All Saints’ Church

6 Norfolk Street

Belmont Domain

Contact: Gill Berridge, 021 488 682

9am Sunday services held weekly:

Eucharist on 2nd and 4th Sundays Sunday services will continue

throughout January at 9am.

All Saints Home/Study Group

The group will start meeting again in

Lent 2017.

French Conversation (fortnightly) Next session: February 2017

Thursday Club (weekly)

Starting again 9 February 2017.

Craft Meet (monthly)- all welcome!

Next meet: February 13, 2017.

DIARY THIS WEEK

Sunday 18 December - Advent 4 8am service at St James

9am All Saints service, 6

Norfolk Street, Belmont Domain

10am Eucharist at St James

12noon Lunch at St James -

all welcome to attend.

5pm Tongan Language Service

at St James

Monday 19 December 4pm Youth Choir practice (last

for the year)

Wednesday 21 December

7.30-9.30pm Music Group singers only practice

St James’s Anglican Church

71 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt

Office Hours: 569 6737

9am-1pm, Monday - Friday E-mail: reception@stjames.net.nz Website: www.stjames.net.nz

Vicar: Revd Peter Benge 569 7685

Associate Priest:Revd Jean Malcolm 587 0225

Director of Music Heather Easting h.fortepiano@gmail.com

Young Persons Coordinator Chris Casey 027 472 1057

Youth Worker Shannan King 022 096 5225

Administrator/Registrar Alan Boaden

PA to the Vicar/Receptionist: Margaret Hamilton

Saturday 24 December 8.30am Prayer Focus group

5.30pm Children’s service

11pm Midnight Eucharist

Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day 8am Christmas service St James

9am Christmas at All Saints

10am Christmas service St James

12.15pm Lunch available at the

Sunia’s, 76 Hautana Street,

Lower Hutt.

If you are on your own this Christmas,

please take this opportunity to join

with others at this Christmas lunch.

CONTACT US

The Church Office will close at 1pm on Friday 23 December and will

re-open on Monday 15 January 2017 at 9am. A priest will be available over

Christmas/New Year period.: Revd Jean Malcolm, ph 04 587 0225 or

Revd Peter Benge , ph 04 569 7685.

NEWSLINKNaumai, haere mai! Malo e lelei! Talofa! Welcome!

18 December 2016 - 4th Sunday in Advent

THE SENTENCE FOR TODAY:

A virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel: God with us. Matt 1:23

COLLECT FOR THE WEEK

God of all hope, peace and joy,

open our hearts in love

that your son Jesus Christ at his coming

may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God now and for ever. Amen.

The Anglican Parish of Lower Hutt

St James Church and

All Saints Church, Belmont

Love

The word love may be only four letters long but it is a big word – it covers a

huge range of deep emotions and life-giving actions. At Christmas we often

think of God’s love for humanity that resulted in God being born among us as

Jesus. We think of Mary’s loving openness to God and her love for her child

Jesus. We less often focus on Joseph and his loving actions towards Mary.

Today’s Gospel reading gives us an insight into the depth of Joseph’s love.

Joseph must have felt hurt, anger and confusion when he learned that Mary

was pregnant, but he overcame the turmoil of his own emotions to focus on

what was best to do for Mary and her child, to save her public disgrace.

Then, prompted by a dream from God he was willing to marry her, even

though that meant that he would face disgrace himself for doing so.

I believe that Joseph was motivated by love – for Mary, for God, and for the

innocent child. Love is sometimes pictured in our culture as something that

is “easy come, easy go”. But here we see mature and godly love, love that is

willing to stay faithful and compassionate despite all the risks and challenges

this presents. May we all grow in this kind of love. (PB)

8am Eucharist Pg 404 NZ Prayer Book President & Preacher: Charles Waldegrave Leader: Mark Stone Readers: Ross Miller Alan Smith

10am Eucharist President: & Preacher Peter Benge Leader: Robyn Eastgate-Manning Herald: Megan Richter Servers: Emma Mansfield Rebekah Perry Barbara McKinley

Hymn

Collect (see front page)

Children’s Programme

Isaiah 7:10-16 (Jasmine Sunia)

Hymn

Matthew 1:18-25 (Maureen Lamb)

Sermon

Intercessions (Kasia Waldegrave)

Offertory Hymn

The Lord’s Prayer (in Maori) Communion

Hymn

Dismissal

Prayer ministry is available in the Chapel during Communion

Prayers this week The Church For the suffering Church in Iraq and

Syria.

For students from the Wellington

Diocese based at St John’s Theological

College in Auckland.

The World For the innocent civilians of Aleppo,

Mosul and other places devastated by

the war in Syria and Iraq.

For victims of violence in South Sudan

and for David Shearer leading UN

peacekeeping efforts there.

The Community For the staff and clients of Women’s

Refuges around the country over this

Christmas season.

For safety on the roads and in the water

this Christmas.

For all who remain at work to provide

essential services over the Christmas

period.

The Local Church For our Christmas services and those

providing them.

For the parish office staff.

Those for whom prayer is asked

Emma, Edward, Logan, Renee, Ian, Marian, Lynne, Murray, Brenda, Cyril, Bloss, Victoria, Teck Jen.

Those who mourn, those who have died

Dorothy Tait, Graham Brabin.

9.00am All Saints Belmont President & Preacher:

Gill Berridge

Readings for next Sunday, 1st January Theme: New Year’s Day Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 Psalm 8 Revelation 21:1-6a Matthew 25:31-46

Advent Wreath Lighting Liturgy

The fourth purple candle is lit

Leader: This holy light is a reminder that the love of God burns brightly in Jesus.

All: Let this light shine in us

and let it lead our way.

TERM 4 is over!

We are thrilled to have got to know you during this year, and will be praying for you over the holiday break. If you have time, or you would like to chat, please get in touch to let us know how things are with you. And especially if you feel you need to talk to someone about your life and where it is heading. We want to be involved and to help you.

You can also contact our Vicar or our Associate Priest, Jean, over the holiday break. We are here for you.

Call Chris Casey 027 472 1057 or Shannan 022 096 5225

YOUTH C

ORNER

HOSPITALITY

Lunch after church We will have lunch available at

St James on Sunday 18 December.

We hope you will stay after church for

fellowship and food!

If you have nowhere to go for

Christmas lunch on 25 December,

you are invited to the Sunia’s,

76 Hautana Street, Lower Hutt.

Lunches at St James will continue after

Christmas, apart from New Year’s Day

(1 Jan). On Sunday 8 January, we

will resume a regular Sunday lunch

programme.

On 15th January, there is to be a

seminar in the hall, preceded by a

shared lunch which everyone can

attend. Please bring a plate of food to

share.

We invite people to volunteer to

provide a simple lunch for around 20

people for Sundays 22nd or 29th

January. Please contact Lois Holmes

570 2003 if you would like to help.

After lunch on 22nd January, it is

proposed that people who are

interested may like to go for a walk

together along the river bank (weather

permitting), so please come prepared

with suitable clothing and footwear.

Update on Financial Report

The Parish’s financial deficit for November was $4,300. This took the year-to-date

deficit since 1 January to $31,600. This is mainly due to the Parish’s income being

less than expected. Pledged Giving is $7,700 below budget, while donations and

fundraising are both $4,600 below the budgeted amounts.

This year we would like to d e c o r a t e the Chapel

for Christmas with a special Pilgrimage theme. Bring your ideas along to the meeting at 12 noon today.

FUND-RAISING!

Thank you to those who provided the

small glass jars! They have been

filled with jam, lemon spread and chut-

ney, and are available in packs of 4

items including fudge for a bank-note

donation to the church. Contact Kathy

Ingram 021 105 5401.

See the boxes in the foyer. Please pay

at the office.

Parking: With congregation numbers increasing at our

10am service, if you are able to walk from

Market Grove it would be good to leave space

in the car park for those with limited mobility

or visitors to our services.

Thank you!

Hutt Hospital Christmas Carol Evening

6pm Monday 19th December

Meet at the Hospital Chapel

Everyone invited to come and sing

around the wards!

Please meet back at the Chapel for light refreshments

Book Fair news!

The St James Book Fair is planned for

17th and 18th February 2017.

Here is your opportunity to sort out

your books over the holidays and de-

liver them to the church from Monday

16 January onwards.

This is a big fund-raiser for the

Parish so please make every effort to

let people know the Book Fair is

COMING!

Midweek Services:

The last Wednesday 12.15pm Eucharist

service for 2016 was held on Wed 14

December. Wednesday services will

recommence on Wednesday 18 January

2017.

The last Thursday Holy Communion

service for 2016 was held on Thursday

15 December and will resume on

Thursday 26 January 2017 at 10am.

Education for Ministry (EfM)

A unique course of learning that combines study at a tertiary level,

theological reflection, and developing a deep relationship with a small

group as companions on the journey of Christian discipleship.

The EfM group that meets at St James on Monday nights from 6.15-8.15pm

has a few spaces for new members next year, beginning on 29 January.

Please talk to Jean soon if you are interested - 0212942122

TODAY

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Psalm 71: 3-8

Luke 1: 5-25

Psalm 24: 1-6

Luke 1: 26-38

Psalm 33: 1-4,11-12,

20-end Luke 1: 39-45

Psalm 113:

Luke 1: 46-56

Psalm 25: 3-9

Luke 1: 57-66

Psalm 89: 2,19-27 Luke 1: 67-79

As we approach the celebration of the Incarnation—God coming to be with

us in our own skin— we can use these daily bible readings

to help us pay attention to God in our daily lives.

Let each of us find a time every day to reflect with God’s

Word… Choose the time that is best for you and share

with others what you have learned about God who comes

to be with us in the birth of Jesus.

Weekday—Daily Readings

Our Christmas Offering this year is for Women’s Refuge.

Special Christmas offering envelopes for “Women’s Refuge” are

available - please put your special Christmas offering into the offering

plate or hand in to the office.

Alternatively, if you wish, you can donate women’s toiletries or gifts for

teenagers into the box at the back of the church. Goods will be parcelled

up and delivered to families in the week before Christmas.

Your Christmas Offerings for Women’s Refuge can still be left at the

church office or put to the collection plate next week. All specially

marked envelopes will be forwarded to Women’s Refuge.

Lunch today will be

held at St James. All

welcome to attend.

I hope you will join us

for a light lunch and fellowship,

12pm in the church.

Tongan Language Service

5pm, today 18 December

at St James

All welcome.

Midnight Eucharist

with Carols

Saturday 24 December

11pm

at St James

CHRISTMAS SERVICES @ ST JAMESCHRISTMAS SERVICES @ ST JAMESCHRISTMAS SERVICES @ ST JAMES 71 Woburn Road, Lower Hutt

Children’s

Service

Saturday

24

December

5.30pm Refreshments to follow

Christmas Day

Eucharist with Carols

25 December

8am & 10am

Can you help?

We normally have around 250 people (parishioners and visitors)

attending our family Christmas Crib service at 5.30pm on Christmas

Eve. Following the service we provide refreshments. Richard and

Bloss Perry are kindly providing the drinks again this year. We would

welcome contributions of fruit-mince pies or fancy biscuits. Please drop these off

at St James Church any time prior to Christmas Eve. Your contributions of

refreshments would be appreciated. Thank you.

Mid-January Seminar Afternoon:

Over the past four years, we have offered a seminar afternoon on one of the

mid-January Sundays. So far we have explored each of the four Gospels at

these afternoons, with presentations offered by members of the parish, and

opportunities after each presentation to share thoughts and reflections in

small groups.

This coming January we will be delving into the “sequel” to Luke’s Gospel,

which is the Book of Acts, and considering how it challenges us to be the

church in our own 21st century context in this place.

Actioning the book of Acts … will be a fun, interactive and thought-provoking event, when we can spend

some of the less pressured January time together as a community.

All are welcome to come for a shared lunch

at the St James Hall on Sunday 15 January,

and if you can, to remain for the seminar.

Special Request !!

Will you be worshipping at services at St James on 24 and 25 December?

Would you consider helping with duties on one of those days?

Thank you to those who have offered to assist, but we still require people for some

duties at the 5.30pm children’s service, the Christmas Eve 11pm service and

Christmas Day 8am and 10am services.

Please let us know how you can help. Thank you.

Looking forward to 2017 …..some plans for the new year!

Seminar afternoon on Sunday 15 January, with shared lunch prior.

Church office opens Monday 16 January

Wednesday 18 January, first 12.15 Eucharist for 2017

Thursday 26 January, first 10am BCP Communion Service for 2017

Saturday 28 January Music Workshop for singers and instrumentalists

Outdoor service, followed by church picnic - Sunday 5 February

Book Fair - 17 & 18 February

Fund-raising weekend - Tongan dinner - 22 February

Suzanne Duncan weekend - service on 26 February

CHRISTMAS SERVICE @ ALL SAINTSCHRISTMAS SERVICE @ ALL SAINTSCHRISTMAS SERVICE @ ALL SAINTS 6 Norfolk Street, Belmont Domain, Lower Hutt

Christmas Day Eucharist

with Carols

25 December

9am

This is the last full Newslink until late in January.

From December 25—January 22 there will be notices posted

- on the noticeboard on the back wall in the church at St James,

- and on the whiteboard at All Saints.

Feel free to add notices to the ones posted there.