Christmas Services 2019

 
CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2019

AKAROA & THE BAYS

Sunday 22 December

9.30am St Peter’s, Akaroa – Carols and Readings

5.00pm Okains Bay School – Carols and Sausages

Christmas Eve

5.00pm St Luke’s, Little Akaloa – Carols

11.00pm St Peter’s, Akaroa – Christmas Communion

Christmas Day 

9.30am Trinity Church, Akaroa – Family Service

10.00am Pigeon Bay – Community Carols

11.00am St John’s Duvauchelle – Christmas Communion

Sunday 29 December

9.30am Trinity Church, Akaroa – Informal Service

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 8 December 2019

9.30am Trinity

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Loving God,

You send prophets to warn, disturb and revive your people.

Help us to listen to those who prepare us for your kingdom.

Give us courage to remove the chaff from our lives

so that we may be ready to meet you.

through Jesus Christ our Liberator,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit

one God, now and forever. Amen

                                Thought for the week – from Richard Rohr.

Jesus’ centre point was not an idea or theory about anything but, in fact, a Person—a thoroughly reliable, universal Love that he called “Father.” You do not need to use “Father,” but please do find some form of endearment that inspires your trust because … Read More »

THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 1 December 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Almighty God, you give us this season to make ourselves ready for the coming of your Son. In this time of waiting and hoping, assist us to order our lives so that we may be ready to welcome Jesus in the flesh. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

                                       Thought for the week – from Bear Grylls

The more diversity there is in the world, the more we need each other to work together effectively. That’s why maybe it’s time to drop the labels – to stop describing ourselves or others as … Read More »

THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 24 November 2019

9.30am Trinity

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for brunch after the service, when we will be farewelling Mike Baker our vicar, and his wife Pip.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

God who speaks in silence;

help us to wait in quiet patience.

When you seem absent,

grant us the faith to know you are there,

and you wish to bring all you have started in us to fulfilment;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s gospel Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God being like a person who scatters seed upon the ground… in faith that it will sprout and grow, even though it remains a mystery. Jesus also teaches us that Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed, which will eventually develop into something practical and useful. … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 17 November 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

11.30am Pigeon Bay

Welcome to our services today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Lord God, king of the universe;

as we look forward to your new creation,

save us in our time of trial,

so that we may not give-up,

but endure in your eternal embrace;

through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s gospel Jesus speaks about the birth pangs of the Messianic Age, when God will bring forth ‘a new heaven and a new earth.’ His description of the end times is frightening, “Nation will rise up against nation…. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences… and they will seize you and persecute you…” (Luke 21 :10-12). Yet amidst the expected trials, he urges … Read More »

THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 10 November 2019

9.30am Trinity

11.30am Duvauchelle

Welcome to our services today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

God of new beginnings,

you hold life and death in your hands;

may our hope in your power and love

strengthen us to live creatively,

not fearing the future,

but knowing that in the end all shall be well;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

There are many today who do not believe in resurrection. Neither did the Sadducees who in today’s reading from Luke question Jesus upon the law of Moses (Luke 20: 27-38). The Sadducees were from priestly families and were mainly interested in maintaining proper religious conduct centred around the Temple. Resurrection had little interest to them. A question in a form of a story is posed to Jesus. … Read More »

THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

Sunday 3 November 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

11.30am Little Akaloa

Welcome to our services today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

A Message from Bishop Peter to be published in Parish Newsletters for the next three weeks.

You will be aware that the Royal Commission on Abuse in Care (www.abuseincare.org.nz) is up and running (its first hearings were, 29 October 2019.) The purpose of the Commission, as found on its website is this: “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care is looking into what happened to children, young people and vulnerable adults in care between 1950 and 1999.” The focus of the Commission is on ‘Abuse in Care’ with reference to:

state-run institutions
faith-based institutions.

The extent of (2) includes our care of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our churches, schools, orphanages, elder … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 27 October 2019

9.30am Trinity

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

The Jesus Prayer

Lord, Jesus Christ,

Son of God,

Have mercy upon me,

A sinner.

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Following from last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus continues to teach about prayer (Luke 18: 9-14). He tells a parable about two people praying to God. One of them, pleased with his moral behaviour, gives thanks to God, assured of his own righteousness. Whereas the other is reticent before God and acknowledges his contribution to the pain and injustice his community, calling himself a ‘sinner.’ Jesus seems to be pointing out the importance of our attitude in prayer. Elsewhere Jesus says, “Do not judge others, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 20 October 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

11.30am Pigeon Bay

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service, followed by a Presbyterian Congregational Meeting.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Holy One, sovereign God,

stay with us;

even when we wrestle in the darkness,

may we never lose heart

until your justice is fulfilled;

through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus tells a parable about a widow, who has an adversary, and an unrighteous judge (Luke 18: 1-8). He explains that it is about prayer, “that we should pray and not lose heart.” As is sometimes the case in real life, the system is against her. We are told that the judge neither fears God, nor has much regard for people. But she nevertheless persists in coming to … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 13 October 2019

9.30am Trinity

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for morning tea after the service, followed by an Anglican Special General Meeting.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Life-giving God,

as we experience your healing,

may we proclaim your deeds,

and turn to you to offer thanks and praise;

through Jesus Christ,

the great physician of our souls. Amen.

Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

You may have heard the saying that Christians should be in the world, but not be of the world. In John’s Gospel Jesus says, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you do not belong to the world – it hates you” (John 15:18,19). The gospel shouldn’t make us complacent, … Read More »