Welcome to St Augustine's Anglican Church
Hi and welcome to St. Augustine’s.
We are delighted to share this place of worship with you. We hope you enjoy the beauty of the architecture, which is built to honour God. Feel free to look around, sit, pray and soak up the tranquility of this beautiful place.
Even more, we hope that you will get to know us and join in the life of this church family. We love to welcome and include people and to offer something for people of all ages. This includes worship services of various styles, small groups that provide friendship and teaching, and many other activities.
Most of all, we hope that you may grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ – building your knowledge of God and being open to all that the Holy Spirit wants to do in you and through you.
As a church, we are excited about the mission that God calls all Christians to – to be agents of God’s love and truth to a needy world. We believe that this is what the church exists for. We would love you to become part of that with us.
May the Lord bless you with his peace and grace.
|
From Kevin our Pastoral Priest March 7th |
|
Today we begin a preaching series based upon Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount which occupies Chapters 5 through to 7 of Matthew’s Gospel. Ron will be opening up for us the teaching of Jesus, through these passages.
It is hard to believe that we are into March already. This month we have a number of things happening in the life of St Augustines. Across our Sunday worship services we will have an opportunity to hear about our missions’ team trip to India in December of last year. At the end of the month Justice Miwanda from Uganda, who has been to St Augustines before will be speaking at all three services. It is both encouraging and challenging to hear of what God is doing in the wider world. Next Sunday evening we have our monthly Healing Service. Last month we had a wonderful time waiting on the Lord and being open to the Spirit’s prompting and nudging. Next Sunday I will continue to talk about “how our spiritual gifts can help the church grow.” I encourage you to come along and hang out with God. Philip continues with his study leave. While Philip is away please continue to direct parish matters to myself and the Wardens Claire & Stuart. It is good to have Ron Hay giving a couple of days of ministry to St Augustines’ however we need to be aware that he is with us for only two days a week. If you would like to contact Ron outside of Sunday then please make contact with me first and I can pass things onto him. How is the daily praying of the prayer going? LORD, GIVE ME EYES TO SEE AND GRACE TO SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TODAY. I have already seen the affect of it personally through praying this prayer over the past week. I encourage you to keep praying it daily, expectant that God will indeed give us the opportunity to minister His grace and love to others. Blessings Kevin |
|
From Kevin our Pastoral Priest (Feb 28th) |
|
Today we conclude our four week preaching series around the general theme of journey. We have looked at various people in the Old and New Testament who made that journey to know God more. Today we journey with Saul through his experience with the risen Lord Jesus on the Damascus road. Philip continues with his study leave. While Philip is away please continue to direct parish matters to myself and the Wardens Claire & Stuart. It is good to have Ron Hay giving a couple of days of ministry to St Augustines’ however we need to be aware that he is with us for only two days a week. If you would like to contact Ron outside of Sunday then please make contact with me first and I can pass things onto him. A CHALLENGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last Sunday when Ron was preaching he talked about being open to the prompting and nudging of the Holy Spirit as we live out our Christian life. He mentioned a prayer that WE could pray daily. It was: LORD, GIVE ME EYES TO SEE AND GRACE TO SEIZE EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TODAY. Let’s pray that prayer over this Lenten season and we will report back after Easter with some testimony of what God has done.
They can be written or verbal and you can give them to Kevin. Today is the church picnic at Halswell Quarry beginning at 12.30pm. It is important to come together for corporate worship and it is also important to have times of fun and fellowship. This is that opportunity to get to know others from across our different congregations. I encourage you to attend. You don’t have to stay all afternoon. May we continue to be guided and led by the Holy Spirit in all that we say and do. In the words of the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colosse: Whatever you do in either word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17) Blessings, Kevin |
|
|
From Kevin our Pastoral Priest |
|
This past week as seen the death of Bishop Jabez Bryce. He was the Bishop of the Anglican Church for the whole of Polynesia and had been unwell for sometime. Please pray for his family and for the church, who have lost a great leader and Bishop. Continuing on the national Church Scene this coming Saturday in Dunedin Kelvin Wright will become the next Bishop of Dunedin. Kelvin spent some time in the Diocese of Christchurch in the rural parish of Waiho Downs in South Canterbury and in the Parish of Sumner Redcliffs. In Auckland Ross Bay who is presently Dean of Auckland Cathedral will be made Bishop of Auckland sometime in April. It is important we remember that we are part of the wider Christian church. Too often we can become quite insulated in our own little world and our local patch. This week the Scriptures have taken me to the temptation of Jesus as we begin the Lent season in our church calendar. I hope over the next 40 or so days that we take the time to do some soul searching and self examination of our relationship with God; with those around us and with the world. Lent encourages us to spend that time which builds to the cross and the celebration of Easter. I encourage you to spend more time working on those relationships. Jesus said “I have come that you might have life; in all its fullness” (John 10:10) May we know something of the abundant life we have when we commit the whole of our lives to the one who is the bread of life, .Jesus Christ our saviour and our Lord. Blessings
Kevin |
|
|
From Kevin our Pastoral Priest |
|
The new year is up and running with a number of things happening. The Solid Youth programmes are well underway and a number of small groups are up and running. It has been a busy week in the parish. There have been some births this week. Hamish & Lara (11am people & last years Solid 7-9 leaders) have a new son Callum, and Stuart & Kerry Davis and son Tommy (11am people) welcome twin boys; Liam & Benjamin. We thank God for their safe arrival and pray for them all as they adjust to the new changes these arrivals bring. This Wednesday begins the season of Lent in the church calendar. Lent is a time of reflection on our relationship with God as we journey with Jesus through his earthly ministry to the cross and resurrection of Easter. It is a time of self examination. Our monthly Wednesday morning Holy Communion will focus on the beginning of that season of Lent. Can I commend to you the Waltham School Helpers group (there is a notice further on in this news sheet). There is always a need for people to help with reading, maths and social skills. Maxine Kissling will be happy to fill you in with details of what is involved. The Scripture verse that I have pondered on this past week has been “therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially those who are of the household of faith” Galatians 6:10. Our motivation for all that we do as we live out our Christian lives is one of generosity and speaking goodness into each others lives. Blessings .
Kevin |
|
|
Philip away on Sabbatical |
Our vicar Philip Lyes is on sabbatical/study leave. This is for three months or so and he will then be back at St Augustines on 1 June. Please pray for him throughout this time.
During this time we are blessed to have the Revd Ron Hay and Elizabeth in the parish.
Ron until early last year was the Vicar of the Parish of Sumner/Redcliffs.
Ron will be in the Parish for two days a week doing a lot of the preaching and helping with the Sunday Services. |
|
Earlier this week Philip left for a break and then is beginning a time of sabbatical/study leave. This is for three months or so and he will then be back at St Augustines on 1 June. Please pray for him throughout this time.
During this time we are blessed to have the Revd Ron Hay and Elizabeth in the parish.
Ron until early last year was the Vicar of the Parish of Sumner/Redcliffs.
Ron will be in the Parish for two days a week doing a lot of the preaching and helping me with Sunday Services.
An exciting development for St Augustines and for me as Pastoral Priest is to let you know of the appointment of Jo Pattrick as a Women’s pastoral worker.
Jo will be helping me in the pastoral area having a particular role in some one on one pastoral work with women . Her role will also be to encourage and coordinate some opportunities for women both in the church and the community to get together. This is not a Staff position. Jo has given some of her time in a voluntary capacity to work in an area that she is passionate about and gifted in. I have a copy of her role and responsibilities, and I look forward to working with her and developing the role further as the year progresses. This position was seen as being important to the Parish vision and five year plan for St Augustines.
Well schools are back, holidays are over……..I hope we have some summer left.
A Scripture that has been close to me this week is Paul’s words to the church in Thessalonica “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, as in fact you are now doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). As we gather momentum as a church let’s encourage and build one another up.
God’s blessing be with you all!
Kevin |
|
|
Check out these Christingle 2009 photos!! 
 
|
|
|
