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 give thanks that you love all people.

We give thanks that you invite us into the special community we call the church,

and for the opportunities to learn together about your love.

Help us, we pray to hear your call to witness to your love for our communities and world.

In Christ’s name

AMEN

One of the highlights of our trip to Mexico was visiting some of the many churches located in every town we visited.

We spent our last few days in Mexico, in a neighbourhood of Mexico City called Coyoacan. Given the enormity of the city – at over 20 million - Coyoacan is a very pleasant neighbourhood, made famous as the home of Mexico’s most famous female artist, Frieda Kahlo.

Like many larger neighbourhoods, at its centre is a park area surrounding a rotunda and dominated by an enormous Catholic Church:

Just two blocks away, and much to my surprise, we came across the local Presbyterian Church. (On the back wall are the words"dios es amor" - God is Love) 

It was well over a century after Jesus, that any building was identified as a purpose-built church. It seems that it was only after the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine in 312, that church building really took off.

The Greek word we translate as ‘church’ is the word ‘ekklesia.’ It was a word that had been used since ancient times to simply refer to a gathering of people – and not a building.

Paul, in his many visits and letters to the rapidly growing churches across Europe and the Middle East, was committed to encouraging and teaching them about Jesus, and what it meant to live together as a community of his followers. Paul described the church as the ‘body of Christ.’ Here he speaks to the community in Corinth in chapter 12 of his first letter:

 ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.  (The 'more excellent way' we read in Chapter 13 is where Paul explains that the greatest gift is love)

We pray today, Lord,

for churches everywhere.

For those who gather in great cathedrals, and those who gather in the homes of believers.

We pray for those who worship in situations of persecution and oppression.

We give thanks for the witness of faithful people,

and for those whose commitment to your Way,

leads them in their work for the well-being of the marginalised, and for justice and peace.

Strengthen them, and us all, through the power of your Holy Spirit,

In Christ’s name,

AMEN

Alpha – an introduction to the Christian Faith. Join us for this contemporary 8-week video-based discussion series. A terrific way to learn about faith and to discuss any questions you may have. This will be hosted at a home in Clevedon. Starting at 7 pm tonight, Tuesday, August the 13^th. Please contact Mathilde if you are interested in coming along. All welcome. mathilde@clevedonpresy.co.nz

Cottage Café this Friday August 16th 10am to 12pm at the Cottage - 5 Kawakawa-Orere Road. A place to meet and have a chat, Great Coffee and Home baking. No charge although coin donations will be gratefully appreciated.

Community Daffodil Dinner. Friday 23^rd August, 6 pm. Kawakawa Bay Community Hall. Orere School are providing the dessert. Please leave a message at the church Cottage 2922241 if you’d like to come. All welcome. No charge.

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. 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.

 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 (during the school term)

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

Martin

Alexander’s Feast 17th (Pitt St) &18th (St Andrew’s Pukekohe) August at 3pm. Handel’s glorious ode to the heavenly gift of music. Gina and Josh take prominent roles in the Handel Consort & Quire production.

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

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)