There’s much to report from the past couple of weeks, so here’s a summary of the key highlights:
Haere Mai Hosts and Facilitators Training: We recently held successful training sessions for our Haere Mai Hosts and Facilitators on March 16th and 23rd. A detailed report is available here: Haere Mai Hosts and Facilitators Training Report.
Baptism of Gerald Satherley and Emma Males: On March 23rd, Gerald Satherley and Emma Males were baptised during our 11am service, both through full immersion. It was a deeply moving and joyous occasion, not just for Gerald and Emma but for our entire church family. As I shared in my sermon that day, witnessing a baptism serves as a powerful reminder of our own baptism, as Paul speaks about in Ephesians 4, where there is “one baptism.” In this way, we reflect on our shared experience as baptised believers and give thanks for the obedience of Gerald and Emma in following the Lord. Please read a fuller account of this special moment from Samantha here: Baptism Celebration Report.
Corporate Prayer Survey: I am grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the Corporate Prayer Survey. The Prayer Ministries Oversight Team (PMOT), of which I am a member, is currently compiling the responses. We will share a summary report of the results once it’s ready.
Annual General Meeting (AGM): Our AGM on March 30th, following the combined service at 10.30am, was a success. The annual reports reflected a blessed and fruitful 2024, with God’s provision and faithfulness evident in the growth of all our ministries. We also welcomed new churchwardens and vestry members, and the 2025 church budget was approved. Steve Scaife is our new Vicar’s Warden, and Mary Griffiths, elected in absentia due to illness, is the new People’s Warden. Ed Durrheim, Philip Gibbison, Mark Peters, Vivienne Peters, Garry Stanley, and Justin Tweeddale were re-appointed to vestry. Our current Synod Representatives are Mary Griffiths, Alan Nicholson, and Valerie Nicholson, whose terms will end at the next AGM. It was an honour to lead the opening prayer and deliver the Vicar’s Address, where I focused on the theme of “becoming disciples who make disciples.” Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with me about God’s call for us in this new season.
Home Communion Training: A successful Home Communion Training was held on March 31st, led by Rev Pam Holdgate. The session was attended by Valerie Nicholson, Ellen Anderson, Dalise McGhie, and myself. This training equips volunteers to take communion to those who are unable to attend services. Many thanks to Pam for leading this training, and to all who participated.
Sermon Series: “What is the Church?” We are currently exploring the theme “What is the Church?” In my sermon last Sunday, I spoke about “God’s Flock,” emphasising that the church is God’s flock. This Sunday, I will conclude the series with a sermon on “The Bride of Christ.” While we may not often think of the church in this way, it is a central New Testament image that highlights Christ’s profound love for His people. As we read in Ephesians 5:25–27, Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to make her holy and blameless.
Holy Week Services and Ministries: Looking ahead, we are entering the period of Holy Week, with several important services and events. Please mark your calendars and make plans to attend:
Easter Messy Church: Thursday, April 17th, from 10am to 12pm. This special event is a great outreach opportunity. We are grateful to Samantha Swafford and our volunteers – Mark Rolston, Ellen Anderson, Susanne Palmer, and Cheryl Nevill – who make this event possible. Please note, due to limited volunteer capacity, we are only able to accommodate 20 school-aged children. RSVPs are required by April 10th (see poster below).
Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Communion Service: Thursday, April 17th, at 7pm. This solemn service includes handwashing and commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus’ command to love one another.
Good Friday Service: Friday, April 18th, at 3pm. This family-friendly service will reflect on the final hours of Jesus’ life through readings, film, songs, and activities. It will be live-streamed.
Easter Sunday Service: Sunday, April 20th, at 10.30am. We will gather for a combined family service to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and His victory over death. It will also be live-streamed.
Please keep these services in your prayers and consider inviting friends and family to join.
Prayer Requests: Let’s continue to pray for the full recovery of Mary Griffiths, Christie Rentoul, and Harry Halliday.
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and involvement in the life of St. Christopher’s. May we continue to grow in our discipleship and mission in the year ahead.
In Christ Deo
Deo’s Devotion and Opening Prayer at AGM 2025
For our Scripture reading and devotion, I’d like to invite you to turn with me to Ephesians 3:14–21. Let us listen to the reading of God’s Word:
Ephesians 3:14–21 (NIV)
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
God bless the reading of His Word.
As we consider these verses, we are drawn into the heart of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers. In this profound passage, Paul expresses his deep desire for the church to grasp the fulness of God’s love and the life-transforming power of Christ. His prayer is that the believers would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. This is not merely for their personal growth, but so they can be firmly rooted and established in love, capable of comprehending the vastness of God’s love – a love that surpasses all understanding.
In this prayer, we learn that the life of the church is not about what we can do in our own strength, but about being empowered by God’s Spirit, rooted in His love, and strengthened in our faith. Paul desires that the church in Ephesus would be a community that reflects the love of Christ and His glory, and that this would be the foundation of everything they do.
As we gather today for our Annual General Meeting, we are reminded that this is not just a meeting about business, but an opportunity to reflect on the work God has done in and through our church over the past year. Just as Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus, we too pray for the life of St Christopher’s Church - that we would continue to be a people who are strengthened by the Holy Spirit, rooted deeply in God’s love, and eager to carry out His mission.
As we review the past year and discern God’s direction for us for this year, may we remember that the church’s true growth and vitality come from God. Our purpose today is not just to make decisions but to seek God’s direction, give thanks for His faithfulness, and be reminded that, to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before You today with hearts full of gratitude and awe, acknowledging Your great faithfulness in our lives and in the life of St Christopher’s Church. As we gather together for this Annual General Meeting, we thank Your for Your abundant grace and love that has sustained us through the past year. We recognise that everything we do as a church is only made possible through the work of Your Spirit, and we give You all the glory.
Lord, just as Paul prayed for the Ephesians, we too pray for our church today. Strengthen us with power through Your Holy Spirit, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Root and ground us in Your love, that we may grow in our knowledge of You, and that we may reflect Your love to those around us. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, trusting that You are able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to what You have in store for us, guide our hearts and minds in the decisions we make today. May all we do be done in a spirit of unity and humility, seeking to honour You and fulfil the mission You have called us to do. We invite Your presence to be with us throughout this meeting, and we pray that Your will be done in all things.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Vicar’s Address: Discerning God’s Call for the Year Ahead
Today, with deep gratitude, we have reflected on the growth and blessings we’ve experienced over the past year. But as we gather, we also turn our hearts and minds toward the year ahead, asking ourselves: What is God’s call for us in this new season?
Before I share what God has placed on my heart, I’d like to invite each of you to pause for a moment and consider this question: What is God’s call for us in this new season? As you reflect, when you’re ready, I encourage you to share your thoughts with the person beside you.
(After the pause) I encourage you to share your thoughts with the person beside you – what is on your heart, and how do you sense God leading us forward?
(After sharing, invite a few people to share with the congregation.)
So, what is God’s call for us in the year ahead? I believe God is calling us to prayerfully consider and pursue the call to become disciples who make disciples.
In the New Testament, a disciple is someone who learns from and follows Jesus, making His teachings the guiding principles of their life. There are three key characteristics of a disciple:
Following Christ – Disciples live in alignment with Jesus' teachings and His example.
Being Transformed by Christ – Disciples experience a deep transformation as they grow closer to Him.
Commitment to Jesus’ Mission – Disciples are dedicated to sharing the good news of salvation through Him.
This year, we will focus intentionally on being disciples who make disciples. We’ll explore how we can nurture relationships, share the gospel, and walk alongside others in their faith journeys. As a church, we’ll ask ourselves: How can we create environments where making disciples becomes a natural part of our lives? Whether through small groups, community outreach, or one-on-one conversations, each of us has a role to play in fulfilling the Great Commission.
This focus on discipleship is not a new direction for us, nor is it a diversion from our church’s vision. In fact, it is deeply connected to our mission: to be a growing community for Blenheim, making disciples of Jesus.
Jesus gave us the Great Commission, saying:
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
As we commit to this vision, I encourage each of you to approach this mission with an open heart and a spirit of prayer. Let us lean into God, asking for His guidance, wisdom, and strength as we partner with Him in this essential work. We cannot do this alone. We need His help and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to fulfil the calling He has placed before us.
May we, as a church, embody our vision this year and in the years ahead – growing together and making disciples of Jesus. Amen.
Please join with me in prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your abundant blessings in the past year and for Your presence with us every step of the way. As we look to the year ahead, we ask for Your guidance and strength. Help us to be disciples who truly follow You, are transformed by You, and are committed to sharing Your gospel with others. Empower us through Your Holy Spirit to fulfil the Great Commission and live out our vision of making disciples in our community. May we grow together in faith and love, and may Your will be done in and through us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
