Weekly Notices - 2nd March 2025
In less than week we enter the Season of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday next Wednesday, 5th March. On that evening, the Rev John de Senna & I will be holding a Service of the Imposition of Ashes at 6.30pm. Everyone is invited to attend; at this difficult time of our dealing with the recent break-in tour church and its ramifications, this will a perfect opportunity for us to come together with our brokenness, our deep sense of loss and our feeling of violation to the Walk we’re about to take with Jesus through the wilderness. You are welcome to bring friends and family to an evening around God’s table!
During the 40 days of Lent, (not including Sundays) by dedicating this season to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, believers engage in a structured reflection of their lives, aligning their hearts more closely with the teachings of Jesus. This deeply reflective period of time will take us through to the Saturday before Easter (Holy Saturday).
This week, our Archdeaconry of Irakehu met out at St Stephens, Lincoln where we were introduced by Bp Peter to the new Diocesan Manager, Rachelle Matthews who joined the Anglican Centre staff in January. Rachelle comes with vast experience in Marketing and Communications Management and has served on the Staff and Boards of Medbury School and St Margaret’s College. We wish Rachelle every blessing as she shares our journey.
May God bless St Aug’s
Your Friend and Vicar, Kofe.
Vicar Kofe
This Sunday’s service (2nd March)
Theme: “Giving thanks for the fruit of God's hand.”
Sentence: ‘My word shall not return to me empty,’ says the Lord, ‘but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
Collect:
Holy Spirit,
grant us who serve your Church
to mend what is spoiled,
to strengthen what is sound,
and to follow you wherever and however you may lead.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings: 1 Corinthians 15: 51 – 58 and Luke 6: 39 - 49
Parish News
We will not be holding at 10am Midweek Service next Wednesday, 5th March; everyone is invited to our 6.30pm Ash Wednesday Service
instead.Our restored church items which were badly damaged in the recent burglary will be returned to us to be blessed for use on Sun 30th March at a Combined 10am Service.
Please return your Palm Sunday crosses that were distributed last year to the church on Sunday, or to the parish office on Mon / Tues next week for us to use as our Ashes.
We are seeking help to be able to regenerate our weekly service rosters, and desperately need folks who can help with:
* Communion Assisting
* Welcoming (and Offertory collecting)
* Sacristy duties (setting up the altar each week)
* Brass cleaning
* Morning tea
* Sound desk operating
Please let the parish office know if you feel this is a ministry you could be involved in. These are vital areas which need to be filled is our Sunday services are to run smoothly.
Please remember to use our Diocesan Prayer for Regeneration: As the kotuku gently rests upon the tree, come and rest upon us Holy Spirit as we pray for the regeneration of our Diocese… Everliving God, through your Spirit you constantly renew the whole crea tion; bring regeneration to your Diocese of Christchurch, grant us cour age to grow disciples of Jesus, give us vision to reach young people and their families, and strengthen us to create vibrant communities of faith. All this we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Repair Café -
In the Hannan Centre, Thursday 6 March, 5 to 7pm
Let’s REPAIR rather than throw away.
FREE event! Share far and wide!
We will help fix your stuff and to teach you how to do it yourself; Bring torn or holey clothes, stuck zippers, furniture, headphones and cables, sunglasses, ceramics and pottery, toys, shoes, jewellery, blunt knives (to sharpen) broken plastic objects etc.
We can also 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 put it on ‘do not disturb’ … etc
Volunteers willing to help are very welcome! Please contact Lerks Stedman: 022 021 5270
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.
From the Youth Hub which many of you have generously supported: Supported Housing wing opens Last week we welcomed the first tenants for our 22-bedroom supported housing wing, with others following over the coming weeks! The Christchurch Methodist Mission, as a community housing provider, manages the housing service, which is for young people aged between 16 to 24 years who are in need of immediate housing. The housing is staffed 24/7 and each rangatahi has a Youth Development Coach to help them reach their goals and develop skills in living independently.
Helpful info
Giving
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.