The Vicar reflects on the readings for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom of Solomon 12:13,16-19 & Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
In Wisdom, God is described as all-powerful, yet he exercises his strength with kindness and patience. Rather than condemning immediately, God gives people opportunities to repent and change. True strength is not found in harshness or control but in compassion and understanding. God's justice is fair because it is always guided by love.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. The servants want to pull out the weeds immediately, but the master tells them to wait until the harvest. Jesus later explains that the wheat represents those who follow God's will, while the weeds symbolise those who choose evil. We often judge others too quickly, without knowing their hearts or circumstances. God's patience allows time for conversion, growth, and redemption.
How do you treat others? Are you quick to criticize or form opinions, forgetting that everyone is exploring their faith relationship with Jesus. Like the master in the parable, we are called to be patient and hopeful rather than condemning. There is both "wheat" and "weeds" within our own lives; good qualities that need nurturing and weaknesses that require God's grace to overcome.
God's offers us perfect justice, and we must imitate his mercy in our daily relationships. Every person has the possibility of change. Love, patience, and forgiveness are powerful expressions of faith. By practicing these virtues, we can become Christ-like and this allows God to transform our heart s while respecting his timing in the lives of others.
Sue and I wish you a great week. Mark
Notices and events
Café Crawl - Tuesdays @ 10.30am
21 July: El Faro, 23 Humphreys Drive
28 July: Beach Café Esplanade Sumner
4 August: Columbus Cafe Mitre, Ferrymead
11 August: Redcliffs Coco Black, Redcliffs
18 August: Dot Com Sumner
25 August: Coffee Culture Lyttleton
Please call the Straker’s for more info.
Swim Group
We normally meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at Aquagym in Cashel St from 8am. Please contact the Vicar for more information.
Vestry Minutes
Vestry minutes are located for all to view in the folder in the Centennial Centre.
Valley Inn Dinner, Thursdays from 5pm
We join with locals of the community for dinner and refreshments.
Smiling Cyclists this Tuesday
We meet at the Church at 9am and cycle to our coffee place. We hope you can join us.
Prayers
Please add to your prayers, Satira, the McLeod, Chapman, Browne, Boland, Caird, Hollis, Macdonald and Taylor families.
Liturgists, Organist, Sides-person, prayer liturgists and the welcomer
Please meet with the Vicar at 9:30am before the service each week.
Home Groups
The Home Groups have resumed.
• The Mt Pleasant Group meets at the McKerchar’s home on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 3pm
• The Heathcote group meets at the Stewart’s home on the 4th Thursday of the month at 3pm
We hope to see you there.
Daily Prayers at home
Each week-day the Vicar produces a short prayer session complete with readings, and a short homily. This can be found on the website under the “worship at home” tab on the home page.
Hot Water Bottle collection
We are starting up a 2-week collection for hot water bottles. These will be delivered to the foodbank with the food donations. If you have a hot water bottle to spare, please donate it to this worthy cause and place in the food basket.
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.)
Next week: 26 July Family Service
Presider: The Vicar
Liturgist: The Vicar
Intercessions: Alastair Wood
Chalice: Judy Stack
Reading: Alistaie McKerchar
Welcomer: Rose Gutsmann
Sides-person: Judy Stack
Sound: Alastair Wood/Ngaio Bovett Morning tea: Liz Chapman/Judy Laidlaw
Parish Directory
Vicar
The Reverend Mark Sullivan
027 475 9946
vicar@heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz
People’s Warden
021 149 2608
Vanda McKerchar
vandamckerchar@gmail.com
Vicars Warden
Alastair Wood
021 100 4175
sheeandal.wood@gmail.com
www.heathcote-mtpleasant.org.nz