Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 12 February 2023
Kia ora St John’s whānau,
As people on a journey of faith, perhaps we can imagine ourselves joining countless other pilgrims in a ‘caravan of love’.
Our Vision articulates our sense of connection with the surrounding city we are in (see below), and this Sunday we are delighted to have Matthew and Natalia from Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) come to share more about the work they are doing. St John’s in the City has partnered with DCM for decades in helping serve the needs of people in the city.
The age-specific peer groups for youth and families recommence this Sunday at 10:00am in the Centre. We will all gather in the Church for Communion and then share morning tea in the courtyard, with special fun activities organised.
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...
OUR VISION
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.
We have project teams as we live out our Vision in many ways – we want everyone involved!!!
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.
Contact Rob Anderson or Judi Ferguson
Community Rebuild – Help re-establish and build back internal relationships and friendship in the St John’s community.
Contact: Margaret Gilkison or Jemma August
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.
Contact: Fiona Purchas
Vision Communication and Connections – Ensuring St John’s is communicating our Vision with the wider community and supporting the project teams.
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.
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.
YOUTH AND FAMILIES MINISTRIES
As we start this new year, we are delighted to have people serving us in new ways in our ongoing commitment to resource our ministry with young people:
Hannah North will be our new Youth and Families Pastor, and she is moving to St John’s in the City from Auckland, where she has been working in youth and families ministry. Hannah is looking for accommodation in a very competitive market! Please let me (Allister) know if you can offer temporary accommodation from the end of this month, and/or can make a recommendation for longer-term rental.
Youth Group starts again tomorrow, Friday 10th February, at 6:30pm.
EVANS BAY FUN DAY
This special event depends on stunning Wellington weather for us to enjoy a picnic together by the sea, with lots of fun options for exploring Evans Bay near Hataitai Beach.
Please mark your diary (along with the back up option for weather) and invite family and friends to join you.
LENT IS COMING
Please mark your diaries to be part of our community faith events coming up as we begin the season of Lent:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast: 21st February, 7:30-8:30am in the St John’s Centre (with the maple syrup)
Ash Wednesday Combined Prayer & Ashes: 22nd February, 5:15pm at St Mary of the Angels
ORDINATION AS A MINISTER
Brett Reid was part of our church family until he started training for ordained ministry. We are delighted that Brett has completed his training and is being called as Community Minister at Ngaio Union Church. You are most welcome to come to a service of the Presbytery to ordain Brett on Sunday 12th February, 4pm at Ngaio Union Church.
WADESTOWN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Wadestown Presbyterian Church congregation and Presbytery Central have decided that the Church will close in March. This has been a difficult decision but one that ultimately has been agreed upon due to a lack of people resources. As a result the last service that will be held at WPC will be on Sunday 26 March 2023. Before that there will be a celebration of the long and amazing history from the formation of WPC in 1881. To do this there is a weekend of events on 11 and 12 March that you might like to participate in – this is one way we can show our love and care for these folk.
On Saturday catch up with others, photos and memorabilia, decade group photos, evening drinks and dinner (with quiz). On Sunday lunch and Celebration service in the afternoon lead by Revs Allister Lane and Chris Purdie. Please indicate if you will be coming by emailing the WPC Office office@wadestownpresbyterian.org.nz. Responses needed by Friday 17 February.
We may have visitors start coming from Wadestown in the coming weeks, and I invite you to make them most welcome at St John’s in the City.
REMINDER ABOUT PARKING
We rent out the majority of on-site car parks during the week, Monday to Friday, 12am to 6pm.
There are 2 spaces allocated for when members of St John’s come to visit someone at St John’s during the week – these are the two mobility parking spaces marked with yellow paint.
• One is off Dixon Street, in front of Spinks Cottage (space #23)
• The other is off Willis Street on the back corner of the Church (space #30)
Anyone wanting to use these parks when visiting St John’s during the week are asked to please phone the St John’s Office: 385 1546.
The Peace of Christ be with you
Allister