The Church of St Mary, Heathcote
The Church of St Mary, Heathcote
31 March

From the Vicar

Easter Day

PIn our Acts reading, Acts, Peter addresses Cornelius and his household, recognizing that God shows no partiality and accepts all who fear him and do what is right. Peter emphasizes the universality of God's message and salvation through Jesus Christ, highlighting Jesus' ministry, death, and resurrection as fulfillment of prophecy. He stresses the importance of bearing witness to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, proclaiming forgiveness of sins through faith in his name.

Meanwhile in the Gospel, Peter narrates the discovery of Jesus' empty tomb by Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James) and Salome. They encounter a young man dressed in white who informs them that Jesus has risen and instructs them to tell Peter and the disciples. Overwhelmed by fear and amazement, the women flee, and the Gospel ends abruptly with their silence.

Acts underscores the inclusivity of God's grace, breaking down barriers of ethnicity and social status. It emphasizes the pivotal role of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection in reconciling humanity to God, inviting all to receive forgiveness through faith in Christ.

Mark's account captures the initial disbelief and fear of the women at the empty tomb, leaving readers with a tension-filled ending. This abrupt conclusion challenges us to ponder our own response to the resurrection message. It invites introspection on how fear and doubt can hinder one's willingness to proclaim the good news of Jesus' victory over death.

We are invited to firstly, embrace the transformative power of Jesus' resurrection in our lives and secondly to confront our biases and fears, so we might embrace the inclusive nature of God's grace. and to boldly proclaim the message of salvation to all. The resurrection is not merely a historical event but a present reality that continues to shape and empower the Christian faith.

These readings inspire us to live as witnesses to the risen Christ and to share both his love and his message of hope.

Holy Week thanks

Thanks to all who added to our worship in Holy Week. To Jill Straker and Alastair and Sheelagh for our weekday contemplative services and all those who assisted on Maundy Thursday and Good Frida with readings.

Facilities upgrades, CoA Update 29/3

The kitchen cupboards have been emptied and contents sorted into piles for transfer to St Mary's or to the local OpShop. The 2 old photocopiers have been removed and taken to the electronic recycling centre. The Mah Jong group had it's last session at CoA and will resume at St Mary's after Easter.

Pews

The pews and some of the other furniture have been photographed and are ready to go on Trade Me If you would like to purchase a pew, we suggest that you make a donation of two new chairs at St Mary's ($350) If you check out other pews for sale on Trade Me, you will see that this is a very reasonable deal. Pews will be listed on Trade Me at the end of next week.

New Chairs for the Church

The chairs have arrived in the country and it is expected that they will be delivered within 3 weeks

Children’s Liturgy (what we used to call Sunday School)

This continues during term time,  being held on the last Sunday of the month. The young people will leave the service after the first hymn and return during the offertory. We have devised a program of activities, so if you feel called to assist one Sunday each year, please contact me. If you have young people of primary school age, please bring them along to support this ministry. Children’s Liturgy was last held in 1985, so it is great that we can now introduce this amongst us again.

Café Crawl Tuesdays @ 10.30am

We meet at local cafes every Tuesday morning. Friends and family are welcome. Please contact Jill Straker (02102928231) for further information.

 2nd April Spur Redcliffs, 87 Main Road Redcliffs

9th April Dot Com Sumner, 48 Mariner Street

16th April Castle Rock, 21 Mary Muller Drive

23rd April Portstone, 465 Ferry Road Woolston

30th April Coffee Culture 18 London Street Lyttleton

Swim Group

Monday, Wednesday and Friday Mornings from 8am at Aquagym. Please contact her for further information (brinkmanfamily@gmail.com)

Dinner in the Valley

informal dinner at the Valley Inn. From 6pm on Thursdays.

Smiling Cyclists

We meet this Thursday at 8:45 at the Church of St Mary.

Friday Walking Group

The group meets at the entrance to the Maltworks Villas at 9am on Fridays.

Prayers

Please add to your prayers the Roberton, Georgieff, Brown, Williams, Browne and Earl families, the work of the parish in the community, the Archdeacon and the Bishop, those elected to Parliament and the political leaders in their leadership deliberations.

Regular giving

To organise online giving, please contact your bank and provide the following information.

Heathcote-Mt Pleasant Anglican Parish

Westpac Bank 03-1599-0014277-00. (Please use the reference “202” and record your name for ease of accounting.)

 Children’s Liturgy Easter Day 31 March

This is being held on the last Sunday during term time. This is set for children under 12 years of age. Please encourage family members to join us.

Next week, 7 April, 10am, Low Sunday and Healing Service

Liturgist: Vanda McKerchar

Chalice: Pat Owen

Intercessions: Jill Straker

Organist: Janet Christie-Anderson

Reading: E Chapman

Acts 4: 32-35

Welcomer: Clive Straker

Sidesperson: Liz Chapman

Morning Tea: Pat Owen and Moya Caird

Cleaning: McKerchar family

New Chairs for the Church

The total cost of the new chairs. $8,666.06. So far we have received donations of $3,714.44. There is still time to donate for a new chair, the cost is $173.32 a chair. Thanks for those people who have already donated generously, we have nearly met half of the cost.

Prayers

Please add to your prayers the Georgieff, Seale, Blakely, Williams, Browne and Earl families, the work of the parish in the community, the Archdeacon and the Bishop, those elected to Parliament and the political leaders in their leadership deliberations.

Mah Jong

Mah Jong is held on Wednesdays at the Church of St Mary from 1:30pm. This has finished for the term and resumes when school returns. Please contact Judy Laidlaw for more information.

Parish Directory

www.heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz

Vicar:

The Reverend Mark Sullivan, 027 475 9946, skywgn185@gmail.com

Vicar’s Warden:

Alistair McKerchar, 384 4788, mckercharai@gmail.com

People’s Warden:

Allan Stack, 027 433 3735, allan@stackelectrical.co.nz

Mt Pleasant Project Chairman:

Janet Christie-Anderson, 021 2212635, rgajca@gmail.com