ADVENT IS COMING
One week to go and we will be entering the Season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of Christ anew into our lives. I have been preparing the diary for the coming weeks — it is a very busy time with many special services and the sharing of meals together. It is easy to get carried away with the Spirit of Christmas and overlook who the Christ Child came into the world for — “all people”. We need to remember those who are struggling to feed their families and to keep a roof over the heads of their loved ones. Let us keep them in our prayers and offer practical support where we are able.
Christ came seeking to bring peace, however there are many places in our world where people are longing for peace and safety for their loved ones. Again, let us unite in prayer for peace in the world, a peace that lasts and allows your love to be shown. Some of our First Testament readings in Advent call us to remember our spiritual forebears many centuries before Christ’s coming into the world. It is good for us also to give thanks to those who have led us to where we are on our spiritual journey today.
I do hope that you will all find time for refreshment and renewal over the holiday season. Keep safe and Christmas blessings to you all.
Jan and Bob
SUNDAY READINGS FOR DECEMBER
December 3, First Sunday of Advent: First reading, Isaiah 64:1-9; Gospel, Mark 13:24-37
December 10, Second Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8
December 17, Third Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; John 1:6-8, 19-28
December 24, Fourth Sunday of Advent: 2 Samuel 7:1-11; 16 Luke 1:26-38
December 31: Isaiah 61:1-62:3; Luke 2:22-40
REST HOMES AND HOSPITAL SERVICES
Singers welcome to help
Tuesday December 5, 10.30am: Palms Rest Home
Wednesday December 6, 10am: St Andrew’s
Thursday December 7, 10.30am: Franklin Village
Tuesday December 12, 11am: Palms Hospital
Thursday December 21, 10am: St Andrew’s
To be advised: Possum Bourne Village
REGULAR SERVICES
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
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
Sunday December 7, 7.30pm
Combined service with Franklin Community Choir & St Patrick’s Catholic Church
Pukekohe Anglican Church
HANDEL QUIRE CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Sunday December 10, 5pm, St Andrew’s
A selection of carols from across the ages from Renaissance to contemporary including excerpts from Britten’s Ceremony of Carols
Harp — Harrison Chan; Organ — Jaime Taylor; Director — Robert Howell
Adults $35, Seniors $30, Students free with ID. $10 off for booking via the church office or Eventfinda
GARAGE SALE
Saturday December 16, 8am
Set up from Tuesday December 12 to Friday December 15. Please help with moving sale items from the garage to the Reid Anderson Hall if you are able. Help is also needed on the day 7.30am-11am and then with cleaning up.
BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE
7.30pm Tuesday December 19, St Andrew’s
What is a ‘Blue Christmas’ service?
These services are held in churches around the world to offer a space for people to gather in the lead-up to Christmas. The service acknowledges that for some, Christmas can be a sad and difficult time due to various losses that have been experienced during the year, or because of grief processes still being worked through. It acknowledges that it is painful having people missing from our Christmas table and celebrations.
We open the invitation to anyone who is remembering the death of a lovel one, or who faces a difficult Christmas season for other reasons such as ill health, redundancy, separations, loneliness and so on.
There will be an opportunity to light candles, and to hear words of comfort and reassurance. Please do extend this inviation to anyone you know of who may appreciate it — family, neighbours, work colleagues and so on.
We hope to see you at St Andrew’s at 7.30pm on Tuesday December 19.
For more information contact Jan
SUSTAINABILITY
LITTLE BLUE PENGUIN
By Keith Gardner
One of my favourite birds is the Little Blue Penguin or Korora. Known for its cuteness, sadly the Korora is having a tough time. Many are being found dead or suffering from malnutrition. Vets tell us the Korora are starving, unable to find fish because the fish are going out to sea where the water is cooler. The penguins are finding it harder to gather food for their young and themselves.
The Little Blue Penguin is sometimes called the Fairy Penguin in Australia and is the world’s smallest penguin. It is 25cm in height and weighs about 1kg. It is protected by the Wildlife Act. Although it has wings, it is not able to fly — it uses its wings for swimming.
Korora live mainly on offshore islands and will travel up to 25km looking for food which will be fish and squid. They will come on land from May, often moving up to 300m inland to find nesting sites. Traditional nesting places are burrows, under vegetation, between rocks and in caves. They will even nest under boatsheds and under houses by the sea. On Tiritiri Matangi, DoC has provided the penguin with nesting boxes along the foreshore.
They lay 1-2 white eggs between July and December. Both parents incubate the eggs in short bursts of 1-2 days. The chicks are independent once they leave the nests, usually after 63 days.
Korora molt in November and March when they look scruffy and grow new waterproof coats. This makes them look sick. During this period, they are vulnerable to land predators such as dogs, cats, ferrets and stoats.
The best place to see the penguins come ashore is at Tairoa Heads which has exceptionally good hides available. They are very vocal when coming ashore, having a range of calls, not unlike a cat’s, to loud screams and deep growls.
The oldest Little Blue Penguin recorded in New Zealand was aged over 19 years.
I must admit, despite being cute, the Korora do have oily feathers and smell rather badly. Let us hope that a warm summer does not have a detrimental effect on the Little Blue Penguin.
Besides the Korora, New Zealand has three endemic penguins: the Yellow-eyed Penguin (Hoiho), then Erect-Crested Penguin (Tawaki nana hī) and the Fiordland Crested Penguin (Tawaki).
Notes from DoC and Field Guide to NZ Birds
ARE YOU ABLE TO HELP PLEASE?
Pukekohe Community Action would really appreciate receiving small gifts to go with our Christmas food hampers this year — or contributions to the food hampers themselves.
As well as gifts for children, we also welcome small pamper gifts for adults.
Please leave gifts unwrapped so we can determine ages and whether the gift best suits boy or girl, mum or dad.
If you can help, we would like gifts to be left at the office at St Andrew’s Pukekohe Anglican Church by Friday December 15.
THANK YOU!
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 outreach into our community): 12-3023-0071016-00
Please 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.
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 available on our website or from the parish office. An evacuation plans are in each area of the church and complex.
Assembly areas are the car park beside the Reid Anderson Hall, by the road in front of the church or on the vicarage lawn depending on the location of the emergency.
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 and the form put through the slot by the office door and the vicar or wardens are to be notified. Treatment including resources that are used are to be recorded on the accident sheet.
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SUPERB HAIR MOBILE HAIRDRESSER
Convenience — I come to you!
Most aspects of hairdressing (including perms)
Professional service
Award-winning stylist
Top products
Text or phone Susan 021 499 194
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DK CONCRETE
Floors/Driveways/Footpaths/Patios etc
Daniel Kircher
Ph 021 066 8356
E: kirchaz@hotmail.com
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HALLIWELL’S OF PUKEKOHE
Stockists of fine Quality Leather Shoes
81 King St, Pukekohe. Ph 09- 2387686
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PUKEKOHE TRAVEL
Locally owned and operated since 1978
Contact Eve Murphy, 89 King St, Pukekohe. Ph 09-237 0013
info@pukekohe-travel.co.nz
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FRANKLIN LONG ROOFING LTD
We cover buildings with the best Colorsteel
in corrugated or styline profiles
“Steel Yourself for the 21st Century”
Franklin Rd, Pukekohe. Ph 09-238 9249 or after hours 09-238 0027
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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 Rev’d Jan Wallace
Vestry secretary Karen Stevens
Wardens Pauline Brown 021 182 3703
Richard Anderson 021 081 68724
Synod Reps Vicky Mee Helen Halliwell
Vestry members Renton Brown, Richard Gibbons, Helen Halliwell,
Julie Perelini, Glenis Kerr, Vicky Mee
Buckland Reps Jim Moore
Parish Ministry Team
Vestry Wardens Pauline Brown and Richard Anderson
Family Gael Crimmins
Communications Cecily Daroux & Judith Tucker
Community needs response Jan Wallace & Vicky Mee
Sustainability Pauline Brown, Vicky Mee, Keith Gardner
Pastoral Care Rev Jan Wallace, Rev Merlene Walker
Administration
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 — Pukekohe Community Action
SPACE for you and your baby
For the first year of baby’s life. Several groups are run eaach 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. Tuesdays 9.30am.
SEASONSAn 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. Ph 027 452 1366 for information.
OASIS PLAY GROUP
Music & Coffee group, a natural progression from Space, for preschool children. Mon & Fri, 9.15-11am. Term time only.
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday December 3
7.30pm: Nine Lessons and Carols with the Franklin Community Choir and parishioners of St Patrick’s Catholic Church and the community
Sunday December 17
9.30am: Family Christmas Pageant — Come and join in sharing the Christmas story
Tuesday December 19
7.30pm: Blue Christmas Service — Acknowledging that Christmas can be a hard time, especially when we have people missing from our Christmas table for any reason at all
Sunday December 24
8am & 9.30am: Holy Communion
5pm: Family Christmas Story
7.30pm: Buckland Christmas Service
10.30pm: Christmas Eve Mass
Christmas Day, Monday December 25
8am & 9.30am