JESUS “THE BREAD OF LIFE”
As we approach the end of winter and the coming of spring, we do wonder how our weather will be affected over the next few months and what summer will bring.
At last, we have heaters that are very efficient in warming the Reid Anderson Hall. There are two large heat pumps at the kitchen end of the hall. If the doors are closed, within half an hour the hall is warm enough to turn one of the pumps off — the second can be turned off soon after. The remote works for both heat pumps. The parents and babies are finding the hall far more pleasant for their sessions. The front gas heater does still work, and we are retaining this to use if there is a power cut. We need the gas to operate the large oven and for the gas stove.
During the past month, our readings from the Gospel of John have focused on the verses on which Jesus comments on his being “the bread of life”. This can be challenging at a time when many are hungry and struggling to put food on the table. It is a time when those of us who seek to follow Christ’s example do use all our senses to see and hear the cries of the many calling for help.
We are still planning to have the premises available as a hub in the case of a disaster.
At the end of the first century, in the time of the early Church, in the days when the Gospel of John was written, about 100 A.D., the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper apparently seemed strange to some. It was even controversial. A couple of weeks ago our Gospel reading was from the Gospel of John, chapter six, verses 35, 41 — 51. It reflects how strange some of the people at that time found the idea of the Lord’s Supper. Nowadays we have become accustomed to it but to a person with no church background it must seem somewhat strange to be talking about, in some way, taking the body and blood of Christ into ourselves. Many of the Jews in the first century apparently rejected that idea outright. John’s passage indicates that even some of Jesus’ disciples found the teaching difficult to accept. Take Christ’s body and blood into ourselves? They thought it was just plain strange.
Perhaps we have become so familiar with the Sacrament of our Lord’s Supper that we sometimes take it for granted. The reading encourages us to consider again what communion with Christ means to us today and how this must seem to people who are unfamiliar with church practices, especially in the main-line denominations.
In my reading during the preparation of my sermon, I found the very thought-provoking story that follows:
There’s a beautiful incident recorded by Thomas Pettepiece, a Methodist pastor, who was a political prisoner and a prisoner of conscience. He writes of his first Easter Sunday spent in prison. He was among 10,000 prisoners. Most of the men had lost everything: their homes, their jobs, their furniture, their contact with their families. It was Easter Sunday, and they wanted to celebrate Communion. But they had no cup for Communion. They had no wine for Communion. They didn’t even have water for Communion. Nor did they have any bread for the Sacrament.
So, they practised the Communion of Empty Hands. “This meal in which we take part,” Pettepiece said, “reminds us of the imprisonment, the torture, the death and final victory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The bread is the body which he gave for humanity. The fact that we have none represents very well the lack of bread in the hunger of so many millions of human beings. The wine, which we don’t have today, is his blood, and represents our dream of a united humanity, of a just society, without difference of race or class.”
Then Pettepiece held out his empty hand to the next person on his right, and passed on the imaginary loaf. Each one took a piece and passed it on. Then he said, “Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And together they ate the imaginary bread, trying to imagine tasting it. After a moment they passed around the non-existent chalice, each imagining he was drinking from it. “Take, drink, this is the blood of Christ which was shed for you … Let us give thanks, sure that Christ is here with us, strengthening us.”
They gave thanks to God and then stood up and embraced each other. And a while later, one of the non-Christian prisoners came up to them and said, “You people have something special, which I would like to have.” And the father of a girl who had died came up to Pettepiece and said, “Pastor, this was a real experience. I believe that today I discovered what faith is …” (from Visions of a World Hungry, quoted in A Guide To Prayer, Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck, editors, The Upper Room, p. 143).
Communion is Christ coming to us, through our five senses, through our fellowship with each other. It is Christ coming to us that we might take him into ourselves physically and, take him into ourselves spiritually. It’s a great blessing and a great privilege. Let’s not take it for granted. We have bread. We have wine. We have each other. Christ is here with us. May we find him in some new way in the familiar Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
Keep warm and well over the next couple of weeks. A range of illnesses continues to circulate in the community.
Blessings Jan
SUNDAY READINGS
September 1: First reading, Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9; Gospel, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
September 8: Isaiah 35:4-7a; Mark 7:24-37
September 15: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Mark 8:27-38
September 22: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Mark 9:30-37
September 29: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29; Mark 9:38-50
REST HOMES AND HOSPITAL SERVICES
Singers welcome to help.
Wednesday Sept 4, 10am: St Andrew’s
Thursday Sept 5, 10.30am: Franklin Village
Tuesday Sept 10, 11am: Palms Hospital
Thursday Sept 19, 10am: St Andrew’s
Tuesday Sept 24, 11am: 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
SUSTAINABILITY
BIRD COUNTING
By Keith Gardner
Since 2007 nearly 50,000 people have joined in the country’s longest-running citizen science project by spending one hour counting the number of birds they see or hear in their gardens or local parks.
The survey provides data that can be used to understand the health of garden bird populations and the wider environment by showing how bird numbers are changing over the past five and 10 years.
When the annual garden bird count was on at the end of June, I watched for one hour to see which birds were visiting.
The first I saw were silvereyes (tauhou). They were feeding on the yellow guavas, eating the seeds and flesh, and the nectar in the bottlebrush.
I counted five of these little birds. Silvereyes came from Australia in the 1850s and are found throughout New Zealand. They nest quite high up in trees, making their nests out of moss, lichen, small twigs, hair, spiderwebs and thistledown.
They usually lay three eggs and can have two clutches a year.
Goldfinches also visited. I counted four. They are distinctive with their yellow and red markings. They are found throughout the country and can be seen in flocks of up to 100. My four were looking for seeds from weeds. They can lay up to six eggs at a time.
I was delighted to see a fantail (piwakawaka) in the kowhai bush. I usually see one or two by the worm farm — they will watch me as I tend to the farm then flutter about catching the fruit flies and midges.
Towards the end of my survey, I saw a tui stopping for a brief time in the kowhai on the way over the road as there were no flowers yet on the tree. A thrush was in the trees, singing its tuneful call, but it was well camouflaged, so it was hard to spot. Of course, blackbirds were also about. I counted four looking for worms to eat on the lawn. They are regular visitors, along with the sparrows eating grass seed. I counted eight hoping they were not the same ones that came and went.
Results from last year’s survey showed tui numbers increased slightly over the past 10 years but were static over the past five. There was also a slight increase in kereru (native pigeon) and piwakawaka. The silvereye and goldfinch populations have shown a small decline in the past five years. A rapid increase in introduced species such as mynas was seen. When bird populations begin to decline it suggests something has changed in their habitats, perhaps an increase in predators or a decline in their source of food and shelter.
Ref: Forest and Bird.
SHARED SOUP LUNCH AND GAME TIME
Sunday September 29, 11am
Subject to having sufficient numbers to make soup or provide a dessert. Board games, card games, Scrabble and Rummikub. More active games for the more energetic.
Midday lunch: soup and rolls and dessert.
PARISH FAIR & GARAGE SALE
Saturday October 12, 8am-11am
Cakes, jams, plants, books, BBQ, raffles, household goods
Please try to keep the date clear. We will be setting up during the week from Tuesday October 8. Help with setting up will be much appreciated.
We are beginning to collect items for our fair and garage sale and would really appreciate items for the tombola and raffles. These can be dropped off at the parish office Monday to Thursday, between 9am and 2pm, or brought along to church on a Sunday morning.
We would also appreciate contributions of cakes, jams or preserves, craft items and such like. The usual garage sale items, books and other items are also appreciated. Sausages will be available on the day.
It would be good to have seedlings for sale, but it is still quite cold for planting — hopefully things may be a little warmer by October! Larger plants would be very welcome if you have any to donate.
PUKEKOHE COMMUNITY ACTION — GOOD IN THE HOOD
Pukekohe Community Action has been selected as one of the organisations to be involved in Good in the Hood. Choose us at Z — Little token. Big impact.
PLEASE SUPPORT US AND HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
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
Social
Retirement Village
Property and Maintenance
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 FOR YOUR DIARY
Wednesday September 4, 10am: Parish Communion Service followed by Mothers’ Union social group gathering.
Thursday September 18, 10am: Parish Communion Service. Fellowship Group meets at the church at 10.30am for cafe outings.
Sunday September 29: Shared soup lunch with board games and activities — subject to enough people willing to make a pot of soup or dessert. Games 11am with lunch from 12pm. If you are able to help, please add your name to the list in the foyer.
Saturday 12 October, 8am-11am: Parish Fair & Garage Sale. Set up from Tuesday October 8 to Friday October 11. 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 to the Reid Anderson Hall if you are able. Help is also needed on the day 7.30am-11am and then with cleaning up.