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! Let us pray: Lord, we pause today, to give thanks for all the often-unrecognised people, who make our lives better, easier, and more comfortable. For those who make our clothes and shoes, and those who, each night, deliver goods, and stock supermarket shelves. We pray for those who repair our roads, direct traffic, fix drains, and repair our cars, and for so many others whose work often goes unnoticed and underappreciated. We give thanks for them and pray for their care and wellbeing. In Christ’s name, Amen. Shoes and Sandals The school holidays offer our family ministry team the chance to clean all the dress-up shoes, costumes, and toys enjoyed by the children in our weekday programme. Seeing this wonderful assortment of cleaned shoes and sandals reminded me that even something as simple as footwear plays an interesting, varied, and important role in our Biblical history. In Ruth 4, we read about how sandals were used in the finalisation of contracts and agreements: “Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, one party took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, ‘Acquire it for yourself,’ he took off his sandal.” (Ruth 4:7–8) We are also reminded in Exodus 5 that God’s call to Moses involved the physical act of removing his sandals: “When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 5:4–5) In the apocryphal Book of Judith, Chapter 16, we hear the story, famously captured in many classical paintings, of how Judith slew the Assyrian General Holofernes: “She anointed her face with perfume; she fastened her hair with a tiara and put on a linen gown to beguile him. Her sandal ravished his eyes, her beauty captivated his mind, and the sword severed his neck!” (Judith 16:8-9) (I wonder if her sandals looked anything like the ones in our collection?) Finally, in the Gospels, as John prepares for the coming of Jesus, he tells us: “As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptise you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:15–16) Let us pray: Jesus, we bring to mind this day, all those for whom you had a special concern—‘the least of these.’ We pray especially for those who work in dangerous and difficult conditions, and for the countless millions who labour in factories to make shoes and clothing for little reward. We pray for those striving to make workplaces safer, where all people are valued and treated fairly. Help us, we pray, to be witnesses to your love, through the love and respect we show others. In Christ’s name, we pray, Amen. Our Notices  Rosters at Clevedon.  The help provided by people in so many different ways, makes such a difference to the life and ministry of our church. If you would consider going on one or other – or more – of our rosters, please read the note below, or fill out the form in the church foyer. Please contact Annemarie to let her know of your availability: annemarie@clevedonpresy.co.nz  ( or 09 2928061 Monday-Wednesday)   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. This will recommence after the school holidays on Wednesday the 16th of October.  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 Services and activities: Clevedon Church 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. Kawakawa Bay Sunday Morning Church Service is in the Kawakawa Bay Hall at 9.30 am.  Playgroup each Wednesday from 8 am in the Community Hall (during the school term) Rosters for Clevedon It’s time for Helen to make up the new Roster to cover November 2024 – April 2025. To ensure our church is a welcoming place for all, we have Delightful Duties for: Cafe (Serving the Tea & Coffee following the service), Baking (a batch of biscuits or muffins to enjoy with your cuppa); Greeting (the welcoming face as people arrive at Sunday Service) Lock Up Duty (Parish Councillor who turns off the lights, heating & locks up after Service & Morning Tea) BBQ Sausage Sizzler (the lovely aroma of a hot sausage served with bread & sauce emanates from this team) Bible Reading Please can you let us know if you are not happy to continue in your current role, or wish to take on a different duty by 8th October, so we can print the roster in good time. Thank you for all your efforts. Regards Annemarie & Helen Church Admin Team

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