Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 20 August 2023
Kia ora St John’s whānau,
This Sunday we conclude our four-week exploration of the faith practice ‘Following Jesus’.
Together as Church whanau we are exploring the ways Jesus calls us to follow him, and discover how this leads us to make disciples… Come And See! Go And Tell!
Thank you to all those who brought extra food gifts last week for the DCM Foodbank. We are all encouraged to give food items regularly, along with our financial giving, as part of our discipleship following Jesus.
If you can’t gather in the city, and you want to join the worship service via Zoom, here are the details to access the live-stream:
Zoom Meeting ID: 370 260 759
Passcode: worship
The link to join the Zoom worship service is below.
If using your phone: dial 04 886 0026 (Meeting ID: 370 260 759#, Passcode: 1560107#)
This is the link to the printable Service Sheet
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT...
FOLLOW ME
Over four Sundays, we have been focusing on the faith practice Following Jesus.
Each Sunday and other gathering times, we have looked at biblical stories illustrating this practice and how the Christian community has understood this through more than two thousand years.
Using this resource together over the same four weeks, has given us opportunities to talk about this and do it together.
A final reminder about the resource for Practising the Practice at home, which we strongly encourage you to use with others in your household or networks.
CHURCH LIFE SURVEY
On Sunday 27th August in church we will be completing a survey, administered by the Christian Research Association of New Zealand. It is called the Church Life Survey. It is held every five years to all congregations of every denomination with the goal of ‘offering a snap-shot of the spiritual life of your church.’
The survey will be conducted during the morning service in peer group time. It will take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete, and the service will be tailored to enable this.
You can complete the survey via a QR code on your smart phone or paper copies and pens will be made available.
If you are not at Church on 27th August and wish to complete the survey let the church office know and they can provide you with a link to the on-line survey, or a copy of the survey which you will need to return to the church office.
The surveys will be analysed by the Christian Research Association and findings shared with the congregation so that together we can plan our way forward as a church.
FLOURISHING FUTURES: THEOLOGICAL CONVERSATIONS
This series of public discussions with a panel of experts offering their insights on these issues is organised by the University of Otago.
Venue: Wellington Cathedral of Saint Paul, 2 Hill Street.
“The Truth will Set us Free?”: Disinformation, Misinformation, Surveillance and Sociality
Tuesday August 22nd 5.30pm–6.30pm
“It’s the End of the World as we Know it”: Climate Crisis and Civilisation Collapse? or A Post-Carbon Sustainable Future?
Tuesday August 29th 5.30pm–6.30pm
“We don’t need no education?” Education, Citizenship, and the Common Good
Tuesday Sept 12th 5.30pm–6.30pm
COMING UP
The following events are on the St John’s website (along with lots of other stuff!), and you might want to add them to your own diary…
20th August, 4pm The Scots College Founders Service
27th August Church Life Survey and Souper Sunday
17th September Clubs Day
THEOLOGY AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Last year we hosted the first Faith Thinking event in Wellington – a short course over Friday night and Saturday morning titled Living Faithfully in the Anthropocene: Theological Imagination and Ecological Practices for the Church
Next month there is another of these short courses offered by the Theology Programme, University of Otago Theology And The Built Environment: Exploring the Connections Between Christian Faith and Architecture
From church architecture to the design of cities, Christian faith and theology has had a profound impact on architecture throughout the world. This short course will explore the nature of that impact and take a visual tour of buildings from Florence to Wellington and beyond.
Presented by theologian and former architect, Professor Murray Rae
Friday, September 8th (7.00pm-9.00pm) and Saturday, September 9th (9.30am-12.30pm) at Wellington Central Baptist Church
Course Cost: $20.00 (including GST)
Register here: https://corpapp.otago.ac.nz/training/ce/course/26914/course/0/
WHANAU NIGHT
The next Whānau Night will be on Sunday 10th September in the St John's Centre.
For this we'll be focusing on compassion. Hope to see you there!
APPLICATIONS OPEN
Can you pass on the opportunity for an organisation to apply for funds from our St John’s Edward Carter memorial special assistance fund?
The purpose of this fund is to assist people who need a second chance or a new start. Projects may be for local community or communities in the greater Wellington area or national in scope.
We welcome grant applications for up to $5,000 to fund projects which align with the grant’s remit. Applications are needed before the 30th September.
To apply or find more details, please see the ‘Grants’ page on the St John’s website. https://www.stjohnsinthecity.org.nz/grants
ORGAN CONCERT
Dianne Halliday, who occasionally plays at St John’s when Eleanor Carter is away, is giving a concert of organ music from the Jewish liturgical tradition on Monday 21st August, 7:30 PM at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul. The event is co-sponsored by the Wellington Abrahamic Council and the Wellington Organists' Association, and is open to the public for cash donation (no eftpos).
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023
Only six weeks now until the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, in Auckland from 27th September to 1st October. This is a gathering of commissioners from across our national Church that is held every two years. The General Assembly website ga2023.nz has information on the venue, registration costs, accommodation, FAQs, and much more. It’s being updated regularly with further information about the programme, and events during Assembly.
Not attending assembly? Get the daily email update!
We invite you to sign up to receive a daily email with a summary of key decisions, plus links to video of the business sessions for full context, plus other video and events including the installation of the new Moderator. Sign up to receive this on the PCANZ website.
NEW WINE
Each year families from St John’s have gone to the New Wine Festival in January. It is a very uplifting time and a great way to start a new year.
Here is a video showing some of the festival highlights:
The way of Christ is perfect; we can always trust that following our Saviour is good for us.
Allister