Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 23 February 2025

Kia ora St John’s whānau,
 
This Sunday we acknowledge suffering as part of our human experience, and listen to God’s Word for where we can encounter love.

Our children and young people will go out with their leaders part-way through the service to their peer group times.
 
At the conclusion of the service we will all share Morning Tea together – before heading up to Central Park for our Church Picnic! (see below).

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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…

CHURCH PICNIC

You are invited to our Church Picnic this Sunday 23rd February.  And, praise God, the weather forecast looks fine!!!
After the usual 10am service, we will head up Willis Street to Central Park.
We will gather for a BYO picnic and then roam around Central Park in small groups for an informal explore of God’s creation encouraging curiosity/wonder/praise.
We can put into practice what we learned last year about appreciating God’s creation.
There are multiple access points to Central Park without any steps. We will assemble on the grass at the playground – which has a flying fox, and toilets there too.
Dependent children need to be accompanied by a parent or care-giver.

FELLOWSHIP GROUP

Welcome back to the first Fellowship Group meeting on Tuesday 25th February 2025. 
The format is an outing to Palmers Garden Centre in Miramar, with lunch at the Chocolate Frog Café.  Everyone will be free to wander round the garden centre after lunch. 
Travel, and the timing, will be arranged in carpooling;
Contact: Diane Davie 
RSVP: by Friday 21 February 2025 (at the latest).

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Next month the season of Lent begins, and we will have our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Breakfast.
4th March, 7:30-8:30am in the St John’s Centre (with the maple syrup)
Koha is appreciated to support DCM.

ASH WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday 5th March at 5pm we have a combined Ash Wednesday service with the Imposition of Ashes, at St Mary of the Angels on Boulcott Street.

PRESBYTERY GATHERING

Twice a year, Presbytery Central holds their Gathering. This is an opportunity to learn, fellowship, and grow together. Everyone from churches in the region is welcome to join in for a meaningful and engaging day on Saturday 15th March.
 
The Keynote speaker is our own Prof. Neil Dodgson!  His topic is “Living in an Age of Disruptive Technologies: AI and What It Means to Be Human” exploring the ethical, theological, and practical implications of artificial intelligence. How does AI challenge our understanding of humanity? What does it mean for the future of the Church? His insights will guide us as we reflect on faith in a world increasingly shaped by technology.
 
Our world is rapidly changing, and technology is reshaping how we connect, communicate, and engage with faith. At this Gathering, we will explore how the Church can navigate and respond to these changes while remaining grounded in our mission.
 
This Gathering will take place at St Albans Church in Palmerston North. Ministers have fellowship and learning on Friday, and everyone in invited to be part of the full-day program on Saturday.

EASTER CAMP

Our youth are preparing for the Easter Camp at Forest Lakes, so this is an opportunity for us to pray for them to encounter the risen Jesus in a new way at this special time with other youth.

Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life, all who believe in me, though they die yet shall they live.”
 Choose this day whom you will serve.
  
Mā te wā
Allister