RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL
It is interesting that as I began the last Messenger I wrote, “Are we ready?” That was two months ago and the same heading would be equally appropriate for this issue. In December the question was: “Are we ready for the celebration of the Christ Child having come into the world more than 2000 years ago?”
Today it is: “Are we ready to respond to God’s call?” After 2020 we may be apprehensive in responding to that question. We never know what lies around the corner, but certainly last year brought far more than we expected in so many ways. More opportunities have been presented to us to show the love of God to people in need since the
Covid pandemic arrived at our shores.
We soon realised that whether we are ready or not as baptised members of God’s family we are called to love and to serve as Christ demonstrated during his life. For me a highlight of 2020 was that amongst the pain and suffering of so many people, a large sector of our community pulled together to care for others. The food parcels that went out before and after the Christmas period were amazing. On Christmas Eve it was amazing that we received 13 hams to give away. What a difference that made to joy of the families who received these gifts so generously given by others. So much was donated by way of food, gifts for people and money to buy food when this was required. We have a pastoral care fund which comes from money donated by caring people within the parish and the community.
We know there are still many people suffering from the long-term effects of the pandemic through loss of self-esteem, jobs and homes, and broken relationships through additional stress and the inability of parents to provide their children with regular healthy meals. High costs of rent, significant medical problems and inadequate benefits to meet the increased cost of living are hitting so many people in our community and beyond.
The season of Epiphany, which the church is in now, has a theme of hearing and responding to God’s call running through our readings. It is helpful for us to reflect on the question of what God is calling us to do in this new year, in this time of high community need, and I ask you as we approach Lent to reflect and pray about this.
So many people do so much and for that I am so grateful. But sometimes God calls us in a new direction and it is important that we are open to God’s calling. You will find some suggestions later in the Messenger that you may like to consider, or there may be some other way of serving God and the community that you would like to explore
or discuss. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in exploring this further and would like someone to discuss this with.
Blessings to you all.
Jan
THE SEASON OF LENT
The season of Lent, which stretches from Ash Wednesday to just before Easter Sunday, is a six-week journey and preparation for the celebration of Easter. This year’s season is explored through the lens of the Gospels of Mark and John. On this path to Jerusalem, we also travel with our ancestors in the faith – Noah, Sarah and Abraham, psalm writers, and Jeremiah, and explore themes of life, love, community, and remembering. There are two strong threads that are important in our world today and Lent is a good time to reflect on caring for God’s creation and working towards justice in the world.
Lent is a time to re-orient towards God, and care for one another and Earth! It is a time when people might give something up. Perhaps, this year we might take something on – such as a commitment to care for Earth or to advocate for justice.
We look forward to the celebration of Easter Day.
We listen through doubt and anticipation.
We ponder how we are to be a part of the movement of God.
Easter comes, again and again, offering us a chance to ask these questions and discover the answers that unfold like blooms.
How then do we live?
How then do we die?
Eastertide is remembered in the way we spent last Easter, when we were becoming increasingly aware of the effect of the Covid pandemic, and we remember how the world paused to care for one another through the health crisis of Covid-19. “How then do we live?” We are called to live as the Body of Christ, offering ripples of love, kindness, care, and support to those who need God’s love the most – and at the same time remembering that we all need God’s love.
Adapted from “Seasons of the Spirit”.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP
Sunday Worship Times
St Andrew’s
Each Sunday 8am & 9.30am Holy Communion
1st Sunday 11.15am Holy Communion (Nora Brown Hall)
St Paul’s Buckland
2nd & 4th Sundays 11.15am Holy Communion
Special services
Ash Wednesday 17th February, 10am Eucharist at St Andrew’s
7pm Combined service at St Patricks Catholic Church, Seddon St, Pukekohe
February Readings
Sunday 7th
First: Isaiah 40:21-31; Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
Sunday 14th
First: 2 Kings 2: 1-12; Gospel: Mark 9:2-9
Sunday 21st
First: Genesis 9:8-17; Gospel: Mark 1:9-15
Sunday 28th
First: Genesis 17:1 — 7, 15 — 16; Gospel: Mark 8:31 — 38
Rest homes and hospital services
Tuesday 2nd 10.30am Palms rest home
Thursday 4th 10.30am Franklin Village
Sunday 7th 11.15am Nora Brown
Tuesday 9th 11am Palms Hospital
Wednesday 10th 10.30am Lakeside
Tuesday 23rd 11am Possum Bourne Village
STUDY GROUPS
A River through the Desert – A Lenten Pilgrimage
This year we will be having two Lenten study groups running. The evening group will be led by the Rev John Carter from 7.30 to 9pm on Thursdays, beginning on 18th February, and the daytime group will be led by the Rev Tricia Carter, beginning on Tuesday 23rd. The decision on whether this will be morning or afternoon will be made by the group.
These groups will meet at the church. Please write your name on the list in the church porch if you are interested in attending.
Week
1.The Desert is where the place of Jesus’ teaching becomes the place where we seek the presence of God.
2. The Water Week is the place of refreshment which is our Lenten search for the renewal of our lives and of the Earth.
3. The Mountain is where there are divine encounters and revelations which change our perspective and direct our lives.
4. The Sea is a place of turbulence and of calm where our fears are confronted and our hopes can take shape.
5. The Road which Jesus walked becomes the path which we must follow on our own pilgrim journey.
6. The Garden is where Jesus seeks the will of his Father and prays for strength. It is where we can meet the risen Christ and live the risen life.
QUIET DAY
Led by Irene Brodie – Seeing Through the Eyes of the Heart.
Saturday 20th March at the parish complex from 10am to 3pm. All are welcome. Please bring your lunch, a pen and pad or notebook and your preferred version of the Bible. Copies of the NRSV are available at the church. All welcome.
EASTER DISPLAYS – INDOOR AND OUTDOOR
We hope to have both our indoor and outdoor displays available for you to spend quiet time in these spaces reflecting on the last days of Jesus’ life.
PARISH ACTIVITIES
OP SHOP
The Op Shop is back in full swing and open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to noon in the Nora Brown Hall.
SELWYN
The Selwyn group has resumed and gets together on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to noon in the Reid Anderson Hall.
MOTHERS’ UNION
The Mothers’ Union’s first meeting for 2021 will be on Wednesday 3rd February, starting with a service in the church at 10am followed by morning tea in the Parish Lounge.
WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Watch the weekly newsletter for notification of the fellowship’s gathering on Monday 18th February.
Regular activities involving children will resume in the week of 9th February when the school term starts.
SPACE
A programme offering support for first-time parents/caregivers and babies in their first year of development. Come along and meet other new parents in the Franklin area. If you are able to assist with this group for about three hours a week please let Jan know. For Inquiries email pukekohecommunityaction@xtra.co.nz
SEASONS
An after-school group held at 4pm on Thursdays for children who have experienced a significant loss or grief in their lives. We also hope to run an adult grief group during the term. If you would like to know more, please email seasonsfranklin@xtra.co.nz or pukekohecommunityaction@xtra.co.nz
OASIS
Playgroup for preschool children and parents/caregivers. Mondays and Fridays 9.30am in the Reid Anderson Hall.
SPECIAL EVENTS
FAMILY PANCAKE PARTY & SHARED LUNCH
Sunday 14th March, Reid Anderson Hall, after the 9.30am service morning tea. Please bring along a savoury or sweet topping for the pancakes. ALL ARE WELCOME
OUTING TO KAIAUA
Sunday 21st February, lunch at the Kaiaua fish and chip shop. After lunch Keith Gardner, who is very knowledgeable with respect to Forest and Bird life in New Zealand and conservation, will lead us to the bird sanctuary. Watch the website and parish newsletters for further information.
JOHN RONALDSON MEMORIAL ORGAN RECITAL
Featuring organist Michael Bell, 3pm Sunday 28th February. Please bring a plate of food to share for refreshments after the recital. A plaque in John’s memory will be blessed at the beginning of the service. ALL WELCOME.
PHILIP MEYER
Philip passed away during the time of the Covid crisis last year. On Wednesday 27th February, at 2pm, we will have the opportunity to commemorate his life, service and commitment to the community. ALL ARE WELCOME.
FROM VESTRY
UNIT AVAILABLE IN ST ANDREW’S COURT
(Behind the church complex). Please talk to Jan if you would like to know more about this and to view the unit.
This unit is being refurbished and I am expecting it to be available by mid-February after the painting is finished and new carpet and drapes are in place.
PEACE MEMORIAL ARCH
We are exploring the replacement of the Peace Memorial Arch, which was unfortunately destroyed shortly before Christmas. We are working with the insurance company, heritage architects and engineers to establish how best to replicate the arch, which we hope will be in place by Armistice Day this year when the arch would have been 100 years old.
FOOD STORAGE
The high demand for food parcels has created a storage problem for us. We are exploring putting a food storage shed next to the gas-bottle shed behind the Reid Anderson Hall. At the moment the food storage has taken over the meeting room, which we hope to revert to its intended use so Ann Rollinson can create a display offering the opportunity for reflection during the last weeks of Lent until after Easter.
GROUNDS AND MAINTENANCE
Over the next month a koru in memory Alistair Parke and a bird bath in memory of Philip Meyer will be added to the vicarage garden. A plaque will be added to the organ in memory of Dr John Ronaldson.
SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE
The communal garden is flourishing – thank you Pauline and Renton – and it is great to be able to add some fresh vegetables to our food parcels.
HELP NEEDED
Many aspects of church life would be enhanced by some more volunteers. Training is provided where needed.
Please also suggest other areas of need that you identify.These include assistance with:
- Welcoming people as they arrive at church
- Prayer chain co-ordination and prayers
- Sidespeople
- Op Shop
- Church cleaning
- Food store
- Readers
- Grounds maintenance
- Leaders of intercessions
- Morning tea roster
- Lawn mowing
- Odd jobs
- Flower arranging
- Garage sale co-ordination
- Fair co-ordination
- General tidiness of complex
- Visiting
- Assisting at Selwyn
- Volunteering with Pukekohe Community Action programmes — Seasons supporting people who have grief and loss, working with mums and babies, or our preschool group. Training is provided
and for some roles there are external training programmes.
HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY
THERE IS A DEFIBRILLATOR INSTALLED BY THE OFFICE DOOR. A copy of the Parish Health and Safety Policy along with the processes required for the implementation of the policy is currently available on the shelf at the back of the church, published on our website or available from the parish office.
An evacuation plan is in each area for the church and complex.
Reid Anderson Hall: Assembly area is the car park adjoining the hall unless the location of the emergency situation is on the south wall preventing evacuation on that side of the building. In this case the assembly area is on the road frontage in front of the church.
Nora Brown Hall: Assembly area is on the road frontage in front of the church or on the vicarage lawn depending on the location of the emergency situation.
Other rooms in the complex: Assembly area move to the vicarage lawn.
St Andrew’s Church: Assembly area is on the road frontage at the front of the church.
St Paul’s Church: Assembly area is on the road frontage at the front of the church.
First aid kits and accident reporting sheets are located:
1. Reid Anderson – In the cupboard over the small hand basin, by the back door in the kitchen.
2. Nora Brown – on the shelf above the microwave. Record sheets are next to the microwave.
3. Parish office – 2nd to top shelf on left side in the back room. The office is locked when unattended.
Forms are to be completed as soon as the accident has been dealt with. Treatment including resources that are used are to be recorded on the sheet.
PARISH DIRECTORY
Vicar: The Rev’d Jan Wallace 238-7723 Home 238-7228 Office 0274-521-366 Mob
Email. jan.wallace@xtra.co.nz
Vestry
Chairperson: Jan Wallace
Treasurer and acting Vestry secretary: Karen Stevens
Wardens: Pauline Brown 021-1823703 Glenis Kerr 238-5136
Synod Reps: Vicky Mee
Vestry members: Jocelyn Brodie, Renton Brown, Richard Gibbons, Helen Halliwell, Julie Perelini, Philip Watson,
Buckland Reps: Jim Moore, Vicky Mee
Parish Ministry Team
Vestry Wardens: Pauline Brown and Glenis Kerr; Family: Gael Crimmins; Communications: Cecily Daroux;
Community: Vicky Mee; Sustainability: Pauline Brown; Worship: Rev Jan Wallace, Glenis Kerr, Rev David Walker, Merlene Walker, Judith Parke, Irene Brodie, Rev Tricia Carter, Rev John Carter; Pastoral Care: Jan Wallace, Merlene Walker.
Administration
Treasurer: Karen Stevens
Central Vestry Trust Board Treasurer: Ros Phillips
Parish Recorder: Keith Gardner (Parish Envelope Scheme)
Parish Administrator: Leonie Menzies
Office Hours Monday to Friday | 9.30am ~ 12.30pm
Address 31 – 37 Queen St, PO Box 338, Pukekohe
Phone 09-238-7228
Email address pukekoheanglicanchurch@xtra.co.nz
Op Shop 9am ~ 12 noon on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
SPECIAL EVENTS
Family Pancake Party and shared lunch Sunday 14th February, after 9.30am service morning tea
Ash Wednesday 17th February, 10am Eucharist at St Andrew’s, 7pm Combined service at St Patrick’s
Catholic Church, Seddon St Pukekohe
Lenten Study Groups Evening group starting Thursday, 18th February 7pm-9pm; Daytime group starting Tuesday, 23rd February
Outing to Kaiaua Sunday 21st February
Philip Meyer’s Memorial Service Saturday 27th February, 2pm
John Ronaldson Memorial Organ Recital Sunday 28th February, 3pm
World Prayer Day Friday 5th March, keep an eye out for more details