VICAR’S ADDRESS
What does this season of Lent mean to us?
We do seem to be racing through the year again as we are now in the midst of Lent. I am so pleased I took the time in January to spend some quiet time thinking about this season and how we can prepare ourselves as we journey towards the great celebration of Easter.
There are many ways in which people treat this season of the year, from significant sacrifices through to it meaning nothing at all. I often wonder about giving up luxuries in our lives that are not particularly good for our health with the intention of picking these up again as soon as we have reached Easter. Of course this takes on a new dimension if it involves giving up a block of chocolate a day and instead contributing what we would be spending to some mission or worthy charitable cause.
Thinking about the way in which we interact with others and endeavouring to enhance this is never wasted, especially if we try to continue with this on an ongoing basis.
Just before the beginning of Lent we took the opportunity at an all-age service to write, on a piece of soap paper, areas where we know we slip up and intend trying to change. As we came for communion we dropped these into warm water and watched them disappear just as God accepts us.
Those at the service were given a heart-shaped cake of soap. At the end of each day they have been encouraged to hold the heart shape and to remember God’s love. It was then suggested that they wash their hands and offer to God any of the pains or anxieties from their day, or the times when we know that what we have done falls short of how God would have us live. This also provides us with the opportunity to clear the pain we have experienced from others as we forgive them.
An important part of our reflection time is to remember the blessings we have received during our day and to give thanks for these to God.
I am pleased with the number of people who are planning to attend the quiet day at Bombay this weekend. There has been a request that we hold these events on a more regular basis. We appreciated our opportunity to join with the Catholic parishioners for our evening Ash Wednesday service and look forward to their joining with us for our Taize service on 24 March. Again we are trying to hold these on a more regular basis because our Advent service was well received. These events are intentionally trying to strengthen our relationships with God and with others.
I did appreciate the five nights Bob and I spent away in our caravan at Red Beach in January. It gave me time to do some thinking, reflecting and subsequent planning for the Lenten Season. I am hoping to do likewise after Easter as we explore the meaning of Christ’s life on earth and how best we can present this in our worship services and subsequently in our lives.
I am hoping that the opportunities provided through the Easter Garden and the indoor Easter Journey displays, along with the special services of the Taize, Passover and Good Friday, will enable you to build on your relationship with our generous, accepting and loving God. I am so grateful to Ann Rollinson, the Pukekohe Garden Friends and our parishioners for their help with the displays.
I am also hoping that those of you who are able will join us as we join with other churches in our community for the World Day of Prayer at St Andrew’s at noon on Friday 2 March.
Vestry would also like to encourage you to join us for our AGM as we reflect on the year past and explore our direction for the coming year and beyond.
If you are travelling please take care.
Easter Blessings to you all.
Jan
WORSHIP
Holy Week and Easter ~ opportunities for worship
Sunday March 25
8am Eucharist
9.30am Family Eucharist
with the retelling the Journey on Palm Sunday through to Good Friday
Weather permitting this may be in the vicarage garden
7pm Taize Service
A reflective service as we focus on the week leading to Easter and Christ’s Sacrifice
Maundy Thursday March 29
6pm Seder/Passover Meal, Foot washing, Eucharist and stripping of the sanctuary
Good Friday March 30
9.30am Family activity-based Good Friday Service
11am Reflective Good Friday Service
Celebration of Easter Day, April 1
8am Eucharist, 9.30am Family Eucharist & Celebration
11.30am St Paul’s Buckland, 1pm Senior Service in Nora Brown
Rest Home Worship Services
Palms Rest Home: 10.30am Tuesday March 6
Palms Hospital: 11am Tuesday March 13
Lakeside Rest Home: 10.30am Wednesday March 14
Pukekohe Hospital: 10.30am Wednesday March 21
Possum Bourne Village: 11am Tuesday March 27
Anyone who wishes is welcome to join us at these services
From the Parish Registers
Funerals
February 5: Arthur Oliver Avis
February 5: Tony Castle
February 18: Ann Stockley
BIBLE READINGS IN MARCH
March 4
First: Psalm 19
Gospel: John 2: 13-22
Theme: Contemplate God’s Glory
3rd Sunday in Lent
March 11
First: Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22
Gospel: John 3: 14-21
Theme: God’s Love is Steadfast
4th Sunday in Lent
March 18
First: Jeremiah 31: 31-34
Gospel: John 12: 20-33
Theme: God’s Loves is in Our Hearts
5th Sunday in Lent
March 25 ~ Liturgy of Palms
First: Mark 11: 1-11
Gospel: Mark 14: 1-15:47
Theme: Love Arriving
Passion/Palm Sunday
EASTER SEASON
An excerpt from the introduction to “Seasons of the Spirit”:
There is a considerable amount of concern about the future of the church. Many “mainline” denominations feel that they are shrinking while the more evangelical denominations growth is slowing and small churches closing.
The drama of Easter teaches us about dying, rising, and living.
This cycle is heartbreakingly real, authentically true, and totally transformative.
During Lent we try to spend time in reflection, looking at our lives, our attitudes and what motivates us, our decisions and our actions. We try to look at the centre of our hearts, to examine, simplify, and prepare for Christ’s death.
Christ’s death was unexpected and brutal and much too soon.
How could followers ever prepare for such a loss?
During Lent, instead of turning inward, our readings direct our gaze to God’s signs of the covenant and blessing stretching across the sky, and echoing through the generations. However when we do look at our hearts, we need to acknowledge that we too have not followed in Christ’s footsteps often in our lives. In the Easter season, Jesus teaches us how to live. We meet Jesus speaking peace and breathing the Holy Spirit.
We listen to Christ’s teachings about the true life of faith.
We heed the command to “love one another” and the calling to go into the world with Gospel truth. And once we move through death and rise with Christ to new life, it’s time to live! Pentecost breathes life into Christ’s body — the Church — and calls us out to be broken for the world, to love without fear knowing death is not the end; it is the Gospel life.
What Easter Means to Me
A fresh start.
a clean heart.
forgiven pasts.
True Love that lasts.
a Holy embrace.
A face to Face.
Man’s Peace restored
forevermore.
Love far and wide
for me, His bride.
The Saviour Divine,
forever mine.
No longer blind, now Christ I see.
That’s what Easter means to me.
Written by Jennifer Walker
March 16, 2013
Our Journey to Easter
Pukekohe Anglican Parish,43 Queen St Pukekohe — www.pukekohe-anglican.org.nz
Easter Garden Displays, open 9am to 6pm daily, March 18 to Sunday April 8
There are outdoor displays on the lawn in front of the house at 43 Queen St and an indoor display in the meeting room which is close to the parish office behind the church building.
Both of these displays are supported by booklets including some readings from our scriptures and some suggestions for your reflection.
The outside display also has a children’s version of this booklet.
To gain the maximum value from these displays we do suggest you allow sufficient time to read and reflect on the visual displays.
SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES
Seniors Eating Well
Monthly on Tuesdays, 10am — 12.30pm
Nutrition course for older people, held monthly on Tuesdays ~ February 27, March 27, Apr 24 and May 22, with Tuakau Selwyn Seniors at St John’s Anglican Church, cnr George St & Buckland Rd, Tuakau.
Morning tea and taste testing of recipes included. Bookings are essential.
For information, bookings or transport contact Judy, Ph 233-4304 or 021-555 002
Mothers’ Union
Wednesday March 7, 10am
Ann Gardner will be the guest speaker talking on her OE experiences.
Meet in the Church, All Welcome
Please be aware
There have been a number of minor thefts — probably opportunists but we do need to be aware there are many people who wander around the streets taking any opportunity they can, so please be vigilant in not leaving keys, wallets, phones, computers and such like insecure. Of special note please make sure anyone who has a key knows to check the slot is vertical otherwise it is not locked. The safest way is to use two hands, hold the outside of the handle making sure the slot is vertical while turning the key with your other hand. You then need to let go and try the door. Regularly people are trying to lock the door but they are actually not succeeding.
Handel’s Consort & Quire — Concert
3pm, Sunday April 8
We are very fortunate to have this choir and orchestra come and perform for us again this year. Their first performance is Handel’s Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate
The ticket prices are very reasonable when you buy online or we will be selling these at that reduced price through the parish office.
Pre-purchase tickets from St Andrew’s Church office: Adults $30, seniors $25. At the door: Adults $40, seniors $35
Utrecht Te Deum and Jubilate is the common name for a sacred choral composition in two parts, written by George Freideric Handel to celebrate the Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht in 1713, ending the War of the Spanish Succession.
It was Handel’s first commission from the British royal family and established his career in London. It was also his first major sacred work to English texts. Handel followed the models of Henry Purcell’s 1694 Te Deum and Jubilate with strings and trumpets, which was regularly performed for official functions in St Paul’s even after the composer’s death, and a 1709 setting by William Croft. As in these models, Handel composed a combination of two liturgical texts, the Ambrosian Hymn Te Deum, We praise thee, O God, and a setting of Psalm 100, O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands, which is a regular canticle of the Anglican Morning Prayer. He followed the version of the Book of Common Prayer. Handel’s work was first performed in a public dress rehearsal on March 5, 1713 in St Paul’s Cathedral. The official premiere took place after the tedious peace negotiations had finished, in a solemn thanksgiving service on July 7, 1713.
Anglican Board of Missions
Graham Kenna of Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office told Radio New Zealand on February 13 that every house in Nuku’alofa had been damaged in some way.
Tonga’s Anglican Bishop, the Rt Rev ’Afa Vaka, invited at-risk families to seek shelter in Church halls throughout Tongatapu, including St Paul’s in Nuku’alofa. Before the cyclone hit, the Youth of All Saints Church in Fasi used the community integrated vulnerability assessment (CIVA) toolkit to identify vulnerable families, including those living in flood-prone areas and those living in houses that are not structurally sound. They then went from house to house to help families prepare. The young people are ready to assist in helping to assess damage and needs.
Funding from Anglican Missions will be used to assist the Tonga Episcopal Unit to support families in need following this significant event and we continue to talk with relevant partners here in New Zealand and Australia (including Anglican Overseas Aid and Anglican Board of Missions) to ensure co-ordination of response and recovery efforts.
Tropical Cyclone Gita caused damage in Samoa last weekend and some funding from this appeal could be allocated to support the Church in Samoa should there be sufficient need.
The Anglican Missions Board enables the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, in a spirit of partnership, to share in the global dimension to Christ’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel, nurturing believers, responding to human need, transforming society, and caring for creation.
The appeal in 2018 is supporting three projects.
1. Rwenzori Special Needs Foundation in Uganda
Serving the needs of vulnerable children with disabilities in a very poor region of Uganda
2. Saviour Evangelical School in Jordan
Serving poor and vulnerable children from poor and marginalised communities in Jordan
3. Arab Episcopal School in Jordan
Serving blind and visually impaired children through education in Jordan.
Envelopes for this appeal can be found in the church foyer.
VESTRY
Pukekohe Parish & Central Vestry Trust Board
Annual General Meetings
11am, Sunday March 18, Nora Brown Hall
Draft Agenda
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Apologies
Minutes of 2017 AGM
Matters arising from minutes
Other items of general business not included in the agenda
Financial report of parish
Appointment of Vestry and People’s Warden
Tabling of reports
1. Vicar
2. Wardens
3. Buckland
4. Op Shop
5. Other reports
(Copies of all reports should be in the office by Monday March 5 so they will be available for collection by Sunday March 11. These will be emailed to people on The Messenger email distribution list)
Minutes of 2017 Central Vestry Trust Board special general meeting.
Matters arising from minutes
Other items of general business not included in the agenda
Draft financial report of Central Vestry Trust Board
Historic Places Status
Moving of Buckland Church
Restoration of St Andrew’s Church
SUSTAINABILITY
Cherished Earth, Papa-tu-a-nuku — he taonga, he tapu. A Climate Justice Initiative of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland
Cherish our Earth and take a Climate Action on World Earth Day
Earth Day 2018 is coming up on Sunday April 22 and like last year, we’re marking the occasion with a Charcoal Fire event. We’ll let you know where we will set our charcoal fire for this year but diary the event now and get your block of wood in to dry. Don’t have some wood to burn? A gold coin donation will secure your piece of dry pine.
Each one kg block of dry wood removes around one kilogram of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and the trees we plant will each sequester over ¼ tonne more.
Cheers John
Ph 09-238 1357
PASTORAL CARE
Seasons for Growth — An after-school group held on Thursday for children who have experienced a significant loss or grief in their lives. Adult programme begins on Monday, March 12, at 7pm.
Space for you and baby — A group for first-time mums and their babies.
Oasis — This is the natural progression from Space. As the babies “graduate” at the age of 1 year they transfer through to the playgroups which have music, morning tea, free play and a story with a related craft. There is the time for mums to chat amongst themselves and to build relationships as many are new to Pukekohe. Drop in and see the children having fun.
Selwyn Group — For the older members of the community. Join in the exercises, chat over a cup of tea or coffee and then enjoy cards, Scrabble or other activities. It is good to see people getting out, mixing with others and on Tuesdays enjoying lunch together. This group runs every Tuesday and Thursday morning from 9.30am.
For further information on any of these groups please speak to Jan.
WEEKLY EVENTS
Wednesdays 7pm Garden Education Session
Sunday School 9.30am (Children aged 3 years up)
Seasons 4pm Thursday afternoons during term time
Oasis Music/Coffee Group 9.30am Monday & Friday during term time
All pre-schoolers and caregivers welcome
Selwyn Group 9.15am Tuesday & Thursday
Op Shop 9am – 12 noon Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
A copy of the Parish Health and Safety Policy along with the processes required for the implementation of the policy is currently available on the shelf at the back of the church, published on our website or available from the parish office.
An evacuation plan is in each area for the church and complex.
Reid Anderson Hall Assembly area is the car park adjoining the hall unless the location of the emergency situation is on the south wall preventing evacuation on that side of the building. In this case the assembly area is on the road frontage in front of the church.
Nora Brown Hall Assembly area is on the road frontage in front of the church or on the vicarage lawn depending on the location of the emergency situation.
Other rooms in the complex Assembly area move to the vicarage lawn.
St Andrew’s Church Assembly area is on the road frontage at the front of the church.
St Paul’s Church Assembly area is on the road frontage at the front of the church.
First aid kits and accident reporting sheets are located:
1. Reid Anderson — In the cupboard over the small hand basin in the Kitchen.
2. Nora Brown — on the shelf above the microwave. Record sheets are next to the microwave.
3. Parish office — 2nd to top shelf on left side in the back room. The office is locked when unattended.
Forms are to be completed as soon as the accident has been dealt with.
Treatment including resources that are used are to be recorded on the sheet.
Regular Worship Times
St Andrew’s 8am & 9.30am Holy Communion
1st Sunday 11.15am Holy Communion (Nora Brown Hall)
1st Wednesday 10am Holy Communion
St Paul’s Buckland
2nd & 4th Sundays 11.15am Holy Communion
PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR!
February
Saturday 24: 10am-4pm, Quiet Day — Tyburn Monastery Bombay, led by the Rev Anne Moody
March
Friday 2: Noon — World Day of Prayer, St Andrew’s Church, Pukekohe
Wednesday 7: 10am — Mothers’ Union
Saturday 17: 8.30am-1.30pm — Pukekohe Christian School Gala, 82 Yates Rd
Sunday 18: Parish and Central Vestry Trust Board AGM
There will most likely be a special general meeting later in the year to approve the audited accounts because these will be with auditors at the time of the AGM
Sunday 18: Easter displays open — Indoor and outdoor
Thursday 22: Raukaturi Music Therapy Centre, Gibbs Farm Open Day
for more info and to buy tickets visit www.rmtc.org.nz
Sunday 24: 8am Eucharist
Sunday 24: 9.30am Family service for Palm Sunday with groups presenting each of the scenes. If fine this will be in the garden
Sunday 24: 7pm Taize Service at St Andrew’s
Tuesday 27: Seniors Eating Well course, St John’s Anglican Church, Tuakau
Thursday 29: 6pm Seder/Passover Meal, Foot washing, Eucharist and stripping of the sanctuary
Friday 30: 9.30am Family activity-based Good Friday service
Friday 30: 11am Reflective Good Friday service
April
Sunday 1: Celebration of Easter Day 8am Eucharist, 9.30 Family Eucharist & Celebration, 11.30am St Paul’s Buckland, 1pm Senior Service in Nora Brown