Coming Up…
Tonight Maunday Thursday 2nd April @7.30pm Foot Washing & Tenebrae Service
Good Friday 10.00 Walk of Witness. Starting at St Joseph's Catholic Church finishing @ St Matthew's Church with Hot Cross Buns.
Easter Sunday 5th April St Matthew's Church 8:30am and 10.00am
House group on Mondays
Selwyn Centre each Thursday
If you would like to begin a financial contribution please let Diane know or simply go in line and set up a direct debit with your name as reference. Bank account is St Matthews Church 02 0368 0027228 00.
If you would like communion brought to your home please let Val or Sandra ph 20210460393 know – we have a number of people willing to bring communion to people in their homes. Please don’t be shy to ask.
Coming Up…
April 8th 11.30am Women’s Fellowship – come and hear Sandra share (bring lunch)
April 9th St Joseph Singers at Selwyn Centre (in the Church) - all welcome
April 11th 5pm Queer affirming Celebration at Cathedral
April 12th 2pm Sam Pullinger is inducted as new vicar of Te Awamutu
April 16-19th Cursillo Weekend (no 8.30am on the 19th)
April 23rd Armchair Rockers (Selwyn Centre) in the church
Our Parish AGM will be after the 10am service on April 26th
Vicar: Val Riches 078880878 or 0274448286, Lance 0275553286, Email [email protected]
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.
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Tonight Maunday Thursday 2nd April @7.30pm Foot Washing & Tenebrae Service
Good Friday 10.00 Walk of Witness. Starting at St Joseph's Catholic Church finishing @ St Matthew's Church with Hot Cross Buns.
Easter Sunday 5th April St Matthew's Church 8:30am and 10.00am
House group on Mondays
Selwyn Centre each Thursday
If you would like to begin a financial contribution please let Diane know or simply go in line and set up a direct debit with your name as reference. Bank account is St Matthews Church 02 0368 0027228 00.
If you would like communion brought to your home please let Val or Sandra ph 20210460393 know – we have a number of people willing to bring communion to people in their homes. Please don’t be shy to ask.
Coming Up…
April 8th 11.30am Women’s Fellowship – come and hear Sandra share (bring lunch)
April 9th St Joseph Singers at Selwyn Centre (in the Church) - all welcome
April 11th 5pm Queer affirming Celebration at Cathedral
April 12th 2pm Sam Pullinger is inducted as new vicar of Te Awamutu
April 16-19th Cursillo Weekend (no 8.30am on the 19th)
April 23rd Armchair Rockers (Selwyn Centre) in the church
Our Parish AGM will be after the 10am service on April 26th
Vicar: Val Riches 078880878 or 0274448286, Lance 0275553286, Email [email protected]
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.
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Val Writes:
Palm Sunday was celebrated with great energy and activities – with the donkey Olive being a star contributor!! We recounted our Lenten Journey beginning with Jesus in the wilderness, meeting Nicodemus and his quest to know, sitting with the marginalised Samaritan woman at the well, entering the wisdom and insights of a man born blind, experience the possible smells of a Lazarus after being buries for 4 days and then joyful proclamation of Palm Sunday
Holy week continues a full and vibrant journey – interspersed in NZ with school break-ups and holiday plans!!!! We now move to the 50 days of Easter as we consider life beyond the tomb, what it means to live in community and the cost and risk of proclaiming the truth of God. Culminating in a Great celebration of the life-giving work of the Spirit on May 24th
Palm Sunday was celebrated with great energy and activities – with the donkey Olive being a star contributor!! We recounted our Lenten Journey beginning with Jesus in the wilderness, meeting Nicodemus and his quest to know, sitting with the marginalised Samaritan woman at the well, entering the wisdom and insights of a man born blind, experience the possible smells of a Lazarus after being buries for 4 days and then joyful proclamation of Palm Sunday
Holy week continues a full and vibrant journey – interspersed in NZ with school break-ups and holiday plans!!!! We now move to the 50 days of Easter as we consider life beyond the tomb, what it means to live in community and the cost and risk of proclaiming the truth of God. Culminating in a Great celebration of the life-giving work of the Spirit on May 24th
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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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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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5th April 2026
EASTER DAY
Readings: Jeremiah 31:1-6 Psalm 118 Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18
Sentence: The Lord has risen indeed, alleluia! Luke 24:34
Collect:
Eternal giver of life and light, the radiance of the risen Christ shines; renew your Church with the Spirit, that we may worship you in sincerity and truth, and shine as a light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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EASTER DAY
Readings: Jeremiah 31:1-6 Psalm 118 Acts 10:34-43 John 20:1-18
Sentence: The Lord has risen indeed, alleluia! Luke 24:34
Collect:
Eternal giver of life and light, the radiance of the risen Christ shines; renew your Church with the Spirit, that we may worship you in sincerity and truth, and shine as a light in the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
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PREPARATION FOR SUNDAY.
Jeremiah 31:1-6
Question: Is hope possible without some experience of hopelessness?
Prayer: The Lord is my strength and my might (Psalm 118:14). Lord God, be with all who find it hard to see any newness in life.
Acts 10:34-43
Question: What does belief in Jesus’ resurrection call us to see differently?
Prayer: Gracious God, grant us forgiveness when we show partiality.
John 20:1-18
Question: What fresh proclamation of the Gospel might you offer today?
Prayer: In your prayers remember the lands and people of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.
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Jeremiah 31:1-6
Question: Is hope possible without some experience of hopelessness?
Prayer: The Lord is my strength and my might (Psalm 118:14). Lord God, be with all who find it hard to see any newness in life.
Acts 10:34-43
Question: What does belief in Jesus’ resurrection call us to see differently?
Prayer: Gracious God, grant us forgiveness when we show partiality.
John 20:1-18
Question: What fresh proclamation of the Gospel might you offer today?
Prayer: In your prayers remember the lands and people of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia.
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12th April 2026 8:30am and 10am
2nd Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2:14a,22-32 Psalm 16 1 Pet 1:1-12 John 20:19-31
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2nd Sunday of Easter
Readings: Acts 2:14a,22-32 Psalm 16 1 Pet 1:1-12 John 20:19-31
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PRAY FOR:
GIVE THANKS to GOD FOR…
- peace in the Holy Land: God of mercy and compassion, of grace and reconciliation, pour your power upon all your people in the Holy Land: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Palestinians and Israelis. Let hatred be turned into love, fear to trust, despair to hope, oppression to freedom, occupation to liberation.
- those who aren’t well in our community, especially Janice, Lynda, Eve and those who feel lonely.
- the poor, the hungry, the sick and refugees, asking for provision, healing, kindness and safety; especially those who are affected by the Moving On Bill
- all who have died and their anniversaries we remember. For all who mourn the loss of someone they loved.
GIVE THANKS to GOD FOR…
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) (Doctors Without Borders) for its rapid response to emergencies and crises around the world, as they deliver medical care to people in conflict zones, natural disasters, and areas with limited healthcare access.
- Fellowship and Reflection through the Walk of Witness on Good Friday
- music, and its ability to bring us joy and comfort, to motivate us and to help us relax. It has the power to transport us back in time, to calm our worried minds or boost our moods.
- The fellowship around the Devonshire teas on Saturday
- Everyone who contributed to making this Holy Week and Easter special and meaningful
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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