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We are in Spring now and the wind howls outside at times. The Hebrew word used for the Spirit that God breathed into Creation, that hovered over the void is RUACH. It is said with roar from the depths of your gut. The Spirit breathed into creation in Hebrew tradition isn't timid, meek and gentle, rather it is the life force howling around. And there are hints at this in the Acts of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit roared into the upper room.
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I have never come up with an answer as to why the Spirit seems most of the time to be like a gentle breeze, and yet at others times roars like a jet. Yet, I think it is fair to say that there are two quite different and distinct ways we see the same Spirit working. And this Spirit literally gives us the life force as we breathe in what God breathed into creation.
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Today as we celebrate the sky, we remember the different ways God's Spirit works within, with and for us. God's Spirit is all around us; where there is breath, where there is wind, there is God's Spirit. At times the wind is a tremendous force blowing so strongly that we are literally blown off of our feet. And in others ways the wind, the sky and atmosphere are very fragile, and we can pollute and harm it in microscopic ways, and not be fully aware of the damage we are causing.
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May we together make sure we care for the Spirit that God has breathed into Creation, because it is that same Spirit that guides us and gives us life.
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Journeying with you, Dion
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Season of Creation.
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We are entering into Season of Creation where we explore our relationship with the created world and God.
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During this season we are doing a daily social media post to invite you to engage deeper in the season. This week there is a colouring activity so if you would like to download this one from Illustrated Ministry, you are welcome.
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Food bank Update
The food bank has been given the most amazing donation from Rangitoto College. Rangitoto College held a food drive for our benefit and we give thanks for these blessings and the resources they donated.
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Whilst the Rangitoto food drive restocked a lot of our stores there are still some items that we struggled to adequate supplies of. We would still like donations of the following:- Spreads for on toast in sandwiches, regular tampons, 1 kg bags of rice, canned meat (not fish please).
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If you are able to add an extra to your weekly shop for donation this would be greatly received. Thank you for your continued support of this mission.
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We have recently been blessed with a grant that allows us to support families by helping them purchase their first shop from the Community Supermarket run by the Good Works Trust. We still have a small amount of this funding left.
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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. These messages are checked regularly and a reply can be expected within 48 hours. 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.
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Grapevine Magazine
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Issue 2 of the grapevine magazine is available in church and at the Community Shop. This is a family based magazine and well worth a look.
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Space :- Parenting Space group
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Starting Feb 12th at St Mary by the Sea. This group is for parents / carers of babies born September 2023 - Feb 2024. To register and for more details see the link below.
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In June we gratefully received another grant from the General Trust to help support this mission.
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Community Shop.
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Now is a great time to go and update your winter wardrobe.
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Our Community shop is now open on Mondays, if you are able to help volunteer in the shop please contact Fay on weatherlyfay@gmail.com
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With our Monday trading still going well now is the time to grab those end of season bargains or start with your new spring wardrobe.
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In August the Community shop took just over $10,400 expenses need to be taken from this. We thank everyone for their continues support of this mission.
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Behind the Scenes at the Community Shop.
I thought would write and tell you just one of the activities the Community shop does behind the scenes of being a retail Op-shop
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God puts opportunities in our way.
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Through a series of casual conversations, the Community shop has developed a contact with a Plunket nurse in Tamumarunui and with another person who visits that area regularly. Our Community shop has a good supply of children’s clothing and sometimes more than we can reasonably hold so this extra is collected together and makes its way via this network to Tamumarunui. We recently had a thank you letter from the Plunket team there letting us know that from there some of the clothing makes its way to other South Waikato teams where it is put to good use. A clothing library for small children has developed which the local fire service, ambulance, Oranga Tamariki and the hospital can access in case they need emergency clothing.
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The sphere of influence from our Community Shop is wide. We give thanks to God for all our volunteers and the community support that makes all this possible and for the opportunities that come our way.
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Anglican Magazine Now On-line
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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!
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Community Garden
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Celebration
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Happy Birthday to Daniel Blundell for the 20th September and to Angela Blundell for the 21st September. many happy returns to you both.
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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.
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Our Daily Bread
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June-Aug now available in church and at our shop.
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Word for Today and Our Daily Bread
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Both of these can be collected from the Community Shop when paper copies are available.
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Wednesday Service and Bible Study Groups.
Midweek service
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Wednesday 10am- Informal Communion at St Mary by the Sea.
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Wednesday Zoom Bible Study
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Meeting ID: 835 3674 1895
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To phone in, call 09 884 6780 and when prompted, enter the Meeting ID: 835 3674 1895. You will then be asked for the passcode which is: 488974
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Online Worship - Sunday 10am
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Scripture
8th September
Collect
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God, our Creator, as we look into the skies we celebrate the wonders of the worlds that surround us. Help us to see your presence in the evening sky, your spirit in the wind, your mercy in the falling rain. Teach us to hear the good news from the sky celebrating the glory of God in Earth. Rejoice with us as we behold the dawn revealing the mysteries of the skies above and Earth below. In the name of Christ who unites heaven and Earth. Amen.
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Regular Information
Worship
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Sunday - 8am - worship from NZ Prayer Book
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Sunday - 10am - Intergenerational worship
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Sunday - 10am - Online YouTube worship
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Wednesday - 10am - informal worship from NZ Prayer Book.
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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
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.
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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
St Mary by the Sea is a safe space
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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.
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Contacts
Office
Debbie Rhodes, 09 4738180 office@stmary.co.nz
Church office open Tue to Thur 10am-2pm.
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Vicar
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Rev’d Dion Blundell, Office:09 4738183 Mb:021 1378624 Hm:09 4732270
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Priest Assistant
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Rev’d Jay Smith, 021 1045914 jay@stmary.co.nz
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Wardens
Connie Strong, 027 350 0548, vicarswarden@stmary.co.nz
Mark Van der ham, 021 2711207 peopleswarden@stmary.co.nz
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Synod Representatives
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Auriel Andrews auriel@kinect.co.nz
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Connie Strong, connie1057@gmail.com
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Vestry Secretary
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Susan Haslam, 09 4150073 vestrysecretary@stmary.co.nz
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Privacy Officer
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Auriel Andrews, auriel@kinect.co.nz
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Health and Safety Officer
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Mark Van der ham, v_d_ham@yahoo.co.nz
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Vestry Members
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Chris Waddingham, waddinghamchris@gmail.com
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Emmanuel Mosiane, trupzala@gmail.com
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Jenny Cheer, jmcheer@xtra.co.nz
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Kerry Jonas, kerryandrobinj@gmail.com
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Steve Dale, drumstick3000@gmail.com
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Susan Haslam, ejhaslam@xtra.co.nz
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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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