Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church -23 July 2023

Kia ora St John’s whānau,
 
We’ve all heard lots of talk about AI.  This Sunday we will bring some clarity to what AI is (and isn’t), and consider what it might mean for our future.

To help us, I will be interviewing a Professor of Computer Graphics, Neil Dodgson, as we bring together this latest technology with the resources of faith that guide us in what it is to be human.
 
For our young people there are peer groups, starting part-way through the service.

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If you can’t gather in the city, and you want to join the worship service via Zoom, here are the details to access the live-stream:
 
Zoom Meeting ID: 370 260 759
Passcode: worship
 
The link to join the Zoom worship service is below.

If using your phone: dial 04 886 0026 (Meeting ID: 370 260 759#, Passcode: 1560107#)

This is the link to the printable Service Sheet 

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT...

FOLLOW ME

Over four Sundays, starting 30th July, we will be focusing on the faith practice Following Jesus at St John’s in the City.
We are using a new resource called Follow Me, from the Presbyterian Church in USA. Rather than starting with a Bible story, this resource starts with a faith practice, and explores that biblically, theologically and socially.  This allows us to follow the practice for four weeks and reflect more deeply together using resources designed for different ages groups.
This means we will all suspend our usual approaches (e.g. following the Lectionary Bible readings) and resources in favour of all exploring this faith practice for four consecutive weeks: 30th July, 6th, 13th, 20th August.  We will still have peer group time, as the resource is designed for exploring the same faith practice with the various age groups.
We will look at biblical stories illustrating this practice and how the Christian community has understood this through more than two thousand years. We will use this resource each week with our Sunday services, St J’s Kids and Youth Group peer groups, and an intergenerational event. We will be encouraging one another to activate this practice – both individually and in community.
By using this resource to all explore a faith practice together over the same four weeks, we will look forward to opportunities to talk about this and do it together.

BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION DISCUSSIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

This Sunday we will conclude the series of Baptism and Confirmation Conversations for young people. This will be after the service with lunch provided.
(If you are older and interested in Baptism, or taking a step forward in faith, please contact Rev Allister)

WHANAU NIGHT

The next St John’s Whanau Night is happening across the city. Sunday 23 July, 5-7pm
You are invited to a home near you. The evening will centre around a meal and connection. By meeting like this we hope to grow in relationship with people in our St John's whānau in our neighbourhoods.

FELLOWSHIP GROUP

Matariki is here and the Fellowship Group AGM is near.
Please mark your calendar for attendance on Tuesday 25th July 2023 at 11am in the St John’s Centre.
Will you be inspired with any special mid-winter ideas for the shared lunch?

MENS BREAKFAST

This is an informal time for men exploring faith over a hearty breakfast. We meet in the St John’s Centre and finish promptly to get on with the day!

7:30-8:30 am on Thursdays, fortnightly. The next breakfast is Thursday 27th July. See the St John’s website for more details and who to contact to let them know you are coming.

CONCERT IN PAEKAKARIKI 23RD JULY

PHOTOS FROM OUR MATARIKI FUN DAY

As part of the Fun Day last Sunday we had kite-flying in the St John’s courtyard.

NEW WINE

Each year families from St John’s have gone to the New Wine Festival in January. It is a very uplifting time and a great way to start a new year.
Here is a video showing some of the festival highlights:

The way of Christ is perfect; we can always trust that walking with our Saviour is good for us.
Allister