JK 8.1.pub - John Knox Presbyterian Church

JK Jottings
V? @ A BC
A quarterly news sheet for John Knox
Presbyterian Church, Rangiora
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
I D D AC
AP RI L 2 0 1 5
Minister’s Desk
1
Minister’s Desk
Transformers Camp
2
This week we seem to have come to the end of our long, dry summer! The
rain will be a welcome feature for our farmers. At a time when the nation—at
least the sports fans in it—are focussed on New Zealand successes in cricket,
football, basketball, and rugby it is easy to forget we are in a season called
Lent. The Lenten season may not be the longest season in the church calendar
year but it is one of the most important. Traditionally it’s a time of spiritual
preparation for Easter through prayer, repentance, study and growth as the
death and resurrection of our Saviour comes into focus.
Women’s Groups in
JK over the Years
3
Sunday Services &
Vanuatu Appeal
4
This year I decided to spend the Lenten season in a special focus on the Grace
of God: saving, serving, giving, suffering, and speaking grace. One of the
most recognised hymns used in funeral services and other Christian
observances in New Zealand today has to be the hymn “Amazing Grace.”
The story behind it is a remarkable one. In 1736 John was 11 years old when
he becomes an apprentice on his father's slave ship. As John became a teen he
also became a scoundrel. By the time he was 17 years old even his own father
and friends could no longer tolerate him. So, they forced him into the British
Navy with hopes and expectations that maybe the Navy would straighten him
out. He abandoned the Navy, was arrested and ultimately sold to a slave trader
in Sierra Leon. He escaped that awful situation after about a year and got on a
British ship where he was given a book. As they made their way from Africa
to Britain he read this book and discovered in it a story about Jesus Christ. It
was a story about redemption and healing and hope. He didn’t give it much
thought, but he thought, "If it is true, well so be it, but it's not for me." The
next night, May 10, 1748, a violent storm hit their ship and they are almost
overwhelmed. In his desperation he seeks God. The ship survived and he more
than survives.; he comes out of that storm with a commitment to follow Jesus.
Fast forward about sixteen years and John Newton becomes an Anglican
Minister. For the Sunday evening services, he often composed a hymn which
developed the lessons and Scripture for the evening. In 1779, two hundred and
eighty of these are collected and combined with sixty-eight hymns by
Newton's, William Cowper. They are published as the Olney Hymns. One of
these hymns is "Amazing Grace."
Newton lived to be eighty-two years old and he continued to preach and have
an active ministry until his early eighties. Newton never ceased to be amazed
by God's grace and told his friends, "My memory is nearly gone; but I
remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great
Saviour."
May you enjoy the same sense of God’s goodness this Easter season.
Sue and I wish you all the blessings that come through the great grace of our
Saviour God!
Church Council
4
P MNC 2
Transformers Camp
On Friday the 13th of February, Bernard, Jennifer,
Jonathon, Raven, Rogan, and myself (Lara) went to
the Transformers Camp at Woodend Christian Camp,
to become ‘Leaders In Training.’ A total of five
different churches participated in this event from all
over the top half of the South Island. Kerridwen Russ
and Jonathan Barb were there as our leaders—assisted
by other adults including Mrs Morriss.
The camp included lots of activities based on the code
of conduct:
1.
I will follow Jesus
2.
I will put others needs first
3.
I will set a good example in all I do
4.
I will respect myself and others
5.
I will trust in God and others can trust in me
There were five main activities that were based on these rules. The activities required team work and lots of
communication. As the Leaders in Training (LITS) worked through these activities they were required to learn the
code of conduct. One of the activities was a night trail, where you had to follow a rope in the dark. There were
obstacles in the way, (e.g. a net you had to go under and trees you had to go round). We learnt that following Jesus
is a lot like being on the night trail, but a lot harder. You have to have faith and trust in what you can’t see.
Another of the activities was to run a 25 minute service in two groups, based on a song that we were given. The
two songs were “Oceans” and “Your Grace Finds Me”. Everyone helped out, from reading a verse from the Bible
to acting out a play of Zacheus.
At the camp we also had lots of worship time. Some of the songs included in this were “I will follow you”, “My
lighthouse” and “Thrive”.
It was great to see all the different youth
groups together, united as one. Over all, I
thing everybody had a great time and learnt
something new and would happily go back
again next year.
Lara Pieters
You can see from these photos that we had fun!
J K J ? SSTU ND
P MNC 3
Women’s Groups in JK over the Years
In 1905 the original four Presbyterian Women’s Missionary Unions were constituted into a national organisation. In Rangiora it seems the P.W.M.U. was begun about the time the national organisation was set up,
as it was first mentioned in the Annual Session Report of 1907 that “The Women’s Mission Union under
the presidency of Mrs Carmichael continues to prosper. “ This group sent useful clothing and other articles
to the New Hebrides Mission. It also stimulated Missionary interest in the congregation and gave the
members the opportunity of cultivating each other’s acquaintance and friendship. In 1959 Mrs Colin
Campbell, President of Rangiora Branch and Dominion President of the P.W.M.U., was sent to India to
represent the Union at the Jubilee celebrations of our Mission in India.
In 1914 a Branch of the Girl’s Auxiliary was formed and that added significantly to the Missionary enterprises of the congregation. In 1921 the Auxiliary provided a large part of the funds to build the cottage for
the sister in charge at Waikaremoana and in honour of this splendid effort it was named “Rangiora Cottage”. A branch of the Maori Mission Birthday League was formed. This is now called “Mission Birthday
Gift” and has made (and is still making) considerable contributions to mission funds.
In 1925 Mrs Hutchinson (Rev W.R. Hutchinson’s wife) established the Women’s Guild, with a membership of about 50. This organisation did an immense amount of good work particularly in connection with
the social activities of the congregation and in raising funds annually by sales of work and produce. It also
served to foster a family spirit between the women of the Church and a look-out committee welcomed
newcomers. Activities undertaken by this group included – flowers into the church for services, door duty
on Sundays, Sunday crèche duty, visiting the sick and elderly with gifts of fruit and flowers, letters or cards
to those in hospital or in bed at home, and the over-80s were remembered on their birthdays with a visit
and flowers. On top of all that knitting was done – jerseys and scarves for the lepers were listed. Annual
visits to Woodchester Rest Home (in Shirley) took place and baking and entertainment were always offered. The Annual Combined Meeting of Ladies Church Organisations is mentioned in August 1949
Minutes so that (still going today) has been going on for a very long time. These women’s organisations
pursued their activities over the years until 1964, when they were amalgamated in accordance with a New
Zealand wide movement and became the Association of Presbyterian Women (A.P.W.). Mrs Dickey (Rev
M.D. Dickey’s wife) introduced the idea of the new women’s organisation to the Rangiora Women’s
Guild. There were discussions over several months regarding this. At the May 1964 meeting “Mrs Vette
offered to represent our Guild at the first A.P.W. Presbyterial Meeting at St Paul’s Church Hall on 13 May
1964.” Some will remember Mrs Jean Vette as Daphne Templeton’s Mum. We still have representatives
attending this monthly meeting regularly.
Today A.P.W. meets monthly – a small group of dedicated members and friends who are still raising money for missionary work both locally and overseas. We only have 12 members but there are others whom
we can call on for help when we have a larger gathering—such as when we hosted the Presbyterial for
Country Day last year. As mentioned above, some of the same things happen today as did in the early
days. It is amazing how much our sales table at each meeting brings in. We keep in contact with our Trinity Methodist Women’s Fellowship friends and share a speaker on occasions. At times we have speakers
from our own congregation – sometimes sharing about their overseas travels. We still aim to help our
members become acquainted with each other while following the APW Mission Statement ”Serving God
locally and globally with love”.
Since the Christchurch Earthquakes mission has taken on a more local aspect. The A.P.W. women have
come to know of the struggles others are having and have found various ways to help. This includes sending blankets and sheets to a Parish Minister in a badly affected area. She distributes these to those in need.
The Slipper knitting for children which started before the earthquakes has taken on a life of its own with all
the low decile schools in Christchurch being given the chance to accept slippers for their children to wear
at school during the winter. (Often gumboots worn to school were taken off at the door and the child was
in cold, bare and wet feet for the day.) The Coffee Morning Group which met in the 1990s and the Craft
Group which meets today are both monthly informal friendship groups which meet a need in the church
family.
(Contributed by Annette Paterson)
Easter Services
John Knox Presbyterian Church
Cnr High Street and King Street
RANGIORA
GOOD FRIDAY COMMUNION SERVICE
3rd April @ 9.30am
Trinity Church join us in the Stewart Room at John Knox
Email: rgapresy@xtra.co.nz
Web page:
EASTER SUNDAY CELEBRATION
@ 10.00am in the Stewart Room at John Knox
http://rangiorapresbyterian.vpweb.co.nz/
default.html
Sundays
Minister
Rev Dr Alan Missen
313 4615
021 147 6832
Youth Worker
Jonathan Barb
027 858 8737
YOUTH MINISTRY
tRuesday Night
6pm on for fellowship and
worship for young people and
families.
2:42—Yr 9-13 meet after
Tuesday service
CORNERSTONE—Friday
nights, 7-8.30pm for Yr 7&8.
29 Mar
5 Apr
12 Apr
19 Apr
26 Apr
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June
21 June
28 June
5 July
12 July
19 July
10.00am worship for all ages.
Communion is held on the second Sunday in the month.
Speaking Grace
PALM SUNDAY
EASTER SUNDAY
Aftermath of Easter
Jonathan
Journeying with John - John 1.1-18
Mike Dodge (Youth Consultant to Alpine Presbytery)
Wedding at Cana - John 2
MOTHERS DAY
Born from above - John 3
Living water - John 4
Calling Witnesses - John 5
Bread of Life - John 6
Light of the World - John 8.12; John 9
Jonathan
The Good Shepherd - John 10.11
Resurrection - John 11
Cleansed by Christ - John 13
Going and coming - John 14
VANUATU APPEAL
Our church is taking up an offering on Palm Sunday (29 March) for Vanuatu.
The proceeds will be split between Tear Fund and a PCANZ special appeal.
If you wish to contribute and receive a tax receipt, either come to that service or
post a cheque to our Treasurer, Bruce Morriss, 4 Wiltshire Court, Rangiora.
Church Council
OUR CHURCH
VISION
We will seek to be
Trusting in God
Reaching out in service
United in love
Encouraging one another
For room bookings
contact
John Warburton
313 6251
On Wednesday 18th March, the newly formed John Knox Church Council
met for the first time. It included the original Elders and Managers, together
with new elders Jonathan Barn and Bruce Morriss, and new Mission group
councillors Hudson Deane, Jill Drake, and Will Lawson.
The intention is that the Council will provide governance, strategic leadership, and good care and management of our church family and facilities.
Our meetings involve the whole group meeting for the beginning and final
stages, with the three groups of Ministry, Managers, and Mission meeting
separately to further their particular areas of interest.