The Combined Anglican and Presbyterian Churches of Akaroa & Banks Peninsul 

     Sunday 17^th December – 9.30 am – St Peter’s 3rd Sunday in Advent

A warm welcome to parishioners and visitors alike.

Please join us for morning tea and fellowship in St Peter’s lounge following our service this morning.

THE COLLECT 

Loving God, you show us the joy of life,

We rejoice in this season of Advent.

In watching and waiting prepare us

to receive the gift of your Son,

who is one with you and the Holy Spirit,

now and forever. Amen

MIKE’S MESSAGE

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

John the Baptist was a herald of God’s anointed One. When people asked him ‘Who are you?’ He answered first by saying who he was not: “I am not the Messiah.” Then he answered positively, as to his understanding of his vocation, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” And thirdly, he answered by his actions, “I baptise with water.” To be witnesses of Jesus Christ, we too must know who we really are; and like John we should first know who or what we are not, rather we should know who God has called us to be, and finally we should witness by our actions and lifestyle.  For God has anointed us with his Spirit to bring good news to the afflicted as the prophet Isaiah said.

Well done to the Friends of the Museum! It was lovely to see in the Akaroa Mail, Kate Clare receiving a Civic Award on behalf of the Friends.                                                             God bless!                  Mike

COMING UP THIS WEEK

 Wednesday 20^th December

1.30 pm                Holy Communion – Pompallier House

Friday 22^nd December

5 pm                      Carol Service – Okains Bay   

Sunday 24^th December 

9.30 am Advent Carol Service – Trinity

Leader:  Mike         

Organist:  Rachel

Prayers: Sarah

Sidesperson: Sarah

Welcomers:  Annette & Rose

Projection:  Ken

Morning Tea:  Fiona & Pip

Readers: Annette, Chrissy, Simon, Fiona, Pip, Ken & Sarah

Readings:  Isaiah 40: v1-11,   Jeremiah 31: v31-34,   Isaiah 6: v1-11,

Isaiah 7: v10-15,   Micah 5:  v 2-4,    Zephaniah 3: v14-18

Isaiah 65: v17-25

5 pm                      Carol Service – Little Akaloa

7 pm                      Carol Service – Le Bons Bay 

11 pm                    Midnight Service – St Peter’s                     

Leader:  Mike         

Lay Reader:  Mary

Organist:  Ann

Prayers: Fiona

Sidesperson:  Ken

Welcomers:  Anne P & Rosemary

Readers:  Noelene & Tamzin 

Readings:  Titus 2: v11-14      Luke 2: v1-14

COMING UP SOON

 Christmas Day          Family Service – Trinity – 9.30 am

                                         Carol Service – Pigeon Bay – 10.30 am

                                         Holy Communion – Duvauchelle – 11.00 am

                                         Carol Service – Wainui Hall – 11.00 am

New Year’s Eve         Holy Communion – St Peter’s – 9.30 am

Outdoor Service – Okains Bay – 11.30 am

HEARTLANDS GROCERY DONATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS

It would be wonderful to have some special Christmas donations to go to Heartlands.  Please bring them to St Peter’s this Sunday morning (or drop them in later in the day if you don’t receive this newsletter before Sunday).  Christmas is all about what we do for others -the smallest of actions from you could make all the difference to someone in need at this time of year

COMMUNITY CAROLS – SUNDAY 17^th DECEMBER – TONIGHT!

Akaroa’s Community Carols will be held at the children’s playground (in front of Ma Maison restaurant) tonight at 7.30 pm, straight after Christmas in the Park, at the same venue.  Please bring picnic chairs or blankets to sit on and enjoy an evening of carols accompanied by our own Akaroa Silver Band.

 ANNUAL STREET APPEAL – THIS WEEK!

This year our combined congregations will be collecting for the UNICEF Yemen Children’s Appeal. Right now, a child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen from preventable causes. Children die because they have no food to eat, because they have no clean water to drink, and because they don’t have access to basic medicines. A cholera epidemic has swept through the country leaving children at extreme risk. We need collectors to be on duty after the Community Carols this evening, and outside the Four Square any time this week from Monday to Saturday.  Can you help?  Please contact Rachel on 304 8920 if you can give an hour or two to collect for this needy cause. Last year we sent over $2,500 to help Syrian children. What can we do this year for the children of Yemen?

FREEZER MINISTRY    

We are delighted that many of our frozen meals have been delivered to those in need. Please remember that Christmas can be a very difficult time for some, so keep those donations of meals rolling in. If you know of anyone who is unwell or under stress who would appreciate a cooked meal please contact Rachel on 304 8920.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM KATE – EMAIL ADDRESSES

Could those parishioners who have Vodafone, Paradise, Clear or Ihug as their email provider, please let Kate know your new email address at: kate.clare@outlook.com

LOST PROPERTY

A pair of salad servers was left at Chrissy’s after the Vestry/Parish Pot Luck dinner.  Please call her on 424 3522.

POMPALLIER VILLA FOR SALE

Pompallier Village Trust has a villa available now for sale.  Interested, or know someone who may be?  Phone Kate Clare 304 7228 

PRAYER GROUPS

Akaroa Prayer Group and Communion will resume on Wednesday 7^th February.

Duvauchelle Prayer Group will continue over the holiday period.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”— Hamilton Wright Mabie

CONTACTS

Vicar – Rev Michael Baker – phone 304 7051 or padre_mike@hotmail.com

Presbyterian Contact – Ken Paulin – phone 304 7012 or paulinakaroa@xtra.co.nz

Newsletter – Chrissy Smith – phone 424 3592 or chrissyakaroa@gmail.com

Web page – www.akaroachurches.co.nz