Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 27 March 2022

Kia ora St John’s whānau,

This Sunday (the fourth in the season of Lent as we journey toward Easter) we hear about God’s love displayed in the cross of Christ, and how we are given the ministry of reconciliation as ‘Ambassadors of Christ’.
We will have our friends A&J sharing stories about how we live out this truth in our lives.

St J’s Kids will go out for their peer group time halfway through the worship service.
The Youth Group will remain in the whole worship service to hear our special speakers.

Yesterday new public health rules were announced, which mean we can now have up to 200 people at Church. 
 
We will continue our other precautions for this Sunday:

• No Morning Tea after the service this Sunday (…maybe you could invite someone to lunch instead!)

• Retiring Offering (people holding a bag in the foyer to make your Offering after the service)

• As well as showing your ‘My Vaccine Pass’ please also follow the usual public health guidelines:

  • stay home if you’re unwell

  • wear a mask

  • give others outside of your household physical space (move along the pews)

 
We are doing this together, and so please let someone know if you want support. We can help practically, spiritually and pastorally.
 
 
If you want to join the Sunday 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
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kmm6itt5mi02emm/27th%20March%202022%20Order%20of%20Service.pdf?dl=0

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

Some of us are already having to self-isolate because we or someone in our household tests positive for COVID-19. If you are in this situation and find you need help (e.g. food or supplies dropped off), please let us know through the St John’s in the City Office. We are able to help one another.

Even if we have to physically isolate, we want to stay connected as a faith community. To help us, we have Online Devotions every Thursday at 11am. Please join with others for fifteen minutes of spiritual reflection together.

The link to join via Zoom is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/150457018?pwd=OU55OXhDY2YvZFlIWmNNZkxVaVN2UT09
If using your phone, dial 04 886 0026 (Meeting ID: 150 457 018, Passcode: 333)

LENT REFLECTIONS

Thursdays at 7:30pm during Lent (the season before Easter)
These reflections will be on current issues and Easter themes, and this Thursday we will be reflecting on the meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross by examining models of atonement.
To join in this open time of reflection and discussion, please use this Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83521205867?pwd=MEdKQmhSOHNvM2pHSm1tSnZZcDJ6dz09
Meeting ID: 835 2120 5867
Passcode: lent

ANNUAL OUTREACH GRANTS

The Outreach Committee have shared in recent weeks that applications for the annual Outreach grants close on 31st March. If you are aware of good work being done in our communities, please encourage worthy organisations to apply – very quickly!

For further information and the on-line application form:
https://www.stjohnsinthecity.org.nz/grants

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS

Remember that donations made before 31 March 2022 are eligible for this year’s rebate of 33 cents in the dollar against tax paid. We can help you claim that too if you need advice on it.
Any giving for the mission of St John’s can be made through the automatic payment system, by contacting your bank with the following information. You can do this online now.

St John’s in the City Bank: BNZ
Branch: Wellington Account
Name: St John’s Presbyterian Church
Account Number: 02 0500 0021908 00

Please ensure that your name appears in the reference, so that you can be issued with a tax receipt.

ANNUAL COLLECTION FOR A&J - SUNDAY 3TH APRIL

We are preparing for our annual collection to support the work of the St Johns Missioners, A & J.
Who are they? Many of you will know A &J. But for the few who don’t, they are a couple from St Johns who have felt God’s call to spread the gospel. They are visiting us on the 27th March.
Where are they? They are working in the Middle East, where their mission is primarily to the many migrant labourers who often work in very poor conditions for low pay. Our multi-lingual missioners speak many of their native languages.
Why do we have a retiring collection? They are not paid a salary but rather have to raise most of the money they need to live. St Johns is their home church so we provide a significant part of their support. The Outreach committee provides $4,000 a year and matches other St Johns donations $-for-$ up to $2,500. Donations are raised by this annual retiring collection and through regular giving from many St Johns members
How can I hear more about this mission? To protect them, we are sparing in what we put in print, so you won’t see much in the bulletin or elsewhere. But you can join an email newsletter that periodically is sent to supporters by emailing kiaora1000@gmail.com Margaret Galt coordinates this and you can contact her through this email.