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Welcome
This week in our journeying along the Way of Love we are considering BLESS, and we reflect on ways we are blessed, and how we can share that blessing.
Journeying with you,
Dion
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No Wednesday service or Bible Study
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No Wednesday Service or Online Bible Study this week (6th August) as Ministry Conference is on.
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Financial Update
St Mary half yearly (June) update
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For the first six months of this financial year (January to June) we have had a small surplus (spent less money than we received). This means we can continue to keep ministry going while we continue to find a long term solution. Thank you for your continued giving and support during this uncertain time.
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Hospitality
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Vestry are exploring opening St Mary by the Sea open for hospitality on a day during the week for the community, and those who are lonely. Would you be interested in this? Please fill our 3 question, 1 minute survey below.
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Diocese of Auckland Consolidated Accounts
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The consolidated general purpose financial report for the Diocese of Auckland Group for the year ending 31 December 2024 has now been audited and filed with Charities Services. You can review it on the Charities Services website or on the link below. The Diocese has included a Q&A sheet which is also included here for you. We are not required to formally adopt these reports but they are for your information.
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COMMUNING WITH GOD AND THE IMPACTS ON WELLBEING.
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Do you have a daily practice of stillness, silence and wordless communion with God?
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Are you a 35-65-year-old male Christian contemplative who has had previous experience with some form of psychological distress?
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Want to share your unique story?
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I am conducting a postgraduate study on the experiences of male Christian contemplatives, situated within a Protestant Christian community, and how they find relief from psychological distress through contemplative prayer. Participation involves 1-2 hours interview over Zoom and approx 30 mins to review your transcript.
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This project has been reviewed and approved by the Massey University Human Ethics Ohu Matatika 3, Application OM3 25/26. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research, please contact the Chairperson, Massey University Human Ethics Ohu Matatika 3, email humanethics3@massey.ac.nz
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Re-planting proposal
29th June 205
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.
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8th June 2025
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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.
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Keep the Date. Age Concern meeting.
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September 4th in the morning we will be hosting a presentation by Age Concern a the Church. More details will follow but advising you now of the date.
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Food bank.
Thank you
Thank you for packing up some supply bags last Sunday. These were very useful when I had an urgent request for food support this week.
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The local schools have really stepped up and come to our aid with can drives this term. We are blessed to have such great neighbours in the community. All supplies that are beyond what we can effectively use in a reasonable time-frame we donate on to the Good Works Trust and the Shore Winter Food Drive in the schools name. The Shore Winter Food Drive is a Auckland Church initiative to redistribute food drive resources amongst food local food banks. Whilst it is reassuring to know that we have food to be able to operate our food bank we know that these precious gifts only do good when they are in the kitchens and stomachs of those in need in our community and so aiding with there distribution and getting where they are needed as quickly as possible is important.
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This week the food bank is looking for donations of :-UHT milk and cardboard boxes,(see below).
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Urgent. Cardboard boxes needed
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If you have the Hello Fresh / Farm Fresh grocery delivery boxes stored at home please can you donate these to the church. Rangitoto College need a huge number of boxes to collect their donations in. These boxes need to be the strong clean grocery delivery type only. Sorry but small or odd sized boxes make the job harder. We need to have about 100 boxes ready for the school so if you have even 1 or 2 of the grocery delivery style boxes please bring these to church on Sunday.
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Please flat pack the box by cutting the tape at the base, not peeling it off. Boxes to be left flat packed under the small table by the vestry door please.
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I am looking for volunteers.
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Any able bodied person able to offer a few hours to help sort and stack in the evening on the 18th August. Please note the date change now Monday 18th.
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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.
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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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Homelessness on the North Shore
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It seems that every day there is a new newspaper article on homelessness and it is a sad fact that the North Shore is not immune in this disturbing trend. This week Auckland Community Committee met to discuss this with a particular focus on homeless women. Please consider adding to your prayers this week, those that do not have a safe place to call home.
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As winter settles in, many families face impossible choices – keeping warm or putting food on the table, providing basic necessities or simply making it through another day. No one should have to choose between comfort and survival.
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That’s why the Whakamahana to Kāinga – Winter Appeal is more than just a collection drive – it’s about love, dignity, and reminding every whānau that they are not alone. You can make a donation on the link below.
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Community Shop.
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Our Community Shop took just under $10,500 in June. Expenses have to be taken form this.
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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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Panui Magazine.
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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/.
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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
If you interested in being part of the St Mary by the Sea community garden? The AGM for the Community Garden is on the 10th August. For more information, see the information on the Welcome Desk, or talk to Dianne Denman, or Nanette 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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Celebrations
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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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Online Bible Study - Wednesday 11am
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Wednesday Service
Midweek service - Ruatara Chapel Vaughan Park
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Wednesday 10am- Informal Communion
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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.
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Meeting ID: 835 3674 1895
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Online Worship - Sunday 10am
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Readings
Collect
God of all the earth, you have given us the heritage of this good and fertile land; grant that we may so respect and use it that others may thank us for what we leave to them; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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:
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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