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please join us at 9am onsite, or 10am online, as we remember the Good News of the Birth of Jesus.
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You'll find a Christmas message from the Archbishops' below too.
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Journeying with you, Dion
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First Sunday After Christmas
Words for the beginning
Don't forget to laugh
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The birth of Christ brings good news of great joy to all people, which is cause for celebration. On this Sunday after Christmas, we encourage you to be playful, to not take yourself too seriously, to laugh. For laughter is like hope—it has a ripple effect. It’s one of many ways we live and share the good news.
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Peace in the New Year.
Dion and family and all of the leadership team at St Mary by the Sea would like to wish all at St Mary by the Sea peace in this new year. As we journey into the New Year we wish everyone a safe and blessed 2025.
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Thank you to everyone for all your support of this Parish over the last year. Have a safe and happy holidays.
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Standing up for Te Tiriti at Christmas
Archbishops share Christmas hope
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The Archbishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia have shared words of hope for the Church and the world this Christmas.
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Archbishop Don Tamihere | Archbishop Justin Duckworth | Archbishop Sione Ulu'ilakepa | 20 Dec 2024
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The Archbishops’ 2024 Christmas Message
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"Sa Nona na Kalou na vakarokoroko ena veiyasana e cake sara, me veivinakati o vuravura vei ira sa lomana o koya!
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स्वर्गमें परमेश्वर की जय हो और धरती पर उन लोगों को शांति मिले जिनसे वह प्रसन्न है।”
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“Ko e kolōlia ki he ‘Otua ‘i langi taupotu, pea ko e melino ki māmani, ki he kakai kuo hōifua ki ai.
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“O le viiga i le Atua i mea aupitoaluga; ma le manuia i le lalolagi; o le finagalo alofa i tagata.
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“Kia whai korōria te Atua i runga rawa, kia mau te rongo ki runga ki te whenua, me te whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata.
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“Glory to God in the highest, peace to all the earth, and goodwill toward all people!”
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Luke 2:14, The song of the angels.
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At the heart of the story of the birth of Jesus lies a simple message. That message is hope.
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Hope is often misunderstood. Some think of it as mere optimism, or luck, or wishful thinking. We say “we hope so” when really, we have no idea if things will work out at all.
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That’s not the kind of hope that we see in this story.
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The birth of Jesus was an answer to prayer, but not the whole answer immediately. Jesus was not born an adult Saviour. He was born a helpless child. Jesus was an infant that needed to be fed and clothed, and nurtured and raised.
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God showed them what hope was all about: the people prayed for a mighty tree, and God replied by giving them a tiny seed.
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Hope, real hope, is about taking what blessings you have today and growing them. It takes courage to hope, because hope requires action. It requires us to stand up for what we hope for, and to do the work to make it real.
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Hope looks towards tomorrow. The birth of Jesus, like the birth of any of our beloved children, had the profound effect of reorienting his whānau and his people towards the future. His birth reminded them that they had a future.
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Hope changes the way we think. When we hope we believe.
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This year, in Aotearoa New Zealand, Oceania, and around the world, we see what others call ‘the lethal absence of hope.’ We see war and genocide, storm and famine, and people suffering on a scale like never before.
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We need hope now more than ever.
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We can find that hope in the story of Jesus and in each other. We find hope when we love our neighbour, to stand up for justice and for what is right, and to remind each other that tomorrow is worth fighting for.
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We hīkoi to Parliament because we hope. We stand up for Te Tiriti and all that it promises to be, because we hope. We give to our neighbours in their time of need because we hope.
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We hope for a world where culture and diversity are honoured, where women and children are safe, where human lives are held sacred, and minorities are protected and uplifted. As stewards of God’s creation, we hope for a world that cares more for this gift God has given to us: our world.
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We speak out against war crimes in the Ukraine, in Gaza, and elsewhere in the world, because we hope. We hope for peace, and for a world where war will be waged no more.
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We have much more work to do.
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This Christmas season we pray that you will find the hope that you and your whānau need. More than that, we pray that like the Christ-child you can help turn the faces of your whānau and community towards a better world and a better future. We pray that you inspire hope in each other. We pray that you could even be the hope that your neighbours need.
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Kia tau te ia o te wā Kirihimete ki a koutou. May the blessings of Christmas be made real in your lives.
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Archbishop Justin Duckworth
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Archbishop Sione Ulu’ilakepa
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Food bank.
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St Mary by the Sea food bank remains open for donations and for the provision of food support during this holiday period.
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Items that are always in need for donations include :-long life milk, powered milk small size bags, tea bags, toilet rolls, sun screen, canned ham/ chicken / beef, (not fish), canned potatoes, canned peas, canned mushrooms.
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Thank you for your continued support of this mission.
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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 Mondays and Fridays.
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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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Community Shop.
The shop will close Christmas eve afternoon and reopen 3rd January. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for all your hard work and dedication.
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If you are interested in going on the Community shop roster please contact Fay on weatherlyfay@gmail.com
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If you are having a clear out during the holidays please think carefully about whether your item is suitable to donate. Donations should NOT be left out side the shop, please wait until the shop is open for donations again.
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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
St Mary by the Sea garden group are holding an open day on the 8th February when they will show their gardens, have composting demonstrations and other interesting talks. All are welcome.
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Celebration
Happy Birthday to Carol Henry and Susan Haslam for the 1st January. 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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Church Office hours
The school holidays are now here and I am working restricted hours and remotely for most of this time, I return to on site office hours 29th January.
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If you need the church office please email or phone and leave a message and these will be pick up and responded to as soon as possible. If you need urgent access to the church please contact the wardens on the contacts below.
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Please note that no emails will be responded to between 23rd December and 3rd January.
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Our Daily Bread
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Available in our shop and on the credenza as supply allows
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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. On break now until Feb
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Wednesday 10am- Informal Communion at St Mary by the Sea.
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Wednesday Zoom Bible Study. On break now until Feb
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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
29th December
1 Sam 2:18-20, 26
Col 3:12-17
Luke 2:41-52
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Collect
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Jesus, your ways are not our ways. You are the Jewish boy, you are the questioning child the parents lost. Make us willing to listen and humble in what we believe is right. Hear this prayer for your love’s sake. Amen
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Banking requirements New Zealand.
New Zealand banks have introduced Confirmation of Payee. This means that when you are using banking apps or internet banking for one-off payments, amending an existing payment or AP or setting up a new payment you will be asked to confirm the account holders name and account number if they differ from those held by the bank.
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For us at St Marys by the Sea this means that new payments will need to be made to our full Charity Register name as below and not the abbreviated St Mary by the Sea commonly used before.
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PARISH OF ST MARY BY THE SEA TORBAY
BNZ Browns Bay 02-0120-0047903-003
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This change does not effect existing arranged AP's unless you amend them in some way.
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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:
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.
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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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Curate
Rev'd Kate Shrigley 021 396 888 kate@stmary.nz
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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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Mark Van der ham, 021 2711207 peopleswarden@stmary.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
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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Jenny Cheer, jmcheer@xtra.co.nz
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Kerry Jonas, kerryandrobinj@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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