Weekly Notices - 20 April 2025
""Dear brothers and sister in Jesus, E te whanau kariti”
HE IS RISEN
HE IS RISEN INDEED
Well indeed there is a new beginning, an opportunity for us is happening whether we want it or not.
Jesus freely gave us the keys to life
The Bishop gets to ask this church what we are doing with these keys. Nick Mountfort from Church Corner, Rachelle Matthews chief servant at the Diocese office, your wardens and elders, Jean and Paul, and myself have been asked to facilitate this. All of us are to have some serious, prayerful and thoughtful conversations about our three churches' health.
"Coincidentally" this ties in with God's call last Sunday, to stop what we are doing, repent, and listen!
I am hopeful that each congregation will initiate serious praying together so we can hear what God might say to us as a congregation. He may speak about what we have failed to do, in weakness, in ignorance and through our own deliberate fault. But HE loves our neighbours so much, so we can only ask that He will tell us what to do about them.
Now be assured it will be over my dead body that the Vestry or Synod or the Diocese will try and make decisions for us. It's our collective responsibility to make sure each congregation decides what God wants us to do about the poor health of our church. Nick, Rachelle, Jean, Paul and myself will meet later this month to begin to draft a design about how these conversations might happen and the range of topics and issues this parish needs to talk about. Again, be assured, as far as I am concerned, it’s open slather. No topic will be off the table. Everything must be up for grabs if we are to truly act like this is God's parish and not our parish.
IF we have given him our lives in response to HIS life been given for us, then let HIS will be done in this parish.
(Bishop Peter is asking for a draft by the end of the year, so we have plenty of time to listen and hear and obey whatever God might want to say to us, after we have finished repenting.)
If any of you want to talk about this, please give me a couple of weeks to finish visiting every worshipper in the parish first.
Nick will probably say more at the AGM on the 4th May.
In HIS grip
your servant priest
Patrick
Today’s service
Sentence: Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed. To him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Alleluia! (Luke 24:34; Revelation 1:6) [NZPB, 592].
Prayer of the Day: O God, you make this most holy night/day to shine with the glory of the risen Christ; stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption, so that, renewed in mind and body, we may dedicate our lives wholeheartedly to your service; through Jesus Christ, who is alive with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings: Acts 10:34-43 & Luke 24:1-12
Parish News
Craft Group: Saturday 26 April: 10am-3pm
Bring along your activity or just come for a natter. Tea and coffee provided, BYO lunch. Gold coin donation to cover costs. Contact Gina for more information.
Parish Monthly Prayer Meeting at St Saviour's Church - 9:15am on last Tuesday of the month: 29 April 2025
Easter Services:
Easter Sunday: All three churches are celebrating at their regular times, St Paul’s 9am, St Columba’s 10.30am and St Saviour’s at 5pm, please join us.
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.
