Parish Newsletter 19 March 2017
The Combined Anglican and Presbyterian Churches of Akaroa & Banks Peninsula
Sunday 19th March 2017
9.30am St Peter’s
11.30am Wainui
A warm welcome to parishioners and visitors alike. Please join us for refreshments and fellowship in St Peter’s lounge following our service.
MIKE’S MESSAGE
Dear brothers & sisters in Christ
Our two readings this morning involve water. Water is essential to life. We can survive for weeks without food, but our bodies can only last days without water. Generally New Zealanders have been blessed with clean fresh water, yet we cannot take this for granted as we saw last year with the Havelock North contaminated water crisis when 4000 citizens were infected with Campylobacter & E coli. In Exodus, God’s people begin to run out of water for themselves and their live- stock, while trekking through the wilderness. God answers their cries by giving them a spring of water hidden within a rock in the desert.
Our gospel story tells of Jesus asking a Samaritan woman for water at Jacob’s well. This encounter leads Jesus to invite her to receive the gift of “living water” – which is God’s Spirit. (Interestingly, in Maori the word “Wai” is water, and “Wairua” is spirit.) The woman is so excited by Jesus’ invitation that she becomes a natural evangelist and brings her family and friends to Jesus to receive this gift. As you know, we are running an Alpha course in the parish for our Lenten study. This is my first encounter with Alpha and I am wonderfully impressed by its content and gentle process of discussion and learning. I am very thankful for the gracious facilitation of Simon and Rachel, and hope that there will be many more opportunities to run Alpha in our parish and community in the future
God Bless! Mike
COMING UP THIS WEEK
Monday 20th March
7am ‘Beating the Boundaries’ – Mike’s pilgrimage begins around Banks Peninsula, leaving Akaroa at 7 am and arriving at Le Bons for a service of prayer at 5pm (see opposite page for more details)
10am Mainly Music – Trinity Hall
Tuesday 21st March
10am Alpha Course – Ken & Fi’s
Wednesday 22nd March
No Communion at St Peter’s today
Next Sunday 26th March
9.30 am Ken and Fiona Paulin’s garden – Picnic Service
MC: Phil Devenish Lay Reader: Allison
Prayers: Fiona Musician: Ann
Reader: Mary
11am No Bays service this Sunday
COMING UP SOON
Friday 31st March Community Lunch – Trinity Hall, 11.30 am
Sunday 2nd April Harvest Festival and St Peter’s AGM
Thursday 6th April Outreach Group meeting – St Peter’s at 5 pm
Wednesday 12 April CPC meeting – St Peter’s at 5 pm
Thursday 13 April Seder Meal – Trinity at 5.30 pm (more details in next week’s newsletter)
Good Friday 9.30 am – Trinity 3 pm – St Patrick’s
Easter Day 9.30 am – St Peter’s
11 am – Pigeon Bay
11.30 am – Wainui. This will be the final service held at Wainui, before its deconsecration at Labour Weekend. You are all encouraged to attend, and to join in a shared lunch after the service.
BEATING THE BOUNDARIES
From this Monday 20 March to Saturday 25th March, Mike will be walking from church to church around the bays. His itinerary after Monday:
Tuesday 7am leave Le Bons (via main roads) 5pm arrive Okains Bay Wednesday 7am leave Okains (via Chorlton Rd) 5 pm arrive Little Akaloa Thursday 7am leave Decanter Bay (via Menzies Bay Rd) 5pm arrive Pigeon Bay Friday 7am leave Pigeon Bay (via main roads) 5pm arrive Wainui (Mike is planning to walk and cycle today, as it is the longest stretch) Saturday 7am leave Wainui and arrive 12noon at Duvauchelle. At each of the local churches there will be a short service of prayer at the time of arrival.
Rachel is co-ordinating transport for those who would like to join Mike at any stage of his walk. Please phone her (304 8920) if you can act as a driver, or if you would like a lift!
OUTDOOR SERVICE AND PICNIC SUNDAY 26TH MARCH 11 am
Please bring one or more picnic chairs to share around, if you can, as well as a plate of food for a shared picnic lunch after the service.
Drivers can drive up to the top of the drive to drop off passengers and gear. Please then park cars on the beach frontage as directed.
ROSTERS
Rachel is putting together the next roster for services in April, May and June. If you are happy to help occasionally as a welcomer or reader or projectionist, or to provide morning tea, please contact her on 304 8920 or tipping@xtra.co.nz
COMMUNITY LUNCH
Our next Community Lunch will be held in Trinity Hall on Friday March 31st from 11.30 am. Please think about people you could invite to come. We will again be needing helpers in the kitchen and to provide a sweet slice. Please speak to Wendy (304 7151) or Rachel (304 8920) if you can help.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Harvest Festival is on Sunday 2nd April at St Peter’s. Please bring your produce – fruit and vegetables and tinned goods – to St Peter’s between Friday and midday Saturday 1st April. Anne Paterson and her team will be decorating the church and all the produce will be donated to Heartlands and Pompallier after the service.
AGM – GENERAL BUSINESS
The St Peter’s AGM will be held after the Harvest Festival Service. Please ensure that any items you would like included in General Business are with Mary McNutt by the previous week.
PARISH VISITING
If you are aware of anyone who would appreciate a visit from our vicar, Mike, or if you would like him to call on you, please don’t hesitate to contact him – details below:
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
‘It doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s who you have beside you.’ Anon
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 (03) 325 6244 or kimsmith@ihug.co.nz
Webpage – www.akaroachurches.co.nz
