things take a sharp turn along the way that lands them in the lap of Lysander’s unconventional, untraditional and very Kiwi Aunty. The world of Shakespeare is lovingly turned upside down as the highbrow meets the down-to-earth in this wonderfully quirky comedy’.

Tickets $54 or $42 with copy of Community Services Card. Add your names to the clipboard please, and money to Sue Saunders by Sunday 1^st March.

National Remembrance Service for 15 March

To be held on the afternoon of Sunday 15 March in North Hagley Park. The programme is being put together with input from those most affected by the attacks at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques. The service will be led by the local Muslim Community, Christchurch City Council, the Government, and mana whenua Ngai Tahuriri. Further details pending.

The Gentle Revolution – Emerging Green Churches of Europe
Sunday 16th February 4pm – 5.30pm @ The Chapel of the Waves (corner Collingwood St and Union St, New Brighton)

Mark Gibson, the minister of two East Christchurch parishes, recently visited Eco and Green churches in Scotland, England and Denmark. Hundreds of mostly small local churches are transforming their life in response to the global ecological and climate crisis. Come and hear some wonderful stories. Could Aotearoa NZ evolve our own Green Church? Entry by koha.

Thanks to the concreting team Keith, Rob, David, Graeme, Dugald who have nearly finished all the concreting after the rebuild.

Peggy Cree has donated a bench seat for people to sit in quietness. It will be situated in a new garden area on the northwest corner of the building with a tree in memory of Vivienne Sinclair placed nearby.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. Please come through to the Lounge after the service for a cuppa and a time to talk.

We give thanks for Shirley Murray…In today’s service we sing three hymns written by Shirley Murray who died this week in Wellington. Colin Gibson, who worked with Shirley on many hymns, wrote:

Our community has lost a brave bright soul, a distinctive prophetic voice and New Zealand’s finest religious poet. Her work is known, admired, and sung throughout the Christian world. Her hymns and songs will be her legacy for many years to come; her latest volume (published by Hope) reached her a short time before her death.
In one of her poems, Shirley wrote:
Something beautiful for God,

in my seeing,

in my being,

something beautiful for God

let the Spirit make of me.
Something meaningful and true,

in my living

and believing,

something meaningful and true,

something beautiful and new.

I think we can all agree that her wish was fulfilled.

Over the next week read Matt chapters 5-7. What questions come to you? Discuss with someone else a teaching that stands out for you. What does it mean for your life?

Farewell Luncheon

On Sunday 23^rd February Dugald will lead his last service with us as our minister before his retirement after 35 years in the ministry.  Following the service Dugald and Janet invite you to join with them for a barbeque lunch.  Sausages, meat patties, bread, and drinks will be provided, and if you are able bring a salad to share.  Those not bringing a salad may like to donate a gold coin to help cover costs. 

PARISH BREAKFAST next Sunday 9^th  February 8.45am, hosted by Session. Come along and enjoy cereal, fruit & muffins. Gold coin donation appreciated.

The Parish Office will be closed this Thursday (Waitangi Day).

Working Bee Saturday 15^th February 9am. Come and help!

Articles are now required for the next edition of the ‘Messenger’.  Email contributions to Anneke: anneke.howie@gmail.com before  Friday 21^st February. Many thanks.

Meditation Group: Every Tuesday a group meets here from 7.00-7.45pm to meditate together.  We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God.  For 20 minutes we sit in silence.  In silence you soon discover your mind is far from still, and is dancing all over the place.  However we use a mantra to keep gently refocusing.  In the stillness God is at work transforming us and helping us become more authentically ourselves. 

If you would like to try Christian meditation, join us on Tuesday evenings. Meditation is not only good for your soul, but helps relieve stress and anxiety, and has been shown to be very beneficial for your health.

Fundraising Ideas: We had a very good forum last week with a large number of ideas suggested for fundraising. This week you will receive a blue form asking if you would commit to making an idea happen. Please fill this out with your name and return to the silver box in the foyer.

Singing Group will next meet at 9.15am on 16^th February.

Foyer Store Room …. the north storeroom in the foyer (currently with foot clinic, craft group and Elder Care gear in it) is now locked. If you need a key, please contact Anna in the office. 

Wednesday Walkers 5^th February: Meet 9.30am in Hawford Rd by Opawa Café carpark for a walk around Opawa/St Martins. Coffee at Opawa Café. All welcome. Joan Mac 022 081 4088.

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces very welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264. No session this week 6 Feb.

Decking…  Cyril Morris has recently stained the deck outside the lounge to complete this project.  We say a very big thank you to Cyril  for this great addition to our complex.

You are invited to the Induction of Beckenham Methodist’s new minister TODAY at 2pm.

Sermons…most of Dugald’s sermons are available on line from our website.

Court Theatre Group Booking:

“Lysander’s Aunty” Friday 17^th April 7.30pm

‘In this radical comedy, Lysander and Hermia, the lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, run away to the forest…but things take a sharp turn along the way that lands them in the lap of Lysander’s unconventional, untraditional and very Kiwi Aunty. The world of Shakespeare is lovingly turned upside down as the highbrow meets the down-to-earth in this wonderfully quirky comedy’.

Tickets $54 or $42 with copy of Community Services Card. Add your names to the clipboard please, and money to Sue Saunders by Sunday 1^st March.

The Gentle Revolution – Emerging Green Churches of Europe
Sunday 16th February 4pm – 5.30pm @ The Chapel of the Waves (corner Collingwood St and Union St, New Brighton)

Mark Gibson, the minister of two East Christchurch parishes, recently visited Eco and Green churches in Scotland, England and Denmark. Hundreds of mostly small local churches are transforming their life in response to the global ecological and climate crisis. Come and hear these wonderful stories. Could Aotearoa NZ evolve our own Green Church movement?

Entry by koha for the work of the Centre. All welcome.

Session Report:

• Pastoral Care…a small task group has been set up to review our system of Pastoral Care.
• Ministry Settlement Board…has met and is progressing the work of developing a Parish Profile.
• Presbytery has not as yet been able to appoint an Interim Moderator for our parish.
• We have agreed to seek to appoint a minister on Stated Supply for 3-6 months. We will approach Presbytery to see who might be available.
• We noted that we have our own Facebook page. If you use Facebook please connect with the page (St Martins Presbyterian Community Church) and recommend it to friends.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. Please come through to the Lounge after the service for a cuppa and a time to talk.

From our Finance Review Team:

Our recent request for people to review giving has resulted in increased pledges of nearly $13,000 per year.  We are very encouraged by this response and say a very big THANK YOU to you all.

Today after worship we’ll have a forum to discern ideas for fundraising in the year ahead. We are especially keen to find projects that will involve the wider community.   

Please start planning to donate you Charitable Giving Tax rebate back to your church.  More detail on this will come in March from the Board of Managers.

Do you know someone looking to hire an auditorium or lounge space for meetings or for an exercise class.  Tell them about our spaces and direct them to our website where they can find more details.

Court Theatre Group Booking:

“Lysander’s Aunty” Friday 17^th April 7.30pm

‘In this radical comedy, Lysander and Hermia, the lovers from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, run away to the forest…but things take a sharp turn along the way that lands them in the lap of Lysander’s unconventional, untraditional and very Kiwi Aunty. The world of Shakespeare is lovingly turned upside down as the highbrow meets the down-to-earth in this wonderfully quirky comedy’.

Tickets $54 or $42 with copy of Community Services Card. Add your names to the clipboard please, and money to Sue Saunders by Sunday 1^st March.

New Sunday Readers’ Roster available today – please check to see if there is a copy for you.

You are invited to the Induction of Beckenham Methodist’s new minister on Sunday 2^nd February at 2pm.

Meditation Group: Every Tuesday a group meets here from 7.00-7.45pm to meditate together.  We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God.  For 20 minutes we sit in silence.  In silence you soon discover your mind is far from still, and is dancing all over the place.  However we use a mantra to keep gently refocusing.  In the stillness God is at work transforming us and helping us become more authentically ourselves. 

If you would like to try Christian meditation, join us on Tuesday evenings. Meditation is not only good for your soul, but helps relieve stress and anxiety, and has been shown to be very beneficial for your health.

WANTED: The Elder Care group needs drivers who are able to drop clients off at 10am and return to take them home at 2.30pm each Tuesday. Please talk to Lyndsey McKay 388 1264 if you can help.

Foot Clinic TOMORROW 1-4pm in the Lounge.

Singing Group will meet again at 9.15am on 2^nd & 16^th February

Foyer Store Room …. the north storeroom in the foyer (currently with foot clinic, craft group and Elder Care gear in it) will be kept locked from the beginning of February.  If you need a key, please contact Anna in the office. 

“Unofficial” Wednesday walk 29^th January: Meet 9.30am at Oderings for a stroll around Spreydon. Coffee at Kowhai Café. All are welcome. Sonya 339 7038.

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces very welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264.

The Gentle Revolution – Emerging Green Churches of Europe
Sunday 16th February 4pm – 5.30pm @ The Chapel of the Waves (corner Collingwood St and Union St, New Brighton)

Mark Gibson, the minister of two East Christchurch parishes, recently visited Eco and Green churches in Scotland, England and Denmark. Hundreds of mostly small local churches are transforming their life in response to the global ecological and climate crisis. One church has slashed its carbon footprint by two-thirds, at another over a hundred people cycle to worship every Sunday. The Green Church movement in Denmark is transforming church graveyards into bio-diversity hotspots. Come and hear these wonderful stories, and many more. Could Aotearoa NZ evolve our own Green Church movement?

Entry by koha for the work of the Centre. All welcome.

Session Report:

• Pastoral Care…a small task group has been set up to review our system of Pastoral Care.
• Ministry Settlement Board…has met and is progressing the work of developing a Parish Profile.
• Presbytery has not as yet been able to appoint an Interim Moderator for our parish.

• We have agreed to seek to appoint a minister on Stated Supply for 3-6 months. We will approach Presbytery to see who might be available.
• We noted that we have our own Facebook page. If you use Facebook please connect with the page (St Martins Presbyterian Community Church) and recommend it to friends.

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. Please come through to the Lounge after the service for a cuppa and a time to talk.

Meditation Group: Every Tuesday a group meets here from 7.00-7.45pm to meditate together.  We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God.  For 20 minutes we sit in silence.  In silence you soon discover your mind is far from still, and is dancing all over the place.  However we use a mantra to keep gently refocusing.  In the stillness God is at work transforming us and helping us become more authentically ourselves. 

If you would like to try Christian meditation, join us over the next four weeks on Tuesday evening when we will give some introductory teaching.  Meditation is not only good for your soul, but helps relieve stress and anxiety, and has been shown to be very beneficial for your health.

Elder Care Group resumes this Tuesday 21^st January. This is a day care programme for seniors each Tuesday 10am-2pm with a lunch provided.

Session meets this Wednesday 22^nd January 7.30pm in the foyer.

Singing Group will meet again at 9.15am on Sundays 2^nd & 16^th February.

“Unofficial” Wednesday walk 22^nd January: Meet 9.30am at South Library for a stroll around Beckenham. Coffee at Novel Café. All are welcome. Sonya 339 7038.

Crafty Crafters resumes this Thursday 23^rd January 10am – 12 noon. $3 per session. New faces very welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264.

From Waltham Cottage: Thank you all very much for the wonderful Christmas presents you donated. Cheryl & I had lots of fun sorting the gifts for families and individuals. The delight on the faces of the recipients was a pleasure to behold! I would also like to thank you all for the weekly donations of food, brought by Irene to the Cottage every Monday. This food is a huge help to the community at financially difficult times. Adrienne.

CWS Christmas Appeal Envelopes need to be returned to the church offering by next Sunday January 26^th. Thank you.

St Martins Fund Raiser: Handmade greeting cards for sale in foyer every Sunday. $3 each. Special cards made to order. See Janette. All proceeds to St Martins.

Cleaning Roster: Your help cleaning the church plant is appreciated. Please add your name to the list in the foyer.

A note from our Finance Review Team:

Our recent request for people to review giving has resulted in increased pledges of nearly $13,000 per year.  We are very encouraged by this response and say a very big THANK YOU to you all.  If you are still considering the request please put your response in the silver box to keep us informed of any changes.

Next week after worship we’ll have a forum to discern ideas for fundraising in the year ahead.  Start asking others, thinking, and talking now of creative ideas (big and small) to raise funds.  We are especially keen to find projects that will involve the wider community.   

Please start planning to donate you Charitable Giving Tax rebate back to your church.  More detail on this will come in March from the Board of Managers.

Do you know someone looking to hire an auditorium or lounge space for meetings or for an exercise class.  Tell them about our spaces and direct them to our website where they can find more details.  

Menzshed Update:

We still do not have a consent to begin work to upgrade the classroom we have shifted on site.

Currently we are negotiating about the need to provide a 20m ramp to allow disabled access to the workshop. Once consent is issued the building will be placed on piles and Menzshed volunteers will undertake necessary work to install extra fire protection and ramp if required. In the meantime a large amount of gear and tools has been donated.

We wish you all a very happy Christmas, and best wishes for 2020.

Christmas & New Year at St Martins

Christmas Eve 7.00pm

Christmas Day 9.30am

Combined services with Beckenham Methodist Church, Malcolm Ave:

Sunday 29 Dec 10am at BMC

Sunday 5 Jan   10am HERE

Sunday 12 Jan 10am at BMC

Sunday 19 Jan 10am HERE

A Christmas Blessing:

Know your life is a treasured gift of God.

Know our human journey matters to God because God has joined us on that journey

Know that in Jesus is the light that can guide us and lead us in our darkness

May you know the light and love of God that has come to us in the gift of Jesus, and may this light and love guide you and be in you.

     Amen

Many thanks to Rev Nancy-Jean Whitehead for leading today’s worship. Dugald is in Wellington officiating at his niece’s wedding.

2020 Dates:

Meditation Group resumes 14^th January.

The Parish Office re-opens on 16^th January.

Elder Care Group resumes on 21^st January.

Crafty Crafters resumes 23^rd January.

Waltham Cottage… Adrienne picked up a wonderful carload of gifts this week. Thank you for all the generous support.

Christian World Service Christmas Appeal: Envelopes can be returned to the church offering any Sunday until January 26^th. Your donation will go towards projects like building rain water tanks that will enable others to have a supply of water for drinking and irrigation. Amidst our plenty we are invited to give to others to honour the birth of Jesus who came to bring justice and equality for all.

St Martins Fund Raiser: Handmade greeting cards for sale in foyer every Sunday. $3 each. Special cards made to order. See Janette. All proceeds to St Martins.

Cleaning Roster: Your help cleaning the church plant is appreciated. Please add your name to the list in the foyer.