Call to Worship:

Leader:          Today is a solemn day.
Today is a day we remember the powers of darkness
are strong and real.
Today we recall that the presence of God, seen in Jesus, was consigned to the cross to be silenced and extinguished.

ALL               We have seen these powers, we know these powers.  Here we seek another power seen in the Christ who died that we might find life.

Singing:        Go to Dark Gethsemene (Tune: Petra)

Prayer:

Reading:        Matt 26: 36-52                   The Arrest      

                                                                David Beaumont

Reflection:     Power….

Reading:        Luke 23:13-26, 32-47        The Crucifixion of Jesus

                                                                Janet Dunn

Singing:        Were you There

Reflection:     The cross…. Something is wrong

Making:         Palm Cross

Singing:        Lift High the Cross ©Shirley Murray (AA)

Prayer            with the Lord’s Prayer

Reading:        Mark 15:40-57                   The Burial

                                                                Fern Wakefield

Reflection: The Love that will not let go

Benediction:

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.

Easter Services:

9.30am Good Friday 19^th April – we remember the day of the Cross.

10am Easter Sunday 21^st April – we celebrate the resurrection.

(after worship there will be an Easter Egg hunt!)

Can you Help: We require three readers for the Good Friday service and  volunteers to serve morning tea with Hot Cross Buns. Please see Dugald or email the Office.

Anzac Day: We are hosting an Anzac Day Service at 9.30am on Thursday April 25^th. This will be a short simple service in which there will be opportunity to remember family members who have served in the armed forces. Morning tea will follow, and offers of Anzac biscuits can be left with the Office.

Pathways Group invites you to join the group for coffee/tea and reflection on Saturday 27^th  April at 10am at the church.  The topic for discussion is “How do we find comfort in our faith?”  All welcome.

If you notice any defects that need remedying in the building please notify the office as soon as possible so we can communicate these to the builders.  Please do not wait for someone else to report something as by then we may be out of our guarantee period.

Wednesday Walkers: 17^th April Meet 9.30am outside Terra Viva Garden Centre in Roydvale Ave for a walk around the Nunweek area. Coffee in the café, where we are able to park. Suggest car pooling. All welcome. Barbara & Alan 021 126 3801.

Board of Managers meeting this Wednesday 17^th April 7.30pm in the church foyer.

The Parish Office will be closed this Friday 19^th April (Good Friday).

Bacon Fundraiser: Hellers Short Cut Middle Bacon. $8.00 per pack 400gm (12-14 slices). Orders close on Sunday 28^th  April 2019. Delivery late May (date to be advised). Joan 337 1648.

Thank you to those who donated Easter Eggs to Waltham Cottage.

Crafty Crafters: Thursdays 10am-12 noon at 43 St Martins Rd. Bring along an unfinished craft item, or learn a new skill. Cost $3 per session. Lyndsey 388 1264.

A First Aid kit, and a blanket & pillow are available in the kitchen in case of emergencies. Please remember to fill in an Incident Report if they are used. Forms are available from the Parish Office.

“Sing for the World”: Bring your voice, your heart and your desire to sing led by John Bell (The Iona Community, Scotland) Tuesday 21^st May 7-9pm at Knox Church Centre, Bealey Ave. Entry by koha.

A Rocha Christchurch networking night: Monday 15^th  April, 7pm at Oxford Terrace Baptist Church. Kristel vanHoute is the National Director for A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand. She is visiting Christchurch, and will be speaking about A Rocha around the country and globally. 
After the stresses and traumas of the past month it will be good to connect, and be re-energised. A great chance to catch up and feel part of the wider A Rocha movement; also to discuss planting opportunities coming up over winter. No charge. Bring a plate for supper.

St Martins Scout Group Book Fair & Table Top Sale Saturday & Sunday 27-28 April 9am-3pm. Cash only. At the Scout Den, 297 Centaurus Rd.

A fundraiser for Jamboree in Hamilton at New Year.

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.

All Ages Together…Next Sunday we will have an All Age Together service at 10am. There will be a choice of activities to participate in highlighting aspects of Easter.

If you notice any defects that need remedying in the building please notify the office as soon as possible

so we can communicate these to the builders.  Please do not wait for

someone else to report something as by then we may be out of our guarantee period.

New Sunday roster available – please check to see if there is a copy for you.

Wednesday Walkers: 10^th April Meet 9.30am at the Fendalton Village Shopping Centre, 21 Memorial Ave. Meet out front on street. P120 parking available but limited so suggest car pooling if you can. Coffee at the popular Bakermans. All welcome. Marilyn 338 2453.

Bacon Fundraiser: Hellers Short Cut Middle Bacon. $8.00 per pack 400gm (12-14 slices). Orders close on Sunday 28^th  April 2019. Delivery late May (date to be advised). Joan 337 1648.

Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage:  please pop in an extra egg or two when you do your shopping, and bring them along to church by NEXT Sunday so they can be delivered to the Cottage. Thank you for your support.

Easter Services:

9.30am Good Friday 19^th April – we remember

10am Easter Sunday 21^st April – we celebrate the resurrection.

Crafty Crafters: Thursdays 10am-12 noon at 43 St Martins Rd. Bring along an unfinished craft item, or learn a new skill. Cost $3 per session. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Looking Ahead: We will host an Anzac Day Service at 9.30am on April 25^th. This will be a short simple service in which there will be opportunity to remember family members who have served in the armed forces. Morning tea will follow, and offers of Anzac biscuits can be left with the Office.

Parish Office telephones are now fully operational!

Pathways Group invites you to join the group for coffee/tea and reflection on Saturday 27^th  April at 10am at the church.  The topic for discussion is “How do we find comfort in our faith?”  All welcome.

A First Aid kit, and a blanket & pillow are available in the kitchen in case of emergencies. Please remember to fill in an Incident Report if they are used. Forms are available from the Parish Office.

“Sing for the World”: Bring your voice, your heart and your desire to sing led by John Bell (The Iona Community, Scotland) Tuesday 21^st May 7-9pm at Knox Church Centre, Bealey Ave. Entry by koha.

Dear friends at St Martins

At our St Mark’s Parish Council meeting last week we noted that your congregation is celebrating the return to your church worship space on 31^st March and we extend greetings on that occasion. We understand this has been a very long and challenging journey and send sincere congratulations on reaching this great milestone. Our prayer is that your connection with your community continues to strengthen and grow. Some in our congregation have personal links with those in yours and we cannot help but feel some of the joy and relief that this weekend will bring to you. Also our past familiarity with your minister Dugald Wilson has meant that we are interested in this step of progress across the city. May God’s love and blessings surround you all as you enjoy Sunday’s celebration and the future ahead in your home church.

Warm regards and blessings

Janne Ross

Parish Clerk, St Mark’s, Avonhead.

To our brothers and sisters in Christ,

CONGRATULATIONS on the opening of your beautiful building. We know that it marks the end of a long and exhausting journey as well as the start of an exciting new chapter in ministry. You have our prayers and our love in all you do. We hope the $200 gift voucher will help with any final touches with landscaping and gardens.

Arohanui,

Reverend Canon Ben Truman

Anglican Parish of Opawa-St Martins

On behalf of the leadership and congregation of CNL (Cashmere New Life Church), we are pleased to see that you are now able to meet and worship in your repaired church building.

The earthquakes may have shaken the ground and damaged our buildings, but we know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And may he lead you as you continue to bring that message into the community as you have done for many years.

May God’s blessing always be upon you, and that His love is made known with the community in all that you do. 

Craig Wenmoth

Elder, CNL 

Welcome Home to 43 St Martins Rd at 10am for our first service back in the church. Please be patient as we may have some teething issues!

Coping in the aftermath of the shooting

 We live in world where we assume safety and order.  We expect people to be mostly kind and to treat one another with basic respect.  We work with assumption that people are inherently good and God has things in hand.  These assumptions have been severely challenged by the actions of the shooter in our midst and to varying amounts we may feel like we are now standing on shaky ground.   It is natural to feel the world has suddenly become unsafe and an insecure place, and we may sleep poorly and feel anxiety.  We may feel other emotions.  Some feel guilt thinking there was something we could have done or that we have let down another group in our midst.  Many cards left with flowers at the scene say ‘sorry’.  Some may feel anger or helplessness.  Tears and sadness are very common.  Some may just feel chaos or intense weariness and have difficulty focusing. 

Trauma ‘experts’ tell us to acknowledge what we feel.  Connect with your body and feelings and know that God is in them.  They are coming from deep places within.  I notice when invited to share what is happening within, many people talk about others.  It is important we acknowledge and talk about ourselves.

It’s also OK to focus on you in other ways.  It is perfectly normal to feel we want to do something to help, but connecting with self and immediate friends and colleagues is  helping.  Read a Psalm like Psalm 121 and anchor your life in God’s presence.   Pray as you are able and know you are valued by God.  Pray and share your deep desires for healing of our community with God.  Be careful how much sensational news you feed yourself.  Remind yourself that one lone gunman hasn’t changed the relationships that surround you each day.  Do not let him take away your trust in others and the power of good alive in our world. 

Know that issues behind this attack are not going to be solved overnight, but that the light always overcomes the darkness.  One of the key messages of the resurrection is that evil will not win.  Notice that many of the Muslim victims have a deep trust in God that things will work out.  In the days ahead there will be plenty of time to address other issues like building better relationships with others in our community, addressing racism in our hearts and midst, and limiting the freedom of social media to disseminate propaganda of hate.  Individually we can not stop all the bad things in the world, but we can live with integrity and hold fast to our values and beliefs about living a good and meaningful life with Jesus as our guide. 

Dugald

Session Report:

• Our immediate financial crisis has been resolved with the assistance of the Presbytery, with grants from the capital of the St David’s Trust and the Dick Estate. Presbytery has also forwarded money that was allocated for the ongoing pastoral care of people from St James.
• The church piano has been repaired and tuned and the electric piano connected into the new sound system. Warren is attempting to repair the organ (this may not be possible).
• We are looking for ideas of social events that will help build up our community. Ideas/offers to run an event are most welcome. Dugald is planning some movie evenings with tea in the winter months.

Thank you to those who helped at the working bee yesterday. In the coming weeks we have a priority to lay concrete paths outside. There is also shelving required in internal store-rooms.

NOTICES:

After the service please come through to the Lounge for a cuppa and a time to talk. Please take time to ask one another ‘how you are’, and listen to what is going on for each other in the aftermath of our shootings.

Official Opening next Sunday: The official opening of the strengthened church will be on Sunday 31^st March at 2.30pm. We plan a short simple time to reflect on the journey, celebrate the new look building, and offer a prayer of blessing. Afternoon tea will follow, and we trust there will be a good representation from the wider community.

Inviting friends and neighbours to our opening next Sunday… please do so! You can also assist by delivering invitation fliers either in the immediate neighbourhood of the church (check on map to see which streets need doing, or simply deliver some in your street /neighbourhood.

Parking on St Martins Rd – the Council have advised that you can park on the street outside the church. The bus stops are no longer operational.

Foot Clinic TOMORROW at the church 1-4pm.

Fireside meets this Tuesday 26^th March 7.30pm at the church for supper and a catch-up. All women welcome. Allison 332 0554.

Wednesday Walkers: 27^th March  

Meet 9.30am in Botanic Gardens by Armagh Street bridge. Coffee at Ilex. All welcome. Sonya 0272533397.

Crafty Crafters: Thursdays 10am-12 noon at 43 St Martins Rd. New faces are always welcome. Bring along an unfinished craft item, or learn a new skill. Cost $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey McKay 388 1264 for more information.

Piano to give away…we have a second piano in the church which needs a new home. It needs tuning and some attention. Please contact

the Office if you know of someone who would like it.

Garage Sale at St Anne’s Anglican Church, NEXT Saturday   30^th March 8.30am – 12.30pm.

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us today. Please stay for a cuppa.

Next Sunday 24^th March we meet at 43 St Martins Rd at 10am for our first service back in the church. Please be patient as we may have some teething issues!

Working Bee next Saturday 23^rd March 8.30 – 11.00am to prepare front garden beds at 43 St Martins Rd. Bring gardening tools.

Official Opening: The official opening of the strengthened church will be on Sunday 31^st March at 2.30pm. We plan a short simple time to reflect on the journey, celebrate the new look building, and offer a prayer of blessing. Afternoon tea will follow, and we trust there will be a good representation from the wider community. Invite a friend.

Session meets this Wednesday 20^th March 7.30pm at the church.

Wednesday Walkers: 20^th March  

Meet 9.30am at our church 43   St Martins Rd and wander around, led by Fern, finishing possibly for coffee at the church but we have a plan B! Ring 332 4725 for additional information. All welcome.

Anna will not be in the Office this Thursday 21^st March.

Building Access: Anyone needing

access to the church will need to obtain the keypad number from the

office, and sign the confidentiality statement.  This enables us to keep an accurate list of those who know the number. Please return all old keys to the Office.

Bus Trip this Thursday 21st: please be at the church by 9.15am at the latest. Our estimated arrival in Geraldine is 11.15am. We will stop at Lushington’s on the way back for afternoon tea.

Crafty Crafters: Thursdays 10am-12 noon at 43 St Martins Rd. New faces are always welcome. Bring along an unfinished craft item, or learn a new skill. Cost $3 per session. Contact Lyndsey McKay 388 1264 for more information.

Garage Sale at St Anne’s Anglican Church, Saturday   30^th March 8.30am – 12.30pm.

News from the Presbytery…

Esther Sabey is being ordained and inducted as Assistant Minister at Hope Church this morning. This afternoon Charissa Nicol is being ordained and inducted as part time minister at St Luke’s Redwood at 4.30pm to serve in the Prestons New Mission Project.

Piano to give away…we have a second piano in the church which needs a new home. It needs tuning and some attention. Please contact

the Office if you know of someone who would like it.

Te Raranga invites Greater Christchurch churches to join together in prayer and celebration in the newly opened Town Hall on Saturday 11^th May 2019 at 7pm.

Celebration ’19 is a Church Wide Event – a rare opportunity to come together to:

Reaffirm our unity as followers of Jesus

Celebrate our diverse expressions of faith

Acknowledge the journey of regeneration in Christchurch

Highlight various contributions to the city

Take up an offering to go towards a pioneering project in the city

Join together to pray for our city

Enjoy corporate worship

Encourage and inspire one another

Contributions from a wide range of groups promises to make this night a celebration of colour and flavour; a chance to give glory to God for the different ways He is working among and through us. We are really hoping you and your church members will join us for an evening of worship, prayer, celebration and challenge.

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketek at $19 per person (plus booking fee). Note: it is cheaper to book multiple tickets. We are encouraging churches to buy a block of tickets and sell on directly to their congregations.