Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 12 November 2023

Kia ora St John’s whānau,
 
This Sunday we continue our four-week exploration of the faith practice ‘Welcome Others’.

We will celebrate the holy meal of Communion this Sunday. Peer groups for our young people and their leaders will start in the Centre at 10:00am, and they will then join in for Communion in the second part of the service.

---

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…

LAST WHĀNAU NIGHT FOR 2023

Come and join us for board games and a BBQ!
Our last Whānau Night for the year is this Sunday.
We're excited to share a relaxed and fun evening.
Sunday 12th November, 5:00 - 6:30pm in the St John's Centre.
What board game will you be bringing?

HELP THE DCM FOODBANK

Volunteers are required for the DCM Foodbank Appeal at Chaffers St New World on Saturday 18th of November from 9:30am until 1:30pm, two people per hour are required.
Can you help serve the most needful in our city? Please see Carolyn Goudswaard

CHURCH LIFE SURVEY

Dr Margaret Galt will be facilitating a Congregational Forum on the findings from the Church Life Survey – examining and discussing the results for St John’s and for the wider Christian Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. In the St John’s Centre after the service on Sunday 19th November.
(NB: this forum has been delayed one week from previous notices)

OUTCOMES OF AGM LAST MONTH

•   We appreciate one another as we contribute our time, expertise, and energy to achieve our Church mission.
•   We are challenged to build up our Church and reach out to our neighbours and community to share God’s love to others.
•   We have budgeted for an overall increase in congregational giving of 10% for the coming year, and asked to discern God’s guidance for our personal/household giving.
•   The cost of insurance has become unaffordable and unsustainable. More information is being sought from experts, including the Property Trustees of the National Church, and we will need to consider options including self- insurance.

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

EFM is a four year study programme, in which participants only sign up for a year at a time.  Each year level focusses on a different topic: Year 1 The Hebrew Bible,  Year 2 The New Testament, Year 3 Christian History Year 4 Theology, Ethics and Inter-Faith Encounter. In addition, each year there is a theme and these cycle throughout any four year period, exploring living faithfully as Christians.  

CHRISTMAS IN THE COURTYARD

We are having Christmas in the Courtyard again this year on Friday 8 December, 5:00-8:00pm. 
This is an opportunity to share the joy of Christmas with our city neighbourhood.
If you can contribute in any way, please contact Rob Anderson.

May the Love of Christ expand our hearts to welcome others.
 
Allister