Newsletter 27-July-2014
Building trusting relationships with one another can sometimes be a challenge, particularly if someone that we love has broken a promise, or has betrayed our trust. Even in the midst of trickery and human deception, however, God keeps God’s promises in unexpected ways. In order to marry Rachel, Jacob agrees to work for seven years, but later Laban deceives him; on his wedding day, Jacob discovers that he has married Leah instead! (Her face was covered with a veil during the wedding.) Laban therefore negotiates an additional seven years of work without pay, and then allows Jacob to marry Rachel, whom Jacob loves. Through his deception, Laban helped to ensure that Leah was also taken care of. One might question, however, if deception was the only way that Leah could be married.
NEXT WEEK:
Sunday Worship: 3 August 2014
Theme: “Deepened Relationship”
Focus Scripture: Genesis 32: 22-31
Other Readings: Matthew 14: 3-21; Psalm 17: 1-7, 15, Romans 9: 1-5
Prayer Points:- Please pray for: Ron Ashton with his cancer diagnosis, those with winter illnesses, Shelia Simmons for back pain and Alan Busfield whose health is deteriorating.
CHURCH NOTICES AND EVENTS:
Great News for 3 of our Younger Leaders! Each year, the PCANZ Church, Knox Centre offers six music scholarships to encourage and equip young musicians and vocalists in the conduct of public worship. Each scholarship consists of an expenses-paid two-day workshop on music and worship at the Knox Centre (Dunedin), plus a cash grant. The next music and worship workshops will be held on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th November, to coincide with the Samstock music festival, which runs from the evening of Friday 28th until midday on Sunday 30th November. We decided to submit three applications: Joshua Wong, William Francis-Dittmer and Eileen Jolly applied – and all three were accepted! YES!!!
Nominating Team Notice:- We need two people to serve on the Nominating Team for the Church. This year Janetta Mandeno and William Francis-Dittmer are standing down. The Nominating Team has the responsibility to listen to the congregation, to pray and to bring forward to the congregation the names of people willing to serve on the Leadership Team. Please pray for the right people to be willing to serve and then pass the names to Lorraine or Joan Rutherford or Alan Vickers.
Congregational Meeting Notice:-A congregational meeting will be held immediately after worship on Sunday 10th August to elect two people to the Nominating Team.
ALPHA:- is this for you? Can you bring someone and walk with them through the course? Starting August 3 @ 11:45 with lunch. Please pray for people to come and the leaders both spiritual and practical to serve.
End of year AGM:- With this fast approaching can all Team Leaders please forward their reports to the office as soon as possible for preparation of the AGM document. Thanks.
Life with John Cowan:- This Sunday night (20th July) John Cowan's guest will be Deputy Chief Executive of Skylight Trust, Tricia Irving Hendry
Lunch @ Te Tui Café:- 30 July @12:15 please sign up on the sheet in the foyer. Thank you. Loas.
FROM THE MANDENOS (in Palmerston North):-
Hello to all our church family at St Johns. Our new home is everything we hoped for and have already had two little girls sleep over last weekend and many visits in between. I (Janetta) went to transfer my membership for the gym from Auckland to Palmerston North yesterday so I am slowly finding my way around the city. We are going out shopping for furniture today as the house is two and a half the size of our wee town house, so there are a few empty spaces and rooms to fill. Brian's trip to work early morning takes him 6 minutes from home and that is right in the CBD....."yay".....we do notice the cold weather though, so have to wear a few more outer garments when we go out, but it is winter after all and all the country has had terrible weather this week. We have some beautiful walking tracks starting at the end of our cul-de-sac and a lovely swing park for the grandchildren. Hope none of you have had any adverse effects from the big storm which hit the north earlier this week. Think of you often and would love a visit if you are down this way. xxxx blessings Janetta & Brian
Inspirational/Anglican TV:- “We can achieve much on our own. We can achieve even more when we do it with others, having fun together at the same time. This week on www.inspirationaltv.net: 4 days, 15 people, 160 kilometres down the Whanganui River; St Catherine’s College choir singing Padre Nostro and; Matthew 13:44-52 hidden treasure, pearls and new truths. All the best for a great week."
Sunday 3 August RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM & WORLD PEACE, Muslim & Christian perspectives You are invited to listen in on a conversation about some big issues for today. Presenters: Dr Ali Boorooni – Islamic scholar, Ahlulbayt Foundation of NZ, Matthew Blaine Hand – International Director of Lutheran Mideast Development. 1.30pm at Islamic Ahlulbayt Foundation Centre, 27 Ben Lomond Crescent, Pakuranga Heights
Tuesday 12 August, Electoral Forum:- St Mary’s in Holy Trinity Cathedral 7:30pm. Hear from all the political parties.
