From the Vicar

3rd Sunday of Easter, 14 April

Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, has Peter addressing a crowd following the healing of a lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. He seizes the opportunity to preach the Gospel, drawing attention not to himself or his own power, but to the authority and power of Jesus Christ. Peter emphasizes the crowds part in the crucifixion of Jesus, yet he offers hope through repentance and turning to God. He calls them to change their hearts and lives, assuring them that forgiveness and times of refreshing will come from the Lord.

Luke recounts the appearance of Jesus to his disciples after his resurrection. Initially, they are startled and frightened, thinking they are seeing a ghost. Jesus reassures them by showing them his hands and feet, (as he had in the locked room with the Disciples) inviting them to touch him and see that he is real. He then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, emphasizing that his suffering, death, and resurrection were foretold and necessary. He commissions them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.

Both passages emphasize themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the proclamation of the Gospel. In Acts, Peter challenges his audience to acknowledge their sinfulness and turn to God for forgiveness, promising the refreshment of spiritual renewal. In Luke, Jesus offers reassurance to his disciples and commissions them to carry the message of repentance and forgiveness to the world.

These passages resonate with timeless truths about our human condition, the redemptive work of Jesus, and the responsibility of believers to share the Gospel message. They remind us of the transformative power of repentance and forgiveness and the call to be ambassadors of reconciliation in a broken world. As we reflect on these passages, may we be inspired to embrace the message of repentance, to experience the refreshment of God's forgiveness, and to faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to all nations.

Facilities upgrades, CoA Update 11/4

This week the builders continue on site and the repairs to the church continue.

The remedial painting to the church and the vicarage will continue into next week.

The kitchen items have been moved and mostly packed away. It did require us to be aa little aggressive with some items, but the only ones disposed of had not been used for several years.

MOVING DAY

Thanks for the 17 parishioners and friends who attended to assist with the big move. Everything managed to be successfully relocated. It was really good us having the storage shed which meant that everything could be accommodated. Now we have 2 of everything.

Janet provided afternoon tea for us. Although several didn’t make both events, we appreciate the efforts of those who attended.

Children’s Liturgy (what we used to call Sunday School)

This continues during term time, being held on the last Sunday of the month. The young people will leave the service after the first hymn and return during the offertory. We especially thanks Sue for her help organizing Sunday School on Easter Day. The next one is 28 April.

Café Crawl Tuesdays @ 10.30am

We meet at local cafes every Tuesday morning. Friends and family are welcome. Please contact Jill Straker (02102928231) for further information.

16th April Castle Rock, 21 Mary Muller Drive

23rd April Portstone, 465 Ferry Road Woolston

30th April Coffee Culture 18 London Street Lyttleton

Swim Group

Monday, Wednesday and Friday Mornings from 8am at Aquagym. Please contact her for further information (brinkmanfamily@gmail.com)

The Vicar is indisposed with a shoulder issue, so he won't be able to an attend for a few weeks. Good luck to those brave early morning swimmers!

Dinner in the Valley

informal dinner at the Valley Inn. From 6pm on Thursdays.

Smiling Cyclists

We meet this Thursday at 8:45 at the Church of St Mary.

Friday Walking Group

The group meets at the entrance to the Maltworks Villas at 9am on Fridays.

Cards night

This is to be held on the first Wednesday of the month between 7pm and 9pm. Please join us on 1 May in the Centennial Centre. Supper will served. Games will be decided upon numbers attending, but initially 500, Euchre and Crib. If the need arises we may hold beginners classes.

Dessert evening

This monthly winter activity begins on 26 May at 7pm. Everyone is welcome to attend. Geo and Hugo will be defending their title and as usual a celebrity judge will be joining us. Last year it was a great evening entertainment and fine food.

ANZAC Day

The ANZAC Day service at the Heathcote Cenotaph begins at 5:45am on ANZAC Day.

Prayers

Please add to your prayers the Roberton, Georgieff, Brown, Williams, Browne and Earl families, the work of the parish in the community, the Archdeacon and the Bishop, those elected to Parliament and the political leaders in their leadership deliberations.

Regular giving

To organise online giving, please contact your bank and provide the following information.

Heathcote-Mt Pleasant Anglican Parish

Westpac Bank 03-1599-0014277-00. (Please use the reference “202” and record your name for ease of accounting.)

Next week, 21  April, 10am, Easter 4

Liturgist: Alastair Wood

Intercessions: Sheelagh Wood

Organist: Janet Christie-Anderson

Reading: Alistair McKerchar

Welcomer: Sullivan family

Sides-person: Sue Stewart

Morning tea: Judy Stack and Judy Laidlaw

Cleaning: Wood Family

New Chairs for the Church

The total cost of the new chairs. $8,666.06. So far we have received donations of $3,714.44. There is still time to donate for a new chair, the cost is $173.32 a chair. Thanks for those people who have already donated generously, we have nearly met half of the cost.

Prayers

Please add to your prayers the Georgieff, Seale, Blakely, Williams, Browne and Earl families, the work of the parish in the community, the Archdeacon and the Bishop, those elected to Parliament and the political leaders in their leadership deliberations.

Mah Jong

Mah Jong is held on Wednesdays at the Church of St Mary from 1:30pm. This has finished for the term and resumes when school returns. Please contact Judy Laidlaw for more information.

Parish Directory

www.heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz

Vicar:

The Reverend Mark Sullivan, 027 475 9946, skywgn185@gmail.com

Vicar’s Warden:

Alistair McKerchar, 384 4788, mckercharai@gmail.com

People’s Warden:

Allan Stack, 027 433 3735, allan@stackelectrical.co.nz

Mt Pleasant Project Chairman:

Janet Christie-Anderson, 021 2212635, rgajca@gmail.com