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 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 »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 6 October 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

11.30am Little Akaloa

4.00pm Messy Church Trinity

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;

it is your strength, not the size of our faith

that supports us in all of life’s difficulties;

May we be content to simply serve,

and, when our labours are done,

all gather as equals around your table,

with Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In today’s gospel we hear the disciples pleading with Jesus “Lord, increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5). They have just been told, if someone offends them (sins against them), and that person repents (turns back to them and is sorry) then they must forgive them. And, even if they keep offending us seven … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 29 September 2019

4.00pm Trinity

Welcome to our service today.

Please join us for a shared meal after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

God of resurrection,

Where there is death, you bring new life;

Challenge our attachment to wealth and power,

So that we may release others from the chains

of poverty, hunger and injustice,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Jesus the Risen Christ. Amen

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today we welcome Rev Hamish Galloway who will lead our 4pm service. Today is also the feast of St Michael and All Angels. Angels in the Bible are intermediaries between God and humanity – often with the task of bringing God’s word to people. Michael is considered in the Book of Daniel as the protector of Israel (God’s people), and in the Book of … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 15 September 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

11.30am Pigeon Bay

Welcome to our service this morning.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

Today’s Prayer

Rejoicing God,

you pursue us more than we seek after you,

and tenderly exult when we find our life in you;

May we share in your delight

and in your care for the lonely and the lost,

through Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. Amen.

 Mike’s Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

It is good to be back in Akaroa. Pip and I had a truly marvellous time in the UK but travelling and living out of suitcases for three months was hard work and we were more than ready to return home this week. In today’s sermon slot I will share some of the highlights of my sabbatical with you, with an emphasis on … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 25 August 2019

9.30am Trinity

Welcome to our service this morning.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

PRAYER:

Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed (Psalm 34:5).  So, turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Message:

Welcome to church this morning!  We especially welcome visitors and the Rev David Coster who will speak from God’s Word and celebrate Holy Communion with us.

Have you ever considered that God’s grace is displayed in and through us for His glory?  I’m always confronted when I think of Moses coming down off the mountain, literally radiating God’s glory and grace.  Equally thought-provoking is the prophet Isaiah’s … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 18 August 2019

9.30am St Peter’s

Welcome to our service this morning.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitors and newcomers are especially welcome.

PRAYER:

Surrounded then as we are by these serried ranks of witnesses, let us strip off everything that hinders us, as well as the sin which dogs our feet, and let us run the race that we have to run with patience, our eyes fixed on Jesus the source and the goal of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Message:

What? Traffic lights in Akaroa’s main street signalling to us when to stop and when to go? It can’t be true, but it is. Fortunately, they’re only a temporary aberration while reticulation work is undertaken. If you ignore Akaroa’s traffic signals, you are going to literally come head-on to a problem – a vehicle coming … Read More »

 THE COMBINED CHURCH OF AKAROA AND THE BAYS

 Sunday 11 August 2019

9.30am Trinity

11.30am Duvauchelle

Welcome to our service this morning.

Please join us for morning tea after the service.

Visitos and newcomers are especially welcome.

PRAYER:

God, the strength of all who believe in you, increase our faith and trust in your Son Jesus Christ, that in him and through your Holy Spirit, we may live victoriously. Amen

Message:

The Christian’s Handbook is The Bible. I read and study it because I believe it is God’s Word to me for it’s literally ‘God-breathed’ (2 Timothy 3:16). In other words, it’s God’s very words to me to inspire and empower me.

In my teens I began the practice of memorizing Bible verses. I don’t mean just learning ‘get around’ Bible verses but, rather, learning ‘get through’ Bible verses – verses that helped me get through to Christ, to the person, … Read More »