Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 17 March 2024

Kia ora St John’s whānau,
 
This Sunday we delve into the fourth and final specific spiritual practice in our series over Lent: Sabbath.

There are lots and lots of Spiritual Practices Christians find useful for ‘keeping company’ with God, and we are sampling some together in order to help each of us find something that sustains and grows our faith.
 
For this Sunday’s service we will all gather in the Church at 10am and our young people will go out part-way to their peer groups. 
 
And afterward we have Morning Tea, a fundraising BBQ and a Newcomers Lunch (details 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.

If using your phone: dial 04 886 0026 (Meeting ID: 370 260 759#, Passcode: 1560107#)

This is the link to the printable Service Sheets:

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT…

SPIRITUAL PRACTICES SERIES – FOLLOW ME

Over the six weeks of Lent we are exploring Spiritual Practices. This continues our emphasis of putting our faith into practice, and will focus on our desire for more of God through intentional practices, relationships, and experiences that gave us space in our lives to ‘keep company’ with God.
 
We are examining specific practices of Engaging with Scripture, Prayer, Self-examination, and Sabbath. But also consider many other spiritual practices that have helped Christians around the world.
 
You can access lots of resources for the Spiritual Practices we’ve been exploring, Here. https://www.stjohnsinthecity.org.nz/news

INSTRUMENTS NEEDED TO PRAISE GOD

Our Youth Band has new members and looking to expand the range of instrumentation. A bass guitar has been generously loaned, and we are still seeking: a keyboard …and a banjo!
Also, we are looking for a regular acoustic guitar for the Sunday morning Music Group.
If you may be able to donate an instrument, please contact the St John’s Office.

A&J ANNUAL APPEAL FOR MISSION SUNDAY 17TH MARCH

The St John’s Outreach Committee encourages everyone to be part of the spiritual and practical support for A&J (a St John’s couple working overseas), by praying regularly and contributing financially to their work with poor migrant workers. A&J speak eight languages between them, so can talk to these migrant workers often in their own language. A&J are not paid a salary for bringing hope to these people . Instead, they raise most of the money that they need to live themselves.
On Sunday 17th March there will be a Retiring Offering (making a donation in the foyer after the service).  The Outreach Committee is committed to give $4,000 each year and matches dollar for dollar all additional donations up to $2,500 per year. We hope to generate additional giving of $6,000 through this annual appeal. If you would rather use internet banking, then use the normal bank account number and put AandJ in the reference.

NEWCOMERS LUNCH

If you've started worshipping with the St John’s whānau in the 12 months, we would love you to be part of an informal but special occasion to welcome you to the church family with a free lunch on Sunday 17th March – after morning tea. With pizza (and sweets) you can find out more about the St John’s Vision and Mission from our Minister Allister Lane and the elders. We encourage you, and will support you, to find ways to share your gifts and deepen your place of belonging at St John’s.
For catering purposes, please let us know you are planning to come along – with a simple “I’ll be there’ to enquiries@stjohnsinthecity.org.nz

TREASURER’S UPDATE

End of Tax Year on 31 March
The end of the financial year for tax rebates for donations is 31 March 2024.  If you are thinking of making additional donations and gain the 33% tax rebate in the 2024 tax year, please ensure it is deposited in St John’s BNZ account by 31 March 2024 to be included in your tax receipt.
St John’s bank account number is 02-0500-0021908-000
 
Congregational giving year to date
At the AGM on 29 October 2023, it was reported that congregational giving was 10% below budget, even though the budget had been set at a realistic level achieved in previous years.  For the year to date, giving is 12% below budget. 
The following graph shows monthly giving compared with budget.

WHANAU NIGHT

Whanau Night is back for 2024!  The theme for this year is Restoration. 
The first Whanau Night event this year is at the Southern Cross Garden Bar, Sunday 24 March 5:00-6.30pm ($5 koha).  
A chance to connect, share and be a community together.
No need to RSVP, just turn up, and invite your friends!

SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH

Sausage Sizzle Easter Fundraiser: We have six amazing adults who are giving up their Easter Holiday to help support our youth group at Easter Camp. We want to help support them to get to Easter Camp and as part of that we are hoping to raise $500 to pay for some of their registration. To do this we will be hosting 2 blind envelope sausage sizzles. You'll take a beautifully decorated envelope and give whatever you want to give for your sausage. Any extra that we raise will go towards subsidising those youth attending the camp.
This will be on the 17th and 24th of March after church in the St John's Courtyard.
 
Old Towels: Do you have an old towel that's sitting in your cupboard or in the boot of your car? 
The youth group would love to take it off your hands! During Easter Camp Hannah is running the prayer stations which is a really powerful time to connect deeper with God. For one of the stations, Hannah needs bits of cloth to wipe people's faces. The dream is to recycle old towels that are no longer needed and cut them so that we would have enough for everyone. There will be a box available in the foyer on Sunday for you to leave your towel, give your towel to Hannah or drop them off at the office during the week.

PUBLIC THEOLOGY EVENTS

Dr Luke Barnes: Why does the universe appear fine-tuned for life?
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/events/2024/03/public-lecture-by-dr-luke-barnes
6pm, Monday 18 March, Hugh Mackenzie HM104, 28 Kelburn Parade
 
Dr Zachary Ardern: Is there any purpose to evolution?
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/events/2024/03/public-lecture-by-dr-zachary-ardern
6pm, Tuesday 19 March, Hugh Mackenzie HM104, 28 Kelburn Parade

“God receives us just as we are and accepts our prayers just as they are. In the same way that a small child cannot draw a bad picture so a child of God cannot offer a bad prayer.” Prayer by Richard Foster (this book is available from the St John’s Library)
 
Allister