NOTICES:

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

Crafty Crafters: Meets on Thursdays in the Church lounge 10am-12noon. New faces are always welcome. $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey 388 1264 for more information.

Men’s Group will meet on Thursday 6^th June at 6pm in the Church Lounge for a shared tea and chat time.    The speaker for the evening will be David Hodder talking about Predator Control.

All men welcome and we look forward to seeing you there.  Contact Tony 332 0554 if you have any queries.

MenzShed at St Martins is underway…. 35 blokes gathered last Monday and enthusiastically endorsed the setting up of a St Martins MenzShed.  A small steering team has been formed.  We’ll meet again on Monday July 1^st at 7.15pm to talk further.

Help fill the Pantry at Waltham Cottage: With the colder weather and the need for warm nourishing food, Adrienne suggests the following:

Baked beans, breakfast cereal, tinned stews, tinned tuna, soups, jams, biscuits, pasta and noodles along with chickpeas and tinned tomatoes.

Everything you contribute is so gratefully received.

Please keep it coming.  Many thanks. Irene Gray, Session Clerk.

Wednesday Walkers 5^th June: Meet 9.45am at the church.

Court Theatre trip Thursday 19^th September 6.30pm to see “The Pink Hammer”, a Kiwi comedy. Expressions of interest to Sue Saunders 960 7657 please. Cost will be c$49 & discount available for Super Gold Card holders.

Next Movie Nights are SaturdayJuly 6^th  (when we’ll show the adult movie “Green Book”), & then August 4^th 5.45pm at church – bring your takeaway tea (eg fish and chips) drinks provided. Movie starts at 6.15pm and finishes at 8pm.

Irene would like to thank you all for the love, prayers & support she has received following her accident. 

Christian Meditation – a new group

 Jesus often withdrew to places of stillness and solitude to re-orientate his life in God.  Early Christians practiced mediation.  Today this practice has often been ignored, yet passages like  “be still and know that I am God” attract us.  Spiritual teacher of our time Fr Thomas Keating said “silence is God’s language”.  A new group is starting with the aim of learning and practicing the art of Christian Meditation.  

   Christian Meditation is based on: stillness, silence and simplicity. The aim is to move closer to union with God by sitting quietly. To aid us in being still we are invited to repeat in silence the word “Maranatha” which means “come Lord”.  We come in simplicity, not asking for anything, or seeking to tell God anything, just wanting to be open to God. We are leaving busyness and self-consciousness aside to let God transform us deep to deep. We’re not thinking about anything, spiritual or otherwise, just seeking to be in the presence of God and to be wholly present to God.  Those who persevere will inevitably see the results in their lives, “the fruits of the spirit” (Galatians 5): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

   Meditation does need to be regular, and it does require discipline.

The new group will meet for the first time at St Martins Presbyterian Church, 43 St Martins Road, on Tuesday June 11^th at 7pm.  If you are interested come and see.  The group is not for experts, but for people interested in exploring a form of prayer that is much needed in our time.  Our aim is to meet weekly for those who can make it, but to also encourage a daily personal practice of mediation.

   For more information make contact with Dugald at dugaldwil@gmail.com or go to www.christianmeditationnz.org.nz &/or www.wccm.org

Weekly Peace Bell Meditation

Do you want a more loving and peaceful society?

Do you want a safer and more caring community?

Do you want acceptance and celebration of diversity, not hatred and violence?

There are many ways.

Come and pray/send positive intentions every Friday

for a more peaceful, caring and safe Christchurch.

If you are available for this type of group action join us in spirit or in actuality for 10 minutes focussed silence at 7.45am every Friday in Hagley Park at the Peace Bell (Botanic Gardens) in solidarity with our Muslim community.

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. After the service please come through to the Lounge for a cuppa and a time to talk.  Many thanks to Rev Hugh Perry for leading our worship.

Crafty Crafters: Meets on Thursdays in the Church lounge 10am-12noon. New faces are always welcome. $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey 388 1264 for more information.

Help fill the Pantry at Waltham Cottage:

‘Thank you’ for a super bumper lot of groceries that was contributed last week. It certainly helped fill some of the space in the cupboard. With the colder weather and the need for warm nourishing food, Adrienne suggests the following: Baked beans, breakfast cereal, tinned stews, tinned tuna, soups, jams, biscuits, pasta and noodles along with chickpeas and tinned tomatoes. Everything you contribute is so gratefully received. Please keep it coming.  Many thanks.

Irene Gray, Session Clerk.

Court Theatre trip Thursday 19^th September 6.30pm to see “The Pink Hammer”, a Kiwi comedy. Expressions of interest to Sue Saunders 960 7657 please. Cost will be c$49 & discount available for Super Gold Card holders.

Bacon Fundraiser: Joanwill be picking up the bacon tomorrow. All money owing must be handed to her TODAY please.

Wednesday Walkers 29^th May: Meet 9.30am at Elmwood Park in Heaton Street for a walk around the area. Coffee at McCafe in Merivale. All welcome. Judith Mackay 027 688 1861.

Fireside: Women are very welcome to join us at any meeting whether they come just occasionally or regularly.   Fireside is “the women’s group” of our church which usually meets on the last Tuesday evening of each month.   We plan to meet at 7.30pm on Tuesday 28th May in the Church Lounge at 43 St Martins Rd.  There will be some planning talk first before Joan and Joan tell us about their recent trip to Adelaide and Melbourne. Enquiries: Margaret ph 366 8936.

St Martins MenzShed based in the Community Building (Old SS Rooms at the back of our section).  We will have an initial meeting MONDAY 27^th MAY at 7.15pm to gauge interest in setting up a group to run a menzshed in this area and take the first steps to get this project moving.  Please tell blokes of the neighbourhood about this initiative that will provide a meeting place for men, and we hope will be a place where women will be invited to learn practical skills.

Movie Nights are being planned for NEXT SATURDAY June 1^st, then July 6^th, August 4^th 5.45pm at church – bring your takeaway tea (eg fish and chips) drinks provided, movie starts at 6.15pm and finish at 8pm. 

EcuAction…. The seminar this week was entitled Capitalism and Climate Change.  Charles Drace claimed there appears to be a link between climate change and neo-liberal policies adopted by governments from the 1970’s onward with less government control and free market policies.  Governments appear to be cautious about adopting policy that will reduce carbon emissions.  Most western economies (and others) are dependent on fossil fuel extraction or animal farming which produces greenhouse gases, and we are locked into these systems for economic survival.  There is however hope in the voices of our young people who are demanding change because they see more clearly the disastrous future that awaits the planet as we pay lip service to this issue. 

Jim Consedine spoke from a faith perspective and drew our attention to modern prophet Thomas Berry who said: “The industrial economy is not sustainable.  It is a failing system.  It is closing down the planet in its most basic modes of functioning.”  Jim reminded us that much of our thinking about economies fails to take into account natural processes and the gift of the earth and its resources.  We need to consider human wellbeing and the wellbeing of the natural world alongside company profits.  He also championed Pope Francis and his encyclicals, particularly Laudate Si (On the Care of our Common Home).  Nature can not be regarded as something separate from ourselves, nor as a mere setting in which we live.  Pope Francis encourages us to build an integrated ecology.

Next Thursday Kathleen Gallagher speaks on Climate Change and Water. 5.30 -7.00pm at Knox Church, Bealey Ave.

An evening with John Bell….Five of us from St Martins  joined with others to sing with John Bell and hear some of his wise insights into the importance of singing which links us with God.  John is a member of the Iona Community in Scotland and believes singing is good for our souls.  Too often we have been told we can’t sing so we don’t.  We often feel we have to hit the right notes and do it well, when letting it flow from our hearts is what is needed.  Much of the singing we did together was without accompaniment.  The melodies were often quite simple, but we discovered music unlocks places deep within.

Session Report:

Session noted with thanks the retirement of June Service as our morning tea coordinator….thanks June for  organising and facilitating this ministry!

A 24 page report from General Assembly concerning Euthanasia is available.  If you would like a copy please contact Dugald or the office.

We thanked the St Mark’s/St Anne’s Anglican Parish and Beckenham Methodist Church for their generous gifts to celebrate our return to the church.

Conditions of use contracts have been drawn up for hiring the church complex.  The Session also approved an alcohol policy.

We expect we still have a final bill to pay of approx. $36,000 to the contractors and can report we have money in hand to pay this.

We are slowly building up usage of the complex with regular users now being Sit and Keep Fit, Craft group, Foot Clinic, and a decision by South Elder care to return to the complex when it is secure with fencing. 

A newcomers form has been drawn up and placed in the foyer which we invite newcomers to fill in.   This will give us information to prepare a nametag and facilitate delivery of a newsletter.  We have asked Heather Crew, Janet Dunn, Ken Austin, and Jill Grierson to be people who welcome newcomers, but of course this is something we all need to work at. 

David Beaumont has retired from leading services at Archer Home.  Thank you David for your ministry there.

Dugald will receive the gold card in August this year and is looking to retire early in 2020.  The Presbytery will be approached with a view to setting up a ministry settlement board.

Session will appoint a Child Safety Protection Officer by 1 August.

A proposal to hold a regular afternoon communion service especially for seniors is being examined to see if there would be sufficent interest.

St Martins Meditation Group….  We plan to initiate a group that would learn and practice mediation together.   We will have an initial planning meeting for those interested on Tuesday June 11th at 7.00pm. 

NOTICES:

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

Pathways is a friendship and study group in our congregation which is growing together in faith.  It meets monthly on a Saturday morning for about 90 minutes and this month will begin looking at a series of 5 studies looking at relationships.  We will look at family relationships, church relationships, relating to strangers, broken relationships and how they might be mended, and our relationship with God. 

Members of the group say this is a really good group to belong to and journey with.  It is gentle, relaxed, friendly, and at our level.

If you would be interested in popping along to check out the group this month would be a good time to do this as they start a new series.  Talk to Peggy Cree, Hilary Moore, Elizabeth Penwell, Sue Saunders, Jill Grierson, Margaret Shanks, Alice Shanks or Rob Connell for more information or join us THIS Saturday 25^th May at 10am.

Church Cleaning: Every three weeks, the facilities will be cleaned commercially by Moonlighters Cleaning. We are seeking volunteers from the congregation (men and women!) to clean the church plant in the intervening weeks. Please add your name to the list on the clipboard in the foyer if you can help. A list of duties required is also available. Thank you to those who have already volunteered.

Crafty Crafters: Meets on Thursdays in the Church lounge 10am-12noon. New faces are always welcome. $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey 388 1264 for more information.

Family Movie Night Friday 24^th May 7pm at Opawa Community Church, cnr

Opawa Rd & Aynsley Tce. This month’s movie is “Robots”. Free entry; drinks & nibbles for sale. All welcome.

Wednesday Walkers 22^nd May: Meet 9.30am at the Bus Exchange by Lichfield/Colombo corner. Coffee venue TBC. All welcome. Sonya 027 253 3397.

Bacon Fundraiser: Joanwill be picking up the bacon on Monday 27th May. It would be appreciated if the money owing could be handed in next Sunday please.

EcuAction Seminar Report

This week Colin Meurk spoke about Climate Change and plants.  He reminded us that we will see significant loss of plant and animal life with the latest UN report saying a million species will go extinct by 2050.  As habitat warms and changes in other ways many species will not adapt quickly enough while other species will thrive.  He supports declaring a climate change emergency.  Colin was particularly keen for Christchurch to recognise the wonderful diversity of life found in our city and to declare our city a National Park City as London has done.  He wants to encourage initiatives that help people link more strongly with nature.  He also encourages the growth of native flora and fauna and taking pride in our unique heritage rather than importing plants for our gardens and city spaces.

Fr Frank Kelly spoke from a faith perspective and reminded us of our responsibility as outlined in Genesis 1 to be caretakers and trustees of the earth.  We do not own the earth, God does.  He also commended Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si. (Praise be to You) This is the second encyclical of Pope Francis. The encyclical has the subtitle “on care for our common home”. In it, the Pope critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action”.

Next Thursday at 5.30pm Charles Drace speaks on Climate Change and Capitalism.

Session Report:

Session noted with thanks the retirement of June Service as our morning tea coordinator….thanks June for  organising and facilitating this ministry!

A 24 page report from General Assembly concerning Euthanasia is available.  If you would like a copy please contact Dugald or the office.

We thanked the St Mark’s/St Anne’s Anglican Parish and Beckenham Methodist Church for their generous gifts to celebrate our return to the church.

Conditions of use contracts have been drawn up for hiring the church complex.  The Session also approved an alcohol policy.

We expect we still have a final bill to pay of approx. $36,000 to the contractors and can report we have money in hand to pay this.

We are slowly building up usage of the complex with regular users now being Sit and Keep Fit, Craft group, Foot Clinic, and a decision by South Elder care to return to the complex when it is secure with fencing. 

A newcomers form has been drawn up and placed in the foyer which we invite newcomers to fill in.   This will give us information to prepare a nametag and facilitate delivery of a newsletter.  We have asked Heather Crew, Janet Dunn, Ken Austin, and Jill Grierson to be people who welcome newcomers, but of course this is something we all need to work at. 

David Beaumont has retired from leading services at Archer Home.  Thank you David for your ministry there.

Dugald will receive the gold card in August this year and is looking to retire early in 2020.  The Presbytery will be approached with a view to setting up a ministry settlement board.

Session will appoint a Child Safety Protection Officer by 1 August.

A proposal to hold a regular afternoon communion service especially for seniors is being examined to see if there would be sufficent interest.

St Martins MenzShed based in the Community Building (Old SS Rooms at the back of our section).  We will have an initial meeting on a Monday May 27^th at 7.15pm to gauge interest in setting up a group to run a menzshed in this area and take the first steps to get this project moving.  Please tell blokes of the neighbourhood about this initiative that will provide a meeting place for men, and we hope will be a place where women will be invited to learn practical skills.

St Martins Meditation Group….  We plan to initiate a group that would learn and practice mediation together.   We will have an initial planning meeting for those interested on Tuesday June 11th at 7.00pm.  This is a group for beginners and explorers.  The group would meet in the church complex every week for to practice meditation for 20 minutes and to for a short learning time.   Stillness is a way to hear and know God more closely in our lives.  It is anticipated this will be an ecumenical group using mediation techniques as outlined by the World Community for Christian Meditation.  See www.wccm.org

Movie Nights are being planned forJune 1^st, July 6^th, August 4^th 5.45pm at church – bring your takeaway tea (eg fish and chips) drinks provided, movie starts at 6.15pm and finish at 8pm.  Possible movies on offer:  Paddington, Green Book,  Moana. 

Paddington is a family movie that also has serious messages of the wonders and importance of hospitality.  It is partly animated, but is a fun movie that will bring a smile to your face as Paddington Bear is accepted into the Brown family home in London after travelling there from deepest Peru. 

Green Book is a recently released and widely acclaimed adults movie. It is a 2018 American biographical comedy-drama set in 1962.  The film is inspired by the true story of a tour of the deep south by an African American classical and jazz pianist and his white Italian American driver. 

NOTICES:

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

Many thanks to the Men’s Group for this morning’s delicious breakfast!

A New MenzShed…. An opportunity has come up to establish a new MenzShed in St Martins.  MenzSheds are a great place for blokes to make new friends and learn new skills especially in retirement years.  There will be a short open meeting at St Martins Presbyterian Church, 43 St Martins Road, on Monday 27^th May at 7.15pm to initiate planning to get this project flying.  We aim to set up a small team to do the initial set-up.   If you are excited by this possibility please come, or speak to Dugald.

Church Cleaning: Every three weeks, the facilities will be cleaned commercially by Moonlighters Cleaning. We are seeking volunteers from the congregation (men and women!) to clean the church plant in the intervening weeks.

Please add your name to the list on the clipboard in the foyer if you can help. A list of duties required is also available. Thank You.

Caring for creation

Do you have a tip that you could share with others in our church family about something you do to care for our environment.  Take a photo and give our newsletter editor Anneke a description of what you do.  Let’s encourage one another in this important part of our living out our faith.

Articles are now required for the next ‘Messenger’. Deadline is THIS Friday.

Email: anneke.howie@gmail.com.

Crafty Crafters: Meets on Thursdays in the Church lounge 10am-12noon. New faces are always welcome. $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey 388  1264 for more information.

Session meets this Wednesday 15^th May 7.30pm in the church foyer.

Wednesday Walkers 15^th May: Meet 9.30am at Westlake Reserve carpark. Coffee at the Old Vicarage. All welcome. Janette & Cyril 021 0756780.

EcuAction Seminar Report

It is clear that climate change is going radically alter life on our planet.  There are going to be more severe storms, land is going to be lost to the rising sea levels, there will be extinction of species and loss of human life.  It is clear that human beings are responsible, mostly in first world rich countries like ours.  But we have shown we can deal with issues like the depletion of the ozone layer through international cooperation and agreements like the Montreal Protocol banning CFC’s.  There is hope.

It is easy to say others must do something, but the reality is we all need to do something NOW.  Putting our heads in the sand is not acceptable to our creator God.  Richard McKenzie an atmospheric physicist spoke at Knox Church last Thursday and told us we have to look at the amount of carbon dioxide we are putting into the atmosphere.  We have to dramatically reduce the use of our petrol driven cars by walking, cycling, car pooling, using public transport, or going electric.  We have to jump on fewer planes.  We have to buy local and food in season so we don’t transport stuff all round the planet.  We have to consume less stuff.   Christians seem to like the word repent…. Real repentance and a change of direction is what will save the planet as we know it, and that starts with individual responsibility.  What are you and I going to actually do to reduce our carbon footprint?       …….Dugald

Next Thursday at 5.30pm Colin Muerk speaks on Climate Change and the Earth.

Growing our understanding of Islam – a free open forum Tuesday 14 May, 7-9pm at Cashmere Presbyterian:

Rev Dr Bill Shepard (a retired Religions Studies lecturer from Canterbury University) will be speaking from his life-time of interfaith understanding. Bring your questions about Islam, and the issues that lie behind the acts of terror we have recently witnessed.

Pathways is a friendship and study group in our congregation which is growing together in faith.  It meets monthly on a Saturday morning for about 90 minutes and this month will begin looking at a series of 5 studies looking at relationships.  We will look at family relationships, church relationships, relating to strangers, broken relationships and how they might be mended, and our relationship with God. 

Members of the group say this is a really good group to belong to and journey with.  It is gentle, relaxed, friendly, and at our level.

If you would be interested in popping along to check out the group this month would be a good time to do this as they start a new series.  Talk to Peggy Cree, Hilary Moore, Elizabeth Penwell, Sue Saunders, Jill Grierson, Margaret Shanks, Alice Shanks or Rob Connell for more information or join us on Saturday 25^th May at 10am.

Initial meeting for those who might be interested in being part of a Christian Meditation Group Tuesday May 28^th 7.15pm at church. The aim would be to form  a small group where we learn to grow together through a practice of stillness. We would follow the tradition of the World Community for Christian Meditation which encourages a daily practice of quiet.

Christian Meditation: The Christchurch Christian Meditation Community’s next community day will be held at the Methodist church community hall on the cnr of Chapel St & Harewood Rd, Papanui, on Saturday 25^th May between 1:00 & 4:00pm.

This time, in the interests of interfaith understanding, our guest speaker will be the Venerable Lama Assi.  He will talk about the origins and development of Buddhist meditation, and give his views on the commonality between religions as found through meditation.

It promises to be a very interesting afternoon and you’ll find a very warm welcome.  Afternoon tea is provided.  A Koha to help cover costs would be appreciated.  For further information about us, please go to wccm.org or email Chris Wilson at cjw9nz@gmail.com or call 029 357 8433.

Ramadan… Muslims started celebrating Ramadan this week. During this time they will not eat food or drink during the hours of daylight.   Ramadan is when the Koran was received so it is a time to read Koran and focus on spiritual practice to rebalance your life in God.   Ramadan lasts for a month and finishes with a celebration called Eid Ul Fitr when traditionally families gather and give thanks together for the gift of life.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to you all this morning. After the service please come through to the Lounge for a cuppa and a time to talk. Many thanks to Rev Nancy-Jean Whitehead for leading today’s worship.

EcuAction 2019 Forum Series: Climate Change & a Faith Response, Knox Church Centre, Bealey Ave

 
Four Thursdays in May, 5pm for 5.30 – 7.00pm (Refreshments at 5pm)

Presenters:

• Climate Change & The Atmosphere: Richard McKenzie (May 9)
• Climate Change & The Earth: Colin Meurk (May 16)
• Climate Change & Capitalism: Charles Drace (May 23)
• Climate Change & Water: Kathleen Gallagher (May 30)

Each forum will also feature a respondent from a Faith tradition before the topic is opened up for “Questions, Answers & Comments”
All Welcome. Koha to defray expenses please
Organised by EcuAction, a Canterbury based Interfaith Network.
Further info from: ecuactioncanterbury@gmail.com, or Marilyn 021 061 3940 or Mary 021 387 088

Open Forum, Tuesday 14 May, 7-9pm

Growing our understanding of Islam

The past couple of months have highlighted for many of us how little we know about the Muslim faith, both locally and globally. Rev Dr Bill Shepard will be speaking from his life-time of interfaith understanding. Bring your questions about Islam, and the issues that lie behind the acts of terror we have recently witnessed.

Bill Shepard lectured in Religious Studies at Canterbury University for many years, specialising in Islam. 

All welcome. No cost. Supper included.

Kowhai Lounge, Cashmere Presbyterian Church, 2 Macmillan Ave

Foot Clinic TOMORROW 1-4pm in the Church Lounge.

Church Cleaning: Every three weeks, the facilities will be cleaned commercially by Moonlighters Cleaning. We are seeking volunteers from the congregation (men and women!) to clean the church plant in the intervening weeks.

Please add your name to the list on the clipboard in the foyer if you can help. A list of duties required is also available. Thank You.

Articles are now required for the next ‘Messenger’. Deadline is Friday 17^th May. Email contributions to anneke.howie@gmail.com. Thank you.

Parish Breakfast NEXT Sunday 12^th May 8.45am, hosted by the Men’s Group. Gold coin koha appreciated.

Wednesday Walkers 8^th May: Meet 9.30am near the Valley Inn Tavern carpark in Marsden St for a walk around Heathcote. Coffee at the Tavern. All welcome. Sonya 0272533397.

Joan will take delivery of the bacon on Monday 27^th May.

Crafty Crafters: Meets on Thursdays in the Church lounge 10am-12noon. New faces are

always welcome. $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey 388  1264 for more information.

Schola Cantorum choir presents “Spirit of Dreams” Monday 6^th May 12.10pm at The Piano, 156 Armagh St. $10 entry.

Ramadan… Muslims start celebrating Ramadan this week probably on Tuesday.  (starting is dependent on sighting the moon)  During Ramadan they will not eat food or drink during the hours of daylight.   Ramadan is when the Koran was received so it is a time to read Koran and focus on spiritual practice to rebalance your life in God.   Ramadan lasts for a month and finishes with a celebration called Eid Ul Fitr when traditionally families gather and give thanks together for the gift of life.