Weekly Notices - 10 August 2025
From the minister
“Last week I wrote about dangers of pornography for young people. On advice from the Bishop and his staff and I have removed that article from the website version of the newsletter for Sunday 27 July and 3 August.”
If someone was to ask you why you believe what you believe about God, what would you say? Its obviously an important question isn’t it.
My Story is…..
“Well, my parents sent me to Sunday School and I loved it and it made sense. But whilst I believed it, it was mostly just an agreement in my head. For some reason I never felt connected to God in any personal way. In my teens, I met 3 new adults through my hometown Lyttelton’s (secular) youth club. They yakked about this Jesus of my childhood like he was real! They obviously had some kind of personal relationship with him. This got me very curious.
A few months after they came to town, they put on a special evening youth service in our wee wooden church. None of us had ever heard of this idea, nor seen a guitar in church nor heard any machine but the dear old organ. A stereo unit was brought in AND a film was shown on a temporary screen! Cor!! The film was about the Youth with a Mission (YWAM) outreach at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, and how YWAM responded to the massacre of the Israeli athletes by going out and comforting everyone they encountered. The film opened my eyes to something different about God that attracted me.
“Balf” (Rev David Balfour) preached explaining The Good News about Jesus: How we all know that we’re way short of being perfect and that's why the world is in a mess and needs someone to rescue us from ourselves! He explained simply what sin is, how to be forgiven by God, not by our own efforts to be good but, by accepting that Jesus took the consequences for all of us, and all we can do is say sorry and accept his free gift of forgiveness and respond by giving him our allegiance with all our heart mind soul and strength.
There was definitely something in the air, not hype, guilt or any emotion but a palatable atmosphere of decision time. During the next song, Balf invited us to come to the altar rail, kneel and say sorry, and accept Jesus’s love for each of us. I managed to make the 1st row and there was a whole row kneeling down behind us. Jesus became real in my life that night, and despite acting like a prodigal son more than once in my life, I have never ever regretted my decision. When you know that you know that Jesus is real, and you read the historically reliable accounts of his life it just makes so much sense. Jesus is just so in our faces with his words and expectations, it's both challenging and yet so life giving.
That’s my story, what's yours?
I invite you with fewer words than I seem to use all the time lol, to write your own story of why you know that you know that Jesus is real, & obviously totally relevant for anyone who knows that there is more to this life than learning, earning, producing , buying and dying.
Yours In Christ, Patrick
From Justine and family: Thanks for all the loving and prayerful support over the last two weeks. It has enabled us to journey past the shock of Donald’s death. We appreciate your ongoing prayers for the next part of the journey.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we yield to Your timing. Help us to wait for Your promise, so when the times is right we can passionately pursue Your purpose. Amen
Thank you—Missions: A big thank you to those who donated in so many ways to the preschool in Uganda. Thank you very much. Karen
Today’s Sentence and Prayer
Sentence: Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Psalm 33:18-19
Prayer of the Day: Grant to us, O God, we pray, the spirit to always think and do what is right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may be able to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ, who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings: Isaiah 1:10-20, Psalm 50:1-8, 22-33 and Luke 12:32-40
Parish News
Time For You
Tuesday 19th August at 1.30pm at St Columba's Church. Guest speaker Willie McArthur sharing on his recent adventure in Vietnam.
Afternoon tea provided gold coin donation would be appreciated. All welcome. Contact Gina on 027 766 5073 for more information
Next Prayer Meetings
Templeton will be held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday mornings of the month -
9:15am: at Jean’s place.
Hornby will be held on Wednesdays mornings -
Wednesday 10.30am, prayer gathering at Bolton's place
Anglican Parish of Hornby, Templeton and West Melton & Beyond…
Prayer for Leading Your Church into Growth
God of mission, who alone brings growth to your Church, send your Holy Spirit to give vision to our planning, wisdom to our actions, joy to our worship, and power to our witness. Help our parish churches to grow in numbers, in spiritual commitment to you, and in service to our local community. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
News from around the Diocese
See Anglican e-life: http://anglicanlife.org.nz/publications/e-life/
Helpful info
Groups
It’s easy to connect and get involved with some great social and faith-focused groups that meet regularly across the parish. You can find out about all our regular groups on our Groups page. If you have any questions, just click the contact button to connect with the group’s organiser.
Recycling
Used batteries can be placed in the boxes in each church or taken to Mitre 10
Soft plastics can be dropped off at participating store locations. This is any plastic you can fold up in your hand.
Pastoral Care
Need meals or other in-home pastoral support? Please contact the Parish Pastoral Care Co-ordinator.
In-Home Communion
If parishioners can't attend church but would still like to have communion, this can be brought to you at your home or rest home. Please get in touch with the Home Communion Co-ordinator to organise this.
Need prayer?
We’d love to pray for you. See the ‘Prayer Support’ section on the Help & Support page for more information on how we can help with your prayer needs. There are confidential and anonymous options available.
