Weekly Notices - 17 May 2026
Announcement: Last week it was announced that the Rev Peter Hurricks has been appointed as our Priest-in-charge for the rest of the year. Peter will be joined with his wife Madeleine - between them they have many years of ministry experience and will support us through our current transition. Peter's first Sunday will be Sunday 7 June. Let's give Peter and Madeleine a very warm welcome!
Continue to Pray for our Parish’s Future: I do hope you are getting into the spirit of our ‘Month of Prayer and Discernment’ for the future of our parish! We really need the guidance and encouragement of the Holy Spirit in this season of transition. Our Wardens Henk Bunnk and Ross Jones, as well as other Vestry members, are undertaking research that will inform our decisions so please pray for them. Also remember to write down any guidance you feel you have received from God and give it to one of the Wardens. Vestry will look at this information, pray and add this to the decision-making process.
A Prayer for the Future of our Parish: God of all hope, you have inspired your people in times past with visions of a good future and given them energy and resolve to achieve great things for your kingdom; endow us with wisdom at this time of change in our parish, unite us in love, give us your guidance, and help us to follow where you lead. In the name of Jesus Christ, the pioneer of our faith, Amen.
Bring Your Little Ones!: An All Age Service is being planned for next week at St Columba’s and the theme is to be ‘Strength and Weakness’. This is a great opportunity to bring children and grandchildren and even neighbour’s children to a lively, interactive and creative service – there will be puppets! Thanks so much to the team who are preparing this service – it’s hard work but it’s very much worth doing something different, interesting and engaging. My Bible reading recently was about Moses who had both strengths and weaknesses – but God used him as a great leader. God has a habit of using our strengths in spite of our weaknesses!
Strengthen Faith Through Confirmation:
A public declaration of faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ can be a significant step in our discipleship and a way of strengthening faith. Recently, a St Paul’s parishioner expressed a desire to be confirmed and the Bishop has agreed to come and lead this special service on Sunday 26 July. If anyone else in the parish would like to be confirmed please contact me/Mark Chamberlain on 0274327474 and we can form a discipleship group and prepare for confirmation together.
This Sunday 17th May Sue MacLean is back with us at all three churches.
Next week the 24th May all three churches are without a minister so there will be Morning Worship at St Paul’s, All Ages Service at St Columba's and a Sharing Service at St Saviour's. Reminder St Saviour’s service start at 4pm.
Sunday 24th May: Sharing service at St Saviour's
In this special service we will have space for anyone who wants to share a short (no more than 5 minutes) input for the church. If you would like to share something you are encouraged to do so. Examples of things to share include:
- A poem
- A bible verse/reading
- A piece of writing that means something to you
- An artwork
- A short testimony
- A song (there will be a speaker so we can play something on YouTube)
There will be time to reflect and respond to what has been shared.
Mission Stall—31 May at St Paul’s—Combined Service
We are going to have a mission stall to raise funds for Oveen’s daughter Nalanee who is going on a Mission trip around June. Please support her on with this great opportunity and adventure.
24 May 2026 at 10.30am. All Age Service with shared lunch to follow at St Columba’s, Hornby.
Today’s Sentence and Prayer
Sentence: “Jesus said ‘I am with you always to the end of the world“.
Prayer of the Day: ‘Eternal Giver of love and power, your Sin Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of His kingdom. Confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim.’ Amen
Readings: Readings: Acts 1:1-11 & Luke 24: 44-53.
Parish News
Time For You
Tuesday 19 May at 1.20pm at St Columba's Church.
Visit to Doll and Teddy museum. Meet in Church carpark 1.20pm to share transport. Afternoon tea provided coin donation.
RSVP to Gina 0277665073 All welcome.
All Ages Service at St Columba’s
Sunday 24th May:
Family Service and puppet show followed by a shared lunch. Service starts at 10.30am.
What is happening at St Saviour’s
Working Bee
Saturday 23rd May 10:00 - 12:00. Come along to give the church a much needed spruce up. If there is something that has been bothering you (e.g., a spider web in the top left corner) then this is the time to fix it! If you have tools or cleaning gear that could be useful please bring them along. In case of bad weather we will focus on inside cleaning jobs. Shared lunch afterwards to celebrate the good hard work.
Sharing Service
Sunday 24th May: Sharing service
In this special service we will have space for anyone who wants to share a short (no more than 5 minutes) input for the church. If you would like to share something you are encouraged to do so. Examples of things to share include:
- A poem
- A bible verse/reading
- A piece of writing that means something to you
- An artwork
- A short testimony
- A song (there will be a speaker so we can play something on YouTube)
There will be time to reflect and respond to what has been shared.
Young adults group at St Saviour’s - seeking new members
We have a small young adults group (ages 18-35) who would love to get to know new members. If you know anyone who might be interested in joining, please contact Sarah on 021 0267 6170.
Mission Stall—31 May at St Paul’s, West Melton—Combined Service - 10am service
We are going to have a mission stall to raise funds for Oveen’s daughter Nalanee who is going on a Mission trip around June. Please support her on with this great opportunity and adventure.
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.
