Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 11 September 2022
Kia ora St John’s whānau,
This Sunday’s date recalls a day of terror, which for most of us was within living memory: September 11
Stephen Harris is our Guest Preacher, and will be reflecting on how the scriptures speak to the current perils of our world. His sermon is titled ‘Biblical Times’.
If you want to read the Bible readings before Sunday, they are: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, 14-17
Our youth and kids will start at 10am in their peer groups (in the Centre) and join together in the Church for Communion.
After the service we have our Quarterly Communion Lunch, so please bring food to share
If you can’t get into 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.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/370260759?pwd=b2ZkajZ5d28rTy9EN1VKZDJUM3N4dz09
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...
ELECTION OF NEW ELDERS
At last week’s Congregational Meeting we elected two new elders: Jason Fyfe and Nisha George. We thank God for their sense of call and look forward to their ordination to this leadership role in our church
ST JOHN’S CHURCH CAMP
This is a special weekend for all of us! 16th – 18th September 2022
The theme is ‘Journeying Together’.
Online registrations are closed. But we might be able to squeeze in some extras. Please contact Naomi to enquire.
VISION TO ACTION
Our Vision: We explore and share the gospel with our dynamic neighbourhood. We create safe spaces to be, to belong, and to navigate the tough stuff. Getting to know God is a team sport – that’s why we do this together, not alone.
How to get involved… Join a project team – everyone is welcome!!
Site and Space – Get involved in exploring how the St John’s site can be used in an outreach capacity. This could involve physical changes, projects, use of the Centre.
Current Project: Community Christmas Market
Contact Rob Anderson or Judi Ferguson
Community Rebuild – Help re-establish and build back internal relationships and friendship in the St John’s community post COVID.
Current Project: Supporting Attendance at Church Camp and Talent Show
Contact: Margaret Gilkison or Jemma August
Caring for Specific Groups of Need in the St John’s Community – Help us intentionally build connections between generations and serve specific groups of need e.g. young, elderly, youth.
Contact: TBC
Whānau Night Extension – Get involved in building on the success of Whānau Night. Held each month during school terms in the St John’s Centre or in homes. Food, fun, faith and focus.
Current Project: Youth Lead Code Breaker Night, 20 November 2022
Coordinator contacts for 20 November Whanau Night: Antonia Milkop and Bronwyn Wood with St John’s Youth Group
What we need: In order for the church to carry on running Whanau Nights from 2023 onwards, we will need to find a committed leader to help orchestrate and organise teams to run future Whanau nights. Does this sound like you?
Vision Communication and Connections – Ensuring St John’s is communicating our Vision with the wider community and supporting the project teams.
Current Project: Improving Signage and Billboards
Contact: Elizabeth Gibbs
Getting to Know our Neighbours /Understanding Our - Eco System/Community – Building direct relationships with our immediate neighbourhood i.e. business and organisations, Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University, Kaianga Ora, building developers, WCC, neighbouring Churches, schools.
Current Projects: Follow-up event from Art Installation and Connecting with local property developers to understand future populations.
Contact: Pamela Cohen
The St John’s Vision is a key focus for Session Leaders so feel free to contact any one of them about this. In particular you can contact the Session Clerk, Rob Anderson
New Ideas
St John’s wants to innovate and try new things that fit in with our Vision. If you have a creative idea the following information might help you work out how to progress that from a thought to action.
If needed, talk to Ino Pasullean so he can connect you with the right project team or provide further advice.
NAME TAGS
As we turn our Vision into action, one very easy and practical way we can build community is to wear a name tag.
This Sunday all those who wear a name tag (or sign up to get one) will get a chocolate!
Please keep your name tag on when you come over for Morning Tea in the Centre, and there will be a receptacle to drop your name tag into before you leave.
LEADERSHIP FOR OUR MINISTRY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
We are looking for new paid leadership to support our ministry with Children & Families and Youth. These are important and life-giving ministries for us at St John’s and we remain committed to these ministries as an expression of our faith shared and grown together.
While we have existing position descriptions for these roles (half-time for the Children & Families role, and full-time for the Youth Pastor role), we are also wanting to be flexible and shape the responsibilities of these roles, where appropriate, to match a) the strengths of suitable applicants, and b) with the emerging needs at St John’s.
Our St John’s Vision is encouraging us to focus on being intergenerational, having safe spaces for people to belong, being flexible and responsive, with an open-minded and positive culture.
We are open to explore possibilities with anyone who has a passion and aptitude for these ministries.
If you, or someone you know, might consider these roles, please contact Rev Allister Lane for more information, including the current position descriptions (Ph: 021 466 526).
Applications close 23rd September 2022. including a CV and a covering letter that lays out your vision for the role.
FREE GAMELAN CONCERT
FELLOWSHIP GROUP
“Seeing the Invisible: Black Holes, the Universe and our place in it”
This was the title of a presentation given last month at a Science & Faith seminar at St John’s by Prof Jeff Tallon.
At this month’s Fellowship Group you can hear this presentation again, along with the wondrous images from the deepest parts of space.
Tuesday 27th September, 11am in the Hall.
ONE CONFERENCE
This leadership training conference for the Presbyterian Church is being hosted at St John’s in November (2pm 17th of November - 2:30pm Saturday the 19th of November).
We will have many folks travelling from out of town and many have asked if there any possibility of being billeted. Would you like to consider billeting out-of-town attendees to the conference?
Conference attendees will have all meals provided at the conference except breakfast. If you can offer billeting please fill in this form One Conference Billet Host Form or email grace@presbyterian.org.nz
The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Allister