A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Many thanks to Rev Don Fergus for leading our service today. Rev Dugald Wilson will be with us next Sunday.

Here’s our Zoom link –

Topic: St Martin’s Sunday Worship. To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09

Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158

Wednesday Walkers 8^th November: Meet 9.30am at 194 Riverlaw Tce for a stroll around St Martins/Opawa. Coffee at Anneke’s. All welcome.

MOVIE NIGHT Saturday 25^th November 5.15pm: Half a Sixpence – “If I had the money, I’d buy me a banjo” says struggling salesclerk Arthur Kipps (Tommy Steele). Soon he’ll inherit enough to buy a whole bloomin’ orchestra. But can his newfound wealth buy happiness?

Based on H.G. Wells novel ‘Kipps’ Arthur is introduced to the joys of Edwardian London music halls. With a cast of high-stepping, high-spirited singers and dancers having the time of their lives, Half a Sixpence gets you a million dollars’ worth of fun!

THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS                                              

Monday 1.30pm            Hillsborough-Heathcote WI Leone 332 3314

Tuesday 10am              South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869

Tuesday 6-7pm             Skating Club (lounge) Kirsty 021 329 765

Tuesday 7.15pm           Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007

Wednesday 9.30am      Walking Group: St Martins/Opawa Anneke 021 077 4065

Wednesday 10am         Scottish Country Dancers (lounge) Irene 332 7306

Thursday 10am            Crafty Crafters (lounge) Sally 332 4730

Thursday 1.30pm          Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 077 4065

Friday 9.30am               Sing & Sign (lounge) Becky 022 086 2211

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Many thanks to Rev Chris Elliot for leading our service today. Rev Don Fergus will be with us next Sunday.

Wednesday Walkers 1^st November: Meet 9.30am in Ashgrove Tce near Cashmere View for a stroll around Lower Cashmere. Coffee at the Cracroft Café. All welcome. Joan 022 081 4088.

A new Sunday roster is now available – please check in the foyer to see if there is a copy for you to collect. The 2024 door duty & morning tea roster will be available shortly.

Notes from the Parish Council meeting of 18th October 2023:

• Two incident reports were noted – that of a visitor to the office tripping on the uneven ground; as well as a medical emergency. No further action was required.
• Special thanks to Alice Shanks who has added more plants to the garden in front of the office – plants that are indicative of those that grow in a riverbed.
• Thanks, too, to Warren Pettigrew who constructed the rope barrier along the front of the office.
• The Cantabile Choir have booked the complex for their weekly choir practices – each Wednesday commencing in February 2024.
• Consideration was given to the rental of the Manse. The decision was made to hold it at its current rate. We have an excellent tenant and should this change, with any upgrade to the Manse, we would need to think about what rate would be charged at that stage.
• Anyone interested in establishing a community vegetable garden in raised beds at the church should speak to Irene.
• Solar panels – it has been suggested that, with the church becoming an ECO church, members of the congregation may be interested in donating a solar panel for our church building. See Irene.
• Dishwasher – whilst the office will arrange for the servicing of it, there was concern that the washer has not been turned off correctly at the end of its use. Several times it has been left running!
• The next Parish Council meeting will be on Wednesday 6th December 2023.

THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS                                              

Monday 1-4pm              Foot Clinic (lounge) Janette 021 075 6780

Tuesday 10am              South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869

Tuesday 7.15pm           Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007

Wednesday 9.30am      Walking Group: Lower Cashmere Joan 022 081 4088

Wednesday 9.30am      Port Hills U3A (whole complex) Joy

Thursday 10am            Crafty Crafters (lounge) Sally 332 4730

Thursday 1.30pm          Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 077 4065

Friday 9.30am               Sing & Sign (lounge) Becky 022 086 2211

Blessed are the peacemakers
Today it is 18 days since the Hamas and Israel war began
with a terror attack by Hamas on Israel. I have watched this
unfold in the news with horror and prayed that there would
be a ceasefire, prayed that these appalling crimes against
God and humanity would end. Instead, the suffering and
terrible loss of life continues, with unconscionable civilian
casualties, and humanitarian aid not able to reach those
who need it most. As is so often the case in war, children,
women and the vulnerable pay a terrible price. It is a
humanitarian catastrophe.
I know that some of you have strong views on this war, and
on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Today, both Israelis and
Palestinians are living in fear, are injured, are mourning the
loss of families and friends. I invite you to join me in prayer
for:
·A ceasefire.
·Those killed, injured, and all who care for them.
·The release of hostages taken by Hamas.
·Safe humanitarian access into Gaza so that much needed
aid can be provided.
·Those trapped and those who have had to leave their
homes.
·Those risking their safety to help.
·For peace-keepers and peace-makers.
Christian World Service has launched a Gaza Palestine
Emergency Appeal to assist people who have been affected
by the current conflict, particularly in Gaza. They write that
“thousands of people have been killed, injured and
displaced. Nearly two hundred people are being held as
hostages. Hospitals, schools and homes have been damaged
or destroyed. The need for a ceasefire and humanitarian relief
is overwhelming.”
If you would like to support the CWS appeal see information
here, and there are links to more appeals below.
Right Rev Rose Luxford
Moderator Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
moderator@presbyterian.org.nz
More appeals for those affected by this war:
Unicef
Oxfam
Red Cross

Here’s our Zoom link –

Topic: St Martin’s Sunday Worship. To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09

Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Many thanks to Rev Hugh Perry for leading our service today. Rev Chris Elliot will be with us next Sunday.

Wednesday Walkers 25^th October: Meet 9.30am outside 71a Wychbury St for walk around Spreydon. Coffee at “Morris indoor/outdoor café”. All are welcome. Janette 021 0756780.

MOVIE NIGHT Saturday 28^th October 5.15pm: “My Old Lady”. New Yorker, Mathias, travels to Paris to sell a grand old apartment he has inherited from his estranged father. But he is stunned to find a refined old lady, Mathilde (Maggie Smith) still living in the apartment with her very protective daughter, Chloe. He soon learns that under French law, he will not gain possession of the property until Mathilde dies and must make monthly payments to her until that time. A hard-up writer with no other assets to his name and no money for a return fare to New York, Mathias realises with bitterness that he has, in fact, inherited a debt. Much to the dismay of Chloe, the spirited 92-year-old Mathilde offers Mathias lodgings to the apartment until he works out what to do. BYO takeaways to eat, hot drinks provided.

Tomato seedlings available: Peter has planted too many tomato seeds and the result is a surfeit of seedlings which need a new home. Please see Sue asap.

THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS                                              

Tuesday 10am              South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869

Tuesday 7.15pm           Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007

Wednesday 9.30am      Walking Group: Spreydon Janette 021 075 6780

Wednesday 10am         Scottish Country Dancers (lounge) Irene 332 7306

Thursday 10am            Crafty Crafters (lounge) Sally 332 4730

Thursday 1.30pm          Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 077 4065

Friday 9.30am               Sing & Sign (lounge) Becky 022 086 2211

Saturday 5.15pm          Movie Night (lounge) Irene 332 7306

Here’s our Zoom link –

Topic: St Martin’s Sunday Worship. To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09

Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Many thanks to Rev Sheena Dickson for leading our service today. Rev Hugh Perry will be with us next Sunday.

Wednesday Walkers 18^th October: Meet 9.30am in the Mona Vale Carpark for a walk around Mona Vale and the area.  Coffee will be at Mona Vale.

All welcome. Judith 332 1577 or 027 688 1861.

MOVIE NIGHT Saturday 28^th October 5.15pm: “My Old Lady”.

New Yorker, Mathias, travels to Paris to sell a grand old apartment he has inherited from his estranged father. But he is stunned to find a refined old lady, Mathilde (Maggie Smith) still living in the apartment with her very protective daughter, Chloe. He soon learns that under French law, he will not gain possession of the property until Mathilde dies and must make monthly payments to her until that time. A hard-up writer with no other assets to his name and no money for a return fare to New York, Mathias realises with bitterness that he has, in fact, inherited a debt. Much to the dismay of Chloe, the spirited 92-year-old Mathilde offers Mathias lodgings to the apartment until he works out what to do.

Presbyterian Support Upper South Island Annual Meeting Thursday 26^th October, 44 Bealey Ave, from 5pm. All are welcome. To RSVP email Pip Riley pipr@psusi.org.nz by 20/10.

THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS                                              

Tuesday 10am              South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869

Tuesday 7.15pm           Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007

Wednesday 9.30am      Walking Group: Mona Vale Judith 027 688 1861

Wednesday 10am         Scottish Country Dancers (lounge) Irene 332 7306

Wednesday 7.30pm      Parish Council meeting (lounge)

Thursday 10am            Crafty Crafters (lounge) Sally 332 4730

Thursday 1.30pm          Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 077 4065

Friday 9.30am               Sing & Sign (lounge) Becky 022 086 2211

Here’s our Zoom link –

Topic: St Martin’s Sunday Worship. To Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81508696154?pwd=cnErZFM5VG5OQVhsZkxYc0dxOHdvUT09

Meeting ID: 815 0869 6154
Passcode: 712158

NOTICES:

A very warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Many thanks to all who nominated their favourite spring hymn. Rev Sheena Dickson will be with us next Sunday.

Name tags – please wear them. With new folk and visitors coming to St Martins, it’s a friendly thing to do for folk to be able to read a name and to get to know everyone. Sonya very kindly creates your tags so if you need one, please check in with her.

Weekly collection – some time ago it was decided to not pass around the offering plates during our service. Instead we have, on the little table just inside the church door, a plate where you can drop your weekly contribution or giving envelope. There will always be a debate as to whether it is the right way to do ‘giving’ but we think it works well and would encourage everyone to be aware of how it functions. Of course, there is the alternative way of giving and that is by direct credit – see Catherine Fitchett regarding that. Thank you for caring and contributing what ever you are able. 

Anna will not be in the Parish Office this Friday (13^th October). Please send in any notices by Wednesday 12 noon. Thank you.

Fireside welcomes all women of the congregation and friends to join us from 1.30pm on Monday 2nd October in the church lounge. The plan for the meeting is that Allison {who was very involved with APW} can tell us something about the official closure of APW this year and for others to share memories of mothers or grandmothers going to meetings. All women are very welcome. Margaret 366 8936.

Wednesday Walkers 11^th October: Meet 9.30am outside the Town Hall. Coffee at Hoi Polloi at Carnmore Hotel, cnr Colombo & Salisbury Streets. All welcome Elizabeth 021 112 5798 and Sue960 7657.

THIS WEEK AT ST MARTINS                                              

Monday 9.30am            Pastoral Care meeting (foyer) Irene 332 7306

Monday 1.30pm            Fireside meeting (lounge) Margaret 366 8936

Tuesday 10am              South Elder Care (lounge) Jeannette 332 9869

Tuesday 7.15pm           Meditation Group (lounge) Dugald 021 161 7007

Wednesday 9.30am      Walking Group: City Elizabeth/Sue 960 7657

Wednesday 10am         Scottish Country Dancers (lounge) Irene 332 7306

Thursday 10am            Crafty Crafters (lounge) Sally 332 4730

Thursday 1.30pm          Sit & Be Fit(church) Anneke 021 077 4065

Friday 9.30am               Sing & Sign (lounge) Becky 022 086 2211

Springtime Jesus by Joy Cowley

You, Springtime Jesus,
just as I’d settled down for winter,
you broke into my heart
and danced your love right across it
in a mad excess of giving.
Just as I’d got comfortable
with bare branches and unfeeling,
just as my world was neatly black and white,
there you were,
kicking up flowers
all over the place.

Springtime Jesus,
I tried to find a way to tell you
that there were places
where you could or would not dance.
I wanted to guide you on my paths
and have you sign the visitors’ book;
but you laughed right through my words
and sang to me your melting song,
causing sap to fire the branches,
causing the flames of buds
to flicker into green bonfires,
causing a windquake of blossom,
causing burstings, searings, breakings,
causing growth?pain,
causing life.

Springtime Jesus,
the fullness of life can be frightening
and I’m lacking in courage.
It isn’t easy to live with a heart
that’s wide open to invasion.
Teach me, Jesus, how to move with you,
step for step, in your love dance.
Touch my fears with your melting song.
Gift me with your laughter,
and, in the mystery of your Springtime,
show me the truth of the blossoming Cross.