Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 26 January 2025

Kia ora St John’s whānau,
 
This is the first weekly email for 2025, and so Happy New Year to everyone!
 
This Sunday we hold together the span between Jesus’ birth and the start of his ministry as an adult.  We recognise him born the Light of the World (the story we hear at Christmas), and hear him teach with a proclamation of God’s priorities (this Sunday’s Gospel Lectionary reading).

For our young people we have a Combined Holiday Programme – the young people will go out of the service part-way. When School starts for the year we will have Peer Group times on Sundays (starting next week).
 
At the conclusion of the service we will all share Morning Tea together.

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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.

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…

WHAT MATTERS MOST FOR FAITH?

As we start the year, we have an opportunity to be reminded of what matters most for faith.  The Presbyterian Church has a confession of faith called the Kupu Whakapono and this expresses the main points of the Chrisitan faith.  We will have a conversation about this confession of faith, where curiosity is encouraged, and no ‘prior reading’ is required!  If this sounds interesting to you, you are welcome to come and join me (Rev Allister) and others this Sunday after our Morning Tea (in the Chapel).

WHANAU NIGHT

Our theme for the multiple Whanau Nights this year is HOPE.
Thanks to our amazing volunteers, we've got seven inspiring Whānau events planned across the year to bring our church community together (see 2025 dates below).

Save the date for our first Whanau night of the year: Sunday 2 February 5:00-6:45pm @ St John's Centre.
We're kicking off the year with a "Mission Possible" theme for the night. Hope is an action not just a wish.
All are welcome - invite your friends, neighbours, and family. It'll be a fun evening of connection and inspiration. We'll start with food at 5pm and kick off with 'mission possible' activities from 5.30pm onwards.

CHURCH PICNIC

Save the date (and pray for fine weather) Sunday 23rd February @ Central Park.
After the morning service we’ll go up the road for a picnic and explore God’s creation with curiosity/wonder/praise.

CWS CHRISTMAS APPEAL

On Christmas Day our collective offerings were given for the Christian World Service (CWS) Christmas Appeal. These totalled $1,296. Together we are part of supporting millions of people through conflict and disaster, helping improve lives and livelihoods.  Our donations have funded our local partners to strengthen communities in their efforts to end violence and promote human rights and peace.

OFFICE OPEN

After the Summer break, the St John’s Office is open again Monday through Friday with the usual hours 9:00am to 4:30pm.

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.
- George Burns

Mā te wā
Allister