Sunday 29 May
Order of the Eucharist
This is the day which the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Opening Hymn: 42: Holy Holy Holy
Sentence: Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Collect: Holy Spirit of God, as of fire, forging, purging, all-consuming: touch us with love, purge us from the dross of sin and self, so that we may tell your glory in the furnace of the world. With the Father and the Son, you live and reign, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Gen 11:1-9 read by Janet Christie-Anderson
Gradual Hymn: 194: Stand up, stand up for Jesus
Gospel: John 14:8-17, (25-27)
Prayers: led by Olive Gray
Offertory Hymn: 53: Crown Him with Many Crowns
Communion Hymn:
Final Hymn: 145: O Worship the King
Dismissal
Go now to love and serve the lord, Go in peace!
Amen, we go in the name of the Lord.
Parish Directory
Vicar:
The Reverend Mark Sullivan
027 475 9946
vicar@heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz
Vicar’s Warden:
Alistair McKerchar
384 4788
mckercharai@gmail.com
People’s Warden:
Allan Stack
027 433 3735
allan@stackelectrical.co.nz
Duties for 5 June
(Church of St Mary)
Liturgist Sheelagh Wood
Intercessions: Alastair Wood
Organist: Janet Christie-Anderson
Reading Judy Breach
Welcomer: Judy Breach
Sidesperson: Vicki Brinkman
Morning Tea: Pauline Smith/Hayley Wylie
Cleaning: Jenny Steele
Please arrange a replacement if you are unavailable as rostered.
The Vicar Writes
Welcome to worship today, especially any visitors. Please join us for refreshments in the Parish Centre.
I have been a little bit naughty and have transferred Pentecost a couple of weeks early. I am away this weekend and Vanda will be preaching. Vanda was originally scheduled to preached on the normal Day of Pentecost, but agreed to preach in my stead a couple of weeks early. Anyway, we once again welcome the parish liturgy team amongst us to take today’s service.
Pentecost is often referred to as the birthday of the Church. God sent his Spirit to the Disciples who were gathered together. The Spirit was represented as a tongue of flame which had fixed itself to the heads of those who were gathered.
Caught unaware, the Disciples began speaking in other languages. When they left the house, those around them thought that they were drunk due to their strange speaking. This was indicative of God’s hope that the message of Jesus Christ might be spread amongst all nations of the world. Hence the Great Commission of Jesus (to make Disciples of the whole world) was confirmed!
I remember the time I was first introduced to the idea of tongues. I had never really understood the meaning of the term “God’s gift of the Holy Spirit”. I remember finding the whole matter quite intriguing.
The Anglican Church does not encourage the speaking in tongues in public unless the communicator can clearly provide an interpretation of their words. I have never heard anyone speak in tongues, nor do I actually know anyone that can. Some people I know boast that they can, but whenever I have heard them, mainly at services of other denominations, I’m not sure of what is happening. Initially I found it quite unsettling.
Although some say that speaking in tongues is something of a succession rite, I am not sure that this is so, certainly it is not backed up biblically. I have an aunt who doubts my spiritually because I can’t speak as expertly as she can. But, I think this is an unfair criticism. Who has the right to comment upon the spirituality of any individual, certainly in such a personal matter?
The Holy Spirit is God working in the world. He comes amongst us in so many ways and is such a mysterious member of the Trinity that theologians are confounded in their attempts to fully describe his influence upon the world.
When it comes to the Holy Spirit, I plead a certain helplessness in my attempts to truly account for his presence. But then, this is characteristic of so many things that we read in the Bible, especially in the Gospels and the Epistles of St Paul.
For those of us who love God, confining the work of the Spirit in our lives to speaking in tongues, only serves to install him into a box that we can pull out at certain times of our life in Christ. And if that should be the case, in essence, it shows how truly misleading ones appreciation of the Holy Spirit might actually be.
Sue and I wish you all the best for the week ahead.
Notices and Events
Next Sunday: 5th June at 10 a.m.
The Church of St Mary, Heathcote
Swim Group Tues, Wed and Thurs mornings 8:00am
We meet at Aquagym in Cashel St. Everyone is welcome to join in. Please contact the team Captain Viki Brinkman for more information (0210698084).
Café Crawl, 10:30am on Tuesdays
This week we meet at The Good Habit, St Asaph St. (Former Community of the Sacred name.) We hope to see you there. Please contact Jill for any information or queries (02102928231).
Bible Study Thursdays at 4pm
We meet in the supper room at the Church of St Mary. This week we are looking at the readings for the week and constructing a sermon
Evensong Thursdays at 5pm
Please join us for this ancient and meaningful sung service. The peaceful and traditional atmosphere of the Church of St Mary, lends itself to this special liturgy
Pub Dinner
We meet at the Valley Inn for dinner from 6pm or after Evensong. This provides a great opportunity for mission and outreach with locals in the Heathcote community. Everyone is welcome.
Smiling Cyclists 2nd & 4th Thursdays
We meet at 9:30am for our morning ride. Please keep an eye on the newsletter for more information and contact Mark if you wish to join us.
Right Royal Occasion
Well done, this is sold out!!
Regular giving
To make your tithes and offerings by automatic payments, the parish bank account details are as follows:
Heathcote-Mt Pleasant Anglican Parish
Westpac Bank
03-1599-0014277-00. (Reference: “202”.)
Automatic Payment forms are available from Pat Owen.