Sunday 21 December  2008

Advent Three - Peace
Support the 2008 CWS Christmas Appeal

Welcoming you at the door this morning:
St Andrew's: Ian Duncan (duty elder) Fiona Mowlem
Next Week: Ian Duncan (duty elder) and Fiona Mowlem
St Philip's: Betty (duty elder) Jean & Helen
Next Week: Grace (duty elder) Brenda & Betty

St Andrews / St Philips Parish News

The Ladies Night Out on 8 December was a great success with 35 women enjoying a Christmas Dinner with musical entertainment, and gifts for everyone.  Thank you very much to Lesley Williams for organizing it all. The dinner and entertainment was unanimously booked again for same time and place next year!!

Community Carol Singing

Anyone wishing to sing Christmas Carols to selected parishioners, and to shop volunteers, who have been involved with both our churches over many years, please meet at St Andrew's on Monday 22 December at 6pm.  We will enjoy supper together back at the hall afterwards around 9pm. Please bring a plate of Christmas fare to share.  Phone Barbara Wesley (4809123) for a route plan if you think you will be late.

Personal News

Congratulations to Kerry (nee Fish) and Matt Franks on the birth of a second son born on Monday 15 December – 9lb 2oz!

Thank you very much to Roma White for the delicious annual Christmas Cake enjoyed by all on the 7 Dec (St Philips) and 14Dec  (St Andrews)  We appreciate the time and thought you give to us each year in making these cakes for our gratification.

Roy will be working from the manse next week 22-24th
Due to Anna working and the Children home from School.
Please contact him there.  419 6267.
 

Christmas Parade on 14 December

Thank you to everyone who had a part in helping make our Church float such a great delight to behold. The Mainly Music and Sunday School children enjoyed riding on Graham Langridge's truck driven by Rev Roy, and the decorations looked tremendous – especially the large star made by Russell Shand!  Thank you to all who prepared the truck on Saturday and helped clear up afterwards, too. It was all appreciated.

SESSION   REPORT

Session notes that the parish's financial situation is in need of close monitoring, with rising costs, and a decreasing income.  To this end Session wishes to advise that a congregation meeting will be held after the services on the 22 February 2009 to present the current financial position and to discuss trends and possibilities for the future.   

PLEASE KEEP THIS DATE FREE.

Session also accepted the resignation of Laurie Wesley, and would like to take the opportunity to thank Laurie for his many years of service to this parish.
Session will be encouraging more people to be involved in the services, and so you may be asked to lead a prayer, present a children's talk, offer a short reflection, or some other activity - please give this some thought.  If you would like to volunteer to do this please see Roy, or a session member. (This will save us tapping you on the shoulder!)

Session Members: Pauline Fish, Denise Calvert, John Graham, Duncan Kerr and Fusi Gaualofa (St Philips).  (Gary Bold and Max Bulluss did not renew their 3-year terms of office when they came due in November 2008)

Schedule for Combined January Holiday Services 2009

Christmas Eve 8.00pm St Philips (combined)    
Christmas Day 9.00am St Andrews (combined)   
28 December 9.00am St Andrews (combined)   
4 January 2009 9.30am Zion Hill Methodist(combined 3 churches) 
11 January 2009 9.00am St Andrews (combined 3 churches) Rev Lester Simpson
18 January 2009 9.30am Zion Hill Methodist(combined 3 churches)  
25 January 2009 9.00am St Andrews (combined 3 churches) Rev Ray Galvin
1 February 2009 9.00am St Andrews  (back to normal)

Food Bank:  Fiona delivered more food parcels this week and says the recipients are so humbled and thankful for the church's wonderful generosity in giving these food parcels.  Any special Christmas items you could give to the food bank would be an extra delight for people facing hard times.      Thank you all,  Fiona.

Space filler: A Parable

"Meanwhile, there remains faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love"   (Corinthians 13:13)

Part A

A good Christian, his life's journey over, approached the gates of heaven. St Peter guarded the gate, and beyond him stood the Lord, waiting to welcome those who entered. When our friend, called Christian, reached the gates and was about to pass through, he suddenly stopped. There, in front of him, passing through the gates, was a dark skinned man in a long robe, with a small white hat on his head. Christian recognised these as the marks of a devout Moslem, one who in his lifetime had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.  

 Christian was dumbfounded and protested to St Peter "Surely you know this man is not a Christian?" he asked, "how can he be allowed into heaven?"  St Peter replied, "It is the Lord's wishes. He welcomes all into his kingdom". Christian was quite put out and protested "But what about Jesus' words – I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father but by me? This man ahead of me has never known Jesus." St Peter again replied, "That may be so, but Jesus has know him, and is even now taking him to the father".

 Christian looked upset, but the Lord himself then appeared. "Christian," he said, "this was my final test to see if you were truly worthy to enter my kingdom. Shouldn't you be glad that my love extends to those of other races and creeds? Surely you show to this stranger the same love that I have shown you?"   Christian was unable to reply.

Part B

A devout Moslem, her life's journey over, approached the gates of heaven. One of Mohammed's Caliphs guarded the gate, and beyond him stood the Lord, waiting to welcome those who entered.  When our friend, called Rebecca, reached the gates she suddenly stopped. There, in front of her, was an old friend, a Christian she had known all her life. Rebecca greeted her joyfully and went to pass through the gates with her.

 The Caliph, however, intervened and explained as kindly as he could that only Moslems were allowed in; Rebecca could go in, but her friend, being a Christian would have to remain outside. Rebecca protested, and pleaded for her friend to be allowed in, but to no avail. The Caliph would not yield to her wishes.

Rebecca was very distressed, and stood outside the gates wondering what to do. Eventually she put her arm around her friend, and spoke a last word to the Caliph. "My companion here and I have been friends all our lives. I cannot desert her now. If she cannot enter with me, then we must both remain outside. And she turned to walk away with her friend.

At this point the Lord himself appeared and intervened. "Rebecca" he said, "this was my final test to see whether you were truly worthy to enter my Kingdom. The love you have shown your friend I have rarely found, not even in Christendom. Call back your friend and enter these gates together".