4 March 2025
Celebrating a special moment with Temiah, Channing and Emily-Rose Cyster at their Confirmation last month. A joyous occasion of faith and commitment!
Dear St Christopher’s Family
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to update you on some of the recent events in our church and share some exciting things coming up.
Giving Thanks for Your Support: A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated Guan’s 40th birthday with a special morning tea. Guan was deeply moved by everyone’s kindness and support, and as a family, we are truly grateful for your love and prayers. Thank you!
11AM Congregation’s Monthly Lunch Fellowship: Our recent lunch fellowship for the 11 AM congregation was a great success! It was a wonderful time of sharing food and building meaningful connections. A huge thank you to all who helped make it happen, especially our amazing kitchen team. The next lunch fellowship is scheduled for Sunday, March 23rd.
Elevate Youth Resumes: Last week, Elevate Youth resumed for the term. We give thanks for Jonathan Tweeddale, who leads this ministry, and for Mark Rolston, Mary Griffiths, and Emma Males, who assist him. A special welcome to Emma, our newest team member – thank you for your willingness to serve!
Adult Baptism Course & Upcoming Baptisms: The Adult Baptism Course has been going well, with four participants engaging deeply in our studies. Two have confirmed their desire to be baptised, and I am thrilled to announce that their baptisms (via full immersion) will take place during the 11 AM service on March 23rd. More details to come!
Recent Events – Giving Thanks: We give thanks to God for the many successful events recently:
Older Persons’ Monthly Seminar – A wonderful gathering of 64 people.
Men’s Breakfast – A blessed time of food, fellowship, and testimony from Brian Shatford.
Messy Church – Attended by 82 people, with many new faces! The theme, “I am the true vine,” was especially meaningful during this harvest season. A huge thank you to our volunteers, including those who donated grapes!
Regular Weekly Ministries – A heartfelt thanks to everyone who serves and participates. May the Lord continue to grow His kingdom through these ministries.
Welcoming our new Children and Families Worker: I am thrilled to officially announce the appointment of Samantha Swafford as our new Children and Families Worker! Samantha is deeply committed to Jesus and passionate about nurturing the faith of children and families. She begins her role tomorrow, March 5th. Please keep her in your prayers as she embarks on this important journey with us.
Annual General Meeting: Our AGM will be held on Sunday, March 30th, after a combined service at 10:30 AM service. This is a vital opportunity to reflect on the past year, give thanks, appoint new Wardens and Vestry members, and look to the future. Nominations for Vestry are open until March 12th – please prayerfully consider attending and participating.
Haere Mai Outreach Project: Thank you for the responses we have received so far for our Haere Mai Outreach Project! I will meet with the leadership team tomorrow and provide an update soon. Training for Hosts and Facilitators is scheduled for March 16 and 23 (details to follow). Please pray as we prepare to launch Haere Mai on Easter Sunday, April 20th.
An evangelism workshop, ‘Ripple Effect,’ will be held at Nativity Church this Sunday, March 9th, from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. This practical and engaging workshop will equip you to share your faith effectively. Registration is available on the day – don’t miss this great opportunity to grow in confidence!
Ash Wednesday & the Season of Lent: Lent begins tomorrow, and we will observe the season with a special Ash Wednesday Service at 10:30 AM (preceded by fellowship at 10 AM in the church lounge). This solemn service invites us to repentance and renewal as we journey towards Easter.
Sermon Series: ‘What is the Church?’ I’ve been encouraged by the feedback on our current sermon series! So far, we have explored:
The Church as a Chosen People – A people set apart in Christ.
The Church’s One Foundation – Built upon Jesus Christ, the true cornerstone.
The Church as a Worshipping People – Called to glorify God through praise and devotion.
If you missed any of these sermons, they are available on our website, or you can request the full manuscript from Tineke in the office. This Sunday, I will be preaching on “A Praying People” from Jude 17-21 and Luke 11:1-13 – a timely theme for Lent as we seek repentance and humility in preparation for Easter.
Prayers for Those in Need: I encourage everyone to pray for members of our church family who are not well and need the Lord’s healing touch, especially Moira Paul and Margaret Conway. May they know His peace, strength, and healing presence.
May the Lord continue to bless each of you and grow the St Christopher’s Church family.
Grace and peace,
Deo
Floral creativity in full bloom! 🌸✨ A big thank you to Viv Peters for leading a wonderful floral arrangement workshop in our Church Hall, bringing together many enthusiastic Chinese ladies for a time of beauty, fellowship, and fun.