Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - Holy Week April 2022

Kia ora St John’s whānau,

May you feel the presence of God in your life as we journey through Holy Week towards Easter.

Here are the worship services over the coming days…

Today is Maundy Thursday and there is a Tenebrae Service at 7:30pm tonight.
The service of Tenebrae, meaning “darkness” or “shadows,” has been practiced by the church since medieval times. We join Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae during Holy Week.
In this adaptation, as we listen to the story of the last hours of Jesus' life the night before his death. In this service candles are extinguished to symbolise the enveloping darkness. The singing of plainsong and moments of silence mark the solemnity of the occasion and in response we find our voice in song and prayer. The Tenebrae service always has a sombre tone, reflected in the darkness, in the accounts of Christ's suffering, in the music, and in the silence when we depart the church. But underlying the sombre feeling is the anticipation of the resurrection, mirrored in the Christ candle.

Good Friday Service at 10am
A powerful time of worship and reflection remembering the day Jesus died.
(followed by hot cross buns)

Easter Sunday All Age Service at 10am
Intergenerational worship and reflection remembering the day Jesus was raised from death.
(followed by an Easter egg hunt)

New Zealand is now at the Orange traffic light setting, meaning there is no limit to gathering numbers. We retain the requirement for masks.
 
If you want to join the Good Friday and Easter Sunday worship services 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 for Friday and Sunday

Good Friday
https://www.dropbox.com/s/agtkilm47i8y9sv/15th%20April%202022%20GOOD%20FRIDAY%20Order%20of%20Service.pdf?dl=0

Easter Sunday
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mp6mlmoxb662cfj/17th%20April%202022%20EASTER%20Order%20of%20Service.pdf?dl=0

OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT

BEING A CONNECTED COMMUNITY DURING COVID-IN-THE-COMMUNITY

Some of us are having to 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.

GOOD FRIDAY GATHERING

Khandallah Presbyterian Church are hosting this evening intergenerational event because there is no Easter Camp this year. It starts at 5:30pm Sausage Sizzle, 6:00pm Easter Questions Panel, 7:30pm ‘Words From the Cross; Music From Our Lives’ service.
This gathering is for our youth group, and indeed the whole community that stands behind them - whānau, friends, parish members and beyond. This is another chance to see the ‘Burning Bush’ alight!

WONDER WALKS

Make the story of Easter come alive starting from your backyard! Explore and have fun this Easter through Wonder Walks which is a series of free, interactive walking maps, designed to help young people connect with the story of Easter while out enjoying a walk as a family, or with a parent or grandparent.
There are 8 maps to walk, including one for Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
You can download the maps here: https://manna.nz/wonder-walks/

SCOTS COLLEGE AND ST JOHN'S IN THE CITY EASTER SERVICE

If you wish to view the special online presentation of the St John’s and Scots College Easter Service from last week, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxKbItsaLbp9ZgzEzjhHr0jyVGuaBpIIB

PEER GROUPS HOLIDAY

Over the school holidays the peer groups for young people (St J’s Kids and Youth Group) will take a break. There will be a combined Holiday Programme on Sunday 1st May.

ONLINE DEVOTIONS PAUSE

Our Thursday Online Devotions take a break over the school holidays and will recommence on Thursday 5th May at 11am.