10 October 2024
Warm greetings everyone!
I hope and pray that the school break is going well for all the parents and children out there and that families are able to spend some quality time together. Guan and I are not taking a break from work this time, and we’re grateful for some degree of flexibility in our work schedule which enables us to attend to parental duties during this break. It’s been helpful too that Angela and Nathan have attended a holiday programme in town this week, which they have enjoyed.
Lots have happened in our church in the last few weeks since my previous email. On the 29th of September we had the joy of witnessing and celebrating the baptism of Hunter Uys at our combined service and sharing in the celebratory luncheon afterwards. At the luncheon Hunter and his dad Kenn cut the celebratory cake. Jonathan Tweeddale and John Ferrer rendered special songs, and Jenny Spall shared about her recent experience with Confirmation. It was a special time for us all as a church. I wish to thank everyone who helped with organising the event, and especially Alexia Tweeddale, Garry Stanley and Ellen Anderson for manning the kitchen.
The evaluation of three of our ministries, namely Discipleship, Pastoral Care and Children’s Ministries, concluded last month, and I wish to thank everyone who helped and participated in this important process. Here is a list of the key ideas and dreams that have been submitted and are now in the hands of Vestry and Committee Leaders for prayerful consideration.
Discipleship:
We dream of new and growing groups that enable fellowship, including gathering around shared interests or multi-generational groups.
We dream of wider teams sharing ministry responsibilities (for example perhaps Maintenance Team, Kitchen Team or Finance Team) for future succession planning, sharing responsibilities as well as fellowship.
We dream of increased regular training for disciples within the life of the church (for example in Bible study, theology and evangelism).
Pastoral Care:
Discern the pastoral needs of our own church community.
Formalise visiting those in our church family and community who are bereaved and those who need it.
Everyone connected to a support group (Bible study, coffee group, knitting group, fellowship group).
Set up a system for home hospitality.
Children’s Ministries:
To employ a Children and Families Worker.
Co-operation between children’s ministries as a stepping stone (e.g. Jitterbugs promoting Messy Church)
Pastoral Care within the children’s ministries including interaction with parents/families.
This month we will commence the evaluation of three other ministries of our church, namely Worship, Outreach and Eldercare. Unlike previously, where we had 3 separate short evaluation meetings, this time around we have scheduled a one-day meeting, which would be more advantageous in terms of momentum, focus and continuity. The date is 19th October (Saturday) from 9.30am to 3pm in our Parish Hall. I encourage you to plan to attend this meeting. Your attendance and support will be much appreciated.
The ‘Rest and Receive Prayer’ event held in our church on the 28th of September was a very rewarding time for all those who came along, myself included, but it was disappointing that not many parishioners came.
Last Sunday about 40 people gathered in the Church Hall to hear Keith Buck’s presentation on the findings of his research into the needs and demographics of our community. It would be good to make some of the key findings available in printed form to our church family in due course.
I’m glad to report that last Sunday (3rd October) the Confirmation and Membership Course started with 6 people attending the class meeting on Zoom and two people watching the livestream on YouTube. Four of the participants have registered for Confirmation, and the others have attended the class as a refresher on the topics being studied. Last Sunday we studied general Church History. This Sunday we will be studying the history of the Anglican Church. The class will be live-streamed on St Christopher’s YouTube channel (2pm this Sunday). The Zoom link is:
https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/98507769241
I’d like to remind everyone that our Discipleship Series 2024 will commence this Sunday at 10.00–10.45am in the Church Hall. The series is titled “The Grand Narrative of Scripture: Creation, Fall, Redemption and Consummation” (see poster below for more info). I will be the presenter this Sunday speaking to the theme of Creation. So come this Sunday, grab your hot drinks and a biscuit or cake, grab a seat, and enjoy the talk and the fellowship!
Finally, I acknowledge with sadness the tragic accident in Tuamarina last Sunday, resulting in the loss of three young people. May the Lord bring comfort to the families of the deceased.
Have a good weekend, and I hope to see you this Lord’s day!
In Christ
Deo
Combined Service 29th September 2024
Hunter with his dad Kenn cutting the celebratory cake for his baptism.
Angela and Nathan enjoying a nice sunny spring morning at Pollard Park this week
Keith Buck presenting the findings of his research into the needs and demographics of the community surrounding the church