Newsletter February 2023

SHARING AND SPREADING CHRIST’S MESSAGE OF HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE
Christmas 2022 provided a great opportunity for us to feel as though life was returning to normal, with numbers of people returning to church after some years spent, for many, living with fears for their own health, for the health of their loved ones and also the feeling of isolation as they were not able to be united with their loved ones as was their usual pattern.
I know many were rejoicing in being able to spend time with loved ones they had not seen for up to four or more years. Many lived in fear of being infected or reinfected with Covid which would prevent their travel in the weeks leading up to Christmas as there appeared to be an increase in numbers in the time leading up to the festive season.
We had a wonderful Nine Lessons and Carols service with a packed church, readings shared between the St Patrick’s Catholic Parish and an opportunity to join in the wonderful singing of carols old and new with our Franklin Community Choir. The downside was it did come to my notice that a number of attendees tested positive for Covid in the following week. Handel Consort and Quire also gave another opportunity to share the Spirit of Christmas.
We had a delightful family Christmas evening service that was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. It was good to see the number of people attending this service back up to more than 50.
A good number also attended the 7.30pm Christmas Eve service at Buckland, St Andrew’s at 11pm, and the 8am and 9.30am Christmas Day services at St Andrew’s. I do get questions about why we have so many services instead of just one. My reason is that I like to provide a wide selection of times to make it as easy as possible for people to attend, and also to allow them to share the celebration with their family and friends. Doing so gives us more opportunities to share the coming of Christ into our world. We very rarely know the impact of our words and actions on another person. Last Sunday’s reading from the first chapter of John’s Gospel tells of Jesus’ interaction with Andrew in the presence of John the Baptist, at the Jordan. Andrew was so excited that he immediately went to find his brother Simon, later known as Peter, to tell him he had met the Messiah. In providing opportunities for worship, we increase the opportunity to share the word and love of God.
I was reading a commentary on the reading which contained an apparently a true story about a teacher. There was a little boy in her class who she found difficult to relate to. His mother had died when he was only 3 years old. He struggled with his schoolwork and his father didn’t take much notice. At the end of the year, he brought his teacher a present. It was a gaudy bracelet with some of the stones missing and a small bottle of perfume. The teacher could see the rest of the class begin to snigger. To prevent an embarrassing situation she put on the bracelet and dabbed some perfume on her wrist and admired the smell. The little boy then acknowledged it had been his mother’s bracelet and perfume and how the smell reminded him of his mother. When the boy was 8, his father died. When the boy finished high school he wrote and told his teacher he had come second in the school. The following year he wrote to her again, saying he had topped his university year in his course and was awarded a scholarship to finish his studies. He graduated with honours and again he wrote to his teacher. Later he wrote again telling his first teacher he was getting married and asking her if she would sit where his mother would have sat as she was the only relative he had and the only person who had taken an interest in him. She was happy to attend and wore his mum’s bracelet and perfume. So we may never know what effect, both good or not so good, our words and actions may have on another person but we do know they have the potential to change a person’s life. We do know that listening to a person’s story, sharing with them and offering them encouragement has the potential to change and influence a person’s life for the better.
I had a man come to speak to me on Monday who wanted to make some comments about our church. One was that we do not have much in the way of words of scripture on the church walls. I remarked that while the words of scripture are very important, I believe we need to take these words out of our building and into the streets by showing the messages Jesus brought to the world in the way we treat people and share the grace, love and the many blessings we have from God in our words and actions.
The way we treat others is more valuable than many of the words we may say.
A highlight for me over Christmas was to baptise 15- year-old Elijah, who has been attending St Andrew’s regularly for some time now. He has been encouraged by his older brother, who lives in Australia. He was supported by his whole family when he was baptised. We never know the impact that our words – or lack of words – through our listening or our actions can have on another person. It is through God’s grace, not us, as we are simply agents for God.
New Year’s blessing to you all.
Jan and Bob

IMPORTANT: PARISH AGM – SAVE THE DATE!!!
11am Sunday 19 March, Nora Brown Hall
This an important meeting for us as a parish. We need to appoint our Vestry and wardens as well as a second Synod representative.
We need to take a serious look at our parish finances. As is the case everywhere, our costs are increasing and we are unable to meet our expenses. This needs serious consideration.
We also need to look at a way forward to fund the restoration of the church.

SUNDAY READINGS IN FEBRUARY
5th: First: Isaiah 58: 1-9a (9b12); Gospel: Matthew 5: 13-20
12th: Deuteronomy 30:15–20; Matthew 5: 21–37
19th: Exodus 24: 12-18; Matthew 17: 1-9
26th: Genesis 2:15–17, 3:1–7; Matthew 4: 1–11

WEEKDAY SERVICES – REST HOMES, HOSPITALS AND AT CHURCH
Singers welcome to help
Wednesday 1st, 10am: St Andrew’s
Thursday 2nd, 10.30am: Franklin Village
Tuesday 7th, 10.30am: Palms Rest Home
Wednesday 8th, 10.30am: Lakeside
Tuesday 14th, 11am: Palms Hospital
Thursday 16th, 10am: St Andrew’s
Tuesday 28th, 11am: Possum Bourne Village

REGULAR SERVICES AT ST ANDREW’S AND ST PAUL’S
Every Sunday
8am and 9.30am at St Andrew’s Pukekohe
2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
11.15am St Paul’s Buckland
1st Sunday of the month
11.15am Nora Brown Hall behind St Andrew’s Church.
Weekdays 10am at St Andrew’s
1st Wednesday of the month – 3rd Thursday of the month.

SPECIAL SERVICES AND EVENTS
PANCAKE PARTY
Sunday 19 February – Pancake Party after the 9.30am service. This will start about 11am. All are welcome. This will involve games and activities as well as the burning of last year’s palm crosses to use as our ashes on Ash Wednesday. Please bring along a savoury or sweet topping for the pancakes.
ASH WEDNESDAY
22 February– 10am at St Andrew’s, which will be a Eucharist (communion service).
Evening service – 7pm at St Patrick’s Catholic Church.
During Lent we will be holding at least one study group. Please indicate on the list in the church foyer whether you prefer a daytime or evening group, and your preferred day of the week.

THE SEASON OF LENT
Ash Wednesday falls on 22 February this year. This day is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. It is commonly observed with ashes and fasting. In preparation for Lent and remembering how blessed we are, traditionally we celebrate “Shrove Tuesday” the day before. This year we have a pancake party a few days early, on Sunday 19 February. This day symbolises the clearing of our homes of some of the luxuries of days gone by. This includes eggs, butter and such-like which for us today are simply everyday items in our diets. We are indeed fortunate that this is so.
The Season of Lent begins in the wilderness, a place that feels both familiar and dreaded after the recent pandemic. While we might emphasise the loneliness and desolation, wilderness times are not just empty and barren. Just as a wilderness can be teeming with life, our wilderness times can also surprise us with the life they hold.
Our lives can also feel renewed as we find within ourselves a new awareness. We begin in the familiar landscape of the wilderness with the tempter’s questions to Jesus. That growing awareness shifts from Jesus to Nicodemus’ assurance of God’s deep care and self-giving love in the winds of change and new birth. We continue to find a new awareness of ourselves in the questions asked by the Samaritan woman and by the one born blind in the gospel of John. If we hadn’t noticed it before, we begin to see that there are companions in the wilderness who encourage our survival.
On Palm Sunday, just before we enter Jerusalem on a road paved with branches and cloaks, we find ourselves in the wilderness of grief, asking harrowing questions of God and ourselves. At the tomb, we hear a call to unbind each other. No one asks these questions alone, but we share in the dream of what new life will be after all that has happened. It is with vision and hope that we join the chorus of voices that cry for justice on Palm/Passion Sunday. We realise how much we have changed and continue the transformation into the great 50 days of Easter.
Easter arrives dressed in white and gold and a flurry of Alleluias. It is a feast for our senses when Mary becomes the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Thomas uses his hands to proclaim his faith, and two see the risen Christ when bread is broken and shared. We come into our senses as we consider life that continues beyond the tomb, beyond doubt, beyond trials. In stories from the Acts of the Apostles and the early Christian church, we reflect on what brings life, what it means to live in community and the cost and risk of proclaiming the truth of God. We find new meaning in what it is that we believe and find strength in the prayer of Jesus for all disciples as we continue the Christ-life.
The great 50 days culminate in celebration as we experience, with the first followers, the life-giving work of the Spirit.
Alleluia by Jen Norton https://www.jennorton.

FROM YOUR VESTRY
Two major issues facing the parish are our financial situation as a parish and the condition of the church. We have begun fundraising for the restoration project, but we have a long way to go yet. We do thank the parishioners for their wonderful contributions to date via donations and also by supporting our events and encouraging others to join us in enjoying these activities. We do need to look at submitting some grant applications.
The arch – well, we were all excited to see some action with this but it has unfortunately come to a halt again. The company working on this project has issues with a major job they are already committed to and
this has pushed the work on the archway towards the end of the year. No other companies in NZ do this type of work. All we can do is wait and watch. This is disappointing but it is totally beyond our control.
Over the holiday season, Selwyn Easton has been hard at work in the parish. He is in the final stages of completing the installation of more security cameras. We had a couple of lawnmowers stolen last year, despite them being locked in a shed. Once completed, there will be 16 cameras on site. We are very grateful for the donation and installation of these.
Thank you to all who have helped in the maintenance of the grounds. The appearance of the church surrounds is amazing, especially with the incredible growth. Renton and Pauline do a lot of work in this area but are also supported by others and we thank you all for this.

IMPORTANT HOUSEKEEPING REMINDER
For all people who are involved in groups using the complex or visiting the office.
The premises are becoming very busy and as stated above we need to do our best to reduce costs in whatever ways we can. All the little ways do add up.
Please can you remember to turn the lights off when you leave. It is not often that lights need to be on during the day.
There is a supply of tea, coffee, Milo and biscuits in the back of the office but there are containers for these in each of Nora Brown, Reid Anderson and the meeting room. Please take your empty container to the office and refill it on the desk outside the office and return the remaining supply to the office area. Only take the biscuits you need and do not put packets of the biscuits in the drawers. We do rotate supplies. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE BAGS OF SUGAR ETC AND LEAVE THEM IN THE KITCHENS.
Please put small bowls of sugar or coffee out rather than the container and if the sugar or coffee is damp or dirty, please throw it out.
GATES: Our carparks are busy and potentially dangerous. Please keep your speed to under 10km an hour and shut all gates behind you because there are children on the premises during most of the day and often in the evening.
HEATERS AND HEAT PUMPS: These should only be used when the doors and windows are shut, and people are in the rooms. Our gas usage has increased by more than 50% over the past year. Unless a
group is meeting in a space, please do not have the heating on.
ROOMS: Please ensure all rooms are left clean and tidy and nothing is left out or put in other rooms without checking with Jan or Judith. Rooms are heavily used and there may be groups following you. Costs for hiring rooms will be increasing to meet our rising costs so they need to be left tidy.

CONTRIBUTIONS
For those wishing to make contributions to the parish, the account numbers are:
• Parish general expenses including automatic payments: 06-0405-0012157-00
• Restoration of the church: 06-0405-0078359-01
• Pukekohe Community Action (for community out-reach in our community): 12-3023-0071016-00
• Make sure you put your name in the reference field and email Jan at jan.wallace@xtra.co.nz so we can send you a tax receipt. Many thanks in advance for your generosity.

PARISH OP SHOP
The Op Shop has reopened again after much sorting and cleaning. In the photo, from left, are Judith Meyer (assistant manager), Gillian McFadden (manager) and Joan Renall (treasurer) at their end-of-year gathering. They are supported by a wonderful team of dedicated and hard-working volunteers. All proceeds from the Op Shop go towards supporting needs in our community such as pyjamas and food parcels. Thank you all, we really do appreciate you and your contribution.

THANK YOU
To all who helped with setting up and running the garage sale at the end of January. Your help was much appreciated. The profit for the day was about $2300.

ACTIVITIES WITH PUKEKOHE COMMUNITY ACTION
The Electrix team joined local Rotary members and our PCA and Parish teams to help deliver Christmas food parcels for us. Electrix and Rotary members also provided financial support. PCA and Parish volunteers packed the boxes.

SUSTAINABILITY
NATIVE EARTHWORMS
By Keith Gardner
When I was tramping in the Mount Arthur Tableland, I came across a land snail eating a native earthworm. This worm measured more than 30cm and was attached to the snail, which was eating it like a piece of long spaghetti. I have no idea how long it would have taken the snail to eat the worm, but I know snails have rows of teeth and can munch away for days on end.
New Zealand has more than 200 species of native earthworms. They mostly live in remote forest habitats, so not much is known about them. These habitats can be in forest litter or in topsoil and deeper in soil.
The colour of the worms reflects their habitat. Deep-burrowing soil species are unpigmented (pale) while the upper-layer species found in the leaf litter are dark brown or reddish brown in colour.
As little is known about native earthworms, we don’t know much about their life cycle, distribution or if they are in decline. Once bush has been cleared and there is no leaf litter left, they disappear and are replaced by introduced, smaller earthworms.
Most native earthworms live in slimy burrows but if they venture into leaf litter they become a meal for birds, snails and insects.
The longest worm (Spenceriella gigantea) grows to 1.3m and is found mainly in North Auckland.
The native earthworm apparently arrived in New Zealand long ago. The Acanthodrilidae family of worms most likely arrived 65-145 million years ago and are endemic to NZ. The Megascoleciade family of worms arrived about 1.8 million to 65 million years ago but are not endemic and are found elsewhere in the world.
The earliest species were among the first animals to colonise the land and have evolved slowly. Maori used them for bait and as a food source. Some food festivals have them on the menu as a wild New Zealand food. I wonder if they taste like spaghetti?

CHALLENGES OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
I was talking with a group of people about how challenging it must be for people new to NZ from non-English speaking backgrounds.
UP, UP AND AWAY
Lovers of the English Language might enjoy this! There is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter and that is ‘UP’.
It is easy to understand UP, meaning ‘toward the sky or at the top of the list’, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP?
At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, why are the officers UP for election, and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report?
We call UP our friends. We lock UP the house and guys fix UP old cars. We may brighten UP a room, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen.
People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite and think UP excuses.
To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special!
We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night.
When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. But when the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it does not rain for a while, things dry UP.
To be knowledgeable, you can look the word UP in the dictionary where it takes up almost a quarter of a page and can add UP to about 30 definitions.
If you are UP to it, you can try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used.
It will take UP a lot of your time but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more.
One could go on and on, but I will wrap it UP for now my time is UP so it is time to shut UP!
Now it is UP to you what you do with this!

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 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

COMING UP
LENTEN STUDY: If you would like to attend a Lenten study this year, please let Jan or the office know, or write your name on the list in the church foyer.
Pancake Party: Sunday 19 February, 11am. All welcome. Please bring along a savoury or sweet topping for the pancakes.
Ash Wednesday: 22 February, 10am Eucharist service at St Andrew’s.
Evening service at 7pm at St Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Little Green Expo: Saturday 18 March 10am-3pm, St Andrew’s Church complex. Hosted by Community Networks Franklin and Waiuku Zero Waste, the annual sustainability expo is a chance to find out what initiatives are already under way in our community. Free admission.
IMPORTANT: PARISH AGM: Sunday 19 March, 11am, Nora Brown Hall. We have important matters to discuss as a parish. Your attendance and support at this meeting would be much appreciated.