ParishNewsletter 5 November 2017
The Combined Anglican and Presbyterian Churches of Akaroa & Banks Peninsula
All Saints’ Day Sunday 5th November – 9.30 am – St Peter’s – Holy Communion
11.30 am – Little Akaloa
A warm welcome to parishioners and visitors alike. Please join us for morning tea and fellowship in St Peter’s lounge following our
All Saints’ Day service this morning.
THE COLLECT
Almighty God, your saints are one with you in the mystical body of Christ; give us grace to follow them in all virtue and holiness until we come to those inexpressible joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
MIKE’S MESSAGE
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
To celebrate All Saints, as we do today, is to celebrate the fact that we are all called to be ‘saints’ – it is our true identity. It is not that we are called to be ‘holier than thou,’ rather we are called to be redeemed human beings – brothers and sisters in Christ, forgiven and made whole through God’s grace in Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of our unity-in-diversity.
Our gospel reminds us that we have One God who we call Father. Our reading from Revelations gives us a glimpse of the fullness of time when all creation shall be made whole, and humanity will be united around Christ, who is the unifying and redeeming force of Cod’s creation. We who are baptised into Christ, know this eternal truth already – therefore we can remember our loved ones who have died and passed on to the next phase of life’s journey. They are never totally separate from us, for as St Paul reminds us, ‘you are all One in Christ Jesus’ (Gal. 3: 28).
God bless! Mike
PARISH FAIR – 18TH NOVEMBER – ONLY 2 SHORT WEEKS AWAY !! DONATIONS FOR THE CHRISTMAS HAMPER RAFFLE AND HELPERS FOR STALLS REQUIRED!
Please leave your items for the Christmas Hamper Raffle in the basket provided at the back of the church. (Not to be confused with the Heartlands donations!).
We would like volunteers to sell raffle tickets outside the 4 Square on Friday 17th and at the fair on Saturday and we require help to man (or woman!) the other stalls. Contact Carol on 304 8907 to let her know what you are willing to do on the day.
Let’s get behind this important fundraiser.
RE-OPENING OF TRINITY CHURCH
The date for the re-opening of Trinity Church is Sunday 26th November. This will be an informal service of celebration and thanksgiving, which will be attended by the Presbyterian Moderator, Rev David Coster. David will be joining Mike in taking the service. Everyone is urged to attend this important day in the life of Trinity Church, to give thanks to all those responsible for the work which has been undertaken and to celebrate the re-opening of our church building.
COMING UP THIS WEEK
Monday 6th November
10 am Mainly Music – Trinity Hall
Wednesday 8th November
10.30 am Prayer Group – St Peter’s lounge
11.00 am Holy Communion – St Peter’s lounge
6.00 pm ALPHA – Chrissy’s place
Thursday 9th November
4.00 pm CPC Meeting – St Peter’s lounge
Saturday 11thh November
11 am Prayer Group – St John’s – Duvauchelle
9 am ALPHA Day – Wainui Hall
Sunday 12th November
9.30 am St Peter’s – Informal Service
Leader: Mike Organist: Tim
Prayers: Chrissy Sidesperson: Mary
Welcomers: Maryn & Graeme
Projection: Gerald
Readers: Allison & Wendy
Morning Tea: Chrissy & Wendy
Readings: 1 Thess 4: v 13-18 Matt 25: v 1-13
11.30 am Duvauchelle
COMING UP SOON
Monday 13th Nov Mainly Music – Trinity Hall – 10.30 am
Wednesday 15th Nov Prayer Group – St Peter’s lounge – 10.30 am
Holy Communion – cancelled – Mike away
Pompallier Communion – rescheduled to 22nd
ALPHA– Chrissy’s place – 6 pm
Thursday 16th Nov Vestry Meeting – St Peter’s 5 pm
Saturday 18th Nov Church Fair – Trinity Church/Hall/Grounds
Prayer Group – Duvauchelle – 11 am
Sunday 19th Nov Communion Service – St Peter’s – 9.30 am
HELP! – MEALS REQUIRED TO REPLENISH FREEZER
We are delighted that many of our frozen meals have been delivered to those in need. We would appreciate some home-cooked and frozen supermarket meals to refill our freezer. Casseroles and soup can be put in ice cream containers (there is a supply next to the freezer). Please label them with contents and number of servings, and write the details in the notebook on the freezer. If anyone is able to cook a meal, or you know of someone who is unwell or under stress and would appreciate a cooked meal, contact Wendy on 304 7151.
MONTHLY GROCERY DONATIONS
Please remember your grocery donations each month. If we all contributed one item per month we would have a wonderful amount to donate to Heartlands, for those in our community in need.
PRAYER
Prayer groups are held on Wednesday morning 10.30 am at St Peter’s, and Saturday morning 11 am at St John the Evangelist, Duvauchelle, to pray for the life of our Banks Peninsula parish, and any other concerns, large or small. Everyone is welcome, and those attending on Wednesdays may like to stay on for the 11 am service of Holy Communion afterwards.
EMAIL ADDRESSES
Those parishioners who have Vodafone, Paradise, Clear or Ihug as your email provider, please let Kate know your new email address at: kate.clare@outlook.com
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”
Martin Luther
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
Webpage – www.akaroachurches.co.nz
