Weekly Notices - 20th Oct 2024
As we walk out of a fantastic weekend of celebrations, love and laughter, I want to extend my personal thanks to EVERYONE who quietly put our programs together, and who so tirelessly walked the walk towards a successful centennial commemoration! I wish I could name each person individually because you all deserve special recognition; be assured that Vestry and I are humbled by how everything came together!
This week, we appropriately move into Mark’s Gospel of servanthood and love. St Aug’s already has a wonderful culture of watching over others and ensuring that the frail and the ill are taken care of. However, we need to go deeper! Our mindset needs to embrace more than it currently does so that the lost will find a way through our doors, the vulnerable will find safety in meeting us and the hungry will be fed by the scriptural lifestyle we lead…every day!
May the feet God gave us take us into the communities of the poor, with Grace; may the hands He gave us reach out and touch those who are lonely; may the heart God gave us enable us to find the weak in our community and bring them in to God’s House!
And may God continue to bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s service (Oct 20th)
Theme: ‘The Suffering Servant’
Sentence: ‘The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ Mark 10:45
Collect:
Eternal God,
you have given us one baptism for the remission of sins;
grant that we who are born of water and the Spirit
and made members of Christ,
may be one in inward faith and outward service;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Readings: Hebrews 5: 1 – 10 and Mark 10: 35 – 45
Parish News
To everyone in the Parish I say thank you for the Centenary Weekend!
What a success! To the artists who designed and painted our new banners, thank you. To the flower ladies, thank you. To the organisers and musicians of the concert on
Saturday, thank you. Thank you for our new pohutukawa and its commemorative plaque, for the delicious centenary cake and the doll in a hundred year old christening dress. Thank you for those who led and those who participated in our memorial service. Thank you for the organisers, the speakers, and those who set up and set down the Old Stone House. Thank you to those who came and cleaned the Hannan Centre and the church in readiness for our special weekend. Thank you all for coming to the concert, the church service and the lunch. And finally, thank you to our vicar, Kofe, who led us in our celebration and who we rely on.
I’m very sorry if I missed anything!
God Bless, Jo Ashton-Martyn, Vicars Warden
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The special and beautiful Centennial banners are now hanging in the church.
Ideas were initially discussed by Annie, Fiona & Kristin and the final concept and design was drawn by Fiona Taylor.
A team including Annie Ogilvie, Thelma Kent & Frances Schulz assisted Fiona with the painting.
The banners DELIGHT in God's creation and beauty accompanied by the words of St Augustine."
Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.
For LOVE is the beauty of the SOUL"
They feature the Cross motif we know so well and which was modelled from the small cross above the Church porch entrance, The Kowhai, a signature tree found around the church glows and NZ native birds piwakawaka represent the soul. The kereru sits atop the ti koūka as a signpost pointing the way. Seedpods symbolise growth and regeneration. The filmy ferns creep in as a nod to our early plant life. The healing heart-shaped kawakawa leaves were painted from leaves picked up by Annie at Waitangi treaty grounds and echo the finials on the cross. The woven border surrounding it represents community. The overall flow and movement of life is captured with a suggestion of stained glass the pieces connecting and flowing together as one.
Now that our Centennial Celebrations are behind us, let us now focus on things coming up like our Annual Day of Giving on Sunday 3rd November.
This date has had to be deferred a little because of the Centennial, but please be reminded that the parish needs to be able to survive financially, and with roof repairs looming over us together with other ministry needs, your Vestry would like to ask that you please prayerfully consider a contribution, over and above what you regularly give, on this special day.
More information will follow over the next week.
Our organist Loki and friends (on trumpets) play a short snippet of the Grand March from the opera Aida by Verdi on 18 August 2024
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…
Youth Hub Trust ‘INVITATION’
On behalf of the Youth Hub Trust, you are warmly invited to come and see the Youth Hub before it officially opens to the public.
The Hub has everything young people need to improve and maintain their mental health, from supported housing and health and support services to opportunities for recreation and creativity and we can’t wait to share it with you!
You are welcome to drop in between 4-6pm on Tuesday 12 November.
The Hub is located at 109 Salisbury Street in the CBD.
Please note no parking is available on site or on Gracefield Ave.
The nearest paid parking option is the Casino.
Light refreshments will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you are interested in going, please contact Lerks: lerkshih@gmail.com
If you have any questions, please email fundraising@youthhubchch.org.nz
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.