Greetings, friends, members, and supporters of our church in Clevedon, Kawakawa Bay, Orere Point, Conifer Grove, Takanini, and the southern part of Auckland—and beyond.

The Peace of Christ be with you!

We give thanks today, Lord, for builders, engineers, and architects.
We pray for all who work to build homes for people to live in,

and design places of work, commerce, education, worship, art, and entertainment.
We give thanks for places of shelter and safety, and places of beauty too.
In Christ’s name.
AMEN

When we think about the enormous variety of church buildings and cathedrals that exist today, it’s fascinating to note that "the earliest archaeologically identified Christian church is a house church (domus ecclesiae), founded between 233 and 256.”

So, it seems that it took those early Christians more than 200 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus to decide they needed a building.

In scripture, the word ‘church’ always referred to the people who gathered together for worship, fellowship, and service, and never to a building.

As we approach the design of our proposed new buildings, we’ve been especially mindful that anything we build must:

The proposed buildings also take environmental concerns seriously, with plans to reuse existing bricks for the front, install solar panels, and use ‘green’ construction materials and other components.

Here are some of the designs provided by the architect, which we will discuss on Tuesday night. (We will have more images and interior plans to view on Sunday and Tuesday night)

The image below is looking back at the church, with an exterior garden accessible from the church, Clevedon Kidz to the left and our Family Centre to the right. 

The church from the road at night.

Throughout scripture, buildings have often been the subject of complex considerations.

An exchange in John 2 reminds us that Jesus, (and not even the most magnificent buildings,)  is the centre of our worship:

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”
21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

We pray today, God, for the homeless.
We pray for those who have lost their homes through natural disasters, war, and conflict.
and for refugees, and all who are displaced.
We pray for families struggling with mortgages or finances.
Jesus, you know what it is like to have no place to rest your head.
Help us to work for a world where all people can live in safety and security.
In Christ’s name,
AMEN

AGM. Our Church AGM is to be held on Tuesday, September 24, at 7 pm at the Clevedon Church. (Supper to follow – please bring a plate if you can!) The Reports have now been published. Please pick up your copy from the church – or if you would like yours by mail, please let Annemarie know: office@clevedonpresy.co.nz

This meeting will include a presentation of the proposed building plans, and a motion inviting you to agree to our proceeding to the next stage of the approval process.  (We will still need to obtain more certain cost estimates – and agree on this expenditure at a further congregational meeting later in the year)

The motion we will discuss is:

“THAT the congregations of the Parish of Clevedon authorise Clevedon Presbyterian church management to proceed with the final approval application process to Presbytery and the Church Property Trustees, entailing finalisation of full design and costing of the project to allow the project to proceed within Church management cost estimate of $5.0 million”.

Fill the bucket, grow your potato and then bring it back for the Great weigh in and BBQ tea Sunday 2^nd February 2025 5.30pm at the Cottage.

A Memorial for Jeanette Ravoka’s Mum, Annette Hodge will be held Saturday 28th September 10.30am at the Paeroa Co-operating Church, Corner Willoughby & Mackay Street, Paeroa.

Foodbank—The call for food parcels continues from families in need.  Thank you for your donations. Our pantry would benefit from tinned tomatoes, ricies, cornflakes, tinned tuna, pasta sauces, coffee, drinking chocolate, self-raising flour, 1kg plastic bags sugar (to foil the ants), 1kg rice, dried pasta, tinned sweetcorn, body wash, muesli bars and biscuits.

Alternatively, we also like to include a Supermarket voucher in the parcels to allow people to purchase fresh items like cheese, butter, meat.

HATCH – our community dinner and church on Sunday at 5 pm.  All welcome. Please let Mathilde know if you are coming. mathilde@clevedonpresy.co.nz

Tuesday Morning Home Group. Meeting in Ardmore. Please contact Bev Sutton 0273 107 421 for directions.

Tuesday Evening Ladies Bible Study meets during the school term in locations in Ardmore and Conifer Grove. 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm. If you would like to find out more, please give Geraldine Oosterbeek a call on 027-2704-904

Men’s Group meets Wednesday evening 7.30pm in Clevedon Church Lounge

Come along for fellowship, discussion and prayer.

 Prayer Circle Requests. For anyone who is seeking prayer for any concern or situation: prayercircle.clevedonpresy@gmail.com or text: Cath at 021 349 417, Elaine 022 071 7201, or Nikki 021 973 799

 AA - every Thursday at 7.30 pm at the Clevedon Church lounge. Friendly and supportive. For anyone with alcohol or drug problems.  https://aa.org.nz/

Sunday morning service at 10 am. Join us in person or watch the live stream on our YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxBzxjBb3xU8ra2NHwvD_9A(The service can also be viewed at any time afterwards.)

Prayer before the Service. Join us at 9:15 am every Sunday in Martin's office to pray for the church and community.

St Aidan’s Takanini (23 Walter Stevens Drive, Conifer Grove,)

Sunday morning service at 10 am

Playgroup - Every Monday and Tuesday morning in the school term.  Contact Brenda at 021 657 178.

Wednesday Communion service 9.30 am. All welcome

Women's friendship and study group Friday 10 am. Contact Lorraine Richmond at 027 476 1169

Know your Bible Women’s study group. Thursday 12.30-2.30 pm. Contact Susanna Ph. 027 450 1926

Men’s group. Thursdays at 7 pm in the St Aidan’s Church lounge. A time of sharing, fellowship, prayer and study together.

The service is held in the Community Hall each Sunday at 9.30 am.  

Playgroup each Wednesday from 8 am in the Community Hall (during the school term)

Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our church and its mission.

Martin

 CVMFT Scholarships Sun 13 Oct. Applications open for these excellent awards in 3 age-groups across all musical disciplines. For further information: https://cvmft.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CVMFT-Scholarships-Festival-2024-Information-Release-2.pdf

Hi Everyone, I have run a Communicare CMA friendship group for the elderly and disabled in Papakura for the last 7 years.

We are looking at starting a group in Kawakawa Bay.

Would you be interested in attending?

The group would be weekly probably at the hall and be half day with gentle exercise, crafts, games but most importantly friendship and getting together for companionship and a laugh. Morning tea and possibly lunch will be provided.

Sound like you or a friend or relative? Please go to the Kawakawa Bay Facebook page and register your interest on the Communicare Poll or alternatively message me directly on 021 1523840.

Regards

Helen

Right Now, Media. We have recently purchased a church subscription for this extensive library of video resources suitable for small groups, teaching and education. Please use this link to take a look at the library for your personal or group use: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/join/clevedonpresbyterian . We are trialling this subscription to find out how many people might benefit. If you do make use of it could you let Martin know?  (martin@clevedonpresy.co.nz)