Weekly Notices - 1st Sept 2024
The Anglican Church in New Zealand had its beginnings in 1814. Missionary activity, including Christian teaching in the Maori language quickly spread throughout the country, guided by the Church Missionary Society under the local leadership of the Rev. Henry Williams from 1823.
After the two world wars and the Great Depression of the early – mid 20th century, the growing social concern was reflected in the work of city missions in the major centres. The characteristic feature of the post-war phase was a willingness to build a distinctively New Zealand church with leadership at last being found from among New Zealanders themselves.
In the fields of liturgy, social attitudes, and the place of women in the ordained ministry, the church has been increasingly confident about its own convictions and insights.
Women were first ordained to the priesthood in 1977, and in 1990 the Rev Dr Penny Jamieson was ordained as Bishop of Dunedin, the first woman diocesan bishop in the Anglican Communion.
The Anglican Church in the islands of Polynesia (principally Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa) was established as an associated missionary diocese in 1925.
In 1990 the Diocese of Polynesia became a diocese in its own right.
A major sign of recent growth and development right here in our midst is the creation of our very own, updated, newly revised parish website after months of labour by parishioners like Hugh Martyn, Tim Marshall and Paula Cox.
God Bless St Aug’s, Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s service (Sept 1st)
Theme: “Celebrating the Builders of the Church in Aotearoa, NZ & Polynesia’”
Sentence: Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change . James 1:17
Collect:
God of every generation that has been and is yet to be,
we praise and thank you for those who have served and shaped
your Church beneath the Southern Cross;
in our day raise up prophets and visionaries to bring us new insights, new challenges and renewed confidence in you and the gospel of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Readings: 1 Corinthians 3: 11 – 17 & Matthew 5: 1-12
Parish News
Centennial Weekend - 12th & 13th October
Please diary this event which will start with tours and a Variety Concert on the Saturday and a Combined 10am Service on the Sunday followed by lunch at the Takahe Restaurant.
Tickets for this luncheon are now available from the Parish office.
Missing Communion Chalice
One of our Communion chalices has gone walk-about, and this is a plea to anyone who may have seen it, to contact the Vicar please. On this note, I encourage all those rostered on as Communion Assistants at each of our respective services to please be a little more careful when packing our Communion vessels away. I do appreciate the work you do; however, it has been noticed that on the odd occasion, the vessels have been left sitting on the credence table instead of being washed and put away.
Vestry
Please hold Vestry in your prayers as its Vicarage Working Group journey through the sale and purchase of a vicarage. Open Homes are now beginning to take place, so please also pray for Leni & I as we battle to keep the home tidy.
Diocesan Prayer Community - Reminder
The Diocesan Prayer Community has been operating since March this year. This Community identifies the issues which challenge our Diocese (and parish!) and join each other in praying for those issues.
Do consider signing up to pray with others from other parishes. You will receive regular updates and forms of encouragement from our Archdeacon of Regeneration & Mission, and it only takes a few minutes of our time each day or week.
Please let the Vicar know if you’re interested.
Our People, Our Place
Do keep those wonderful “Our People, Our Place” profiles rolling in!
St Aug’s & Beyond…
City Mission ‘Food Bank’
We have recently heard that the City Mission ‘Food Bank’ is VERY short of supplies as it struggles to feed the needy over this winter. So please, if you are able, do donate (non perishable) food into the City Mission food basket at the back of the Church. Grateful thanks!
Repair Café
In the Hannan Centre, Thursday 5th September, 5 to 7pm
Let’s REPAIR rather than throw away. FREE event! Share far and wide!
Bring torn or holey clothes, stuck zippers, furniture, headphones & cables, sunglasses, ceramics & pottery, toys, shoes, jewellery, blunt knives (to sharpen) broken plastic objects etc.
We can help you with some technology advice, such as how to install Whatsapp to talk to your relations overseas, or why is your phone doing something weird today, or how do I use ‘do not disturb’ etc...
Volunteers willing to help are very welcome! Please contact Lerks Stedman: 022 021 5270
Living Faith Conference
PRAY DISCIPLE INSPIRE - Bring your parish team and join us for the 2024 Living Faith Diocesan Conference! With Guest Speakers: Elanor SANDERSON, Dallas HAREMA, Grant NORSTWORTHY
This will be a great opportunity for spiritual growth and encouragement as we hear from inspirational leaders who canhelp us grow in confidence in our faith and get better at making new disciples. There will also be a Q & A discussion panel to address your questions.
This conference is for everyone - younger, older, exploring faith, new to faith and the seasoned Christian.
So bring a friend, join a group and register!
Tickets $40/pp, see Jo Ashton Martyn for these, or, scan the bar code on the poster below for this event at the back of the Church, or visit www.bit.ly/LivingFaithConference
Helpful info
Giving
Online Giving - “Green” Tokens (trial) for the Offertory Plate
Hey lovely people, now that the majority of you donate ‘on-line’ we have created green tokens for you to place (if you wish) into the offertory plate. These tokens will then be blessed at the front of the Church along with any other cash/envelopes. If you would like to join those who give regularly online, you can find all the details you’ll need on the Giving Page.
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.
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.