The Vicar reflects on today’s readings
The story of Jonah and the whale
The story of Jonah and the whale has been a favourite story throughout history. Many kid’s songs have been written about the event and today we are going to sing two of them.
These days we know a great deal about the larger sea mammals and with that in mind, anyone being swallowed whole and being able to live in a stomach is complete mythical.
But the story (even though it may lack factual accuracy) is about God’s saving grace.
I’m sure we have all heard accounts of people being lost at sea, to be saved by dolphins who have guided victims to safety. In New Zealand, marine mammals have been written into folk law with Pelorus Jack guiding ships through French Pass for 25 years from 1888. More latterly, Opo the Dolphin entertained families over the Opononi summer of 1956.
I’m sure that such stories and accounts colour our thinking about the biblical account of Jonah’s account of marine rescue.
But the story reminds us not only of God’s grace in saving Jonah, but serves as a reminder that when God places a call upon our lives, that call can never be overcome by human want or need.
Wherever we are or whatever we do, the God who called the Prophets of old is still acting upon us in our lives, calling, enabling and equipping us for mission tasks to come.
As God calls, so we respond. What follows is us receiving the ultimate gifts of God’s grace: the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling with us as our lives continue, and the promise of life continuing beyond this world and into eternity. All we need to say is, “Yes here I am take me!”
Sue and I wish you a great week. Mark
Notices & Events
Café Crawl - Tuesdays @ 10.30am
29 September: Mount Pleasant ComCen
6 October: In Situ, 39 Opawa Rd
13 October: 1027 Ferrymead
20 October: CoCo Black. Main Rd
27 October: Joe's Garage Sumner
Please call the Strakers for more info.
Kite Day 11 OCtober
Everyone is invited to the Vicar’s home after worship today for lunch (supplied) and kite making. The Vicar will supply kite sticks. Please RSVP with attendance numbers for catering. Please bring string paper/plastic sellotape etc and material for kite tails. There will be a prize for the best kite. It’s a great day for your grandchildren!!
Country Gospel Dessert Night 4 Oct
Please join us for this service, which will be our Church of St Mary from 7pm. All welcome, bring a friend or neighbour
Smiling Cyclists this Tuesday
Our Tuesday rides begin again now the warmer weather is here. Please meet at the church at 9am.
Valley Inn Dinner, Thursdays from 5pm
We join with locals of the community for dinner and refreshments.
Swimming
Viki is no longer looking after the parish swim group. If anyone wants to join the Vicar at 8am at Aquagym at 8:30am, on Monday Wednesday and Friday morning, all are welcome.
Liturgists, Organist, Sides-person, prayer liturgists and the welcomer
Please meet with the Vicar at 9:30am before the service each week.
Daily Prayers at home
Each week-day the Vicar produces a short prayer session complete with readings, and a short homily. These are available on the parish web site.
Tower Garden
If you wish to donate a rose to the refurbished rose garden, please see either the Judy Stack or the Vicar.
Prayers
Please add Satira, the Beatson, McLeod, Chapman, Boland, West, Dove, Hubbard, Wilson, and Hope families to your prayers
Prayer Partner
Just a brief reminder that September is prayer month. The idea is that we pray for a particular person in the parish. You may contact them personally to see if there is any special matter that might require any extra prayers. If you don’t have a “prayer partner” please see Sue Stewart.
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: 4 October Ordinary Sunday 27
Presider: The Vicar
Liturgist: Alastair Wood
Intercessions: Geraldine Bovett
Music: Sheelagh Wood
Chalice: Sue Geddes
Reading: Sue Geddes
Welcomer: Clive Straker
Sides-person: Chris Stewart
Sound: Mike Willers
Morning tea: Stack family
Cleaning: Stack family
Parish Directory
Vicar
The Reverend Mark Sullivan
027 475 9946
vicar@heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz
People’s Warden
021 149 2608
Vanda McKerchar
Vicars Warden
Alastair Wood
021 100 4175
www.heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz