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, God,

for the gift of curiosity.

For our desire to learn, know and understand,

and for those who have taught us about the most important things.

We give thanks for your providence and guiding hand in our lives,

and we pray that you will “teach us to number our days so that we may be given hearts of wisdom” (Ps 90:12)

In Christ’s name.

AMEN

Last weekend we went to look at an exhibition of works by the artist Emma McIntyre. The run-down office block on Anzac Avenue provided a great backdrop for her large and somewhat ephemeral paintings.

As we walked through the corridors to find the exhibition I came across this sign, pointing to a long-deserted office:

When so many of our enquiries (or ‘inquiries’ – there is, apparently, little difference in their meaning) are now done online to some anonymous person, or bot, or mediated through Google, I thought about a time when all our enquiries would be made to a person and involve some sort of human-to-human interaction.

I was surprised to read how often people made inquiries to God and received a more or less immediate answer.

For instance, we can read that during Rebekah’s difficult pregnancy in Genesis 25:

 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So, she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other; the elder shall serve the younger.”

Sometimes the inquiries were via various prophets, but quite often, especially when it came to people like King David and his concerns about military victory, the inquiries and answers went straight to and from the Lord.

I think, (though I am not sure,) that it would be good to have that level of clarity –  I know too, that a lot has been written about faith and what can feel like unanswered prayer.

I notice too that there are times in Scripture when inquiry leads to testimony and witness. For example, we read of Peter and John being imprisoned by the Jewish Council in Acts 4:

‘When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are being asked how this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.’ 

We pray to you, Loving God,

for those who cry out to you,

in the midst of all that they are facing.

Asking those questions about why? how long? And, where are you?

We pray for all who have lost their faith,

and for those whose hardship has led them to despair or hopelessness.

Be present with them, and us, as we walk through our dark valleys.

You Lord, are the God of resurrection hope,

strengthen our faith and deepen our trust in you, we ask.

In Christ’s name,

AMEN  

This year as part of our "loving others" theme we are providing meat vouchers ($25) for families in need from our wider community via Painga Project.

Either, choose a name from the tree in the Church & follow the instructions on the envelope.

Or we have a virtual Angel Tree, if you are interested in supporting this, please deposit your $25 donation to the church bank account: 12-3031-0057396-00 Clevedon Presbyterian Ref: Angel Tree, Code: Your phone number & Email Annemarie office@clevedonpresy.co.nz, who will send you a child’s name to remember in your prayers. The appeal will conclude at the end of November.

Christmas Carol Service Choir Practice—if you haven't been “shoulder tapped” by Gina yet, this is your time to join a joyous choir. Practices will commence weekly from 6th November at 7.30 pm, all music is supplied. (You can contact Gina at gina.sanders@xtra.co.nz)

Men’s Breakfast. Join our friends at Papakura East and Drury at 8 am this Saturday morning, (at 87 Settlement Road) enjoy a great breakfast and talk and demonstration by David Matheson on some of his Technic Lego. RSVP to office@pepc.org.nz

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.

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 7.30 pm 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.) Our Sunday Reading this week tells us about the origins of the Passover Festival from Exodus 12:1-13

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.

Sunday Morning Church Service is in the Kawakawa Bay Hall at 9.30 am. 

Playgroup each Wednesday from 8 am in the Community Hall