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!

Jesus, we celebrate your birth,

and we welcome you into our lives.

Help us, we pray, to hear afresh the wonderful story of you coming to be with us.

Strengthen our commitment to acknowledge you with the gifts we bring to our Christian witness,

and help us to live lives which reflect the life of the one we call the “Prince of Peace.”

In Christ’s name, we pray.

AMEN

One of the things I find fascinating about the Christmas story is the number of participants in this extraordinary drama. The story invites us to look more deeply into the role these different characters represent.

For instance:

The Shepherds. These were people who were most often classified in Hebrew as ʿamme ha-aretz’ – which translates as ‘people of the land.’ These were the people who, largely because of their work, could not comply with the laws and regulations prescribed by Jewish law. They were permanently ‘unclean.’ Jesus spent a lot of his time with this group. Welcoming them and eating and drinking with these ‘sinners’ – embodying what the Kingdom of God was all about.  

The ‘Wise Men’ who came from the east. Interestingly no number is given to how many came – we are simply told of the three gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, which they brought.   The word translated as ‘wise men’ is the word ‘Magi.’ It is the Persian word used to describe Zoroastrian Priests. We are invited to think about the significance of Magi paying homage to Jesus.

Interestingly, Orthodox Christians place more emphasis on the day of Epiphany, January 6^th, as the date when the Magi (and the world) recognised who Jesus was, rather than on the date identified with his birth.

I am so appreciative of the Vale family, who not only made this nativity scene, but each year, go to some effort to erect it in front of our Clevedon Church.

Some of those from our Family Ministry team who have helped us bring the Christmas message to our community – from left to right – Kamni, Cyndi, Ann, me and Lynette. (Annemarie took the photo!)

In the second chapter of Matthew – we not only hear about the ‘Wise Men’ – i.e. the Magi, but also the threat that Herod saw in Jesus’ birth. Prefiguring the forces that would ultimately lead to Jesus’ crucifixion about 30 years later.  

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Dear God,

known to us as a tiny baby.

We pray today for all babies, their mothers and fathers,

and for all who dedicate their lives to the care and safety of children.

We pray for children who live in places of war and famine,

and for all who are deprived of the most basic needs in life.

Strengthen the work of peacemakers we pray,

and help us to honour you in our commitment to the wellbeing of the most vulnerable.

In the name of Jesus,

AMEN

Christmas Services – come and join us as we celebrate the Messiah’s Birth!

Clevedon.     Christmas Eve 11.30 pm – tonight!

                        Christmas Day 10 am

St Aidan’s     Christmas Day 10 am

Christmas Food Hampers Each year 80 families are given a Christmas food hamper full of the essential items, plus a few goodies.

¨ Drop items of cans, spreads, toiletries, soft drinks, juice etc. into church foyer

¨ Donate any value towards the purchase of a hamper ($150 a complete hamper)

Free to good homes – blocks, plants and soil. Please come and help yourselves to the soil, plants and retaining wall blocks from the church’s front garden. These are all scheduled for removal in mid-January as we prepare the site for the re-build. Contact Tony tony@clevedonpresy.co.nz or 027 275 7235 to let him know that you are coming.  (But please leave the nativity scene!)

 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.

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 for this Sunday comes from Luke 2: 8-20

St Aidan’s Takanini (23 Walter Stevens Drive, Conifer Grove,)

Sunday morning service at 10 am

Wednesday Communion service 9.30 am All welcome – starts again on the 15^th of January

Men’s group. Thursdays at 7 pm in the St Aidan’s Church lounge. A time of sharing, fellowship, prayer and study together. – starts again on the 9^th of January.

 Kawakawa Bay

Services at Kawakawa Bay have concluded for the year and begin again on Sunday, January 19th, at 9.30 am. We invite everyone to join the Clevedon Services each Sunday at 10 am while we are closed.