| Sunday, 13 November 2011 | |
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Faithfulness - with a free set of steak knives (Grant Harris) |
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Korean Faith Community (Guang Taek Jung) |
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Pizza Church (Janelle Butcher) |
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(Peter Mihaere) |
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Karen Calder |
WELCOME
Welcome to you all.
This week The Gathering (formerly known as Baptist Assembly) has been held at Lincoln Baptist. It was originally scheduled to be in Hamilton, but as a show of solidarity with and support of Christchurch in the aftermath of our earthquake events, the decision was made many months ago to move it to Canterbury. There were around 600 people attending, the biggest ever! Welcome to you if you were in town for The Gathering and are with us in our services today. We’ve also made the most of all the folks in town for this, so Grant Harris from Windsor Park Baptist on the North Shore in Auckland, will be speaking this morning, and Peter Mihaere, who heads up tranzsend, will speak in our service tonight.
Next Sunday is our Vision Day, where we take time to reflect on the year that was and how it will be the foundation for next year.
Then Sunday November 27 is our last Baptism Sunday for the year. So far we have 5 people being baptised across that week. If you or anyone you know is interested in exploring this step of baptism, please come to the forum today at 10.30am or 8.30pm in the meeting room beside the Media Room.
Our love and prayers are with the family of Ann-Marie Aitchison, who died last Sunday. She is survived by her husband Anton and daughter Ricki-lea. Ann-Marie’s parents Lionel and Adrienne Stewart, and sisters Karen Harrington and Chrissy Kereama and their families are all part of our church family. Ann-Marie’s funeral was held here on Friday.
This coming week I will be at Kopua, a monastery in the North Island I try to visit at least annually, for a time of reflection and prayer. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll be here again next Sunday, preaching at all three services.
Grace and Peace,
Alan
PRAYER
For emergency prayer needs phone Les Yetman 942 1172. He will alert the prayer chain to your need.
Come and pray for Diane Goodman and for Matt & Ruth, preparing to go to Chad on Thursday 17 November 7.30pm at 27 Wentworth Street, Ilam. Contact Shirley 942 2976 for more info.
LIFE TOGETHER
Mercy Basket. Thank you for the many gifts already donated for Christmas parcels – we are overwhelmed by such generosity as you give week by week to this amazing ministry! This week we require spaghetti, baked beans, rice risotto, tinned veges and cereals as well as unwrapped gifts to go under the ‘Giving Tree’ in the Foyer.
Congratulations to Kevin and Fay Kerr as they celebrate 55 years of marriage this weekend.
Decemberance service. The Christmas season is upon us. If you would like to acknowledge and remember someone special who has died this year or in previous years, you are welcome to a quiet candle-lit service of reflection in the Auditorium on December 1 at 7pm.
Baptist Magazines. Spare copies are available in the Library today.
The Gospel Choir is practising for the 9pm service on Christmas Eve. We meet on Mondays from 7-8pm in the Cobham Street hall. All welcome. Contact Anna for more details, annawhitaker23@gmail.com
Want to hang out with fellow Spreydon Young Adults and nut out the God-stuff? Come to the Young Adults’ Camp on November 25 - 27! It’s at Okains Bay, $35. Fill out a registration form at Reception or the Info Centre. Questions can be fired towards Tim (tperry@spreydon.org.nz) or Amy (asmit@spreydon.org.nz).
For Christmas Eve we need small drinking glasses to hold tealight candles as part of our Christmas Art Installation. If you have some you can donate, please leave at Reception or Info Centre on Sundays. Enquiries to michelle@spreydon.org.nz
God In Business. Spreydon and Grace have a fantastic line up of people to chat on this theme, covering revelation, strategy and provision from God, beneficial ideas for your business, and learning from others’ experience. Wednesday November 23, 7am to 8:15-ish in the Café. Investment: $10 per person to pay on the day, or prior to 06 0821 0579 769 00. RSVP office@grace.org.nz or 379 8463 by 12 noon Monday November 21, for catering purposes.
World Cup flag buntings. If anyone has any unwanted strings of the Rugby World Cup flags, Barb Harrington would love to have them for decorating any future night markets. Phone her 384 6103 or 027 6873787 or leave them at the Info Centre with her name on them. Thanks!
Single Mums Support would appreciate donations towards Christmas pamper packs for our Mums. Donations of any lotions or body treats - moisturizers, face masks, lip balms can be dropped off at Single Mums’ Office, 235 Lyttelton St or left at Reception. Thanks. Evelyn and Alley 338 0158
Christmas Decorations. We need someone to oversee the Christmas decorations being put up in the foyer/cafe area at the end of November. We also require volunteers to unpack and hang the decorations and lights. Please contact the Church office 338 4163 if you can help in any way.
Baptism Sunday. Have you been wondering if baptism is the next step in your faith journey? On Sunday November 27 we will have the last “Baptism Sunday” for the year. There will be opportunities to learn about baptism today and next Sunday at 10.30am (between services) and 8.30 pm (after services). We will meet in the meeting room next to the media centre.. Di Sargent 027 5147259.
Prayer and healing service. Spreydon Baptist and Ellel ministries are offering a healing service on Wednesday November 16, 7-9pm in the auditorium with supper provided. Contact Di if you have questions 027 5147259.
COMMUNITY MINISTRY
SHARP Trust’s End of Year Musical – ‘SHARP Factor’. Our SHARP children will provide a delightful evening of dance and music, show-casing their achievements in the Performing Arts from our 2011 dance and music classes. All welcome. Wednesday November 23 at Spreydon Baptist Church, 7 – 8:15 pm. Free entry and supper provided. Contact Fiona fkenneally@spreydon.org.nz or 338 4163 ext 219 for more info.
Christmas Grotto. Please talk with people at the sign up boards or contact Linda 960 6329, 021 960 653 or rahills@paradise.net.nz if you can help in any of these ways:
1.Entertainment for the queues.
2.People to help welcome people to the grotto, to chat with them and to keep an eye on everything inside. Please sign up in the foyer today.
3.Very basic painting (flat boards with roller) and somewhere dry to paint and store them. We will drop boards off and pick them up.
4.An extra freezer for the café during grotto time.
5.Baking for the rest homes: slices, biscuits, Christmas cakes and mini Christmas pies.
6.Prayer and Share night this Thursday November 17 in the Prayer room. All welcome to come and hear all the updates to the grotto and pray with us.
Tree and Shrub Sale. Sarona Community Trust, 26 Cedars Street, Hoon Hay on Saturday November 19 from 9am-12pm. Hardy natives & exotics that will suit your garden! All grown by the residents at Sarona. Contact Bruce 338 2677 or 338 7960 Tuesdays Wednesday or Thursdays.
GLOBAL MISSION
Newsletters from Nathan & Bronwyn Graham and David & Barb Howe are available today in the foyer.
EMPLOYMENT
Sharp Trust Manager and Holiday Programme Coordinator Position. (1 year full time position - although job share will be considered for suitable applicants.) Sharp is a Christian, community based, NFP organisation providing afterschool care and holiday programmes for children aged between 5 – 14 years. Programmes are based at Spreydon Baptist Church and in the community. We are looking for someone who has a teaching background/ or experience in children’s work who could successfully coordinate multiple programmes and staff. Contact Fiona fkenneally@spreydon.org.nz or 338 4163 ext 219 for a job description and application form.
OTHER
Christmas event for women tomorrow night in the Auditorium. Gifts available to purchase from 7pm. Great worship and speaker, gift demonstrations and yummy supper. CWCI event (Christian Women’s Communicating NZ). Cost $10. Phone Sheryl 338 4163 for more info.
Faith@Home – Focus on the Family parenting event of the year! Tuesday November 15 at Spreydon Baptist Church from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Speakers are Mark Holmen, Ian & Mary Grant and Tim Sisarich. Gold coin donation.
Laidlaw College is planning to launch its Bachelor of Counselling degree in Christchurch in 2012. An information night with the Head of the School of Counselling, Lex McMillan, and other staff will be held on Monday November 14, 7:30pm at Laidlaw College, 70 Condell Ave, Papanui, Christchurch. Other courses offered in 2012 include church based internship and gap year options. Contact Sue 354 4270 or go to www.laidlaw.ac.nz.
TEAR Fund is presenting the ‘Encore Tour’ featuring Steve Apirana and Derek Lind Saturday November 19, 7.00pm at Northcity Church, 95a Sawyers Arms Road, Papanui, Christchurch. Admission free but a love offering will be taken to assist with the cost of the tour.
Can you help billet some out of town pastors for our Leadership Network Conference Nov 29 – Dec 1? Those living within walking distance of Spreydon Baptist Church would be ideal, but all offers appreciated. Please contact Kerrie kvanwoerden@spreydon.org.nz or 338 4163 ext 233 for more details.
Middleton Grange School Fiesta November 25, 5-8pm. Come along for food, bargains and fun! 50 Acacia Avenue, Riccarton. Contact Robyn Bosma 358 0551 for more info.
GLOBAL MISSION
Susan Bellett
MIS orphanage, Lesotho
In early January 2012 I will be dusting off the tandem and getting back on for another year. I feel very privileged to be able to be used this way and I have learned so much about our breathtaking God.
What does the next year hold? I am going back to the same orphanage and will be continuing to teach the school kids and take another group of little angels to school. I will hopefully still be able to visit the ladies in ward 6 at the hospital, although I think that the new hospital has opened so it will mean a taxi trip out to it. I will also resume my cooking classes for the Brothers and possibly be involved in setting up a HIV and Aids support and awareness group for school aged children at an Anglican school about 1 1/2 hours out of Maseru. These are the things that I believe I will be involved in, but who knows, God may have other plans for me and that is totally fine.
A huge thank you to all those you have been supporting me; I certainly feel that I am not doing this alone.
COMMUNITY MINISTRY
Project Esther
Project Esther works with women and families at risk in our local community. This last year they too have faced increased challenges. Our services were in more demand than ever. We lost the use of our emergency accommodation back in Sept 2010 but in the last few weeks it is again occupied. Presently the Single Mums’ service is running a specifically focused parenting course and some 12 women are attending. We have increased our commitments to Sunday chapel services at the women's prison and we are seeing some progress in the deepening of faith in a few of the women who come along. Please keep our families in prayer as we enter the Christmas season. For many it is a difficult time and our longing is that they discover Jesus as a loving saviour who is indeed there for them and loves them.
