welcome to st augustine weekly news · spring is coming, join us for “speed dating” , hopping...
TRANSCRIPT
We’re back! And what a week we’ve walked back into!
Every one of us probably recognizes that, in life, “not knowing” is often harder than facing up to and working through a challenge. Not knowing what the next days and weeks hold around Covid and Levels and such things is difficult and stressful, and that includes in parish life as well.
As I write, I think of our eight parishioners who live in Rest Homes and are already in Lockdown. Will you pause to pray for God’s peace for them right now? As I write, we are awaiting the Friday afternoon news as to our next stage in Lockdown. One of my sisters went to Heaven quite a few years ago now. Two of her grand-children (5 and 6 year olds) go to Glamorgan Primary School in Auckland, so the family are amongst the many in Auckland in self isolation. I have promised Natasha, my niece, that I will stand in the place of her praying mother and pray them through this anxious time. Some of you might like to join me?
Take a moment to reread Psalm 46 and reground yourself in its comfort:
God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble Therefore will not we fear.....
Be Still and Know that I am God
Because he lives I can face tomorrow Because he lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future And life is worth the living, just because He lives
God’s Peace Christine
16th August 2020 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
‘Weekly News’
Welcome to St Augustine’s
High Tea at the Lower Hall
St Augustine’s, Cashmere
Spring is coming, join us for “speed dating” , hopping
from table to table, for enchanting conversations with other parishioners.
Not really dating, but chatting with people you may not
have talked to before, at a table of four or more.
RSVP extended! Plenty of food and warm fellowship to share. If you are only 51% sure you can make it to the high tea, put your name down today. If you find yourself free on the afternoon of 22 Aug, come join us. Sign-up sheet at back of church or call
church office: 03 332-6627
Saturday 22 August 2020, 3 to 4.30pm
Men’s Breakfast Saturday 5th September 2020
Topic: Christchurch City of Trees Mark Belton:
Managing Director, Permanent Forests NZ Limited
Mark is a very engaging speaker with great knowledge of Trees in Christchurch, backed by stunning visual evidence to back the claim that Christchurch has possibly the widest variety of trees of any city. Come and enjoy a cooked breakfast and a stimulating presentation.
COVID-19 - we need to be alert… * Stay home if you're sick * Practise good hygiene practices re handwashing and coughing or sneezing into your elbow * Keeping track of your church attendance.
Let's look after each other well!
After the Government’s announcement today we remain at COVID Level TWO.
We will email all parishioners tomorrow (Sat) with how this will affect us on Sunday.
We will then ring the parishioners who are regular church attendees, but who don’t have email, to
advise them if there are any changes to our normal Services.
Two important Seminars regarding referenda at this year’s General Election
There are two important referenda at this year’s General Election in which New Zealanders will be asked to make important choices for the future shape of our society.
The Transitional Cathedral and Theology House are collaborating to offer TWO seminars (below), hosted at the Transitional Cathedral, at which informed speakers will explain the question to be asked at the referendum and allow for panel discussion and questions.
End of Life Choice Bill - Saturday 15 August 9.45am-12noon
IMPORTANT UPDATE: With the change in COVID-19 alert level, this seminar is now expected to run under Level 2 conditions.
The event will be livestreamed via the Cathedral’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
The recording will be available from these platforms soon afterwards.
If you plan to attend in person, you MUST register in advance at https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/end-of-life-choice-act-seminar-in-the-transitional-cathedral-tickets-116679829511. There is no cost to register but having your contact details on file is important. Please also check in using the Government’s COVID Tracer App when you arrive.
Please arrive in plenty of time to be seated by 9:45am. Because of social distancing requirements it might take a while to get everybody in their seats. You are very welcome to wear a mask. Please follow all basic precautions like good hand hygiene and staying away if you’re feeling unwell.
In the event of further changes to alert levels, please check the Cathedral’s website and Facebook page. There will an update regarding the Cannabis seminar (below) next week
NZ Cannabis Referendum - Saturday 22 August 9.45am-12noon See the posters on the noticeboard at the back of the Church for more information.
“Value Your Vote” Family First have again issued their very informative and useful pamphlet regarding where our politicians stand on issues for the coming election.
You can access this pamphlet from the following link
(encouraged): https://
valueyourvote.org.nz/2020-general-election/#!document
We have also printed off a small number of these which are available at the back of the Church. If these run out and you still want one, please contact the office.
ALSO: Family First are touring the country hosting seminars on “Euthanasia” and “Cannabis”
The Christchurch Seminar is: September 1st
at Beckenham Baptist Church, 146 Colombo St starting at
7.30pm
Tearfund Beirut Appeal On Tuesday August 4th we watched in horror as a massive explosion devastated Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. The explosion has left 300,000 people homeless overnight, thousands of people injured and hospitals (already struggling in the face of Covid-19 infections) overwhelmed. The death toll currently sits at 135 but is expected to rise as people are recovered from the rubble. Since 2013, Tearfund has been working with churches in Lebanon to respond to the Syrian refugee crisis but this explosion has compounded a struggling country’s suffering. The Lebanese people are in the midst of a dire economic crisis and carry the burden of hosting an estimated 1.5million refugees. Food security in the country was already threatened with experts warning that, by the end of 2020, 75% of Lebanon’s population would be dependent on food aid to survive. This explosion destroyed grain stores worsening this grim outlook.
Right now, churches in Lebanon are rallying to provide urgent food, shelter, water and hygiene kits for people directly affected by the explosion. They are also offering care and support to those traumatised and distressed by this week’s event.
Donations received will enable our partners to meet the immediate needs of survivors of the explosion and should people wish to contribute they can do so via the Tearfund website: https://www.tearfund.org.nz/beirut-explosion-appeal END NOTE: Ciru's sister has been living and studying for her master's in Public Health in Beirut for the last seven years. She is currently back home in Kenya during Covid season. Her accommodation has been destroyed. Her friends will go into her place soon to see what can be salvaged while they await her return to Beirut to finish her studies. An extremely sad and anxious time for her.
Ellel Ministries: Exploring the Antidote to Fear and Anxiety
Friday 21 Aug, 7pm-9.15pm, & Saturday 22nd Aug, 9am-5.15pm.
At Grace Vineyard Church
See the flyer at the back of the Church for more information.
mainly music Term-time; every Thu 10-11am. Women’s Fellowship Group each 4th Tue/month @ 2pm
Men’s Breakfast $5, now on a quarterly timetable. The 1st Saturday of March, June, September, December 8am-9am. Contact: Chris Kissling 338-4002
ST AUGUSTINE’S CONTACTS
Co Priest in Charge John de Senna 022 679-0734 [email protected] Co Priest in Charge Christine de Senna 021 113-7178 [email protected] Children’s & Youth Worker Ciru Muriuki 332-6627 [email protected] Peoples’ Warden David Heard 332-0161 [email protected] Vicar’s Warden Claire Bickers 942-7167 [email protected]
Parish Administrator Paula Cox 332 6627
Retired clergy: Rev Ron Hay
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.staugustines.org.nz fb: staugscashmere Postal: 5 Cracroft Tce, Cashmere, Christchurch 8022
Hours: Tues, Weds, Thurs, Friday, 9.00am to 3.00pm
Items for next weeks Newsletter before 1:00pm Thurs. Please! (preferably via email) If you would like to receive our weekly newsletter via email, please contact the office.
St Augustine’s Prayer Chain
We have a prayer chain operating to take prayer requests and concerns. It is a group of people who pray (confidentially) for you or for someone you have concerns about. Our coordinator is Elizabeth Hitch. You can contact Elizabeth on: 332-6288 and she will pass on your prayer need to the chain.
Children’s Program
During Term Time we run a children’s program at the
11am service.
For more information please contact Ciru in the
office: 332-6627
Christchurch Diocese 2020 Pandemic
Relief Fund
Some ministry units in our Diocese are experiencing higher than normal financial stress due to the current situation and need our help The Pandemic Relief Fund invites donations from individuals and ministry units which are not experiencing financial stress and wish to help our fellow ministry units out. To make a one off or regular donation, the Diocesan bank a/c number is: 06-0705-0540840-00 Please use Code: 574-00 and Reference: Pandemic Donation.
Diocesan appeal for $20,000+ in order to support the Mirpurkhas Hostel in Pakistan. This Hostel will close if funds cannot be found to support the next academic year, beginning this September.
Our Diocesan connection is through a mission partner known in many of our parishes who is not named here for security reasons. In bringing notice of this appeal to you, Bishop Peter is appealing for donations over and above your normal giving.
Briefly The mission of the Diocese of Hyderabad, Church of Pakistan is to uplift, support and empower the marginalized communities of Sindh, Pakistan, in order to express the word of God in love and deed. The Diocesan Hostel Programme has been very significant in the Diocese in serving marginalized students from remote areas, many from new believing backgrounds. From the hostels students have been able to access schooling which otherwise is not available to them. Through the hostel programme the students also develop life and leadership skills and grow in their faith. Hostel graduates have gone on to be leaders in many areas of the church and community. Students come to Diocesan Boys’ Hostel, Mirpurkhas at grade 9- the majority transferring from our more remote hostel (which takes students up to grades 8). The Mirpurkhas hostel is situated near a small city, from where the boys can have access to education of grade 9 and above.
Unfortunately a funder for the programme has withdrawn funding for Covid-19 reasons and thus we bring this appeal to the Diocese of Christchurch, seeking $20,000+ to enable students to be supported in hostel living for 8 months, September 2020 to April 2021 (8 x $2500). It would be life changing for these students to be able to complete their studies. Our Diocesan mission colleague writes:
“If they cannot return to school or college now they will never complete their basic qualifications which the diocese has been supporting them towards, many since they were just 6 years old. This means options for livelihood are very limited (probably manual labour in a landlord's fields), compounded by the challenge of increasing numbers out of work in these days. “
Sunday July 5th @ 9.15am & 11am
Theme & Readings Theme: “Let’s be Grateful Readings: Luke 17:11-19 Psalm 111:1-10
Account Name: Anglican Missions Board Account Number: 02 0585 0001796 00 Particulars: Name or organisation name Code: Mirpurkhas Reference: (any other details)
Vestry is meeting THIS Wednesday evening, August 19th