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!

Dear God,

we pause today and remember those in our lives who have welcomed us.

We give thanks for those who have shown us hospitality and kindness,

and for all who have made us feel at home.

Lord, as you welcomed all people,

help us, we pray, to give expression to your love and grace,

In the ways that we welcome and include others.

In Christ’s name, we pray,

AMEN

I often pass through these gates on my walks around Cornwell Park.

I have watched as others walk through the gates. Most people seem to calculate whether or not to hold the gate open for others who might be following - or coming the other way. Then, there are the few who seem to have little regard for those approaching the gate.  Interestingly, I have noticed this latter group often seem to be in a hurry or are listening to something on their headphones.

Most people will hold the gate open for the next person. However, the calculation gets a little more complicated if the next person is some distance away. At a certain distance, the gate is likely to be left to close. Sometimes the person following speeds up their pace, when they see that the gate is being held for them. It can all get a bit complicated – how long should I hold the gate for the next person? And if I do not want to speed up, how can I signal to the good person holding the gate for me, that I would be happy for them to let go?

It sounds a little obsessive perhaps, but some Sociologists spend their lives studying such behaviours. The more clinical name for the norms around gate holding or releasing type behaviour would probably be described as ‘folkways.’

We can find many references to gates and doors in our Scriptures. In ancient times, it was at the gates of a city or village where the elders gathered to make important judicial decisions.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 10,  Jesus describes himself as 'the gate', protecting the sheep.

And we find in Matthew 7, Jesus speaking these words about gates and doors:

⁷ ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? ¹⁰ Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

¹² ‘In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. ¹³ ‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus, we pray today for all those for whom you had a special concern:

For the rejected, the sinners, the outsiders, the sick and the injured.

In your welcome, teaching, eating and drinking with those who were held of little account, you brought healing and salvation.

Help us, we pray, to witness to your grace;

To hold the gate open for those who have known little kindness;

and to show your love, in the way that we love.

In the name of the Lord of Hosts, we pray,

AMEN

Book Fair. This is a chance to clear some space and donate your books to help support our ministry to children and families. Monday 1 July to Friday the 5^th of July. Please see the poster attached.

Invitations to a Men’s Breakfast from our friends at Papakura East, and a Women’s morning tea from the folk at Drury.  Please see the two attached posters, for details. RSVP to either event: office@pepc.org.nz

Foodbank—The call for food parcels continues from families in need.  Thank you for your donations. We need tinned spaghetti & baked beans, tinned tomatoes, tinned tuna, pasta sauces, coffee, drinking chocolate, self-raising flour, 1kg plastic bags sugar (to foil the ants), 1kg rice, dried pasta, jam, and biscuits.

Men’s Group. Come along for fellowship, discussion and prayer. 7.30 pm each Wednesday in the Clevedon Church lounge.

Youth Group. Clevedon Youth Group Friday, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 87 Settlement Road, Papakura. Games, devotions, small group discussions, and, of course, food! Bring your friends. The group is open to all Year 7 – 13 young people.  To find out more, or if you need a ride, please contact Paia on 027 724 2100. 

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

Pastoral.  We have heard the sad news that Ralph Cullen has died. Ralph worked with many churches, including our church at Clevedon, installing and servicing organs. His ministry also included preaching – he was a regular preacher at Kawakawa Bay - and the very capable organist at St Columba, Botany.  A funeral service for Ralph will be held at St Columba Presbyterian Church, 480 Ti Rakau Drive, Botany Downs on Saturday 22nd June at 11 am.

Tuesday Morning Home Group. Ardmore 10 am. All are welcome to join with this very friendly and welcoming group for prayer, discussion and Bible readings. Please contact Bev Sutton for details: 027 3107 421

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

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.

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

Wednesday Communion service 9.30 am. All welcome

Women's friendship and study group. Evening group, Wednesday, 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

 Kawakawa Bay

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

Playgroup each Wednesday from 8 am in the Community Hall

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

Martin

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)