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Hi [subscriber:firstname],
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just a few days until Holy Week. We have a quiet space each evening this coming week at St Mary by the Sea. We have a Passover Meal on Thursday, a combined Good Friday service at 10am @Northcross Community Church, and our very own Good Friday service at 3pm. We have three Easter Day (Sunday) services at 6:30, 8 & 10am. More details are below.
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Sunday at 11.30am we will be holding our SGM to receive the unaudited consolidated accounts for St Mary by the Sea, more details are below.
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Have you ever prayed the prayer: "God give me a sign?" I know I have. And I think that most of the time it is the wrong prayer to pray. Or lets say, the answer I'm looking for, the one with fireworks and writing in the sky, isn't the one God gives. The people were wanting God to show up with fireworks, and writing in the sky. Prophets like Daniel predicted that the messiah would come walking through the sky; all would see him, the sign would be clear, the message distinct. And the messiah would come and restore the temple and Jerusalem to the people. But God didn't do that. Rather than walking through the sky, Jesus rode into Jerusalem humble, on a donkey. It wasn't the horse of war, to overthrow Jerusalem and return it. It was the humble suffering servant on a donkey. Palm Sunday reminds us to quieten down. Daniel says: "I saw what looked like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven, and he was presented to the Eternal God." But see with Jesus, that there isn't anything so showy. Rather, there is a cross, there is a giving of himself. Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12b discovers God in the: "sound of sheer silence." This requires discipline. This Holy Week, may you discover God in the quiet.
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Holy Week
Mon 29 - Thr 1 April, 5-7pm Stations of the Cross
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Come and take a moment to reflect and pray in a curated prayer space at St Mary by the Sea.
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Thursday - The Last Supper - 5:15pm
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The sign up list for the Last Supper meal is on the notice board. Please RSVP on the sign up list or by email to dion@stmary.co.nz by Wednesday 31st March so food can be brought according to numbers.
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Good Friday - 10am - Northcross Community Church
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Will be hosting an Ecumenical Good Friday Gathering. All welcome.
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Good Friday - 3pm - St Mary by the Sea
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A time together to remember Jesus' last day.
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Easter Day (Sunday) - 6:30am - Waiake Beach
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A dawn sunrise service with baptism and communion. Easter buns and drink afterwards.
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Easter Day (Sunday) - 8am - St Mary by the Sea
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Traditional communion service.
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Easter Day (Sunday) - 10am - St Mary by the Sea
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Intergenerational Easter communion service.
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Daylight savings
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On Easter Day, the clocks go back one hour.
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Again & Again
We draw on courage
John 12:1-19
On Palm Sunday, we remember that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was not a risk-free, palm party. It was a protest parade—a protest against those in power, a parade to prepare the way for a different kind of king. And this was all happening with plots to kill Lazarus (and Jesus) building in the background. We’re reminded that the crowds were brave to show up that day, and that Jesus drew on courage to face his journey to the cross. The root of courage is “cour,” meaning “heart.” Courage is deep within us; drawing on courage is both internal and external. We often find it when we most need it, when everything else has been stripped away.
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SGM for Finances - Sunday 28th March
A Special General Meeting is this Sunday 28th March, 11:30am (after the 10am service) to receive the un-audited consolidated accounts for St Mary by the Sea. The accounts are audited later in the year as part of the Diocesan Group Audit. Accounts are available via the links below and there are some hard copies at the entrance of the church.
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The purpose of this Special General Meeting (SGM) is to:
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- RECEIVE - the Annual Accounts
- CONSIDER - the Annual Accounts
- ADOPT - the Annual Accounts
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You can find links to the account lower in this news letter for your consideration prior to the meeting. This is you opportunity to have your say and ask questions. Please stay and take part in this meeting if possible.
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Lent Prayer Wall
Outside Art
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During lent we prepare to journey towards the cross and resurrection again. Our theme this year is "Again & Again." We look at how we can faithfully journey with Jesus to the cross. We have started to decorate our art display on the front lawn by the sharing shed. The plan is that over lent, each week this art changes and develops as we add prayers. On Easter day we will transform it. Here you will see an ampersand that is added to each week as we weave our prayers into it.
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Lent Study Groups
Visio Divina
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During Lent there will be an opportunity to delve into the scriptures deeper through a process called Visio Divina. During Covid 19 Level 1, there is a in-person study, Wednesday 11am at St Mary by the Sea, and online 12:30pm on zoom.
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Visio Divina, latin for “divine seeing,” is a method of meditation, reflection, and prayer through a process of intentional seeing. Visio Divina extends the 6th century Benedictine practice of Lectio Divina by the use of visual imagery. Traditionally, Visio Divina was accompanied by Benedictine iconography and illuminations, however, different faith traditions have adapted the process over time, utilizing both secular and nonsecular images. Use this lesson plan to blend visual meditation with group discussion and bible study.
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Intergenerational Study Group
Sunday 3pm St Mary by the Sea Lounge today at 3pm
Intergnerational study group will be on Sunday the 28th March in the Lounge of St Mary's 3pm.
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Please join us as we combine Scripture and movies and explore more about our transforming God. We'll have popcorn and conclude with pizza, Suitable for all ages and stages, 0 - 100.
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Online YouTube Podcast
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No Mainly Music on Good Friday
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Mainly Music runs during the school term if we are level 1. We will not meet next Friday 2nd April as this is Good Friday but we return 9th April. If you know of a local family with pre-schoolers please recommend this group to them. They meet during the school terms on Fridays in the church for a 9:30am start.
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Mainly Music - Able bodied helpers required
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Mainly Music is back for 2021. It runs school term time only on Fridays starting at 9:30am. We need volunteers to move all the chairs to the side of the church so we have an activity space for the families. If you are able to help move chairs on a Thursday, to set up, or on a Friday at about 10:30am, after the session, please call Meg Norton 473 8444.
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Performance of Stainer's Crucifixion
St Peters Anglican Church 11 Killarney St Takapuna on Sunday 28th March are having some choir and congregational choruses from Stainer's Crucifixion starting at 7:00pm.
You are all cordially invited and please can you extend the invitation.
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Community Shop
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Thank you to everyone for your ongoing support of the Community Shop.
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The Community shop will be closed for Good Friday, 2nd April and the 4th and 5th April for Easter. They will also be closed 26th April for ANZAC day observed.
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Celebrations
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Happy Birthday to Catherine Smith and to Marion Corkin both of whom celebrate their birthdays on the 1st April. Many happy returns to you both.
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If there is a celebration you would like added to our list or a one off event that you would like celebrated please let the office know. Email newsletter@stmary.co.nz
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Sunday 28th March
Theme: We draw on courage
Scriptures:
Collect:
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God of the journey. you travel with us along paths both rough and smooth; as we celebrate your Son’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem travel with us into Holy Week, that through your Holy Spirit we may witness to the depth of your passion and be ready to rise into the fullness of Easter Day. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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Community Garden
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Are you interested in being part of the St Mary by the Sea community garden? For more information, see the information on the Welcome Desk, or talk to Clayton Christie at the 8am service, or Nannette Randall at the 10am service. There is an expression of interest form here, and a brochure here. and on our website here: www.stmary.co.nz/garden
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Regular Information
Worship
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Wednesday - 10am - informal communion from NZ Prayer Book
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Sunday - 8am - formal communion from NZ Prayer Book
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Sunday - 10am - intergenerational worship with communion
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Praying for Others
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Please send names for the Sunday Prayer-List by Sunday evening to Tony Nettleton, 027 278 1450 or prayer@stmary.co.nz Names can be sent at other times as required.
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Donations
Online
Vestry would like to encourage you to give to support our ministry. Giving and donations can be made to:
St Mary by the Sea
BNZ Browns Bay 02-0120-0047903-003
Please reference your donation with your surname or giving number.
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EFTPOS
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The EFTPOS machine prints 2 receipts, the first is your copy, the second is printed by selecting MERCHANTS COPY on the screen. This second copy should always be left on the appropriate clip on the notice board. With out the second receipt it is not possible to know what the money was intended for. For Church Giving, you can either keep the first receipt or place it in the DONATION BASKET to go up to the altar for the blessing. Please write your giving number or full name on the second receipt if you want the donation added to your tax receipt.
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Feedback
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Have some feedback? Feel free to email dion@stmary.co.nz
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Subscribing
Contacts
Office
Vicar
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Rev’d Dion Blundell, Office:09 4738183 Mb:021 1378624 Hm:09 4732270
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Priest Assistant
Wardens
Synod Representatives
Vestry Secretary
Vestry Members
St Mary by the Sea
PO Box 89-082, Torbay, Auckland, 0742
168 Deep Creek Rd, Torbay, Auckland, 0630
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Thanks for reading. See you soon!
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The St Mary by the Sea Team
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