PARISH NOTICES

Gluten Free Wafers: Please note that gluten free wafers are available during

communion. Please notify the Clergy as you go up to receive it.

Jumble Sale: The jumble sale was a great success due to the hospitality and support of

many people. A heartfelt thank you to those who have sorted and distributed surplus

goods over the past week.

Groundbreaking Signs: Thank you to everyone who has offered to support this

initiative. If you have yet to make your sponsorship payment, electronic payments can

be made to 02 0800 0186544 00 with reference Sign Sponsor.

The fullness of life – positive psychology and the teaching of Jesus: Presented by

Rev. Bosco Peters and John Quinn, Thursday 18 May, 7.30pm, The Chapman Room,

Christ’s College.

Parish directory and Phone Tree: Parishioners are asked to confirm their details are

correct in the present directory and email any changes to the parish office or Anna

Wilson. Please supply your mobile phone number and your e mail address if you feel

comfortable with this. The phone tree will be revised by Mark Aitchison when we

have all the details.

CWS Appeal: Millions of South Sudanese need food, water, sanitation, shelter and

protection. Can you help? Please donate at: https://www.cws.org.nz/node/821

Anglican e-Life: If you would like to subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter from the

Christchurch Anglican Diocese, please go to: anglicanlife.org.nz/publications/e-life UFO Craft Group: If interested in meeting monthly on a Saturday, please contact Chris

Blakeley: 355 4797 or 022 620 1305.

Tax receipts: are available at the back of the church, in the foyer.

Free: Judith Dennis has approx 8 large commercial packing boxes, plus an assortment of

other sizes, to give away if people are interested (332 1657).

Thursday Evening House Group: this group which usually meets on the first and third

Thursdays of each month is taking a break. The next meeting will be Thursday 22 June at

the home of Betty Scull.

Sunday Readings: will be available on the Lectern each week as usual. If you are a reader

and would like a copy of the reading beforehand, please contact the parish office, and

Claire will email it to you.

Notice: Rev. Helen will be away at Clergy Conference 15-18 May 2017. In the first

instance for pastoral matters, please contact the Wardens.

COMING UP:

25 May—4 June (Ascension Day-Pentecost): Week of prayer for Christian

unity, Thy Kingdom Come. We will observe this, watch this space.

Sunday 4 June: Pentecost—wear red!

Sunday 18 June: St Mark’s Middle School visit

READINGS: Acts 2:42-47

Psalm 23

1 Peter 2:19-25

John 10:1-10

HYMNS: Refer to the buff sheet for details.

Presider: I runga i te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua

Tapu. Amine.

(We gather in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

Presider: Grace and peace to you from God

People: God fill you with truth and joy.

Collect: God of our futures; you go ahead of us to prepare a place for us. Help

us put our trust in you; in this life, may we be freed from our fears; and, in the

life to come, know you face to face. We ask this through Christ our Saviour,

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now

and for ever. Amen.

St Mark’s Church St Anne’s Church

Opawa St Martins

7 May 2017

Fourth Sunday of Easter

The Opawa — St Martin’s Staff Team

Priest-in-charge: The Rev’d Canon Helen Roud 027 657 7947

e-mail: helen.roud@gmail.com Parish assistant for youth work: Hugh Williams 980 9983

Hon. Priest Assistants: The Rev’d Jill Pask 384 5453

Parish Administrator:

Claire Bonner 980 9983

e-mail: opawa.stmartins@gmail.com

Wardens: Peter Greenwood 337 9522

Karen Bayne 377 3313 Webpage: www.opawastmartins.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Opawa St Martins Anglican Parish/

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

One of the blessings of an enforced time of rest and recovery (such I had following my leg

injury) is the opportunity to slow down both mentally and physically. This slowing down

allows space for contemplation and often heightens our awareness of our immediate

landscape—both our inner and outer environment.

Sometimes this means noticing defects in our surroundings, like a threadbare carpet or cat-

scratched sofa. Sometimes it means becoming aware of inner defects—a threadbare

relationship requiring remedial attention; a latent anger or resentment that needs to be

faced. When this occurs, taking our situations and concerns to Jesus the Gate can reveal

new understandings and alternative pathways to healing and redemption. We are drawn

ever-closer to the heart of God.

Our slowed-down times can also reveal the landscape of beauty which so often we fail to

notice, both around and within us. For example, the last autumn rosebud covered in dew,

the artistry of a perfect spider’s web glistening in morning sunshine, or the warm smiling

eyes of a visitor.

Perhaps most difficult to notice,

acknowledge and celebrate are

the God-given gifts within us—

the inner beauty of peace,

patience, a sense of humour,

compassion for self and others…

the list will be different for each

of us.

I pray that as tree sap descends

below ground and autumn leaves

fall, you too are able to slow

down, open the Jesus-Gate, go

inside and rediscover your

personal landscape.

Autumn blessings,

Helen

From the Priest-in-Charge

What’s happening this week within the Parish: Monday 8 May 9:30am Selwyn Centre is meeting at St Mark’s

Tuesday 9 May 9:30am Mainly Music is meeting at St Mark’s

Wednesday 10 May 10:00am Eucharist in St Mark’s Lounge

Thursday 11 May 8:15am Morning Prayer at St Mark’s

1:15pm Thursday Afternoon Study Group at St Anne’s

7:30pm Anabasis House Group at Jennifer Thompson’s

Friday 12 May 8:15am Morning Prayer at St Mark’s

9:00am St Mark’s School Service at School

Sunday 14 May 5th Sunday of Easter

8.00am Eucharist at St Anne’s

10:00am Eucharist and Children’s Church at

St Anne’s

Readings for next Sunday:

Acts 7:55-60; Ps 31; 1 Pet 2:2-10; John 14:1-14

Parish Giving Envelope Scheme: Anyone who would like to take part in the Envelope

Giving Scheme please speak to Brian Weakley or pick up a form from the foyer.

For your prayer this week…

We pray for our Bishop Victoria, CPT and Standing Committee as they meet this

week.

We pray for this Parish of Opawa - St Martins, as we continue to seek a Vicar.

We continue to pray for the Starky family and all who have lost loved ones.

We pray for world leaders, particularly for a commitment to peace and good will

across nations.

We pray for the people of South Sudan, and all countries affected by famine (see

CWS appeal in Notices).

Those we know who are sick or in need of our prayers: Eric Pegg, Jane Sing (Pask),

Betty Phillips-Kane, Sandra Gardiner, Jenny Tait, Christopher Carson, Hazel Chapman,

Colene Gliddon, Colin Royfee.

In Long Term Care: Peter Axcell, Edyth Coursey, Connie Chaplin, Wayne Miller,

Nancy Royfee, Janis Tiso, June Neale, Doris Rigby, Joan Gray, Russell Lear, Ena

Kennedy, Margaret Draper, Bill O’Halloran, June Hayes.

Parish Cycle of Prayer: We pray for Mainly Music and the Selwyn Centre – facilitators,

participants & volunteers; local health centres in Opawa & St. Martin’s; Opawa, Rudolph

Steiner and St. Martin’s schools.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: We pray for the Parish of the Chatham Islands; the Parish of

Cheviot; The NZ Anglican Church Pension Board; and The Diocesan Pension

Committee.

Selwyn Centre Coordinators: Jan Andrews and Marion Rickerby

Youth Worker: Hugh Williams