Weekly Notices - 7 September 2025
Dear parishioner
As the Lord leads us to gather before him at 7pm on Friday 26th September at St Colomba’s we each need to think through whether you and I are willing to respond to his gentle loving invitation to come.
Coincidently, this matches today's Gospel reading in the Anglican Cycle of readings. Jesus still says the same right now, that we must count the cost of following him. That includes checking our inner preparedness to respond to him before the 26th.
Each of us carries things inside us that we really need to get rid of, clean up etc. Some of the things we cannot fix ourselves. That's why we need to come to him, for him to “fix” us. His gentle healing touch is needed by so very many of us. Bruises from the past and present. Physical and mental and often also emotional hurts. May I gently encourage you to spend extra time in your Quiet Times to ask him as only a child can, “Father, what is it that you want to heal in me?”
Don’t be surprised if he responds! He loves you more than you love yourself.
Psalm 139 is well worth reading again quietly and slowly to yourself :)
In his grip
Patrick
Psalm 139
139.1 Lord, you have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; you understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord.
5 You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon,
10 even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.
11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night’ –
12 even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.
13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.
17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.
19 God, if only you would kill the wicked – you bloodthirsty men, stay away from me – 20 who invoke you deceitfully. Your enemies swear by you falsely.
21 Lord, don’t I hate those who hate you, and detest those who rebel against you?
22 I hate them with extreme hatred; I consider them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.
“Special Invite from Him to come
To St Colomba’s @7pm 26th September”
From the 1st to the 7th of September it is the 24-7 Prayer International Initiative – The Global Week of Prayer.
There is an opportunity to hear Pastor Hana, a Gazan pastor, speak on the theme of "Being the church amidst conflict" at All Saints, 305 New Brighton Road, Burwood, 7pm, Saturday 6 September. All welcome.
Change to Service Time: With the warmer weather coming St Saviour’s, Templeton is changing to their summer hours from September. First service at the new time 5pm will be Sunday 7 September.
Today’s Sentence and Prayer
Sentence: 'Choose life so that you and your descendants may live' (Deuteronomy 30:19)
Prayer of the Day: Servant God, grant us opportunity, give us willingness to serve you day by day; that what we do and how we bear each other's burdens, may be our sacrifice to you - Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Readings: Sirach 27:30-28:9, Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Revelations 8:1-5 and Luke 14:25-33
Parish News
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.
