WELCOME AND NOTICES
• Session report ~ Wayne Barton

CALL TO WORSHIP:
We come seeking God’s grace, that we may become healthy and whole.
As Jesus Christ has shared the life of the earth,
through Christ we may share the life of God,
in growing maturity, justice and love.
In awe, faith, and thanksgiving, we rejoice in God’s presence
and share God’s life!

HYMN: Great Creator God, You Call Us (Tune: Regent Square)
Great Creator God, you call us
through the church to do your will.
Stewards of both past and promise,
may we each our work fulfil,
building up in faith and nurture
Christ’s own mission, lively still.

Out of all our varied stories
may we weave a single tale,
here confessing sin and discord,
times we stumble, times we fail.
Yet forgiven, cleansed, refashioned,
in Christ’s strength shall we prevail.

Christ still calls to peace and justice,
health and wholeness, love and grace.
We are partners in that mission
for this time and in this place.
O God, grant us sense and courage
in the daily tasks we face.

Without vision, people perish,
without challenge, drift and die.
Give us then the tools of daring
and the clarity of eye
for creating in the present
visions far and wide and high. © JP Huber (ASF)

OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN Wayne Barton

A “NEW YEAR” PRAYER
God, we pray this day for our children and young people and all who care for them and nurture them. As the new year opens out in school, church and community, we give thanks for them in all their diversity and uniqueness; we give thanks for them as a sign of hope – hope in the present and in the future.
Bless them, and bless leaders and all involved in the work of Christian Education in our Parish.
As we recall the work of the year past, we pray that 2012 may be a year of new opportunity, achievement, joy and fulfilment; in the name of Jesus. AMEN.

SONG: Songbook 2 Christians Are All Kinds of People

INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS

READINGS: 2 Kings 5: 1-14 Audrey Dunnachie
Mark 1: 40-45 Bob Kayes

SERMON: God in the Surprising & Unexpected

A TIME OF QUIET

HYMN: Songbook 10 I, the Lord of Sea and Sky

OFFERING
God, we bring this offering as an act of commitment;
as a pledge that our discipleship is for real.
Receive our offerings and bless them,
that these gifts might grow ministry and mission
within this church family and the wider world.
O God, enable us to know the Source and the Love
that makes all things possible. Amen.

WE GREET ONE ANOTHER

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

HYMN: Songbook 47 That Christ May be Known

THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge after the service.

NEXT SUNDAY 19th February: Pancake Sunday – there will be pancake races and yummy pikelets and cream for morning tea.

CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 15th February ~ meet 9.30am on corner of Somerfield & Strickland Streets for a walk around Somerfield, followed by coffee at Savoire in Colombo St. Allison 332 0554.

BOARD OF MANAGERS meets Wednesday 15th February at 7.30pm.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: The next session on this Thursday is fully booked. For more information about the clinic, please contact Lyndsey 388 1264.

NEIGHBOURHOOD BBQ Sunday 26th February 5.00 – 7.00pm. Everything provided. Enquiries to Sonya please 339 7038.

MARMALADE FOR MISSIONS ~ please support this fundraiser!

SENIORS’ DAY TRIP Archer is running its next day trip for Seniors on Thursday 16th February. We are travelling to a farm near Springfield, and having a farm tour and shearing exhibition.
After lunch there is an optional jet boat ride up the Waimak Canyon, where there are historic sites to view and you can look at where the Coast to Coast competition takes place.
Archer tour of $45 includes travel, farm tour and exhibition, morning tea, BBQ lunch. The optional jet boat ride is discounted to $40 (normally $90!). For inquiries and bookings, please contact Archer on 943-6006.

ASH WEDNESDAY COMMUNION & REMEMBRANCE SERVICE On Wednesday 22nd February at 7pm the Association of Presbyterian Women and the Methodist Women’s Fellowship will be holding an Ash Wednesday Communion Service at St Martin’s. The service is open to everyone in the congregation to attend and will also include a Remembrance for 22/2/11. We look forward to seeing you all at this service. Allison 332 0554.

A LENTEN STUDY is planned for four weeks in March, based on the film The King’s Speech. The studies will be held in the evening, probably Thursdays (8, 15, 22 & 29). If you are interested, please sign the clipboard in the foyer. Chris Elliot.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER Friday 2nd March 10am at St Mark’s Anglican Church Hall, Opawa Rd. Details to follow.

An Invitation is extended to all from St Martins, St James & Hoon Hay to join Cashmere Hills for a picnic on Sunday 11th March, Halswell Quarry at midday. The booked site is the Lions picnic area – enter from Kennedys Bush Rd. The site will be labelled. All Welcome.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 13th Margot; Wed 15th Alexandria, Beryl; Fri 17th Joan, Peter.

CALL TO WORSHIP (from the back of the church)
We have come to praise God, who has done wonderful things among us.
In Jesus, the Christ, God has shown us love, giving light for our darkness, and strength for all our days.
Let us sing praise to God’s name and come before God with open hearts and minds.

HYMN: 28 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (omit verse 4)

OPENING PRAYERS and THE LORD’S PRAYER

WELCOME AND NOTICES

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

SONG: Songbook 17 One More Step Along the World I Go

READINGS: Isaiah 40.21-31 Herb
Mark 1.29-39 Lyn

SERMON: The Whole Town at the Door

A TIME OF QUIET

THE OFFERING
These are gifts of love that we bring to you, O God:
gifts to grow in compassion, that those who are ill, those who are bereaved will find comfort and the wholeness they need;
gifts to uncover injustice, that the oppressed may be freed and the refugee find a home.
Bless them, that they may be gifts that offer your newness and life,
in the name of Jesus Christ, who was your perfect gift of love. AMEN.

A PRAYER FOR WAITANGI WEEKEND

INVITATION TO COMMUNION and THE PEACE

COMMUNION HYMN: I Come With Joy (Tune: Kilmarnock, WOV 186)
I come with joy to meet my Lord,
forgiven, loved, and free,
in awe and wonder to recall
his life laid down for me.

I come with Christians far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share
each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one,
and strangers now are friends.

And thus with joy we meet our Lord,
his presence, always near,
is in such friendship better known:
we see, and praise him here.

Together met, together bound,
we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world
we’ll live and speak his praise. © Hope Publishing (TIS)

A GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
May God be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

From the rising of the sun … your people past as well as present saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might;
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest….

COMMUNION

PRAYER FOLLOWING COMMUNION
Generous giver of life, you supply us with all good things.
May this bread and wine be the nourishment we seek, and may it transform us into disciples who serve your creation and your people.
in Christ’s name. AMEN.

HYMN: God Who Carved This Timeless Landscape
God who carved this timeless landscape, (Tune:Hyfrydol WOV 148)
Snow-clad ridge to valley plain,
power of surging race and river,
limestone crag and scarred terrain;
Maker still of earth, fire, water,
artistry of sight and sound,
Southern lights and sunset splendour,
raise our eyes and you are found.

Calendar of nature’s balance,
rhythms of the farming year,
shearing, milking, ploughing, pruning,
Manger setting ever near!
Lonely struggles in the byways,
nor’west dust or snow and flood,
fellowship of tears and laughter:
Lord, with you, we’re understood.

Giving thanks for those before us,
village life and tussock track,
as we turn to face the future,
history’s wind upon our back;
scattered are our congregations,
each now shares in ministry,
bonding strength of work together:
spirit of community. © Doug Grierson (FFS)

THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge after the service.

THE NEW READERS’ ROSTER is available – please check to see if there is a copy for you in the foyer. Thank you. Anna.

CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 8th February ~ please check the noticeboard in the lounge for details. Judith 332 1577.

APW meets this Wednesday 8th February at St Martin’s 9.45am. The speaker is Linda Cowen, Youth Worker at St Stephen’s Parish for a number of years. There will be a Sales Table and all are welcome. Allison 332 0554.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: The next session on Thursday 16th February is fully booked. For more information about the clinic, please contact Lyndsey 388 1264.

NEIGHBOURHOOD BBQ Sunday 26th February 5.00 – 7.00pm. Please note this date in your diaries. More details soon. Enquiries to Sonya 339 7038.

NEW CONTACT DETAILS for Bruce & Beverley Hudson: their new address is 2-174 Wilsons Rd. Phone 332 7786. Email hudsonba@actrix.co.nz. Please update your phone lists.

THE HALL is out of bounds and no access is permitted at this stage. We are awaiting a detailed engineers’ report and will update the parish when the information is available. John McKean.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK: Mon 6th Rob; Tue 7th Jean, Kim; Sat 11th William.

WELCOME AND NOTICES

CALL TO WORSHIP
On the first day of a new week, God calls us into stillness.
We hear the call and come into that stillness.
As the work of a new year calls us to action,
God calls us out of our busyness.
In faith and anticipation we respond to God’s call
and enter into this time of worship.

HYMN: 25 Sing Praise and Thanksgiving

OPENING PRAYERS & THE LORD’S PRAYER

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

SONG: Songbook 26 The Church is Wherever God’s People

INTRODUCTION TO THE READINGS

READINGS: Deuteronomy 18: 14-20 Bob
Psalm 111 selections from The Message Judith

A Dramatic Presentation of Mark 1: 21-28 ~ Jill

Sung Response: Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, move among us all,
make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love:
humble, caring, selfless, sharing.
Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love © Hope Publishing (VU)

SERMON: With Authority

A TIME OF QUIET

HYMN: Songbook 35 Who is This Man?

OFFERING
We are called to be the body of Christ.
Christ’s body we seek to truly be –
Christ’s body, Christ’s healing,
Christ’s message of love to the world.
God, we ask that you bless the money and goods
we have offered, along with the offerings of ourselves,
in service of Christ’s body,
Christ’s healing, and Christ’s message of love to the world. Amen.

WE GREET ONE ANOTHER

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

HYMN: We Sing a Love That Sets All People Free
(Tune: Woodlands)
We sing a love that sets all people free,
that blows like wind, that burns like scorching flame,
enfolds like earth, springs up like water clear:
come, living love, live in our hearts today.

We sing a love that seeks another’s good,
that longs to serve and not to count the cost,
a love that, yielding, finds itself made new:
come, caring love, live in our hearts today.

We sing a love, unflinching, unafraid
to be itself, despite another’s wrath,
a love that stands alone and undismayed:
come, strengthening love, live in our hearts today.

We sing a love, that, wandering, will not rest
until it finds its way, its home, its source,
through joy and sadness pressing on refreshed:
come, pilgrim love, live in our hearts today.

We sing a burning, fiery, Holy Ghost
that seeks out shades of ancient bitterness,
transfiguring these, as Christ in every heart:
come joyful love, live in our hearts today. ? Stainer & Bell (CH4)

THE BLESSING

NOTICES
A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning. Please stay for a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge after the service.

CUPPA & CHAT Tuesdays & Wednesdays 10am – 12 noon. Do pop in! For details, please contact Aubrey 930 2525.

WEDNESDAY WALKERS 1st February ~ Hansen Park/Opawa: Meet 9.30am in “blind end” of Riverlaw Tce off Armstrong Ave by the footbridge. Coffee at Flo. June 332 8874.

SESSION meets this Wednesday 1st February 7.30pm in the Lounge.

CRAFTY CRAFTERS Thursdays 10am until 12 noon. Newcomers welcome. Please contact Beverley 332 7786 for more information.

FOOTCARE CLINIC: The next session on Thursday 16th February is fully booked. For more information about the clinic, please contact Lyndsey 388 1264.

THE CONTACT DETAILS for Bruce & Beverley have changed. Their new address is 2-174 Wilsons Rd. Phone 332 7786. Email hudsonba@actrix.co.nz. Please update your phone lists.

THE HALL is out of bounds and no access is permitted at this stage. We are awaiting a detailed engineers’ report and will update the parish when the information is available. John .

STOP PRESS: Neighbourhood BBQ is now scheduled for Sunday 26th February 5.00 – 7.00pm. Please note this date in your diaries. More details next week. Enquiries to Sonya 339 7038.

BIRTHDAYS: Fri 27th Nola, Bernie; Tue 31st Bryan, Adrienne; Wed 1st Alice; Sat 4th John.

A very warm welcome to you all as you worship with us this morning.
Morning tea will be served in the lounge after the service.
A  special welcome to our friends from Beckenham Methodist Church.

CALL TO WORSHIP  (adapted from Prayers to Share – David Sparks)
The bells ring out to welcome a new year!
We celebrate with joy the good times past
and the memories that delight.
The bells ring out to welcome a new year!
We rejoice in the support of family and friends and in the encouragement of our  church family.
The bells ring out to welcome a new year!
We celebrate practical and creative achievements and all the opportunities that lie ahead.
The bells ring out to welcome a new year!
We rejoice in a just and loving God, whose compassion shines from the Way of Jesus.

HYMN:  Come in, Come in New Year   (Tune: Darwall  WOV 147(ii))
Come in, come in New Year
with shining summer day!
Your promise calls us here
to celebrate and pray,
through Jan-u-ary’s open door
to stride with hopeful step once more.

Come in, New Year, and sell
your wares of chance and change:
engage us with your spell
to risk and re-arrange,
to feel the Spi-rit’s impulse beat,
to follow down a different street.
For though December dies,
still Christmas keeps the light,
the hope in children’s eyes,
the star that shatters night;
now Sim-e-on and Anna see
the child who rules all time to be.

The calendar of Christ
will mark the seasons’ turn,
his story claim our trust,
his love be ours to learn.
For all the world, for young and old,
we pray a year of peace unfold.           ? Shirley Murray (CoC)

OPENING PRAYERS

A STORY

O.T.  READINGS:  Ecclesiastes 3: 1-14a    Allison Blackler
Psalm 8            Tony Blackler

HYMN: Songbook 61  Our Life Has its Seasons

N.T.  READING:  Philippians 3: 12-14    Tony Blackler

REFLECTION:  A Meditation For the New Year

A CREED FOR NOW  (adapted from Jesus Our Future – B Prewer)
We believe in the loving Creator,
whose generous providence has been above all,
beneath all and in all the moments and days of the past year,
and will be at work in this new year.
We believe in Jesus Christ, whose saving grace finds,
heals and reconciles `lost people’, including even us,
and who calls us to the ministry of reconciliation.
We believe in the Spirit of  truth,
whose tireless energy is at work through all the upheavals, achievements, disappointments, joys and discoveries of this era.
We believe in this wonderful God, who loves our land and its people and is weaving through the tangled affairs of our nation
a purpose outreaching anything we could imagine.
We believe that our belief  is a precious gift, to be treasured, nurtured, shared and dared –  to the glory  of God forever.   Amen and Amen!

OFFERING
God, on this New Year’s Day 2012 we offer gifts of money and food along with the gift of ourselves.
We are mindful of the need:  to listen more carefully;
to speak out against even one injustice; to get to know and encourage
even one new person in our churches;
to grow in faith and  to put our faith into practice.
God, these gifts, are a token that we take our responsibilities to heart.
And we believe that you will bless us, as we carry them out. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

HYMN:  This Is a Day of New Beginnings  (Tune: St Clement WOV 388)
This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone?

For by the life and death of Jesus
love’s mighty Spirit, now as then,
can make for us a world of difference
as faith and hope are born again.

Then let us, with the Spirit’s daring,
step from the past and leave behind
our disappointments, guilt and grieving,
seeking new paths, and sure to find.

In faith we’ll gather round the  table
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings –
our God is making all things new.           © Brian Wren (CH4)

A EUCHARISTIC POEM:

Praise to the God …  of bread and wine.

Jesus Christ, child of the earth,
Sign of our eternal worth –
“Do this to remember me,” he said.
“Drink this wine and eat this bread.
My body broken and my blood shed
for you, and you, and you.

Holy Spirit, gentle power … with people everywhere,

Creator God, we give you praise,
to you our joyful song we raise;
our hearts in love to you we lift,
offering talent, skill and gift;
accept us, use us to proclaim
the glory of our Saviour’s name.

THE LORD’S PRAYER – SUNG

THE INVITATION TO COMMUNION & THE PEACE

COMMUNION AND PRAYER

HYMN: 52 Great God, We Sing That Mighty Hand

THE BLESSING

ST MARTIN’S BIRTHDAYS: Sun 1st Jim; Fri 6th Lyndsay; Sun 8th Sue; Mon 9th Barry; Sat 14th Pauline.

The service next Sunday, 8th January 2011, will be at Beckenham Methodist Church, in Malcolm Avenue.
Chris will be leading the service.

CALL TO WORSHIP: (from the rear of the church)

CAROL: O Come All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
come and behold him
born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels,
sing in exultation,
sing, all ye citizens of heaven above,
“Glory to God
in the highest”:
O come, let us adore him…

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given:
Word of the Father,
now in flesh appearing:
O come, let us adore him…     C/A

CANDLE-LIGHTING
We  have waited all through the season of Advent; waited,  not because we do not know the story of Jesus’ coming into the world, and not because we do not know that God is already and always here.
We waited,  because to wait is to expect something more;
to expect that the Christmas story might enter our hearts and
our world in new ways, to bring the change for which we long.

In the stillness of  the night, we sensed the first stirrings of Christmas joy and knew the wait was over.

[The Christ-Candle is re-lit.]

WELCOME

OPENING PRAYER

CAROL:  224 Joy to the World

STORY-TIME: Chi-Wee’s Special Present

CAROL: Come to This Christmas Singing  (Tune: WOV 245)
Come to this Christmas singing!
come to a birthday, bringing
gifts from our country’s treasure,
beauty of shell and stone:
wisdom the old have taught us,
laughter the young have brought us,
love to surround a manger,
making this Child our own.

Wealth of our land and water,
riches of race and culture –
these be our gold and incense
offered for Christmas Day:
where we make peace, declare it,
where we have much, let’s share it,
aroha warm our hearts, and
aroha be our way.
Here where the sheep are grazing,
where summer sun is blazing
harvests for others ripen –
food for the world can grow:
Christ of a cold December,
quicken us to remember
poverty in a stable,
need, like the sting of snow.    © Shirley Murray (CoC)

READINGS: Isaiah 9: 2-7 (Beverley) & Luke 2: 8-20 (Bruce)

REFLECTION

CAROL: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
I heard the bells on Christmas day
their old familiar carols play,
and wild and sweet the words repeat
of peace on earth, good will to all.

And thought how, as the day had come,
the belfries of all Christendom
had rolled along the unbroken song
of peace on earth, good will to all.

Till ringing, singing on its way
the world revolved from night to day,
a voice, a chime, a chant sublime
of peace on earth, good will to all.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
of peace on earth, good will to all.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
the wrong shall fail, the right prevail
with peace on earth, good will to all.”    C/A

OFFERING
May these gifts enable others the blessings we receive this Christmas; the gift of childlike wonder, the gift of a radiant hope, the gift of the peace which passes all understanding, the gift of joy which knows no bounds.
With our gifts we bring ourselves, O God, in response to the greatest gift of all – yourself in the babe of Bethlehem.  Amen.

CHRISTMAS GREETING

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

CAROL:  Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King;
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!
Joyful all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th’angelic  host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.

Hail, the heav’n born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays His glory by,
born that we no more may die;
born to raise us from the  earth,
born to give us second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.       C/A

THE BLESSING