|
please join us for a Christmas service:
|
- Christmas Eve:
5:30pm online,
5:30pm Christingle,
9pm Carols and Communion
- Christmas Day: 9am Intergenerational Communion
Please note our Christmas services below, and that we move to only one 9am Service on a Sunday after Christmas until February.
|
|
Journeying with you, Dion.
|
|
|
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve, 24th December 5:30 pm
All Age Service including pizza and making a Christingle.
RSVP 021 137 8624
|
Christmas Eve, 24th December 9:00 pm
|
Carols by Candlelight with holy communion
|
Christmas Day, 25th December 9am
|
All Age Service with holy communion
|
|
What do you fear?
Good news is louder than fear
|
The Christmas season can be filled with saccharine images of Mary, meek and mild, with a quiet, sleepy Jesus in her arms. But the host of angels shouts to the skies, “Glory to God in the highest!” What would it look like for us to proclaim the good news loudly, with overflowing joy? In a world that weaponizes fear, where algorithms decide what gets weight, what gets circulated, and what takes up space, let us be disruptive with our joy. Let us be loud and unruly, amplifying the good news like the shepherds running into the streets of Bethlehem. In a world where good news never feels loud enough to drown out fear, let us shout with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace!”
|
|
Merry Christmas and Seasons Blessings
|
Vestry and the Leadership team at St Mary by the Sea would like to wish you all a blessed Christmas Season and peace in the New Year.
|
|
Re-planting proposal
21st December
|
We have had written confirmation from Diocesan Council approving our re-planting. We have had verbal approval from the General Trust Board and now await written confirmation from the GTB to the Diocesan Manager. In the new year vestry will start to work on a plan to bring about the re-planting.
|
4th December
|
Vestry have received notification that our business case is on the agenda to be considered by the General Trust Board on Friday 12th December.
|
14th November
|
Diocesan Council did not consider our proposal. We do not know when it will be considered, and we have yet to hear back about the further 5 funding options for purchase.
|
30th October
|
Vestry have provided Diocesan Council with the requested Business Case, with greater detail. Diocesan Council are scheduled to consider that lease proposal this week. Vestry have yet to hear back about the further 5 funding options for purchase.
|
5th October
|
Vestry have heard that the Bishop's proposal from June can't go any further. Vestry have yet to hear back about the further 5 funding options for purchase, and are working on another proposal for the lease of a building.
|
21st August 2025
|
We have heard, that the 5 further funding options have not been considered by Diocesan Council yet. We are hopeful that they may consider them at their September meeting.
|
15th August 2025
This week vestry wrote to Diocesan Council and the Bishop, to test 5 more funding options for replanting.
|
|
Vestry also received notification that we will be able to have a meeting to pursue the Bishop's option in September. We are hopeful that we will know by the end of September, or early October whether this option is a possible way forward for our re-planting.
|
5 August 2025
|
Vestry have heard from Bishop Ross, about his initial investigation. Vestry are unable to share at this stage what this is. There is no current time-frame for when this investigation can be made known. In the interim, vestry continue to explore alternative options.
|
29th June 2025
On Thursday 26th of June, Bishop Ross and Sonia Maugham (the Diocesan manager) and Paul Woodfield from Diocesan Council, met with Dion, Mark and Trevor to give feedback on our proposal. Because we can't do this project with the resources available to St Mary by the Sea, Bishop Ross is investigating whether there are other resources that may be available to us. This will take sometime, and we wait to hear back what possibilities may be available to us.
|
8th June 2025
|
The Bishop has sent a letter expressing the support of the Diocesan Council for the vision of the Parish. However, they have indicated that the site at 65 Clyde Road is unfortunately not financially viable for either purchase or lease. The Diocesan Council would like to see the business case continue to develop and are interested in fostering collaborations that could provide the resources necessary to secure a future for the project. Our next step at St Mary by the Sea, is to wait and see where things go with Diocesan Council as they meet with vestry. Vestry will then bring to the parish for consideration the Diocesan Council plans.
|
|
Holiday time services
Sunday 28th December 9am
|
What do you fear? Let fear fuel a fire for justice. The Holy family flees to Egypt, then returns to Galilee once it’s safe.
|
Sunday 4th January 9am
|
What do you fear? Fear doesn't stop us fear doesn't stop us. The magi visit Christ; Herod responds with the massacre of the innocents.
|
Sunday 11th January 9am
Sunday 18th January 9am
Isa 49:1-7
1 Cor 1:1-9
John 1:29-42
|
Sunday 25th January 9am
|
Back to school and study Sunday, where teachers and students are commisioned for the new academic year.
|
Isa 9:1-4
Ps 27:1,4-12
1 Cor 1:10-18
Matt 4:12-23
|
Sunday 1st February 8am and 10am
|
The first Sunday we are back to two services
|
|
Board Games Night - On hold
|
Board games night is on hold over the Christmas period. Details of a restart date will follow.
|
|
|
|
Food bank.
Please can we have donations of Christmas treats, wraps, coffee, toilet rolls, jam, men's roll-on deodorant .
|
It has been a very busy week for the food bank as other food banks start to close for the Christmas break. We have provided support to feed 15 people over 3 families this week. Our food bank remains open December / January period when many other support services are closed. Our food bank is closed only Christmas and New Year weeks 22nd December to 4th January. If you or someone you know is in need of food support please email the church office on the email below.
|
|
If you, or someone you know is in need of a little extra support at this time via a food parcel please let Dion or the church office know. We can, by arrangement deliver the box if needed. All referrals are confidential. Referrals for food support can be made to the church office via email or telephone message at any time.
|
|
If you know someone who is struggling to provide themself or their family with food at this time of year please reach out to them to discuss a referral to our food bank. The simple question of 'Can I help?' to start the conversation is often all that is needed.
|
|
Community Shop.
A celebration lunch was held at St Marys to say thank you to all our wonderful shop volunteers. 32 of our volunteers attended. There was a delicious meal of ham, salads, pizza and rolls followed by ice-cream and various. The atmosphere was really good; we have a fantastic mix of volunteers. Thank you to everyone who came and to the folks who catered and organised the event.
|
|
Shop hours:- Last day open for 2024 December 24th
|
|
re-open Monday 5th January
|
|
If you are interested in going on the Community shop roster please contact Fay on weatherlyfay@gmail.com
|
|
Panui Magazine.
|
The Diocesan office sends out a biweekly newsletter with news and events from around the Diocese and beyond. We encourage all vestry members to subscribe, however anyone is welcome to sign up. Subscribe to PĀNUI for all the latest news and share this link to all your members https://aucklandanglican.org.nz/news/.
|
|
|
|
Anglican Magazine Now On-line
|
As part of the continued commitment to improve sustainability across the diocese the Anglican Magazine has moved to on-line only. You can access and read this magazine by the link below. Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
Community Garden
|
Word for Today and Our Daily Bread
|
Both of these can be collected from the Community Shop when paper copies are available.
|
|
Celebrations
|
Happy birthday to Caitlin Blundell who turns 18 on the 24thDecember. Many happy returns to you.
|
|
If you have a celebration that you would like to share with the congregation via the newsletter please email the church office on the email below. Please let the office know before 9am on the Tuesday before.
|
|
Wednesday Service- Returning 21st Jan 2026
Midweek service - Ruatara Chapel Vaughan Park
|
Wednesday 10am- Informal Communion
|
|
|
|
Wednesday 11am Zoom Bible Study-
Every Wednesday at 11am during school terms there is an online Bible Study. We use a process called "Dwelling in the word", and we look at the Gospel reading from the previous week. At the end, we pray for each other. Would you like more information? Please talk to Dion. Would you like to join? Please click the link below to take you to the zoom room at 10:55 for a 11:00am start on Wednesday.
|
|
Meeting ID: 835 3674 1895
|
|
|
|
Online Worship - Sunday 10am
|
|
|
Readings
Collect
|
Living God, you called your people out of Egypt and gave them the covenant; prepare our hearts to hear your call, so that we may receive with joy the gospel of your Son and be your faithful people, now and for ever. Amen.
|
|
Regular Information
Worship
|
Sunday - 8am - worship from NZ Prayer Book
|
|
Sunday - 10am - Intergenerational worship
|
|
Sunday - 10am - Online YouTube worship
|
|
Wednesday - 10am - informal worship from NZ Prayer Book.
|
Praying for Others
|
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.
|
Donations
Online
Vestry would like to encourage you to give to support our ministry. Giving and donations can be made to:
PARISH OF ST MARY BY THE SEA TORBAY
BNZ Browns Bay 02-0120-0047903-003
Please reference your donation with your surname or giving number.
|
EFTPOS
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. If you do not require your donation added to your tax receipt please write "NO TAX" on the receipt.
|
Feedback
|
Have some feedback? Feel free to email dion@stmary.co.nz
|
Subscribing
St Mary by the Sea is a safe space
|
Abuse and Harassment are NEVER okay. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. If you experience or witness bullying, harassment, discrimination, abuse or any inappropriate behavior, the RIPPLES PROJECT can help you. 0800 627 021. The Ripples service is available 9am-5pm and is free and confidential.
|
Contacts
Office
Debbie Rhodes, 09 4738180 office@stmary.co.nz
Church office open Tue to Thur 10am-2pm.
|
Vicar
|
Rev’d Dion Blundell, Office:09 4738183 Mb:021 1378624 Hm:09 4732270
|
Curate
Rev'd Kate Shrigley 021 396 888 kate@stmary.nz
|
Priest Assistant
|
Rev’d Jay Smith, 021 1045914 jay@stmary.co.nz
|
Wardens
Connie Strong, 027 350 0548, vicarswarden@stmary.co.nz
Mark Van der ham, 021 2711207 peopleswarden@stmary.co.nz
|
Synod Representatives
|
Mark Van der ham, 021 2711207 peopleswarden@stmary.co.nz
|
|
Connie Strong, connie1057@gmail.com
|
Vestry Secretary
Privacy Officer
Health and Safety Officer
|
Mark Van der ham, v_d_ham@yahoo.co.nz
|
Vestry Members
|
Chris Waddingham, waddinghamchris@gmail.com
|
St Mary by the Sea
PO Box 89-082, Torbay, Auckland, 0742
168 Deep Creek Rd, Torbay, Auckland, 0630
|
|
Thanks for reading. See you soon!
|
|
The St Mary by the Sea Team
|
|
|
|
     
|
|
|
|
|
|
