Focus News

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 December 2021

CHRISTMAS FOCUS NEWS St Martin’s & St James Anglican Church

stmartinsstjames.church

Together cultivating a culture of discipleship, mission & regeneration Nau mai, haere mai, welcome to St Martin's St James.

WELCOME TO CHRISTMAS From all of us here at St MJ’s, we wish you a Merry Christmas. May love come alive in your heart as Christmas draws near. May hope fill each room you decorate and bring joy to those you hold dear. May peace be before you at every meal. And may faith ring through every carol you sing. May the God of hope fill us, our families and those who we love with joy and peace this Christmas.

This wonderful story of Christmas points us toward a child born in a manger whose name is Jesus Christ the Lord and Saviour. Christmas is an invitation to begin a journey as a Christian or to recommit our lives to following him as a disciple (life long learner in the ways of Jesus). This Advent we have lit the candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Four candles, four promises continually offered to us by God, and all of them manifest in the candle we light at Midnight on Christmas Eve: the Christ candle. In Christ we find the hope of transformation, the peace that follows justice, the joy of self-fulfilment in community, and the love that encompasses us in all our diversity, empowering us to make our own unique contribution to this world. In Christ we find light and life, and the courage to be like him, answering his call and following in his footsteps. If you would like to know more about following Jesus, being baptised or would like a visit from one of our clergy/pastoral care team please ask our welcomers.

Services and Livestream: All our gatherings are vac pass and live streamed.

Thank you for your grace & understanding. Lets pray that we can all be together again soon without restriction.

Coming up: Christmas Day: 9.00am Family Service with Communion and kids video.

Boxing Day Sunday Service: 9am. Families and kids with communion.

Summer Sunday Services: 9am. All Sunday Services are live streamed.

Our Purpose . . . To make Christ known St Martin’s & St James — Together 1 cultivating a culture of discipleship, mission & regeneration

January Fellowship: Wednesday Nights. 6-9pm, various locations, see the Summer Order of Service for more details: Starting Wednesday 5 January at Michael and Chris Carlile-Smith’s home.

Don Giblin: Don's: family have met privately and interred his ashes in our Church Columbarium. The Memorial Service for Don is planned for early next year, time depending on COVID restrictions.

Ajit & Lorna Das: Have flights and MIQ bookings for early January 2022.

Lorna’s phone conversation asked for continued prayer both for the flight to NZ to go ahead and especially for Ajit’s health as he is still requiring daily oxygen.

Prayer : Christmas Eve Service Son of God, light that shines in the dark, child of joy and peace, help us to come to you and be born anew this holy night. Amen BIBLE READINGS: Christmas Day: The Birth of Jesus Isaiah 9:2-7 Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14

Sentence: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. John 1:14 Collect Prayer: Christmas Day service Son of God, Child of Mary born in the stable at Bethlehem, be born again in us this day that through us the world may know the wonder of your love. Amen.

BIBLE READINGS: 26 DECEMBER—BOXING DAY 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26 Colossians 3:12-17 Psalm 148 Luke 2:41-52

Sentence: Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour. Luke 2:52 Collect Prayer: Boxing Day service Heavenly Father, tender and compassionate, create in us, your family, love so true and deep that in this broken world we may be a sign of unity. Amen.

COMMUNION and PRAYER All are welcome around the table to receive Communion. If you would like prayer or ministry, people will be available at the front of the Church (after Covid restrictions are lifted) during and after Communion to pray with you.

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COMING UP • • • • • • •

Prayer Rhythms: Please continue to pray. Prayers can be found on https:// pray-as-you-go.org/ or the NZ Prayer book is a good resource.

Sunday Services • 9am Summer Sunday Services: All Sunday Services are live streamed.

Monday Prayers: 4-5pm. Neave Room Wednesday Communion Service: Resumes in February 2022 Saturday 25 December: 9am, Family Service & communion Wednesdays—6-9pm: January Fellowship Tuesday 25 January 2022—Crosstrax deadline: 10am

GIVE THANKS FOR •

For all the volunteers who have helped with the Christmas services and events.

PRAY FOR •

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Parishioners with special concerns: Avril & Alan Harper, Gwen Ragg, Lorraine Bennett and Matthew, Ron Chapman, Terry James, Victoria Sullivan, Victoria and Anne Askin.

Don Giblin: Don's: family have met privately and interred his ashes in our Church Columbarium. The Memorial Service for Don is planned for early next year, time depending on COVID restrictions and all invited.

School of Good Soil: Discipleship Training Groups—Tuesday & Thursday.

Our Mission Partners and Projects: Munyuku Secondary School (Zimbabwe) & Kailakuri Health Centre (Bangladesh)

NOTICES Parish Directory: an updated version is now available from the Church Welcome Desk ($5 a copy). Please advise the parish office if and when your details change so that our records can be revised.

Amenities cleaner needed: to help another person every 4-5 weeks, please see or contact Bev (338 4985 or 027 8285312) if you can help. Prayer Ministry & Prayer Requests: Prayer requests can be left in the prayer box in the church or sent or text to the confidential prayer chain on 029 776 1782 or stjimschurch@gmail.com. E-life: see the Anglican e-life at: http:// anglicanlife.org.nz/publications/e-life/.

Please contact group leaders if Covid 19 level restrictions apply: Groups & Regular activities: Monday: Strength and Stretch Classes: Term time: Just come along with drink bottle and try it. Masks don’t need to be worn when exercising. You will need to scan/ sign in. Or phone/ txt Susan.

First class free, $5.00 per class. St Martins Church hall. Contact: TuneUp Physio, Village Health 338 8595 or visit www.tuneupphysio.nz Tuesday’s: 3

Craft Group: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the month. 1.30-3pm, Neave Room.

Contact Helen Williams 3389336. Wednesdays: Breadline: Foodbank is open from 9.30 to 11am. Items in need: sugar (500g), tea bags (30’s or similar), cereals, soup, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce. A full list is in the Crosstrax magazine. St Martin’s Church Office. Fridays during term time—Church of St Martin’s Playgroup: 9.30-12pm. Enquires to Cindy or via the facebook page.

CHURCH CONTACTS Ministers Rev Sampson Knight: Tel: 021 335 168 | E: revsampsonnz@gmail.com Rev Victoria Askin: Mob: 022 126 7885 | E: vicaskin@hotmail.com Youth Minister Tom Johnston Tel: 027 862 9232 | E: tom.johnston11@hotmail.com Children’s Worker: Azaria Peach: Tel: 0204026 1160 | E:azaria.peach@gmail.com Wardens: Vicar’s: Nigel Pugh: Tel: 022 311 2431 | E: nigel.pugh.np@gmail.com People’s: Sue Phillips: Tel:029 776 1782 | E: alsue.1982@gmail.com Church office: Tel: 338 4062 Hours: The office will be closed during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Contact staff directly or email: office@stmartinsstjames.church 50 Lincoln Road, Spreydon, Christchurch 8024 Website: stmartinsstjames.church, facebook.com/stmartinsstjames , twitter.com/stmartinstjames Bible resources: rightnowmedia.org

CHURCH SERVICES: Regular Sunday service times resume 6 February 2022 • 8.30am Traditional Anglican Communion • 10.30am Family Service • 10.30am Kid’s Church

YOUNG ADULTS: contact Victoria for more details.

HARVEST RANGATAHI (YOUTH): https://stmartinsstjames.church/youth • •

Harvest Stags (Basketball) – Gym: Seniors - Wednesday 3:30pm-6pm, Juniors Thursday 4-5:30pm, Harvest Thursdays – 7-9pm: Thursday: The Loft

BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS: Account Name: Riccarton Spreydon Anglican Parish. Account Number: 02-0820-0264343-000 Reference: Name and envelope or AP number CYPSO (Children and Young Persons Safety Officer): Please advise Patrick Baker (021 0263 6939) Police Vetting: Chris Thorne (021 239 4091). Health and Safety: Wardens 4