Weekly Bulletin: Staying connected as a church - 26 November 2023
Kia ora St John’s whānau,
This Sunday we conclude our four-week exploration of the faith practice ‘Welcome Others’.
Our Bible reading is Luke 7:36–50.
In this encounter, Jesus challenges the ‘othering’ of his day, and this invites us to challenge the ‘othering’ we might do.
Peer groups for our young people will start part-way through our worship service.
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…
SPECIAL SERVICES FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
You are very welcome to join in these worship services at St John’s
Scots Christmas Service, Sunday 26th Nov 4:00pm
The story ‘Kiwi Christmas’ by Joy Cowley invites us to recognise the truth of Christmas experienced in our own celebrations, as well as identify further expressions of the themes in the narrative of ‘God with us’.
We are pleased to welcome the Scots College community to join us in worship at this special time of year. Please come early to enjoy the pipe band!
Fellowship Group Advent Service, Tuesday 28th Nov 11:00am
A special new hymn helps us ponder the meaning of how God is ‘constricted into maleness, and of a woman born’. And to honour the role of God’s willing servant Mary: ‘The milk of life is flowing as Mary guides and feeds her wordless Word, embodied in infant joys and needs’.
All are welcome to join in this intimate time of worship at the start of Advent.
Combined Churches Advent Service, Sunday 3rd Dec 7:00pm
Our local tradition is to celebrate our unity at the start of Advent by joining together for combined worship. And this year we are starting a new tradition…
Sharing our experiences of each other’s specific denominational practices, and how these shape our spiritual journey.
St John’s in the City Presbyterian Church is hosting our annual Combined Advent Service Sunday 3rd December at 7:00pm.
What were those stroppy Protestant Reformers so worked up about? Come and join the other congregations and choirs as we anticipate the coming Prince of Peace.
CHRISTMAS IN THE COURTYARD
We are having Christmas in the Courtyard again this year on Friday 8 December, 5:00-8:00pm.
There will be choirs, brass bands, crafts, food and lots of fun.
This is an opportunity to share the joy of Christmas with our city neighbourhood!
There are many ways you can play a part – please contact Rob Anderson.
You can help publicise Christmas in the Courtyard by pinning the Facebook Event by pinning to the top of the posts on your Facebook page:
Login to Facebook and go to your Facebook Page.
Find the Christmas in the Courtyard event on the St John’s in the City page, indicate you are interested then going ( if you haven’t already). Click on the blue arrow ( share arrow) and select ‘Share to feed’ and click on Share at the bottom after you’ve added a message if you want to (e.g. “Looking forward to this event! Come and help support DCM as well as enjoy some Christmas fare.”)
Go back to your home page, click on your name so you are on your own page, and go to the Christmas in the Courtyard post on your page.
Click on the “more” icon (the three dots) in the upper-right of the post.
Select “Pin to Top of Page.”
The event post will move to the top of your Page and stay there ahead of other posts.
CHRISTMAS STAR BOXES
Yes, it’s that time again. We have four boxes to fill with gifts, unwrapped, for children in the Wellington area.
Wellington City Mission will be distributing them again and we are invited to give new gifts that will delight children who perhaps will not be receiving very much.
We have THREE Sundays in which to fill these boxes so don’t delay. Fill ‘em up! Thank you in advance.
Any inquiries, contact Lesley Shaw.
LAST WEEK’S FOODBANK APPEAL
Thank you for all who helped with the DCM Foodbank Appeal last Saturday.
It was another big success, with 69 boxes of stock taken and approx $1500 in donations. DCM does things differently with the Foodbank – they have genuine conversations with everyone asking for assistance so they can discover the underlying reasons that have brought them to the Foodbank. And hopefully, with support, these recipients won’t have to keep returning to the Foodbank, but can go on to be housed, connected, valued and thriving in their own communities. Those who use DCM services are under more pressure than ever amidst the cost of living crisis – especially as the busy summer period approaches. Thank you for supporting them at the Foodbank Appeal, and giving regularly to our foodbank basket as part of our Offering every Sunday.
OUTCOMES OF AGM LAST MONTH
We appreciate one another as we contribute our time, expertise, and energy to achieve our Church mission.
• We are challenged to build up our Church and reach out to our neighbours and community to share God’s love to others.
• We have budgeted for an overall increase in congregational giving of 10% for the coming year, and asked to discern God’s guidance for our personal/household giving.
• The cost of insurance has become unaffordable and unsustainable. More information is being sought from experts, including the Property Trustees of the National Church, and we will need to consider options including self-insurance.
May the Love of Christ expand our hearts to welcome others.
Allister