EASTER IS NEARLY HERE
The countdown to Easter Day is on. What does that mean for us? What does it mean for our community? Will it be just a long weekend break? Or will it be a time of significance and reflection for us when we remember and give thanks for Christ’s life on Earth and the sacrifices he made as he sought to restore justice, acceptance and love for all people?
The Pukekohe Garden Friends Group, which meets on the first Monday of the month in the Reid Anderson Hall, is again enhancing the richness of our experiences of the Easter story by adding plants to the display on the vicarage lawn. This display reminds us of the events in the last days of Jesus’ life on Earth. I do encourage you to take the opportunity to invite people you know to visit the garden. It is an opportunity to remind people in the community of the significance of this special time. Mitre 10 has again donated the plants, for which we are very grateful. I am sure anyone with an interest in gardening would be very welcome to go along to one of the garden group’s meetings. Each month they have an interesting speaker.
We will be blessed again to have the voices of the Franklin Community Choir with us on Easter Day at our 9am service. Do remember that is the only service we have on Easter Day as we come together to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
The extended ramp outside the church office is working well and is much safer for people entering the Reid Anderson Hall with their babies and for the team shifting food between the store and the library. We recently had a person fall as they were going down the front steps of church. It is great to see people gathering and chatting after a service but we do ask that people leave the hand rails and the space at the bottom of the steps free so these are available for people leaving the building.
The number of people requesting food assistance continues to grow.March saw a 20 percent increase in the number of parcels distributed, despite our checking on the frequency of people’s requests and their willingness to receive budget mentoring. If you see fruit fallen from trees around the complex lying on the ground, it is much appreciated if you can support the food bank by picking it up and leaving it at the food store. Of course, you are welcome to pick up a few for your family but families in need of food are so grateful.
It was great to have 28 people meet at the Hidden Café on 30 March. It is wonderful to take the opportunity to gather socially and to get to know each other a little better. We are trying to increase opportunities for people to socialise so if you have a suggestion, please share this with us. Easter gives us several opportunities to gather so give some thought to joining with us at this special time in our church calendar and consider bringing a friend along with you.
Easter blessings to you all. If you are travelling, please take care.
Jan
SUNDAY READINGS FOR APRIL
April 6: First reading: Isaiah 43:16-21; Gospel: John 12:1-8
April 13, Palm Sunday: Psalm 118:1-2,19-29; Luke 19:28-40
April 20, Easter Day: Acts 10:34-43, Corinthians 15:19-26; John 20: 1-18
April 27: Acts 5: 27-32; John 20:19-31
REST HOMES AND HOSPITAL SERVICES
Singers welcome to help
Wednesday April 2: 10am St Andrew’s
Thursday April 3: 10.30am Franklin Village
Tuesday April 8: 11am Palms Hospital
Thursday April 17: 10am St Andrew’s
Tuesday April 22: 11am Possum Bourne Village
Tuesday April 29: Possum Bourne Village
REGULAR SERVICES
Every Sunday
8am and 9.30am at St Andrew’s Pukekohe
2nd and 4th Sunday of the month
11.30am 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
QUIET DAY AT MAUKU CHURCH
Saturday May 24, 9.30am-3pm
It is good for all of us to take time out to reflect as part of our working together as the Anglican churches in this area. Mauku is inviting us to a Quiet Day late in May. More information after Easter
HANDEL CONSORT & QUIRE
Sunday May 4
Watch the weekly newsletter for more information. There will also be flyers in church.
CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, OTHERS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS
Thank you to those who attended the recent Little Green Expo on the church premises. It is seeing the earthquake damage in Myanmar and hearing of the horrific number of deaths as well as seeing the devastation caused by flooding and fires that we are reminded of our need to take our part in caring for our environment. The Expo’s presentations, stalls and conversations were all a great contribution to our awareness and suggestions on how we need to take our part.
A person offering to do alterations to clothing gave me her details on the day. Her name is Barbara, phone 09 238 8362, and her charges are very reasonable. Barbara also brings in items for people in need for us to distribute.
I am continuing to work on resilience and recovery hubs in our community and making some progress. There are now eight potential hubs in our area and we are working on their plans.
EASTER GARDEN
Again we are blessed to have the Pukekohe Garden Friends enhancing our garden display of the events that occurred on Jesus’ journey to the cross during Holy Week and leading up to Good Friday.
The garden will be open to the public from Friday April 4 until the end of the week after Easter. Booklets will be available to assist you with your reflections on your walk around the garden.
HOLY WEEK
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday as we read about Christ’s journey into Jerusalem, riding on the back of a humble, borrowed donkey. This is not what the people were expecting. They were anticipating a very different of event with Jesus arriving to take control and assume the role of “The King of the Jews”.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples. Most notably, that Passover meal was when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in an extraordinary display of humility. He then commanded them to do the same for each other.
This Christian tradition continues today where the feet of church members are washed, symbolising humility, service and love, rooted in the biblical account of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.
GOOD FRIDAY
A time to pause and reflect on the purpose of Christ’s life on Earth, the suffering and sacrifice that he made seeking to fulfil that purpose of bringing peace, hope love and joy for all people.
His purpose is one that we all long for in our world today but, unfortunately, human nature comes into play. What we can do is show and spread acceptance, love and compassion wherever we are able. Greed, the need for power, control, possessions and authority are currently a plague in our world today, causing destruction in the many lands and harm to multitudes of people. Please let us take time to spend in prayer, seeking to take our part in making the world as God would have it be.
EASTER DAY
On Easter Day, April 20, this year we will have just one service at 9am when some members of the Franklin Community Choir will join us to enhance our worship with their beautiful contribution to the singing.
SUSTAINABILITY
THE MOA
By Keith Gardner
This is one for the kids.
I have always been fascinated with the moa.
For a long time, I thought the moa was just one species, being the tallest bird that ever lived.
A photo I took in the Auckland Museum of the moa showed it standing tall. But I know now there were nine currently recognised species of moa.
Early knowledge of moa came from bones found in sand dunes, swamps and caves. Mummified moa heads and legs complete with feathers were found and preserved in dry caves. These gave an even clearer picture of the moa. Moa eggs have been found near Maori burial sites along with the little stones swallowed by moa to help grind up their diet of leaves, shoots and twigs.
Moa are extraordinary birds. Different species had different proportions and occupied a wide range of habitats. Moa are thought to have lived for up to 50 years. They laid 1-2 eggs per breeding season. Chicks were developed enough at hatching to feed themselves almost immediately. While some moa looked the size of a hen, others were quite large.
The upland moa was the “mountain goat” moa and was strikingly different from other species in its physical bird plumage. It was small, probably weighing around 35kg. Its feathers were greyish-white at the base then almost black with white tips. The eggs were a pale green while other moa had white eggs. In winter it moved down to the lowland forests. This moa was the last surviving species.
The North Island giant moa (about 3 metres tall) normally held its head only slightly higher than the top of its back — its neck was not stretched vertical unless it was feeding on leaves from trees. Its head was flatter than other moas and slender with long legs. It lived in many North Island areas and on Great Barrier Island.
The South Island giant moa was probably the largest bird. The best skeletons were found in North Canterbury’s Glenmark Swamp, Otago and Kaikoura. This moa had gizzard stones to grind its menu of twigs, berries, grass and leaves. It preferred to live in open areas of forests and caves in lowland hills.
The moa seemed to have disappeared in the 14th century through excessive hunting.
Once it disappeared the Haast Eagle, which had moa as its prime food source, disappeared as well: a lesson on how one creature depends on another for its survival. There are many examples of this happening in New Zealand.
CHURCH GARAGE SALE
Saturday April 26, 8am-11am
If you have larger items for the garage sale, we’d appreciate you holding on to them until closer to the day. Set up will be from Tuesday April 22 to Friday April 25. Help is needed to move items from the garage to the hall and on the day 7.30am-11am and then with cleaning up.
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.
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 HAIRDRESSERConvenience — 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 etcDaniel Kircher
Ph 021 066 8356
E: kirchaz@hotmail.com
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HALLIWELL’S OF PUKEKOHE
Stockists of fine Quality Leather Shoes81 King St, Pukekohe. Ph 09- 2387686
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PUKEKOHE TRAVEL
Locally owned and operated since 1978Contact 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 WallaceVestry secretary Karen StevensWardens Pauline Brown 021 182 3703, Richard Anderson 021 081 68724
Synod Reps Vicky Mee, Helen HalliwellVestry members Renton Brown, Helen Halliwell, Glenis Kerr, Vicky Mee
Buckland Rep Glen Morse
Parish Ministry Team
Vestry Wardens Pauline Brown and Richard AndersonCommunications Cecily Daroux & Judith TuckerCommunity needs response Jan Wallace & Vicky Mee
Sustainability Pauline Brown, Vicky Mee, Keith GardnerPastoral Care Rev Jan Wallace, Rev Merlene Walker
Administration
Central Vestry Trust Board Treasurer Ros PhillipsParish Recorder Keith Gardner (Parish Envelope Scheme)Parish Administrator Judith TuckerOffice Hours Monday to Thursday | 9am — 2pmAddress 31 — 37 Queen St, PO Box 338, PukekohePhone 09 238 7228Email address pukekoheanglicanchurch@xtra.co.nzOp 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 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. Tuesdays 9.30am.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. 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.
DATES TO REMEMBER
EASTER EVENTS
Friday, April 4: Easter Garden opens. Booklets are available in the garden to help with your reflections as you walk around the garden. It will close at the end of the week after Easter.
Tuesday, April 8: Making palm crosses. If you are free, please join us in the parish lounge at 1.30pm to make our crosses ready for Sunday.
Sunday April 13: Palm Sunday. Services at St Andrew’s at 8am and 9.30am, and at Buckland at 11.30am.
Thursday April 17: Maundy Thursday, 6pm. Meal followed by foot/hand washing and communion. Please add your name to the list in the foyer or notify the office if you would like to attend.
Friday April 18: Good Friday — Contemplative Service 11am, followed by hot cross buns.
Sunday April 20: Easter Day. Please note: ONLY ONE SERVICE 9am. Members of the Franklin Community Choir will join us.
GARAGE SALE
Saturday April 26, 8am-11am. Set up from Tuesday April 22 to Friday April 25. It would be appreciated if you could store large items at home until then but if not, we would still love to receive your contribution. Please help with moving sale items from the garage into the hall if you are able. Help is also needed on the day, 7.30am-11am and then with cleaning up.