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!

Dear God,

source of the Living Water,

we give thanks today for all those life-giving events in our lives:

For words of kindness and care;

for those who have made us feel welcome;

and for the forgiveness we have received.

Thank you, Lord, for your Spirit of renewal and refreshment.

In Christ’s name.

AMEN

Sandy and I have spent the last five days walking the wonderful Heaphy Track. The track runs from near Karamea to the back of Takaka.

Apart from one day of heavy rain – and the resulting rise of small creeks into slightly troubling torrents – we had great weather.

A highlight of this particular tramp is the different bodies of water you encounter. (photos by Sandy)

From the long walk beside the Tasman Sea:

To the beautiful streams that you cross:

Through to the torrents that appeared overnight

And finally, on the drive out, to the extraordinary colour and clarity of the Te Waikoropupū Springs:

These different manifestations of water – with their beauty, danger, wonder and awe – reflect the same qualities of water we see present in ourScriptures.

From the roaring sees out of which God lifts creation in Genesis 1:

"And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so."

To the still waters in Psalm 23:

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths, for his name’s sake.

The waters of Baptism:

And when Jesus had been baptised, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. (Matt: 3:16)

To the ultimate gift of water:

‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift. (Rev 22:17)

Life-giving God,

we pray today for all those who long for water:

For those in parched lands, where life struggles to take hold.

For those for whom war and famine have deprived them of even the most basic necessities;

For those who find themselves sinking under the weight of fear or worry;

and for those who have lost a sense of joy and vitality.

Jesus, come to us as a life-giving stream.

renew us in your waters,

and strengthen all who work to bring waters of life, health and strength to those in need.

In Christ’s name.

AMEN

Call to the Rev Rory Grant.  The congregational vote to determine whether or not to call Rory will be held this Sunday the 24th at 11.30 am. (Please see note below on the voting process)  To watch a YouTube recording of the service Rory led on Sunday please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkAjZxeRshY&t=3294s&ab_channel=ClevedonandKawakawaBayPresbyterianChurch

166th Anniversary Service.  This very special service for all our congregations is next Sunday the 1st of December—with a shared lunch to follow. The service and lunch will also provide an opportunity to formally farewell Sandy and Martin. (Though Martin’s last service will not be until the 26^th of January)

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  the Clevedon church foyer

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

Clevedon Community Trust account: 12-3031-0089128-00

HATCH – the final service for the year. Join us for a pre-Christmas dinner—this Sunday 5.15 pm. Please let Mathilde know if you can come. mathilde@clevedonpresy.org.nz

Christmas Community Dinner We invite you to our last community dinner of the year. We will be having a Christmas Feast so come along on Friday 22nd November at the Kawakawa Bay Community Hall from 6pm. Cost is an item for the food bank. Please tell us who’s coming adults, children or babies so we can cater for you. Just ring the Cottage and leave a message 2922241 or email kkbaychurch@xtra.co.nz  - BY Wednesday 20th  November. Bookings are ESSENTIAL. For further information please phone Brenda Legg 021 657178 or the Church Office 2922241.

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 continue weekly on Wednesdays at the church in Clevedon at 7.30 pm, all music is supplied. (You can contact Gina at gina.sanders@xtra.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 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.)

Prayer before the Service. Join us at 9:15 am every Sunday in Martin's office to pray for the church and community.

( This Sunday's Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20; 2:1-10 - singing with Hannah)

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 Worship: 9.30 am at the Kawakawa Bay Hall. (Prayers before the service at 9 am)

Playgroup each Wednesday from 8 am in the Community Hall

Homegroup – Tuesdays in November a 4-week series, 7.30 pm held at Brenda’s home, 8 Banks Road, Kawakawa Bay

Gina (soprano) and Charlotte McDonald (alto) will be the soloists in Scholars/NZ Barok Messiah on 23 November in Tauranga at 7.30 pm and 24 November in Waihi 2.30 pm.

CAMA Choir and Gina feature in South Auckland Choral Society’s Christmas Concert on 8 December 2.30 pm. Crossroads Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Papakura.

This coming Sunday, November the 24^th, you will be asked to vote on the recommendation that:

This vote will take place at the Clevedon Church at 11.30 am.

The Rev Michael Frost will convene this meeting and those from our congregations at Kawakawa Bay and St Aidan’s are warmly invited to attend.

Voting has to be in person – there is no option for proxy or electronic voting.

Our Presbyterian Church regulations require that voters identify themselves as either Members or Associates. (this formal process is about the only time in our church life when we make this distinction – we are a church that welcomes everyone!)

Our Book of Order provides this definition for Members and Associates:

(a) has received baptism as a child or as an adult, and

(b) publicly professes his or her faith in Jesus Christ, and

(c) will seek to lead a life consistent with his or her profession of faith, and

(d) will unite in the worship, life and mission of the congregation, and

(e) will, as far as he or she is able, contribute to supporting the life, worship, and mission of the congregation, and

(f) will accept the spiritual oversight of the church council, and

(g) will accept the discipline of the Church.

 (a) that person fulfils the conditions for membership set out above but does not wish to be a member, or

(b) that person expresses an intention to associate himself or herself with the congregation, is active in the worship, life, and mission of the congregation, and seeks to lead a life consistent with the Christian faith.

On the voting paper, you will be asked if you agree or disagree with this recommendation. You will also be asked if you identify yourself as a Member or Associate.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact the Rev Michael Frost (michael@pepc.org.nz)

For apologies and membership confirmation contact annemarie@clevedonpresy.co.nz

For questions about the membership rules etc. please contact martin@clevedonpresy.co.nz