This Beautiful Fantastic Franklin!
How often do you hear that Pukekohe or Franklin is changing? There is some truth in that statement but in many ways, from my perspective, it is just not true.
Population increase and housing density — sure it is changing. Traffic on the roads — sure it is changing. People — yes there are a lot more of them. But I don’t believe that the people, their attitudes and their values have changed.
This is a little bit of a personal reflection, what I expected when we moved to Pukekohe and my perspective of life in Pukekohe.
Bob and I moved to Pukekohe in 1972. I had been working through until March at Te Awamutu College and Bob was principal of Arohena School. This was a small school just over half an hour’s drive from Te Awamutu. During our 18 months in this great but small rural community the school grew from being a two-teacher school to four teachers. We had enjoyed being part of this community. On May 5 Bruce, our eldest son, was born, and one week later, on May 12, we followed the removal van to our new school placement at Pukekohe East.
We had been warned that the Pukekohe community was not a good community, with tension in the school and major racial issues within the wider community and such like. Well, that has not been our experience, ever. And it is reinforced by how we experience the community.
Middlemore Hospital runs a pyjama drive each year. The goal is to reduce the number of children who are admitted to hospital each year with respiratory problems. Cold, damp homes are considered to be a major contributing factor to this. Sylvia emailed all the low-decile schools in the area. The principals sent through to us the number of children who they believe need some pyjamas. At this stage we have distributed about 760 pairs of pyjamas to six local schools.
How was this achieved?
Our generous, caring community have poured in with pyjamas, our wonderful parishioners have spent time sorting and then delivering pyjamas to meet the needs of these families just before the extremely cold snap last week.
We still have some preschools to cover. The delight on the children’s and their teachers’ faces when you deliver the pyjamas to the schools is so precious. I just wish you all had the privilege of experiencing this.
We continue to have a significant number of food parcels go out to people facing financial hardship. Thank you to the parishioners who help with supplies for these parcels and also the Op Shop staff, because through their work we buy frozen foods. We also give emergency meals to people who are facing challenges in their lives — such as sickness, a family member unwell, and in particular our thanks to Lyn Broad and Judith and Alistair Parke who are the main providers of these meals.
It was great celebrating the 20th birthday celebration of our Op Shop and to hear from Judith how it still fulfils the purpose for which it was established — an outreach from the church to the community as Christ calls us to be and do. Thank you Judith and Alistair for your wonderful support of your fantastic team and thank you to all of the team members.
Recently I advertised in the Franklin County News for volunteers with our Seasons Grief and Loss Programme. As a result of this one notice in the paper we have now trained 13 new companions to work with children, adults and potentially in Springhill Prison. Again members of a great community reaching out to help others.
There continues to be so much happening within the parish.
Our congratulations go to the Bombay — Pokeno parish for the 150th anniversary of their parish. Ministry in Pukekohe began in the Bombay parish which intended to be the centre of community in this area. 10 years later the Pukekohe parish was formed.
We wish them well for their continued ministry and outreach in our neighbouring community.
We enjoyed sharing a Taize-style worship evening with the St Patrick’s parish and are hoping to make this a regular event possibly — Advent, Lent and Pentecost.
I would like to thank Sylvia for her 33 years working in the parish office. It is a long and committed time to be in this important role in the parish. We do wish you well, Sylvia, and hope you and Keith enjoy your retirement time together.
Blessings to you all
Jan
This Beautiful Fantastic
Don’t forget to buy your tickets to the parish fundraiser movie — 5.30pm Sunday July 30, This Beautiful Fantastic. Contact the parish office 2387228, Cecily Daroux 2388411, cecilydx@gmail.com or Glenis Kerr 0211614640 gleniskerr@gmail.com for tickets
Mothers’ Union
Wednesday August 2, 10am service in the Parish Lounge, followed by a meeting. All Welcome.
From the Parish Registers
Funerals
Thursday June 22: Nyra Ernesteen Annie Narbey
Friday June 23: Margaret (Peggy) Maud Greenwood
Monday July 3: Norah (Merry) Merrygold Gordon
Rest Home Services for August
Palms Rest Home: 10.30am Tuesday August 1
Palms Hospital: 11am Tuesday August 8
Lakeside Rest Home: 10.30am Wednesday August 9
Pukekohe Hospital: 10.30am Wednesday August 16
Possum Bourne Village: 11am Tuesday August 22
Anyone who wishes is welcome to join us at these services
Farewell to Libby Davey
Libby left us in the latter part of last year to spend time with her daughter Merryn and her husband Gerry and two granddaughters. Libby has decided to make this a permanent move and has come back to New Zealand to pack up her property here. We are planning to have an opportunity for people to farewell Libby on Sunday August 13. There will be an opportunity to join us for a shared meal in Reid Anderson Hall at 12.30pm.
Bible Readings in August
August 6
First: Genesis 32: 22-31
Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21
Theme: Struggle
9th Sunday after Pentecost
August 13
First: Genesis 37: 1-4, 12-28
Gospel: Matthew 14-22-33
Theme: Jealousy
10th Sunday after Pentecost
August 20
First: Genesis 45: 1-15
Gospel: Matthew 15: (10-20) 21-28
Theme: Reconcile
11th Sunday after Pentecost
August 27
First: Exodus 1:8-2:10
Gospel: Matthew 16: 13-20
Theme: Defiance
12th Sunday after Pentecost
Onewhero Mass
I was recently asked about the Te Reo Maori that we include in our 9.30 am Sunday worship for three or four months of the year. This was written by the Rev Dr Edward Prebble at a time when he was unwell living in Onewhero. This was just before he took up the role of priest in charge in the parish. A short time later he was appointed our Vicar.
We have continued to use this in our worship services since the early 1990s. The translation is straight from the New Zealand Prayer Book which I include below.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Tapu, tapu, he tapu te Ariki
Te Atua o te mana me te kaha,
kī tonu te rangi me te whenua I tōu korōria.
Ōhana I runga rawa.
And these words may be added
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Whakapaingia a ia e haere mai nei I runga i
te Ingoa o te Ariki.
Ōhana I runga rawa.
Glory to you, Lord Christ;
your death we show forth;
your resurrection we proclaim;
your coming we await;
Amen! Come Lord Jesus.
Korōria ki a koe, e te Ariki, e te Karaiti:
ko tōu matenga ka whakaatu mātou:
ko tōu aranga ka pānui mātou:
ko tōu haerenga mai ka tāria e mātou:
Āmine: haere mai e Ihu te Ariki.
Blessing, honour and glory be yours,
here and everywhere,
now and for ever. Amen.
Te whakapai, te hōnore, te korōria ki a koe,
I konei, I ngā wāhi katoa,
ināianei, ā, ake tonu atu. Āmine.
Op Shop 20th Birthday
The Parish Op Shop celebrated 20 years in July.
Judith Parke welcomed the many past and present Op Shop volunteers who attended the celebrations
Kath Williams cooked a fabulous fruit cake
Among the guests were Lyn Ramsey and Elaine Tatton
and Joyce Watson and Diane Hay
Social Activities
Next Soup Lunch
Sunday August 20, noon. If you would like to join us for the parish soup lunch please put your name on the list in the church porch or ring the parish office 2387228
Parish Breakfasts
The next parish breakfasts will be held on Sunday September 17 and Sunday October 29 at 8.45am. Please note the 9.30am service on these days will begin at 9.45am.
Parish Fair
The proposed date is Saturday October 28. A great time to begin planning those tomatoes ready for summer. Time to think about planting those seedlings or making the marmalade. Plenty of time for the de-cluttering we all talk about!!!!