All Saints’ Church

6 Norfolk Street

Belmont Domain

Contact: Gill Berridge, ph 568

3452 or 021 488 682

9am Sunday services held weekly

during January 2019

Morning Prayer

Usual 9am services will recommence

in February 2019.

French Conversation (fortnightly)

Next session: date to be advised.

Thursday Club (weekly) at 12 noon

Next session: date to be advised.

DIARY THIS WEEK

St James’s Anglican Church

71 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt (Closed until 14 Jan) Office Hours:569 6737

9am-1pm, Monday - Friday E-mail: reception@stjames.net.nz

Website: www.stjames.net.nz

Vicar: Revd Peter Benge 569 7685

Priest Assistant: Revd Murray Wills

021 918 147

Choir Director and Organist

Jonathan Berkahn AYM/Young Persons Contact aspence@stjames.net.nz

Administrator/Registrar: Christine Ross

parish.admin@stjames.net.nz

PA to the Vicar/Receptionist

Margaret Hamilton

Bequests

Making provision in your Will to donate to our parish community is a way of ‘paying it forward’ to future generations. By considering our parish in your will, you can show your gratitude for God’s generosity, recognise that everything belongs to God, and provide for those who share the gospel and those they care for.

Bequests are an effective and much-needed way of keeping the gospel alive in Lower Hutt. Your family solicitor or the Public Trust can assist you in making or changing a Will. It is important to have this independent and impartial advice.

Dan Reeves, People’s Warden; Mark Stone, Vicar’s Warden.

Sunday 16 December 8am Eucharist at St James 9am Morning Worship All Saints, Belmont 10am Eucharist at St James 3pm “A Christmas Carol” performance St James - p.5

Wednesday 19 December 12.15pm Midweek Eucharist 7-9pm Music Rehearsal at St James Thursday 20 December 10am Holy Communion, followed by morning tea in the foyer 12pm Thursday Club at All Saints 7-9pm Musical Worship small group ph Summer 020 413 04285

Friday 21 December 1pm Office closes until 9am 14 Jan

Saturday 22 December 8.30am Prayers in the church 3pm “A Christmas Carol” performance St James - p.5

Sunday 23 December 8am Eucharist at St James 9am Eucharist All Saints, Belmont 10am Eucharist at St James

The Anglican Parish of Lower Hutt

St James Church and All Saints Church, Belmont

Newslink

Naumai, haere mai! Malo e lelei! Talofa! Welcome! 16 December 2018 - 3rd of Advent

The Sentence for today:

Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name; make known his deeds among the nations, proclaim that his name is exalted. Isaiah 12:4

Collect For The Week Almighty God,

you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son;

grant that those who proclaim your word may so guide our feet into the way of peace, that we may stand with confidence before him

when he comes in his glorious kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer. Amen.

As we enter into the 3rd week of Advent we are confronted with a message from John the Baptist about the coming of the Messiah!!! John gives a rugged talk starting out confrontational and damning calling the group a “brood of vipers”. He then rallies the listeners, not in radical social upheaval but insists that moral principles would lead to a transformation of the society. He ends with the proclamation that one will come who is even greater than he, one that comes not to baptise with water but with fire. May we in this advent season turn our focus to the hope and expectation of the Messiah and the promise that rests in him of eternal salvation. (Guy)

TODAY’S READINGS:

Philippians 4:4-7 p.1340 Luke 3:7-18 p.1204

8am Eucharist Pg 404 NZ Prayer Book President:Murray Wills Preacher: Derek Lightbourne Leader: Mark Stone Readers: Kathy Ingram Alan Smith

10am Eucharist President: Murray Wills Preacher: Guy Benton Leader: Ema Weepu Herald: Laura Pemberton Servers: Megan Richter Amelia Mansfield Rebekah Perry Song Come, now is the time Song Prepare ye the way Collect (see front page) Philippians 4:4-7 (Rebekah Perry) Song Change my heart, O God Luke 3:7-18 (John Low) Sermon (Guy Benton) Intercessions (Allen Sutton) Offertory On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry The Great Thanksgiving The Lord’s Prayer (Maori) Communion Agnus Dei Berkahn Advent Song Berkahn Resurrecting Communion Prayer Hymn 235 O Jesus I have promised Dismissal Postlude: Concerto in F Albinoni

Prayer ministry is available in the Chapel during Communion

9.00am All Saints Belmont President & Preacher: Derek Lightbourne Leader: Gill Berridge

Prayers this week The Church

For the Episcopal Church in Kivu, Rwanda.

For the Parish of Porirua, Revd Terry Alve, Priest-in-charge.

The World

For all who are working to overcome the methamphetamine drug problem in Tonga, and for those suffering from drug addiction.

For the people of Yemen, suffering hardship following years of civil war.

The Community For the safety of young people

visiting NZ on their OE and for young Kiwis on their OE overseas.

That the newly-announced strategy on synthetic drug use in NZ may prove effective.

The Local Church For our Vicar, clergy and their

families as we approach Christmas, and for all of us, that the Christ-child may come anew to each of us.

For those families welcoming our Joseph and Mary figurine into their homes during Advent.

Those for whom prayer is asked Emma, Lydia, Jean, Connie, Mark,

Diana, Jackie, Sara, Dianne, Pamela, Chris, Peter, Roger, Brenda.

Those who mourn, those who have died

Patrick McGeown, Perry Coleman, Barry Smith, Grace Millane.

Readings for next Sunday Theme: Rejoice in God Hebrews 10: 5-10 p.1365 Luke 1:39-45 p.1201

Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy

The third candle (pink for joy) is lit

Leader: God our Saviour All: Let us rejoice at your coming.

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As we wind down to the end of the year, we are reflecting on the great year it has been in the youth space and look forward to next year where we can hopefully continue to grow spiritually and numerically. Bring on 2019!

Stay up to date : If you want to keep up with what is happening in the youth space - the easiest way is on Facebook: St James Youth or St James Friday Waffles. Contact Andy (Youth Minister) if you need any more information: 021 222 6474 or aspence@stjames.net.nz

New Wine Kapiti : Thu 17—Mon 21 January 2019

(Wellington Anniversary Weekend)

Kapiti College campus—Hillcrest Road, Raumati Beach

This event is suitable for people of all ages.

* Families

* Children (under the care of an adult)

* Young people

New Wine Kapiti commences on Thursday at 6.30pm and finishes at 1pm on Monday at Kapiti College, Raumati Beach. Come and join in with our Parish family at this Diocesan Family Camp. You can attend part days, or just 1 day, if you can’t get away for the whole time.

The Revd Chris Low and John Low are attending New Wine for 5 days and they have offered to keep an eye on children of school age if parents would like their child to attend the children’s programme for a day. You would need to deliver your child to Raumati and collect them at the end of the day. Please contact Chris direct if you are interested in this option. Ph. 022 562 9602.

Financial assistance could be available if cost is a problem. Please talk to the Vicar. Register and find out more: www.newwine.org.nz

AAW News Thank you to members for your encouragement as we work on our new format for AAW meetings. We hope to see you on the second Tuesday 12th February 2019. Some things will be familiar and traditional while others may be new and different. Over the summer, you might like to think about any activities or speakers which could be included in the programme next year. We will give you advance notice of the first meeting in the New Year. Have a safe and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year. St James AAW

FOR YOUR DIARY: December 21 Parish Office closes at 1pm, resuming 14 January 2019

December 24 (Monday) Christmas Eve services: 5.30pm Family service & 11pm Midnight Eucharist

December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY services 8am and 10am : St James

December 25 CHRISTMAS DAY service 9am : All Saints

2019

January 14 Parish Office re-opens from 9am—1pm Mon-Fri

January 17-21 New Wine Diocesan Family Camp, Kapiti College

January 23 12.15pm Mid-week Eucharist recommences

January 23 7pm Choir practice recommences

January 24 10am Mid-week Communion service (BCP) recommences

February 3 Children’s Programme recommences

February 12 1.30pm AAW meeting

ECO—FOCUS See the recent article on “How to sort out NZ’s plastic mess” (NZ Herald), and “The climate change evangelist with God on her side” - a Christian viewpoint suggesting action on climate change issues is loving one’s neighbour. Read the articles on the trellis on north side of the church.

There are vacancies on the rosters for many duties undertaken within the church. If you feel you could spare a bit of time during the week to help, please either contact the office or the coordinator below. Cleaning Roster: Kathy Ingram 021 1055 401 Flower Guild (we will teach you if you wish to learn): Wendy Moore 938 1759 Sacristy (preparing for Sunday’s communion) Trina Laurence 589 5787

Farewell to “Conversations” Last week’s “Conversations” session was the last one to be held. These programs have been running for 2½ years every two weeks, with many interesting topics and challenging items. Many thanks, Richard and Trina, for running and hosting these sessions.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Psalm 72: 1-5,8-10 Matt 1:

1-17

Psalm 72: 1,2,12,13,

18-end Matt 1: 18-24

Psalm 71: 3-8

Luke 1: 5-25

Psalm 24: 1-6

Luke 1: 26-38

Psalm 33: 1-4,11-12,

20-end Luke 1: 39-45

Psalm 113

Luke 1: 46-56

During this season of Advent, you are encouraged to spend some quiet time reflecting on scripture, noticing where Christ is working in your life and seeking more of his life within you. Please remember you can also receive daily reflections during this season by emailing Murray Wills (murray@maxsys.co.nz).

Please stay after the morning service to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and meet others who worship here.

TODAY at St JAMES

We welcome you to our service here today.

Christmas is fast approaching and among other thoughts, our minds turn to food - special food for a special celebration. But what about those whose constant thoughts are how to afford to put any food on the table - let alone special treats for their children at Christmas?

Thank you to all those who contribute regularly to the church food basket. Again this Christmas season we ask you all, if able, to bring non-perishable food for our Foodbank basket so that others may eat over the festive season and also know that here are people who care about them.

Can you help? We normally have around 250 people (parishioners and visitors) attending our family Christmas service at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve. Following the service we provide refreshments. Richard and Bloss Perry are kindly providing the drinks again this year. We would now welcome contributions of fruit-mince pies or fancy biscuits. Please drop these off at St James Church any time prior to Christmas Eve. Your contributions of refreshments would be appreciated. Thank you.

Request for people to help

with door duties at the Children’s

Christmas Service, 5.30 pm

on Christmas Eve, Monday 24 December.

Please contact MurrayWills on 021 918 147 if you can

help!

Message to Parishioners from Vestry: Proposal for an AYM House

At our AGM in March, Vestry and the Family Centre made a joint statement that they were working on a proposal with the Bishop. We were advised not to provide further details until there had been further discussion between the interested parties and we were close to an agreement between the Diocese, our Parish and the Family Centre.

We can now share some of the details of the Proposal and outline the next steps.

The Proposal from the Bishop is that the Diocese will financially assist us to design and build a 5 bedroom house for an AYM house on the green triangle of lawn by the St James’ Hall, with the house being at the road end of the lawn.

The Diocesan Trustees, who are registered proprietors of the Parish Site holding in trust for the Parish, will grant the Family Centre occupation of Brooks House on a basis that will endure during the continuance of their ministry, on terms agreed between the Diocese, the Vestry and the Family Centre.

In this way we will be able to achieve our ambition of having an active AYM Ministry on site, long term, while leaving available the opportunity for the Family Centre to continue its ministry on the campus so long as they wish, with all responsibilities for Brooks House assumed by the Diocese or the Family Centre. If the Family Centre's ministry at our campus terminates, Brooks House will pass to the Diocesan Board of Trustees to determine the most appropriate use of the property.

An agreement in principle has been reached between the parties, dependent upon the AYM House proposal coming to fruition and Parish approval, and now details are being worked on for the building of the AYM House. The Diocese will use its own expertise to build the house in consultation with our nominated Property representatives. The cost of the house will be shared between the Diocesan Trustees and the Parish. Based on original cost estimates when the proposal was made the Diocesan Trustees will contribute $316,000 plus $20,000 for consents and consultants and the Parish will contribute the balance which was originally estimated at $100,000 but may be significantly more depending on the final design and any changes to requirements. By way of example, while the AYM House use is intended to be a permanent ministry, Vestry will want to ensure there is sufficient flexibility in the design to allow for alternative use in the long term, e.g. as a replacement vicarage should ministry strategies change.

Christmas Mission Offering Our Christmas Mission Offering this year will go towards water tanks for communities in Fiji.

The provision of safe continuous water supply is needed in most Fijian communities, and in fact across the entire Pacific. We have previously given money for water tanks in Tonga. With the increase in population, traditional water supply is often not adequate to supply the needs of the people.

Six communities in the Vanua Levu and Taveuni Episcopal Unit in Fiji will be supported through this project by the provision of water tanks. Mission envelopes are available in the pews or at the back of the church for your offering. Please place your gift in the offering plate or hand in at the office.

A History

of the Anglican Parish of Lower Hutt

1849-2017 Recently published book - $20

AND Christmas cards—special! Packs of 8 cards (4 designs - 2 of each design) plus envelopes $10 per pack

Purchase yours today or

call in to the office during the week.

A fast, funny and theatrical reading of

Charles Dickens’

“A Christmas Carol”

presented by William Kircher

(known for his role as Bifur in the Hobbit movies)

Sunday 16 December, 3pm St James Church

and

Saturday 22 December, 3pm St James Church

See noticeboard

The Parish’s financial contribution will come from Trust Funds held for church housing or other special projects and not from the operating budget of the Church.

There will be a special Parish meeting seeking approval of the overall proposal and the parish financial contribution to the AYM house before any agreements are signed. This meeting is expected to take place in March or April.

We will keep you informed as more details become available. Vestry

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