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this week we began our six week lent journey towards the cross and resurrection for the year. We joined together for pancakes and the imposition of ashes.
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St Mary by the Sea and Vaughan Park are working closer together. And it was great to be together on Ash Wednesday as the next step on our journey together was to offer a 10am Wednesday morning service at Vaughan Park. For now I will offer this service at Vaughan Park, and next year Kate will offer this.
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Please consider collecting a lent resource from church, or using our online reflections on Facebook and Instagram.
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Journeying with you, Dion
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Everything in between
A lenten series in Luke's Gospel
“stranger & neighbor” – THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT
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Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) This parable begins and ends with the question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the answer is, surprisingly, “the stranger.” The Samaritan, whose place of worship and customs are different from the scribe who questions Jesus, is both a stranger and a neighbor to the man who was beaten and left in a ditch. In our world, many of our physical neighbors are strangers to us, and many of our neighbors—those closest to us—feel like strangers in divisive political climates. If we align our intentions and actions, then maybe we need to reconsider who we consider “stranger,” and ask ourselves if we have acted as good neighbors.
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Lent Resources
This year to reduce waste, we will be printing out Lent resources on request. Please email dion@stmary.co.nz to fill the form in to let us know what resources you would like:
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- Devotional booklet
- All Age content calendar
- Devotional cards
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We're also posting a devotional thought each day to FaceBook and Instagram, so follow us there for content too.
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Combined Good Friday Service
Northcross Community Church
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A combined Christian service will be offered at Northcross Community Church, on Good Friday 18th April at 10am.
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City Mission BIG mission Home
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How is your New Year resolution going? Did you make one? What was yours? Are you finding it hard to keep the motivation? If your resolution was to get fit, exercise more, give more to Charity why not consider doing the City Mission BIG MISSION HOME. A great walk in aid of the City Mission which can be completed as part of a large event on the 22nd March or as an individual/ small group any date in March. See the link below for more details
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Donation Receipts. Action required this week.
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In preparation for the Donation Tax receipts, if any of your information has changed in the last 18 months or if you have experienced difficulties in receiving your Tax receipt in previous years please email the church office to confirm your Name, Address, and the Email address you want your receipt to go to. If you are in doubt whether this applies to you please email the church office with this information anyway. Tax receipts will be emailed out where possible to save resources and for speed, the postal system is slow. Please ensure we have an email address that you re happy to receive this information at.
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Please email any changes to office@stmary.co.nz with TAX in the subject line.
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World Day of Prayer Friday 7th March
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You are invited to join in a Service by the World Day of Prayer Committee of the Cook Islands at Mairangi Bay Presbyterian Church 10 Penzance Rd at 7pm.
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Quiet Days in Lent at Vaughan Park
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Join us for a series of five reflective mornings in Lent at Vaughan Park Tuesdays, 10.00am -12.30 p.m. Our mornings will include biblical reflection, reflection on an image, personal quiet time and concluding prayer in the Ruatara Chapel. Please come with what you need to be comfortable: a bible, your own cushion, reading glasses, writing pens. You will be provided with a printed resource with room for your own prayerful reflection, however if you have a spiritual journal of some sort you may find it helpful to bring it. Morning tea is included.
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To register: reception@vaughanpark.org.nz
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Cost: $70 per morning or $300 for all 5 weeks
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NB Lunch is available as a separate booking direct with Vaughan Park ($28)
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These mornings are limited to a maximum of 12 – registration essential
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Tuesday March 18 Walking in the Wilderness
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Tuesday March 25 Generous Annointing
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Tuesday April 1 Action with Integrity
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Tuesday April 8 Prayer in Lonely Places
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Tuesday April 15 (Holy Week) Gathering under the Wings
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Food bank. Up-date
Many thanks to everyone for your continued support of this mission. Another busy week. This week we have supplied 2 food support boxes and directed a family to Good works Trust The level of need in the East Coast bays remains high and we are now starting to run low on some of the donated resources from our Rangitoto College collection.
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We are now OUT OF STOCK of Bread wraps, Long life cows milk, Maggi noodle packs, female deodorant (no spray cans please), canned rice pudding, shampoo, conditioner and Hot Chocolate.
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Please help if your budget allows.
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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 year has started well at the shop. Sales are carrying on at strength, sometimes with queues of customers at the till. This week the shop has been trialing "fill a bag sales' with good results.
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We also have bumper amount of donations coming in. Our volunteers are struggling to cope with this because we do not have space to put it all either in the shop or in our storage area.
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If you have items to contribute or you know someone who does, please consider keeping them at home for the moment.
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We can cope with Ladies' Summer Tops but most other items, please put on hold.
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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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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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Bokashi Workshop 12th March
Following on from the Compost Workshop at the Community Garden on
February 8th, you are invited to attend the worthwhile and very informative Bokashi workshop on Wednesday 12th March, 6.30-7.30pm. How
to process meat, bones, fish heads, left over cat food etc to useful
material for your garden that does not need to go to landfill.
Please pass the word around - tell your friends, family and neighbours.
Below is the registration to attend:
https://compostcollective.org.nz/events/diy-bokashi-workshop-torbay/
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Earth Hour 22nd March
8:30pm-9:30pm New Zealand
Earth Hour is a global movement organised by the WWF and takes place this year from 8:30pm-9:30pm on Saturday 22 March in New Zealand. Check out the links below or google Earth Hour 2025 to see how small actions can change a planet. The climate and nature crises are some of the greatest challenges humanity has ever faced.
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Celebration
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Happy Birthday to Margaret Rocard and Trevor McCraken for the 14th March. Many happy returns.
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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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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 - Now at Ruatara Chapel Vaughan Park
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Wednesday 10am- Informal Communion
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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
9th March
Collect
Hear us, Jesus Christ, when we ask for help to recognise temptation,
for honesty to face it, for strength to resist it and humility to give God the glory. 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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