Weekly notices - 10 Dec 2023
Welcome
It’s great to have you join us this morning. A special welcome to you if you are new here. We hope you’ll stay around after the service and say hi.
Kia tau te rangimarie,
Carolyn.
Today’s service
Advent Week 2 - Peace / Rangimarie
Christmas is almost here and today we have our special lessons and carols service, where we go through the story of Christmas with word and song.
Notices
New Sensory Space
At All Saints we have a wide range of neurodiversity within our members, volunteers and staff. We strive to champion and support all of them.
4.5 year old Gideon has been coming to All Saints since he was a newborn, and you may have seen his running guest performances during our 10.30 Sunday Service.
As Gideon has got older he started to become unsettled and overstimulated as our Children's Programme grew. Our wonderful Children’s Programme Supervisor Annabel noticed this and wanted to provide Gideon with a safe space in which he could have some break out time and be able to regulate himself.
Already well versed in children’s behaviour, she researched some possible solutions and created Gideon a sensory corner in the old hall, which she filled with carefully chosen sensory toys that would appeal to him.
Gideon immediately took to the space, allowing his mum to have a much needed cup of tea! We are thrilled with the success!
A word from Gideon's mum, our church administrator Jemma:
"I am beyond grateful for the love and consideration that All Saints and the Lighthouse team have shown our family. Through what have been some challenging times, their support has made all the difference. The sensory space that Annabel has so carefully created has meant that Gideon can continue to come and enjoy Church, and gives me a much needed 5 minutes to breathe"
Advent
Today marks the beginning of Advent - the countdown to the coming of Jesus - not just a countdown to presents and feasting!
Get creative with some fun and free printable Advent illustrations with both English and Te Reo words at strandz.org.nz
You can find a short prayer for each week of Advent on our prayers page.
Christmas Holiday Church Services
From the 31st Dec to 21st Jan 2024, we will only be having 9am services at All Saints.
10.30am service with kids programme resumes 28th Jan2024.
31st Dec, Guest Speaker - Carolyn Swift. Join our wonderful Deacon Carolyn in the last Eucharist before the New Year.
7th Jan, Guest Speaker - Dawn Harris. If you haven’t heard her before, this is a great opportunity to come to listen to a service by our many hatted Pastoral Care Coordinator.
14th Jan, Guest Speaker - Lukas Thielmann, is home for the holidays, taking a break from his Diocesan training for ordination in Auckland, to take our first service in the New Year.
21st Jan, Carolyn Robertson. Carolyn is back !
28th Jan, 9am and 10.30am service with kids programme.
4th Feb, 1st and 3rd Sunday services at St Marks resume.
Christmas Holiday Office Hours
The office will be closed from Friday 22nd December to Monday 22nd January.
Please feel free to email the office during this period and we will get back to you when we reopen in the New Year.
Giving
We are so grateful to all those who contribute financially to the life of the church. You are helping to ensure that All Saints can continue to thrive and grow for future generations.
If you would like to join those who give regularly, you can find all the details you’ll need on the Giving Page.
What’s on this week
There is a wide range of groups happening every week, you can see the full list on our What’s On page.
Readings for next week
Isa 61:1-4,8-11 Ps 126 or Luke 1:47-55 1 Thess 5:16-24 John 1:6-8, 19-28
Need prayer?
We’d love to pray for you. Just fill in this quick online Prayer Request form