JOURNEYING TOWARDS THE CROSS
We are moving now closer to Holy Week and Easter. The display in the garden is almost in place with the stations depicting Jesus’ journey from Palm Sunday to the cross and resurrection. Thank you to those who set up our usual props in the garden and to those who enhanced this by adding the flowers and other features. Ann Rollinson is again being very creative with the indoor display and I know she will be making changes to it again this year as she does every year. Thank you for your wonderful contribution to our Lenten journey and other displays during the year, Ann.
The real value from these displays comes when we take the time to read the text from the Bible relating to the display and sit and reflect on the meaning and significance of these events to our lives and our world today. Jesus came to bring, peace, love, hope, joy, and justice to our world and to seek life “on Earth as it is in Heaven”. Today this is far from how life is in so many homes, communities, and especially countries as we continue to remember those in Ukraine and other parts of our world who are being subjected to inhumane and unjustified treatment by
others.
I have included again the prayer from the World Day of Prayer service and ask you to please include the people living in these areas in your prayers. I also recommend to you the prayer vigil at St Andrew’s in Epsom this coming Sunday, 27th March, either to attend in person or online. Please see the notice giving more information later in the Messenger.
Please also remember our ongoing outreach working with Pukekohe Community Action involving the food bank and the pyjama drive. This reaching out into the community with compassion and love amongst the many other initiatives offered in our community reflect what God calls us to be and to do.
One such initiative that I was very impressed by is a backyard theatre group who during the Covid lockdowns performed a short mix of drama, dance, and acrobatics for people who were experiencing effects of isolation during the lockdowns. They phoned and asked if we had a group they could perform to. The attendees at our Tuesday Selwyn group enjoyed half an hour of light-hearted entertainment, really appreciating something
different to entertain them.
Unfortunately, we have not been able to run our Seasons groups during the Covid pandemic and the number of people requiring support in this area continues to grow. Financial stress, with rising costs and reduced hours of employment or loss of job, results in added emotional stress and increased family tension, along with other effects from isolation affecting people’s mental wellbeing. Receiving a phone call or a visit can really change a person’s day. Please, if you have a chance, try to support people who you know are challenged in any of these ways.
With the Prime Minister’s announcement during the week, we await any directions that may be sent to us from the diocesan office. We will keep you informed. As the use of Covid passes is reduced please remember Covid is very active in our communities and that there is still a requirement to wear masks. This becomes increasingly important with no vaccine passes required in many places as we seek to protect ourselves and others.
The Selwyn group is back up and running on a Tuesday. At the moment they are not having lunch together, but I am expecting this to resume soon.
Easter blessings to all.
Jan
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES
Palm Sunday 10th April
8am St Andrew’s
9.30am St Andrew’s Family Service
Monday 11th– Wednesday 13th 7.30pm Reflective services each evening
Maundy Thursday 14th April
7pm Foot/hand washing – Eucharist
Good Friday 15th April Reflective service 11am
Easter Day 17th April
8am and 9.30am Pukekohe
11.15am Buckland
Sunday 24th 8am & 9.30am St Andrew’s
PRAYER FOR PEACE
Prayer for Ukraine and other parts of our world where people live
in fear, without the relative peace we share in our country.
God of the past, the present and the future,
Our thoughts and prayers are with our sisters and brothers in
Ukraine and the surrounding countries in their fear and distress
We pray too for all other regions of the world where there is
conflict, unrest or oppression.
We pray that reconciliation will overcome hatred,
peace will conquer war,
hope will replace despair
and that your plans for the region will be fulfilled,
God, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
GARAGE SALE – PROPOSED DATE SATURDAY 30th APRIL
Covid willing
Set-up from Tuesday 26th April – Friday 29th April
Please help with the transferring of the sale items from the garage to the Reid Anderson Hall if you are able.
Help needed on the day from 7.30 to 11am and then clean up.
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
SUNDAY READINGS FOR APRIL
Sunday 3rd: First reading – Isaiah 43: 16-21; Gospel – John 12: 1-8
Sunday 10th: Psalm 118: 1-2,19 – 29; Luke 19:28 – 40
Sunday 17th: Acts 10: 34 – 43; Luke 24: 1 – 12
Sunday 24th: Acts 5: 27-32 John 20: 19-31
REST HOMES AND HOSPITAL SERVICES
Below are the regular times and dates for these communion services but at the moment these are not happening. However please watch the weekly bulletin for when they will recommence.
I would really appreciate others joining me in this ministry.
Tuesday 5th: 10.30am Palms rest home
Wednesday 6th: 10.30am Mothers’ Union Confirmed
Thursday 7th: 10.30am Franklin Village
Sunday 9th: 11.15am Nora Brown Confirmed
Tuesday 12th: 11am Palms Hospital
Wednesday 13th: 10.30am Lakeside
Thursday 14th: 10.30am Fellowship Confirmed
Tuesday 19th: 11am Possum Bourne Village
Thursday 21st: 10am Church cleaning Confirmed
Tuesday 26th: 11am Possum Bourne Village
LAWN MOWING FOR APRIL
Mark Bond
Thank you Mark!
St Andrew’s Restoration Fundraising Dinner
at the Pukekohe Town Hall now scheduled for
November this year
PYJAMA DRIVE
“What do we know?”
Increasing numbers of families in our community are struggling to make ends meet, requesting support to feed their families and living in homes that are cold and/or damp. Extreme weather conditions are unpredictable so we do not know when our nights are going to get colder and just how cold they will be.
2022 more pairs of NEW pyjamas will be needed to provide for local children in our low-decile schools. These children will be identified by the senior administrators in their schools, or help will go to children whose family is seeking assistance with food.
We really would appreciate your support as we seek to enhance the lives of our at-risk children
MIRANDA OUTING
Sunday afternoon 20th March
A group of 14 adults and four of our people headed for Miranda to observe the shoreline birds gather ready to
begin their long journey to Alaska. We are very fortunate to have Keith Gardner willing to give his time to share with the children and adults his vast knowledge of Creation. I enjoy his monthly notes in the Messenger and always find something I didn’t previously know. Thank you for sharing this afternoon with us.
SUSTAINABILITY
FUNGI
By Keith Gardner
A mushroom is part of a fungus, but it’s just a little part, the fruitbody. The rest is under the ground.
In the soil beneath the mushroom, the fungus grows. It is a tangle of white threads like a spider’s web. These threads find food for the fungus. When a thread meets a buried leaf or dead worm, it puts out chemicals to digest it.
Is a fungus a plant? No, not really. Plants make their own food using chlorophyll and fungi do not have any chlorophyll. They must feed on plants and animals. We digest our food inside us while a fungus digests its food
outside its body and then takes it in.
Fungi belong to an exclusive group of living things all on their own.
The White Basket Fungi is the prettiest New Zealand native mushroom.
Immature ones can be eaten but are unappealing.
Under the gills of the fruitbody of a mushroom or toadstool are millions of spores. Like specks of dust, they blow in the wind with a few spores landing in soft soil. They germinate like seeds and grow feeding threads.
If spores from two meet they grow into fungus which make fruitbodies next year.
Did you know the fungus threads make a vast network? A mushroom’s threads could cover a room in your house. New Zealand has about 20,000 distinct kinds of fungi.
THE LITTLE GREEN EXPO
PROPERTY REPORT
Unit 6 of the retirement village is now vacant and we invite any expressions of interest. If you know anyone who
might be interested, please pass on Jan’s details.
BUILDING MATTERS
Arch restoration:
Our replacement arch project is awaiting completion and sign-off on contracts and then we should see some progress. It’s been surprising how many comments we’ve had from the community asking when this reconstruction will take place and saying how much they want the replacement to happen.
Richard gave a very informative presentation on this project at our AGM.
We also had a presentation by the engineers and architect on the strengthening of the church which included 3-D drawings. Again, this was very informative and it is great to see progress.
The new letterboxes have now been installed for the retirement village and look very attractive. These are much safer for the residents.
Health and Safety Policy
A DEFIBRILLATOR HAS BEEN INSTALLED BY THE OFFICE DOOR
A copy of the Parish Health and Safety Policy and the processes required for its implementation is 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 behind the hall unless the emergency is on the south wall
preventing evacuation on that side of the building. In this case the assembly area is by the road in front of the church.
Nora Brown Hall: Assembly area is by the road in front of the church or on the vicarage lawn depending on the location of the emergency.
Other rooms in the complex: Assembly area moved to the vicarage lawn.
St Andrew’s Church: Assembly area is by the road (Wesley St) at the front of the church.
St Paul’s Church: Assembly area is by the road 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 used, to be recorded on the sheet.
DK CONCRETE – Floors, Driveways, Footpaths, Patios etc. Daniel Kircher, Ph 021 066 8356, kirchaz@hotmail.com
HALLIWELL’S of Pukekohe – Stockists of Fine Quality Leather Shoes, 81 King St Pukekohe, Ph 2387686
PUKEKOHE TRAVEL – Locally owned and operated since 1978. Contact Eve Murphy, 89 King St Pukekohe, Ph 09-237 0013, info@pukekohe-travel.co.nz
WE COVER BUILDINGS WITH THE BEST COLORSTEEL – IN CORRUGATED OR STYLINE PROFILES – “STEEL YOURSELF FOR THE 21ST CENTURY” – Franklin Long Roofing Ltd, Franklin Rd Pukekohe, Ph 2389249 or After Hours 2380027
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 Glenis Kerr
Synod Reps Vicky Mee
Vestry members Jocelyn Brodie, Renton Brown, Richard Gibbons, Richard Anderson, Maggie Gibson, 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, Ann Rollinson, Glenis Kerr.
Pastoral Care Rev Jan Wallace, Rev Merlene Walker
Administration
Treasurer Karen Stevens
Central Vestry Trust Board Treasurer Ros Phillips
Parish Recorder Keith Gardner (Parish Envelope Scheme)
Parish Administrator Judith Tucker
Office Hours Monday to Thursday, 9am ~ 2pm
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
PASTORAL CARE
Community Programmes at Pukekohe Anglican Church
Space for you and baby
For the first year of baby’s life. A number of groups are run each week to keep the age range of the babies within about 3 months. Term time only.
The Selwyn Foundation
For the older members of the community. A hot lunch is available for a small charge. Transport can also be arranged. Tuesday 9.30am
Oasis Music & Coffee group
A natural progression from Space for preschool children. Mon & Fri 9.15am ~11am. Term time only
St Andrew’s Seniors fellowship group
For older members of the community – exercise, morning tea and cards. 9.15 am Thursdays
Seasons
An after-school group held at 4pm on Thursdays for children who have experienced a significant loss or grief in their lives. An adult programme runs at various times. Phone 0274521366 for information
PCA receipts: Pukekohe Community Action is preparing receipts for the 2021 tax year. If you didn’t receive a receipt for 2020, please let Jan know so this can be rectified.
COMING UP
Mothers’ Union Wednesday 6th April – For those of you keen to meet up, join us for a cuppa and a chat in the Lounge in Reid Anderson at 10am. Jan is hoping to be with us.
Garage Sale Saturday 30th April – Last weekend of the school holidays so that setting up can be done in the week leading up to the event. This is an additional sale this year. We have some good-quality large items.
Sunday 1st May – Confirmation Service. Please let Jan know if you are considering confirmation.
Saturday 7th May – Launch of Church Restoration Appeal – Organ recital, explaining the project, high tea and photographic display. More information soon.
Saturday 14th May – The Little Green Expo – Sustainability made simple in the church complex, 10am-3pm (Rain date Saturday 21st May)
St Andrew’s Restoration Fundraising Dinner at Pukekohe Town Hall will now be held in November