Coronavirus (COVID-19) Limiting the Spread:

With regard to the Coronavirus Pandemic and the need for everyone to take care of, not only oneself, but our neighbours too, it has been decided that as from THIS Sunday, the following changes will take place:

1.       Communion – wafers only will be used and these will be passed to each person by the officiating Minister. There will be no juice. The Minister will reference the sacraments of bread and wine during the service.

2.       Offering – to save handing the wooden collection plates from one to another, as you enter, the plates will be just inside the church door. Please place your offering in them prior to sitting down. During the service one person will bring them forward to be blessed. For information about joining the automatic payment system, see Joan

STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK. It is vital that people who feel even slightly unwell do not attend worship and put others at risk. 

Do not panic, stay informed and take all reasonable steps to keep yourself and others safe by following good personal hygiene practices (especially washing hands regularly, not sneezing or coughing in public and into a tissue or crook of arm if you are in public).

Wash hands thoroughly before coming to worship, and utilize hand sanitizer when you arrive. People on duty to welcome worshippers should ensure door handles are regularly cleaned.

Social distance guidelines: 1-2metres apart.

Hand shaking should be discouraged and other forms of greeting used. It can be a fun thing to experiment with foot touching, elbow touching, or some other form of non touching greeting.

Cups of tea/coffee after worship are an important time to encourage interaction. While there is no confirmed community transmission we believe this practice should continue, but with extra care to limit physical contact and common contact with any surface. Servers should have washed hands before undertaking their duty. 

It is appropriate that protocols for cleaning of church plant be reviewed e.g. all surfaces that are touched or potentially sneezed/coughed on will require wiping after each gathering of people.

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. Many thanks to Rev Lyndsey McKay for leading today’s worship.

St Martins Presbyterian Twilight Food Fair which was to have been held on Friday 3^rd April has been postponed.  We will continue to review the situation and perhaps later in the year there will be an opportunity for it to take place.

Thank you for your valued support and concerns.

Irene Gray, Parish Clerk

Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage – all donations gratefully received.

Singing Group next meets on 5^th April at 9.15am.

The ceilidh scheduled for Saturday 25^th April has been postponed until November.

Easter cards – $3  and icing Easter eggs – $5  for sale in the foyer. All proceeds to St Martins Church.

Meditation Group: meets in the lounge every Tuesday from 7pm –

7.45pm. We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God. 

Wednesday Walkers 25^th March: Meet 9.30am for walk around the Avon Loop Walkway and coffee at Little Poms. Park in the stony area next to Little Pomson Fitzgerald Ave, or in Kilmore St.  Meet opposite Little Poms by the start of the Walkway.  Janette 021 075 6780

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces always welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264.

Beckenham Methodist Church fundraiser: Daffodil bulbs grown by David Bell Bulbs. $10 for a bag of 12 or $20 for a bag of 25. To order, please contact Graham McHarg 332 5856 or talk to Sonya.

From PCANZ: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

• The Assembly Office recommends we all follow advice given by the Ministry of Health (see https://www.health.govt.nz/). Should they issue instructions concerning public gatherings, Presbyterian parishes and are expected to follow these guidelines.
• Do not panic, stay informed and take all reasonable steps to keep yourself and others safe by following good personal hygiene practices (especially washing hands regularly, not sneezing or coughing in public and into a tissue or crook of arm if you are in public).
• Advice could be received that Church services and other activities may need to be postponed, changed or delivered differently.
• STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK.
• Stand at least one metre apart from anyone with cold or flu symptoms
• Communion & the common cup: due to the risk of passing on coronavirus via fingertips, it is not recommended that intinction be practiced with the common cup.
• Communion & Passing of the Peace: while there are currently no recommendations to avoid shaking hands or hugging, please respect those who do not wish to at this time.

St Martins Presbyterian Twilight Food Fair –

Friday 3^rd April – 4pm through until 6.30pm.

See Peter Mechaelis, Barbara & Rob Meier, Lyndsey McKay, Sue Saunders.

Book Sale Saturday 21^st March 9am – 1pm at St Mark’s Anglican Church 101 Opawa Rd.

Hot Cross Buns are available.  $5 for a packet of 6 (Traditional or chocolate). Money with order please. See Anna in the Office for details. This is a fundraiser for Opawa-St Martins Anglican Parish. Please order by 19 March.

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. Many thanks to Rev Silvia Purdie for leading today’s worship.

National Remembrance Service TODAY in the Horncastle Arena at 3pm. 

Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage – all donations gratefully received.

Singing Group meets today at 9.15am.

Mark your calendars now for a ceilidh on Saturday 25^th April. More details soon.

Session meeting Wednesday 18^th March 7.30pm in the foyer.

Meditation Group: meets in the lounge every Tuesday from 7pm –

7.45pm. We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God. 

Wednesday Walkers 18^th March: Meet 9.30am in the carpark of the Te Ara Marina (entrance off Godley Quay, Lyttelton).Coffee at Super by the bridge on Norwich Quay in the middle of the walk. All welcome.  Car pooling suggested. Anneke 021 077 4065.

Crafty Crafters Thursdays 10am-12noon in the Lounge. $3 per session. New faces always welcome. Lyndsey 388 1264.

BOOKS – to fit on to the bookcase for folk to purchase (at a very reasonable price), read, return (if you want to) and buy another.

Perhaps you have some good quality books – whatever their genre – that are surplus to your requirements – feel free to bring them along or drop them into the office so that we might put them on the bookshelf so that others might share the enjoyment you have had with them. Thank you.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) There are two important things to remember…

* Do not panic! Be properly informed.

* Take all reasonable steps to keep yourself and others safe.

From PCANZ Council of Assembly:

COVID-19 is rapidly developing into a global health crisis. Its impact here in Aotearoa New Zealand, and across the globe, is changing daily.

We encourage everyone to remain compliant with health and safety procedures, avoid unnecessary exposure, and act responsibly to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

We recommend we all follow advice given by the Ministry of Health (see updates at  https://www.health.govt.nz/).

The Assembly Office will work hard to keep up-to-date with the best practice for churches as things continue to develop in Aotearoa New Zealand; and they will keep us informed accordingly.

In times like these, we are reminded that: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…” (Ps. 46: 1-2).

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. Many thanks to Craig Fairhall for leading today’s worship.

Foot Clinic TOMORROW in the lounge 1-4pm.

Easter Eggs for Waltham Cottage – all donations gratefully received.

Anna will not be in the Office this Thursday.

Book Sale Saturday 21^st March 9am – 1pm at St Mark’s Anglican Church 101 Opawa Rd.

Singing Group meets next Sunday at 9.15am.

Wednesday Walkers 11^th March: Meet 9.30am in Simeon Street near the Barrington Mall Carpark, for a walk around Spreydon. There is the option of having coffee at Whareora House Life at 8 Athelstan Streetat 10.30am prior to the Power of Attorney meeting.

Mark your calendars now for a ceilidh on Saturday 25^th April. More details soon.

Thank You….. Janet and Dugald say a huge Thank You to the congregation of St Martins for the very generous appreciation gift of a new tramping pack for Dugald and a monetary gift following Dugald’s retirement.  The pack will get a trial run shortly.   We were thrilled to receive a photo book with numerous messages and will value this reminder of being part of the precious St Martins Presbyterian Church community.   Go well with God.

Crafty Crafters Trip

Please be ready at the church at 8.30am on Thursday to board the bus.

BOOKS – to fit on to the bookcase for folk to purchase (at a very reasonable price), read, return (if you want to) and buy another.

Perhaps you have some good quality books – whatever their genre – that are surplus to your requirements – feel free to bring them along or drop them into the office so that we might put them on the bookshelf so that others might share the enjoyment you have had with them. Thank you.

A dollar a day…and you can have Sunday off!

Meditation Group: meets in the lounge every Tuesday from 7.00-7.45pm. We are learners who are following an ancient Christian practice of being still with God. 

St Martins Presbyterian Twilight Fair –

Friday 3^rd April – 4pm through until 6.30pm.

See Peter Mechaelis, Barbara & Rob Meier, Lyndsey McKay, Sue Saunders.

Dog Visiting Service

This new visiting service by Age Concern Canterbury is designed to assist in the reduction of loneliness and isolation for elderly Christchurch people living in their own home, by having a visit from a volunteer and pet dog.Those interested in a visit, and also those interested in becoming a dog visitor volunteer can ring Beverley Mason 366 0903.

National Remembrance Service North Hagley Park on Sunday March 15 at 3pm. The service, Ko T?tou, T?tou We Are One, will be jointly led by the local Muslim community, Christchurch City Council, the Government and Ng?i T??huriri as mana whenua.

It will be an opportunity for people to come together in unity, to show compassion, love and support for all our communities, and the value we place on being an inclusive and diverse country. 

It is a chance to acknowledge the unity shown in ?tautahi-Christchurch, New Zealand and the world in response to the tragedy, and to express appreciation for the responders and all those who helped and to stand in solidarity with the bereaved, injured and all those affected.

Hot Cross Buns are available.  $5 for a packet of 6 (Traditional or chocolate). Money with order please. See Anna in the Office for details. This is a fundraiser for Opawa-St Martins Anglican Parish.