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

The Peace of Christ be with you!

We give thanks today, Lord,

for times of joy, celebration, music and dancing.

For all the things that bring us together,

lifting us above the anxieties of the day,

and reminding us of the abundance we can find in our relationships with friends and strangers.

Thank you for the gift of joy and laughter,

and for the human family created in your image.

In Christ’s name.

AMEN

We have recently returned from a family holiday in Mexico. One of the things you can’t help but notice is the vibrancy, colour and music that features in every town centre.

We were fortunate to be in Oaxaca during one of their many festivals. Villagers paraded into town, singing, dancing, exploding fireworks and often wearing amazing costumes or carrying spectacular effigies.

I thought about our own diverse culture and the opportunities we have to come together in joy and celebration. Perhaps the equivalent might be going to a concert or a sporting event or maybe the National Kapa Haka Festival – or the Santa Parade? Or a church inviting the community for dinner?

With so many good things to celebrate, it seems to me that festivals, celebrations and parades are important for creating a joyful sense of unity and identity. 

Here is a picture of the team from Orere Point School who provided the karakia and grace (and dessert) at our community dinner at the Kawakawa Bay Hall last Friday. A fundraiser organised by the church for the Cancer Society's Daffodil Day.  (Brenda is wearing the yellow lei)

There is a really interesting story in the Bible (2nd Samuel 6) concerning King David’s decision to bring the Ark of God (a kind of portable shrine which was the focus of worship for the ancient Hebrew people) into the city of Jerusalem.

As the ark was carried in we are told:

“…David danced before the Lord with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.”

But then...

16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

And David’s response:

20 David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honoured himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!” 21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord—I will dance before the Lord. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be humbled in my own eyes, but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honour.”

(It seems to me that we should want to be dancers rather than naysayers!)

Dear God,

We pray today for all who find themselves left out,

and for those who feel excluded.

We pray for those who have lost the capacity to laugh, dance or celebrate.

We pray for those who have become too cynical, and those who have fed their hearts on stories of hurt or anger.

Help us all to find that abundance of life brought to us in Jesus.

May we be witnesses to joy and kindness, and all the fruits of your Holy Spirit,

and so be a blessing to our families, church and communities.

In the name of Jesus,

AMEN

Men’s Breakfast. Our Friends at Papakura East Presbyterian Church invite all men to a breakfast this Saturday the 31^st at 8 am. Dave Tims will be speaking. (see attached notice) Please RSVP to office@pepc.org.nz

Open Performers’ Group at Clevedon Presbyterian: Saturday 31^st August 3.45 - 5.15 pm. open to all musicians, actors, and dancers who wish to “air their creativity” before a friendly audience. No age limits. Gold coin donation to take part, audience free

Community Lunch. Thursday 5^th of September. 12 noon, Clevedon Church Lounge. If you can, bring some food to share - a good time to catch up. Martin will be giving a short presentation on his recent trip to Mexico. All welcome.

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.

The reading this Sunday is from: Genesis 15:1-18

 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. Evening group, Tuesday, 7 pm.  Day 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.  This Sunday Martin will be speaking on 

Ephesians 4:1-8, 11- 16 and we will celebrate Communion.

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

Martin

Sunday Serenades at St Andrew’s 8th Sept 1.30pm: - Plans, Projects and Promises Celebrating the remarkable abilities of over 80 children and youth musicians with the added attraction of young visual artists.  Puhinui School Choir, Tuakau College Choir, CAMA Youth Choir and soprano Grace McCarthy-Sinclair.

Bach Musica orchestra and choir present Mendelssohn’s beautiful Lobgesang Sun 15 Sept with soprano Gina Sanders - Auckland Town Hall 5pm. 

CVMFT Scholarships Sun 13 Oct. Applications open next week for these excellent awards in 3 age-groups across all musical disciplines. 

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)