Vicar: Val Riches 078880878 or 027 444 8286
Lance 027 555 3286
Lenten Study each Wednesday 7.30pm - zoom https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/95506180897
Last weekend, Anglicans from across the Pacific have joined in celebration to ordain and install the Most Rev Sione Uluilakepa as Bishop of Polynesia and welcome him as an Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Read about it in the Taonga Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader Article +Sione Polynesia takes the lead
April 2nd Palm Sunday
Monday Thursday 7.00pm Communion service
Good Friday Walk of Witness will begin at 10am at the Baptist Church and concluding at the Methodist Church
BUS PILGRIMAGE April 29th 10 am - 3.00 pm Seats are going fast! Phone or see Val or Chris 021894811 or email stmattmorr@xtra.co.nz to book $35.00 or to discuss options with finances are a barrier.
Brass Cleaning - HELP! Please consider joining the group this year. Just give a hour or two service to the church every 3 months.
Please contact Ariel McCracken 0272 945 139
Thoughts from ― Dag Hammarskjold
“What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear.”
“Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.”
If you have a key to the church or Hub please let Chris Hutching know so he can update the register hutch5@xtra.co.nz or 889 7170
The newsletter can be opened as a PDF from the Weekly Service Sheets page and can be requested to arrive in your email box by filling in the form in the Subscribe to Newsletter page.
Loaves and Fishes can be opened on the Loaves and Fishes page.
Lance 027 555 3286
Lenten Study each Wednesday 7.30pm - zoom https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/95506180897
Last weekend, Anglicans from across the Pacific have joined in celebration to ordain and install the Most Rev Sione Uluilakepa as Bishop of Polynesia and welcome him as an Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Read about it in the Taonga Anglican Taonga : New Zealand's Anglican News Leader Article +Sione Polynesia takes the lead
April 2nd Palm Sunday
Monday Thursday 7.00pm Communion service
Good Friday Walk of Witness will begin at 10am at the Baptist Church and concluding at the Methodist Church
BUS PILGRIMAGE April 29th 10 am - 3.00 pm Seats are going fast! Phone or see Val or Chris 021894811 or email stmattmorr@xtra.co.nz to book $35.00 or to discuss options with finances are a barrier.
Brass Cleaning - HELP! Please consider joining the group this year. Just give a hour or two service to the church every 3 months.
Please contact Ariel McCracken 0272 945 139
Thoughts from ― Dag Hammarskjold
“What makes loneliness an anguish is not that I have no one to share my burden, but this: I have only my own burden to bear.”
“Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for.”
If you have a key to the church or Hub please let Chris Hutching know so he can update the register hutch5@xtra.co.nz or 889 7170
The newsletter can be opened as a PDF from the Weekly Service Sheets page and can be requested to arrive in your email box by filling in the form in the Subscribe to Newsletter page.
Loaves and Fishes can be opened on the Loaves and Fishes page.
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The original St. Matthew's was dedicated 31st May, 1895. It was replaced by the new building in 1959.
Read more on the About us page.
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Read more on the About us page.
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March 26th, 2023
Out Of The Depths
Readings: Ezekiel 37:1–14 Psalm 130 John 11:1–45
Sentence: Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, John 11:25
Collect: When we are overwhelmed or in despair, we turn again to you, O God, for you feel our anguish and will lift us up. Breathe your spirit into us and give us new life so that we may walk in hope. Amen.
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Out Of The Depths
Readings: Ezekiel 37:1–14 Psalm 130 John 11:1–45
Sentence: Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, John 11:25
Collect: When we are overwhelmed or in despair, we turn again to you, O God, for you feel our anguish and will lift us up. Breathe your spirit into us and give us new life so that we may walk in hope. Amen.
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Preparation for Sunday from “Love to the World”
Ezekiel 37:1–14
Question: In what area of your life do you feel dry and sterile, in need of the life-giving breath of God?
Prayer: God of life, may the peace that passes all understanding breathe through the wasteland of our lives today.
Psalm 130
Question: When has your community cried out to God from the depths? Where is the invitation to be more authentic in your relationships?
Prayer: God of clarity, be with us in the decisions we make, whether life-changing or seemingly insignificant.
John 11:1-45
Question: Where in your life are you bound by grave clothes? Who could you talk with to help you begin to unbind?
Prayer: Freeing God, untangle us from our grave clothes that we may be ready to unbind others and know the life that is ours.
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Ezekiel 37:1–14
Question: In what area of your life do you feel dry and sterile, in need of the life-giving breath of God?
Prayer: God of life, may the peace that passes all understanding breathe through the wasteland of our lives today.
Psalm 130
Question: When has your community cried out to God from the depths? Where is the invitation to be more authentic in your relationships?
Prayer: God of clarity, be with us in the decisions we make, whether life-changing or seemingly insignificant.
John 11:1-45
Question: Where in your life are you bound by grave clothes? Who could you talk with to help you begin to unbind?
Prayer: Freeing God, untangle us from our grave clothes that we may be ready to unbind others and know the life that is ours.
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Focus
In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones and they are covered in sinews and skin; then he prophesies to the wind to breathe on the slain bodies that they might live, and it happened just as God said it would. The Psalmist in the depths is still confident that with God there is forgiveness and hope. In the story of Lazarus Mary and Martha are mourning the death of their brother, and yet Jesus tells them if they believe they will see the glory of God. He holds out hope, even though they don't understand fully at first. The community roll away the stone as they are told, Jesus prays and then calls Lazarus from the dead and the community then unbind him and release him. Out of the depths of their sorrow is a miracle and many believe. In Romans Paul writes that to live in Christ is to live with hope in the face of death.
Do you look for stories of hope and new life and share them despite the world that is full of racism, xenophobia, terrorism, war and death?
Where do you see God at work bringing resurrection and life, in the midst of chaos or despair and do you celebrate those moments?
Prayer: Lord, when we are in the depths, may we cling to the hope of a new day, new life, resurrection and life that comes from you. Amen
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In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones and they are covered in sinews and skin; then he prophesies to the wind to breathe on the slain bodies that they might live, and it happened just as God said it would. The Psalmist in the depths is still confident that with God there is forgiveness and hope. In the story of Lazarus Mary and Martha are mourning the death of their brother, and yet Jesus tells them if they believe they will see the glory of God. He holds out hope, even though they don't understand fully at first. The community roll away the stone as they are told, Jesus prays and then calls Lazarus from the dead and the community then unbind him and release him. Out of the depths of their sorrow is a miracle and many believe. In Romans Paul writes that to live in Christ is to live with hope in the face of death.
Do you look for stories of hope and new life and share them despite the world that is full of racism, xenophobia, terrorism, war and death?
Where do you see God at work bringing resurrection and life, in the midst of chaos or despair and do you celebrate those moments?
Prayer: Lord, when we are in the depths, may we cling to the hope of a new day, new life, resurrection and life that comes from you. Amen
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SPECIFIC PRAYERS FOR THIS WEEK
GIVE THANKS
- Pray for the donkeys coming to church next Sunday (Palm Sunday) – that they will behave.
- Pray for those living in situations of abuse, and for refuges and victim support as the help people in those situations.
- Pray for Sue, Liz and Titia and preparing for their ordination in Holy Week .
- Pray for those who are sick especially Jean and Norm, Fiona, Lynda, Steven, Ken and Warren.
- Pray for all families mourning the death of a loved one.
GIVE THANKS
- To all those who attended the AGM and the contributions people made, and for the new Vestry members.
- Thank you for the restorative work, of electricity and roads, happening in out cyclone affected areas.
- For the wonderful Ultreya (meeting) that our Cursillo group had in Katikati. It was so good to catch up with friends after such a long time.
Prayer is sitting in the silence until it silences us, choosing gratitude until we are grateful, and praising God until we ourselves are an act of praise. Mature prayer always breaks into gratitude. —Richard Rohr
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Please give careful thought to your support through donations:
If you are able to make your donations through internet banking it would be very much appreciated. You could use your name or your envelop number for reference and our recorder will include it with your total giving.
With cheque's no longer being accepted at a lot of banks, please consider Direct Giving for your donations to St Matthews Church, BNZ Morrinsville 02 0368 0027228 00.
We rely on your giving for all our expenses. We are a registered charity and so tax can be claimed back. When you are in the service you can use one of our purple cards to put in the offertory plate in recognition of the donation.
Any questions – please talk to our treasurer – Rodney McKenzie
If you are able to make your donations through internet banking it would be very much appreciated. You could use your name or your envelop number for reference and our recorder will include it with your total giving.
With cheque's no longer being accepted at a lot of banks, please consider Direct Giving for your donations to St Matthews Church, BNZ Morrinsville 02 0368 0027228 00.
We rely on your giving for all our expenses. We are a registered charity and so tax can be claimed back. When you are in the service you can use one of our purple cards to put in the offertory plate in recognition of the donation.
Any questions – please talk to our treasurer – Rodney McKenzie
