Wakatipu Community Presbyterian Church News April / May 2014

Our Mission: “To live in Christ, and to grow as a community of Faith, Hope, Love and Joy

When you think of Easter, I trust that you think of more than Easter Bunny, chocolate eggs and an awaited opportunity for a long weekend. Easter is the most important Christian “holy-day” of the year. A time to celebrate the life Christ achieved for us and to commit and recommit ourselves to following him. We take this all so lightly but his call ‘Will you come and follow me’ is I believe the most vital question we’ll ever be asked to answer. For Jesus his journey took him to the Cross and beyond to resurrection; likewise in following we too face the cross yet in faith by God’s grace res-urrection is our destiny.

Arohanui

Thursday 17th 7pm Evening Worship St John’s Arrowtown

Friday 18th 10am Good Friday Service St Andrew’s Queenstown

11am Walk with the Cross

The walk leaves St Josephs at 11am, we join them as they pass St Andrew’s and to-gether the CHURCH of QUEENSTOWN makes a pilgrimage through town; a journey following in the footsteps of Jesus on his way to Golgotha, and his death. At a num-ber of stations we pause, listen to the gospel story, pray, and sing one verse of the hymn ‘When I survey the Wondrous Cross’. Finally completing our journey we rest at St Peter’s and enjoy a simple time of refreshment together.

Sunday 20th 9am Manna Café St Andrew’s Queenstown

9am Resurrection Celebration St John’s Arrowtown

9am Resurrection Celebration St Margaret’s Frankton

10.45am Resurrection Celebration St Andrew’s Queenstown

3pm Ecumenical Communion Glenorchy Community Church

7pm Global Community Worship St Andrew’s Queenstown

Congratulations from us all and may your anniversary dinner be a wonderful and blessed occasion. Below is a reflection from Pastor Joao Petreceli outlining some highlights from their year.

I'm sending some highlights about our first year as Global Community:

1 - Our ministry philosophy is Disciples making disciples.

2 - I began the last year forming three discipleshiping groups. In the middle of the last year I began two groups more. I did discipleship with all of them and now some of them are involved in discipleship with other non christian people. Our plan is that the church grow with the work of all members. I did discipleship with about 40 people. I have had a hard work, and I'm very tired, but I'm more happy and motivated than tired. Or maybe, my motivation is bigger than my tiredness.

3 - By faith and with the support of Parish Council we decided to invite pastor Clay to come to New Zealand and help us. Today we have Pastor Clay and family arriving on 20th of May. It is a great conquest for Global Community and for Kiwi Church.

4 - We grew in number and in quality. Today we have members more committed with Christ and His church. Today we have stronger families in GC. Many couples that were living like partners, today they are living as married. We grew in number. 26 people have become members of Wakatipu Community Presbyterian Church and we have some more people being prepared to become members. We grew in finance (Tithe and offering) and we hope to grow more yet this year.

5 - Today the Global Community is feeling part of the Presbyterian Kiwi Church. The kiwi church has showed it's love to this new community.

6 - The support that we have received from Pr Ian Guy, Parish Council and of the Kiwi Presbyterian Church has been very important for this project to go ahead. We are very thankful for this support and reception.

7 - We have many children attending the church. When the church invests in the evange-lism of children there is hope for the church in the future. Some Sundays we have had about 15 children attending the worship service.

For all that, we only can say: Praise the Lord. Soli Deo Gloria.

Blessings,

Pastor Joao Petreceli.

Global Community Baptisms, in 2013.

GUESS WHOSE COMING TO DINNER

Our 4th Guess Whose Coming To Dinner was held in March. 50 people registered for the Dinner with 6 host families. It was great to see a large group from the (cont. over)

Global Community Church joining in and even

acting as host families. The wonderful part of

these dinners is getting to know people who you

would not usually meet and around the dinner

table is a great way to socialise and chat infor—

mally. The food is outstanding. Thank you to eve-

ry one who shared in this evening. We hope our

next dinner will be held during spring.

~~~~

Not many of us can boast a “cuddle” with Prime Min-ister John Key but here is one who can—lovely photo of Rae Mudd from St Margaret's.

News & Views from Around The Parish The reporters for this newsletter are introducing a new section, where we would like stories and/or photographs from all 3 churches, the Global Community, Manna Café & the Queenstown Korean Church. We have several of these “News & Views” below. All you need to do is email them to Robin Dunlop, email address <robinandnoel@ihug.co.nz>

Back in late February at the Kelvin Heights Golf Course, on the 13th hole to be precise, a HOLE IN ONE was scored by a golfer from St Andrews.

CONGRATULATIONS

KIM WILKINSON!!

During a visit to Abbeyfield recently, MasterChef Cooks Jamie & Bex from Ar-rowtown were photographed with resi-dents who also attend St Margaret's. Great to see Mary Cumpstey and Elsie Chewings in the Mountain Scene a week or two ago.

Thanks to a grant of $4,500 from the Alex-ander McMillan Trust and the efforts of 4 of our handy men, fencing is in place to secure play areas at St Andrews & St Margaret's. Children from the various groups using these areas can now play outside with “peace of mind” for their carers.

www.WakatipuChurch.com

www.facebook.com/wakatipuchurch

Friday’s Well

Communion

Service

We would love you to join us at St John’s Arrowtown for a

MONTHLY Friday Communion Worship Service.

2pm

28th March

23rd May

27th June

25th July

29th August

26th September

October—to be advised

28th November

19th December

Friday’s Well is a 45 minute Com-munion Service with afternoon tea at the service’s conclusion

If you would like a lift please call the church office (4414250) the day before the service.

An optional retiring offering will be collected.

Ministry Team

Minister Global Community Parish Clerk Intern Minister Parish Secretary Parish Office Email

Rev. Ian Guy Pastor Joao Petreceli Bronwyn Hartley Erin Pendreigh Claire Kluyts 441 4250 wpchurch@xtra.co.nz

441 4900 021 0274 9923 027 414 7487 027 489 1032; Office: 409 8968 Fax: 441 4260

DO YOU KNOW?

Taken from key Points from Parish Council meetings held in

February and March

A new photocopier has been purchased for the church

office.

General Assembly this year will be held in Auckland.

The Rev. Ian has been appointed Interim Moderator for

the Wanaka Parish assisting them as they call a new

Minister.

Parish Council Members were pleased to learn that

members of the Korean/Taiwanese group who had been

involved in a major motor accident had been dis-

charged from hospital and returned to their homes.

Signage at all church buildings is being reviewed and

final recommendations are expected at the end of April.

Noel Dunlop is heading a group that is looking at build-

ing usage and needs now and in the future. The Group

is to report at the end of September.

Council members were delighted to learn that Clay Pe-

terson has received a two year visa from the Dept. of

Immigration and will be joining us in the middle of May.

He and his family will be living in the manse at Arrow-

town.

The Rev Ian asked Parish Council Members what was exciting them around the Parish. Answers included-

—the change that is occurring

—the energy in the various congregations —bible studies commencing

—harmony within various groups —anticipation of things happening.

WE HAVE MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

"But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you

will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous"

— Luke 14:13-14 (NIV)

Tear Fund’s ‘Room at the Table’ campaign is a response to Jesus’ story of the Kings Banquet in Luke 14. It paints a beautiful picture of inclusion, where those on the margins are invited to the table; the least can feast and share the good things of God.

Room at the Table

Do you have enough food to feed yourself and your family? If so, you’re blessed. For 850 million

people around our world the answer to this simple question is ‘no.’ The poor we work with are

not lazy, less intelligent or unwilling to make efforts to change their condition. But no matter how

motivated you are, without opportunities, there’s no way forward.

Those who go hungry are often small landowners and farmers in some of the world’s poorest

countries. Their farms no longer produce enough or they’ve lost their land and work on large

plantations at low wages.

So this Easter, we’re turning the spotlight on those in our world who face a challenge to put food

on their tables. Desmond Tutu once said “When people were hungry, Jesus didn’t say, “Now is

that political, or social?” He said, “I feed you.” Because the good news to a hungry person is

bread.”

How can we join with Jesus’ vision and bring the least to the feast? This Easter we’re providing

those missing opportunities for our neighbours in South Africa, Vanuatu and Mongolia and help-

ing them achieve food security, which in simple terms means: being able to access food and

knowing how to use it well.

Tear Fund invite us to join them… Find out more by visiting their web page

www.tearfund.org.nz/roomatthetable/.

Shin: device for finding furniture in the dark.

St John’s—Arrowtown ) All

St Margaret's—Frankton ) at

Manna Café—Queenstown ) 9am

St Andrew’s—Queenstown— 10.45am

Queenstown Korean Church—12.30pm

Global Worship Service—7pm

St Andrews, St Johns & St Margarets join for

a combined service—last Sunday each month.

These times change from time to time so check via one of the following:

Sign up for Ian’s weekly email update.

Contact an elder from your church.

See the Mountain Scene notice.

Check the web.

Watch for notices at Church door/notice board.

Ring the Church Office.

Regular Sunday Service Times

The time has arrived

To give thanks to Him

For giving His life

To free us from sin

He bled and died

And grieved within,

But on the third day

He rose again.

do remember to send in any stories, snippets, news, photos, cartoons etc., for Our Parish People.

Thank you to those who have contributed to this issue. Here are the email addresses to send your contribution to:

Leslie Jeffery jeffery@paradise.net.nz Jan Thomas janthomas6@gmail.com Shirley Watson shirleyw@countrynet.co.nz