Dear friends
We have had a fruitful past couple of weeks in our church. The other Saturday, as a joint effort with the Order of St Luke, we held a Healing Seminar and Service in our church as a ministry for the wider Body of Christ in Blenheim. Over 20 people attended the seminar, and around 50 attended the service in the afternoon. It was a good day of fellowship, learning and ministry through prayer for healing and wholeness.
I’m thankful to the Lord for the fruitful first meeting of the Confirmation Class this past Sunday. We had 8 people in attendance plus 1 apology. For those who are not familiar, Confirmation is a special church service in which a person confirms the promises that were made when they were baptised. In Confirmation, God, through the bishop’s prayer for daily increase in the Holy Spirit, strengthens the believer for Christian life in the service of Christ and his kingdom. The date for the Confirmation Service in our church is Sunday 11th August, a doubly special day because that is also our Foundation Sunday. Our Bishop will be joining with us that day; he will both officiate the Confirmation and preach. Please pray for the 9 Candidates for Confirmation: pray that they will benefit from this preparation course, and pray for me as I teach the course.
Also last Sunday we had a successful Messy Church – our first such event for this year. Over 70 people came along and enjoyed the craft activities, the Bible story, the fellowship and the food. Big thanks to Enny Leong and all the helpers for their hard work and dedication.
Today I attended the first meeting of the Market Morning Team, hosted by Mark and Viv Peters at their place, and ably chaired by Viv. We look forward to a successful Market Day this year - scheduled for 16th of November.
This coming Saturday at 3pm in our church there will be a corporate prayer meeting focused on praying for peace for our troubled world. I would like to invite you to come and join with us in this important prayer gathering.
Next week, from Tuesday to Thursday, I’m going to be away, attending a clergy retreat at Lake Rotoiti. Bishop Steve, his wife Watiri, and Rev Simon Martin will be leading the retreat. I look forward to it as I believe it will be a conducive time and space for spiritual refreshment. Please pray for all who will attend the event.
Next Thursday in the evening the Vestry will have our monthly meeting. Aside from the usual items in the agenda, we will be discussing and making decisions about the review of six ministries of our church: Children’s Ministries, Discipleship, Pastoral Care, Outreach & Evangelism, Worship & Prayer, and Eldercare. The review will provide a way to honour our call to serve God and God’s people through engaging one another in meaningful conversation about ministry, and will enable us to understand both the impact of current ministry as well as discuss desires for future ministry.
Please note that on 30th June (5th Sunday), we will have a ‘Combined Service’ at 10.30am, followed by a shared lunch. It will be a good opportunity to fellowship with other members of our church family. Please bring a plate of food to enjoy and share.
We are privileged to be the venue for the choral concert of the Christ’s College Chapel Choir (Christ’s College, Cambridge UK) on Thursday 18th July at 7.00PM. Reserve the date and please spread the word. As announced at church last Sunday, the 24 members of the visiting choir have requested billeted accommodation on the night of 18th July. If you have a spare bedroom at home and would like to extend hospitality to our visitors, please let Tineke know via email or phone. There is also a sign-up sheet on the table at the back of the church. Thank you to those who have responded already.
Some of you would know by now about the tragic car crash on SH1 near Grovetown early this morning, involving a van and a truck. All the six men in the van were RSE workers from Kiribati, one of whom died and the others injured (1 still in critical condition). At midday today I had the opportunity, together with Alan Nicholson and Ellen Noble, to visit the colleagues of these men in their accommodation in Spring Creek. Around 25 men, grieved and shocked by what happened to their friends, welcomed us into their lounge, and we prayed together, we read Psalm 23 and sang What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Ellen brought free copies of Gideon’s Bibles, some blankets and goodies which the men happily received. Please uplift these men in your prayers; pray particularly for the man who passed away and his family, and the injured.
I close with a personal update: Angela, Nathan and I are now officially New Zealanders! We received our citizenship certificates last Friday at a ceremony held in the Council Chamber, officiated by Major Nadine Taylor. It was a very special day for us as a family, a day I’m sure we will not forget. (Guan didn’t receive the citizenship because she didn’t apply for it. She is eligible to apply for it if she wants, and I know at the right time she will.)
The Lord be with you always!
Deo
