Caring for God’s People and World
Each year on the third Sunday of July the church calendar gives us a suggestion of the theme of Bible Sunday. On the fourth Sunday we have social service Sunday.
In August we move to caring for the environment and all of creation.
For Bible Sunday this year, I invite you to join us for a shared lunch and to bring along a Bible that has special significance to you and share the significance of that Bible to you.
Our social service Sunday will involve sharing stories of some our work in the community as individuals and as a parish. Both of these special services provide us with opportunities to learn more about our Church, the mission to which we are dedicated and the work which we do in our service to God and to the community. We will also get to know each other better.
I am so grateful to know that we have been able to provide pyjamas to more than 900 children this winter as our nights are getting colder. We also provided the Pukekohe North children at the Puna preschool with beanies along with their pyjamas and for the children at the Marae preschool we have provided little cardigans or jerseys. Again,
thank you for your generosity. We certainly have some beautiful knitters in the parish.
It is great to have two young 12-year-olds choosing to be baptised. Welcome to Kelsie Arthur and Harper McNaughten. If you are wanting to consider the next step in your faith journey and have not been baptised or confirmed, I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you. Please feel free to phone me and we can discuss this. Confirmation will take place on November 14 when Bishop Ross will be in the parish.
We are still hopeful that the replacement arch will be in place by then and that this will be dedicated as part of our day’s celebrations.
Last year during the Covid-19 lockdown many people found the winter months quite lonely. Can you please consider making time to drop in and say hello or make a call to parishioners or neighbours who may be in need of a little bit of company.
Take care during this cold weather.
Keep warm and keep well
Blessings to you all
Jan
Many thanks to Jean and Keith Giffney who have donated three rose bushes in memory of Margaret Newman. Margaret was a committed member of the Young Wives group at St Andrew’s. The families of the young wives became strong friends with the Giffney, Weston, Short and Howe families. Many of these families have moved away from Pukekohe but Peter and Katy Newman and their family are still in Pukekohe. They own Trailite Motor Homes and are very generous to community-care initiatives. We look forward to seeing the new blooms on these roses. They are planted in the garden just through the gate in front of the vicarage garden. Thank you for your gift.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORSHIP
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
Readings for July 2021
Sunday 4th – First: 2 Samuel 5:1–5, 9–10; Gospel: Mark 6:1–13
Sunday 11th – Ephesians 1:3–14; Mark 6:14–29
Sunday 18th, Bible Sunday – Ephesians 2:11–22; Mark 6:30–34, 53–56
Sunday 25th, Social Services Sunday – 2 Samuel 11:1 –15; John 6:1 –21
Rest homes and hospital services, and activities July
Thursday 1st: 10.30am Franklin Village
Sunday 4th: 11.15am Nora Brown
Tuesday 6th: 10.30am Palms rest home
Wednesday 7th: 10.30am Mothers’ Union
Tuesday 13th: 11am Palms Hospital
Wednesday 14th: 11am Lakeside
Thursday 15th: 10.30am Women’s Fellowship
Thursday 22nd: 10am Church cleaning
Tuesday 27th: 11am Possum Bourne Village
Vestry meeting 21st July
The Reverend Tricia Carter’s Sermon – Te Pouhere Sermon
On 2nd June Tricia preached on Te Pouhere Sunday. This service fell on Queen’s Birthday Weekend. As we have been focusing on our Anglican way of life and tradition recently, I did not want people to miss this Sunday’s sermon because it helps us to understand the three-tikanga structure of the Anglican Church.
Te Pouhere Sunday Sermon
Today in the NZ Churches calendar we are looking and remembering something of the church foundations. The second Sunday after Pentecost is set aside as Te Pouhere Sunday. While it isn’t a global religious festival in the way that Pentecost and Trinity are, it is a time to give thanks for belonging to our corner of the world.
Te Pouhere, literally translated, means the “Post to which we tie our waka”. A place of security, a safe anchor point. It is the title chosen in 1992 for the revised constitution of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Our Anglican church.
In 1992 the whole governance and structure of how we operated as a church was re-evaluated. Was the way we were operating the best way to grow the kingdom? Was there really a one size fits all model that allowed for differences in language, culture, size, context? Even more significantly was the voting system that was a bit like the old ‘first past the post model’ actually allowing for voices other than the most populous to be heard?
Last weekend I attended celebrations in my former parish to mark 175 years of worship. The service began with a re-enactment of Bishop Selwyn arriving, with seeds in his pocket to plant a church. When Selwyn was made the first bishop of New Zealand the powers-that-be at Lambeth had no real idea about the geography of the southern Pacific. So at the stroke of a pen, he was made bishop of the latitude and longitude of an area that covered the Islands of New Zealand, all of the Pacific Islands, and the Melanesian Islands. Just a small area as you can see. Later Melanesia was identified as a separate province but the islands of the Pacific are still joined with New Zealand to be the province to which we belong.
If you imagine the diversity of language, history and geography, resources — the list goes on — you get a small glimpse of the issues facing a church as it tried to redress some of the power balance. Overlaying all of this of course was the original history of the establishment of the Anglican Church in New Zealand. This is a story
too long to fit into a reflection, in fact I teach a 10-week course on it usually. But in summary, the early missionaries came to bring the Gospel to this land to establish a native church. All the early teaching, scriptures and services were in te Reo Māori. The Gospel was brought here to build foundations of Christian faith among the inhabitants. It
was the missionaries who helped shape and mediate the Treaty of Waitiangi, in order to preserve the rights of the locals.
So from a strong inclusive history, the church looked to revisit its agenda in the 1990s, not to be politically correct but to help build the kingdom in a healthy and inclusive way. The church recognised it had three strong strands, or tikanga. All very different in expression and need but all committed to building firm foundations within their
community. These became known as Tikanga Māori, Tikanga Polynesia and Tikanga Pākehā. These were strands that when woven together formed the church of these islands. This image of tikanga/strands became the logo of the church, taking the form and colours of the Pacific and weaving the strands into a cross. You will notice, however,
that the cross weaving is not finished. We the people of today, the body of the church whichever tikanga we identify with, continue to weave the story of the people of God in these lands.
Accusations of a form of apartheid were levelled at the church when this new, revised approach was suggested but this is far from true. I can belong to whichever tikanga I identify with and worship in my preferred language but still be authentically Anglican. When the church looks to make decisions about its future, it takes into account the voices of the three tikanga. In fact, they have equal representation on all governance boards, General Synod and internationally. We have three archbishops, who speak with a united voice. We are seen as a model that broadens our call to mission by facing our differences and embracing them, rather than suffering the fate of many churches that constantly split and dilute. We hold fast to our anchor point, Te Pouhere, knowing that its foundations are solid. Then certain in that knowledge, we can steer our waka/canoe in the most appropriate direction for our tikanga. This means we as cultural groupings can have different stances on some issues and explore them appropriately, while coming together to break bread and share wine at the table.
When we eat with our friends we cannot ignore them.
This is why you will find the use of te reo in our services, or Pacific imagery. It’s a reminder that we are part of something so much bigger. When we consider climate threats, we are talking about the islands of our church that are disappearing under rising oceans. When we consider poverty, we are talking about our people of every ethnicity.
When we consider our rich resources, we are compelled to share with those less fortunate. We are called to weave a larger picture of the Kingdom of God.
The constitution of the Anglican Church has been viewed by Governments here as a possible model of resource sharing. It has been used as a template for the shaping of indigenous church development among the native Americans. We are considered flag bearers in our courage to make this change in the interest of both justice and, more significantly, in allowing the Kingdom of God to flourish in styles of worship that are also valid cultural expressions.
We are truly blessed to be able to build our house on the solid rock of those who went before us with vision and energy, but we are reminded that we are asked to maintain that house well and keep looking to extend it. If we are to avoid being on sand, however, as we move forward, we need to know our story and embrace it as the people of God in this place.
The Reverend Tricia Carter
June 2021
RECEIPTS FOR CHARITABLE DONATIONS
If you make a donation to the parish either through the envelope system or the through automatic banking and have not received a receipt, please let Judith in the office know so this can be rectified. Pukekohe Community Action receipts are not yet available, however this is being attended to. Many thanks to you all for your generous donations.
FROM THE VESTRY
“Save the Night” of Sunday 14th November 2021 for the St Andrew’s Restoration Fundraising Dinner at the Pukekohe Town Hall. This will be an opportunity for the community to come together to dine, dance and bid in the auctions to raise money to restore the church to meet earthquake standards. The outstanding “Off Broadway Big Band” will be featuring. Ticket sales will start in August.
Silent Auction Donations for the Dinner
If you have a business contact that can help provide items or services for the silent auctions, could you please contact the church office. There will be opportunities to donate items for the hampers from16th October.
PROPERTY REPORT ~ BUILDING MATTERS
(Prepared Tuesday 22nd June 2021)
Replacement of the Arch
At the time of writing this report we are still awaiting feedback from the assurance assessors appointed by our insurers. As noted last month, the assessors had raised concerns on the 14th June over some of the professional fee proposals we had provided them with, noting they were engaging an independent expert to provide them with advice. All work was put on hold following their comment that if we proceeded it would be at our own risk.
We subsequently answered questions from the assessors and all parties have been very helpful, even though they know of the hold on the project.
The builders’ detailed costings have been received and forwarded to the assessor. The total cost for the building works is just under $200k and with professional fees etc the total for the project is around $250k.
They have been asked several times when they will have the report completed and the last advice was it is due early in the week of the 21st. They have been told of the deadline for completion of the rebuild.
One issue they indicated they would be raising is the proposal to move the arch back from the present location, which will improve the views of the church and allow for development of that corner. The concept is supported by the Auckland Council, including their heritage group, as it will improve driver visibility and thus safety.
Until the design is finalised and agreed with the council an exact costing cannot be completed (some of the work put on hold), however we have worked with the various parties involved and the provisional figures show that the costs saving in physical building works by excavating in a “clean” (relocated) site are similar to or lower than the additional fees involved in obtaining a resource consent to move back to that site.
To minimise our exposure, we have submitted an interim invoice to the assessors for all our costs to date.
Church Seismic Strengthening
Discussions have been ongoing with the structural engineers as they make final adjustments to the drawings after discussions with the heritage architects. Final drawings are expected early in July and a meeting to look at the impact will be called at that time. Work is under way with potential sources of grants to establish what level of
accuracy is required for costing when seeking grants.
The Fence
You may be wondering why the fence down to the units has stopped. If you look at the trellis on the top of the part that is being replaced you will see it is a different height and width from the older part. We are awaiting the replacement trellis on the new section of the fence so the continuation is completed. It is then our intention to plant a camellia hedge in front of the fence which will be consistent with the remainder of the boundary,
SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS
WE’VE JOINED THE ECO CHURCH NETWORK!
Vicky Mee, Synod Representative
Our parish has worked on becoming more sustainable over the past few years and owes a great deal to the late John Allen, Vestry member and Diocesan Sustainability Field Worker, who inspired us with a vision of the church as a leader in climate action.
The Vestry took another step in Pukekohe parish’s sustainability journey last week when we voted to register as an Eco Church and to commit to a statement of intent that as a church we are concerned about the environment and want to do something about it in the future.
For information about the Eco Church NZ project check out https://www.ecochurch.org.nz/. The network exists to support churches to actively care for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission. The Anglican Diocese of Auckland is one of the denominational partners and the movement is supported by the Auckland Council, Tear Fund
and Para Kore (working towards zero waste).
From the Eco Church website: Eco Churches exist to be signs that God loves the world, and in Christ is working to see it healed. Eco Churches are signs of gospel hope, they can be models of a restored creation, they are places where we celebrate this story. Eco Churches value the gift of our creation and our partnership with everything else in
reflecting the glory of God. Eco Churches want to connect the Good News of Jesus to the pressing environmental issues of our day. Eco Churches want to be places where we can model ways of living that give hope.
Christians have always connected the good news of Jesus to the issues of the world in which they live. How are we to live here? Is there is any hope for the Earth? These are the critical questions of our day and Eco Churches are about making those connections and telling this good news.
Registration is free and there is no certification process but churches are asked to complete a self-assessment worksheet and then review areas to work on going forward. There is a big emphasis on community networks and community involvement … something we are already doing in Pukekohe.
The Eco Church network provides resources and toolkits on many sustainability topics and has highly knowledgeable speakers available to assist at events. It’s exciting to join this movement and the Sustainability Group will be reporting back on any initiatives we take.
Pauline Brown
At the June Vestry meeting it was agreed that St Andrew’s will join the Eco Church NZ (an A Rocha Aotearoa NZ Project). The Eco Church NZ Project is a bold new initiative of A Rocha Aotearoa New Zealand to support churches to actively care for God’s earth as an integral part of their mission.
Belonging to this organisation allows us to access resources, attend workshops and develop initiatives that will benefit our local area and beyond.
One of the organisations that is promoted by Eco Church is Para Kore – which demonstrates how to be “zero waste” in our daily lives.
“Zero Waste is a call to action that aims to end the current take, make, and dispose mentality of human society. Zero Waste is a policy, a path, a target. It is a process, a new way of thinking. Most of all it is a vision. It’s a new planning approach which closes the loop, so that all waste is a resource for another process.” Para Kore. One of our goals at St Andrew’s is to host a community workshop on how to get to “zero waste”.
The first mandarins are on the citrus trees and potatoes are growing very well, along with broccoli, cauliflower, spinach.
Here’s a great recipe for mandarins from Nadia Lim:
Mandarin, almond and chocolate blitz cake
Ingredients
100g dark chocolate
3 large mandarins (NZ)
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 eggs
250g almond meal (ground almonds)
Method
Heat oven to 180C. Grease and line a 20cm tin. Melt chocolate in the microwave. Set aside. Chop whole mandarins (skin, pips and all), add to blender and blitz until smooth. Add eggs, sugar and vanilla and blitz until smooth. Pour into a mixing bowl. Add almond meal and mix. Pour into the tin. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top and swirl with a skewer. Bake for 1 hour, cool 10 mins and remove from the tin. Great with yoghurt for a dessert or eaten as a cake.
PARISH EVENTS
Members of our Mothers’ Union have extended an open invitation to their July meeting which will include a soup lunch. It will be a fundraiser for the Anglican Trust for Women and Children, in particular the families in Grainger Grove. Money raised will help make it possible for the families to enjoy an outing to something like the zoo, for example. The meeting on Wednesday 7th July will be held in the Reid Anderson Hall at the later time of 10.30am, with the service followed by the lunch. All donations appreciated. If you can’t make the meeting but would like to donate, please contact Anita on 238 7716.
SHARED ON BEHALF OF THE WAIUKU CHURCHES.
With Covid last year, we were unable to hold our annual Nepal fundraiser. All money goes to Hope Mission Nepal. We have been supporting this mission for many years now and have had several members visit them over the years. They have been particularly hard hit with the Covid situation in Nepal as well.
Our wonderful local Indian restaurant The Curry Master is supporting us again by providing the delicious food.
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 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 location of the emergency situation 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 situation.
Other rooms in the complex: Assembly area move to the vicarage lawn.
St Andrew’s Church: Assembly area is by the road 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 the 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 that are used are to be recorded on the sheet.
DK Concrete Floors Driveways Footpaths Patios etc. Daniel Kircher. Ph 021 066 8356 Email kirchaz@hotmail.com
Halliwell’s of Pukekohe Stockists of Fine Quality Leather Shoes. 81 King St, Pukekohe. Ph 09 238 7686
Pukekohe Travel Locally owned and operated since 1978. Contact Eve Murphy, 89 King St, Pukekohe. Ph 09 237 0013. Email info@pukekohe-travel.co.nz
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
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 021-1823703 Glenis Kerr 238-5136
Synod Rep: Vicky Mee
Vestry members: Jocelyn Brodie, Renton Brown, Richard Gibbons, 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, Glenis Kerr, Rev David Walker, Rev Merlene Walker, Judith Parke, Rev Irene Brodie, Rev Tricia Carter, Rev John Carter; 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 abpit 3 months. Term time only.
Oasis Music & Coffee group. A natural progression from Space for preschool children. Mon & Fri 9.15am ~11am. 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.
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
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
• Wednesday 7th July – Mothers’ Union at 10.30am followed by a soup lunch raising funds for Anglican Trust for Women and Children
• Thursday 15th July – Women’s Fellowship service in the church at 10.30am followed by social gathering at a local café. All welcome to join us for either the service or the coffee!
• Sunday 18th July – Bible Sunday and shared lunch. Bring along your favourite Bible and tell us about its significance for you.
• Thursday 22nd July – Women’s Fellowship clean the church at 10.30am followed by coffee at a local café. All welcome
• Sunday 25th July – Social Service Sunday. Sharing stories of our work in the community as individuals and as a parish
Later in the Year
• Sunday 8th August – Handel Consort & Quire
• Saturday 16th October – Parish Fair
• Sunday 14th November – Confirmation Service; hopefully dedication of Peace Memorial Arch; Church Restoration Fundraising Dinner