​Kia ora All Saints,

Happy Māori New Year! We have passed the shortest day and now get to celebrate Matariki: the rising of the star cluster of Matariki, otherwise known as Pleiades. The cluster is referred to in the Bible with references to God creating such an impressive sight and having authority over it. This reminds me of the big-ness of God, partly in that God's power is so much larger and stronger than our current worries or needs, but also that the Biblical writers who lived largely in the same culture and natural environment as Jesus looked up at the same stars we see this weekend. On a more comical note, this reminds me of 'An American Tale' where the little lonely cartoon mice realise they are looking up at the same sky despite their physical distance. 

Humans are connected with one another across time and space through these shared experiences, but we are also connected with our creator God and the beauty of creation. We have been picking up these Matariki themes as a church whānau through our precious remembrance service last weekend (thank you to all who put so much thought and care into serving all who are grieving), and our working bee which brings us together as family on a mission to care for the patch of the kingdom with which we have been entrusted (2-5pm Friday with fish n chip dinner following).

Our multicultural nation has much to teach us about God; may we lean into the depth of meaning Matariki brings us this weekend.

Blessings,

Emily

Kia ora All Saints whānau,

We have had a busy June and more is to come!
This week we introduce to you our new missionaries we are supporting as a Parish. This is an exciting addition to add to our missionary support that we already do. It is a chance to engage long-term in the Pacific through people who are living there, and bring in teams to experience what mission looks like.

We also wrap up our Deuteronomy series this week. We have been looking at the themes of Deuteronomy over the past four weeks. It has been fascinating to me that lots of the same thoughts that the Israelites were struggling with are similar thoughts we are struggling with today.

How do we remember we are a covenanted people?
How do we remember the story?
How do we listen and obey God?
How do we love God and love our neighbour?

This week our reading talks us through the consequences for not remembering God, remembering the covenant and loving our neighbour. If Israel do it there is blessing, if they don't there are curses and ultimately exclusion from the land. God calls us to follow his ways and that is the best way to live, however, we always fall short and that will bring different consequences for people around us, our world and ourselves. The good news is that Jesus promises forgiveness and grace through his life and death. However, God did not abandon his ways but called us forth to a higher standard (just read the Sermon on the Mount and you will see that). We now can live in to his ways freely knowing that Jesus and the Spirit are on our side.

As we move forward we have two big events next week:
1. Matariki Working Bee
2. Go Sunday
Please look out for those coming out in your newsheet.

Blessings,
Andrew Spence

Kia ora All Saints Whānau

Guy here this week. Something that has struck me as we make our way through the year as a community of Jesus followers and our magnifying glass look at Authentic Community is how desperately in need we are of being told core truths about who God says we are and how much he desires relationship with us. 

For us to be an "Authentic Community," we first have to come at it with the foundational knowledge that all we need and desire is to be in a relationship with God and that we naturally, as broken people, continue to stick things in the way! Because for whatever reason we dont trust the truthst God tell us that he has all our desires and best interests firmly in him! I find it completely liberating that in all spaces of my life, I don't have to run from any suffering that might come because of the Good News but that amidst it, I can look at how, in my brokenness or suffering, I can lean into christ to satisfy my desires and heal my wounds. We all have stuff!
​We all desire things that aren't good for us! We all succumb to sin and temptation! But here is the kicker: God continues to call us to him and reaffirm that he is the one who created us and, desires relationship with us and will always satisfy us! Not the things of the world or the things that the world tells us will! 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest! Core Truths. 

A reminder that we have our two central gatherings this week with our Youth taking over our 10:30 gathering, so come along and be led by our young people.

Matariki Working Bee and Go Sunday are fast approaching lock those dates into your calendar. 

See you all Sunday. 

​Much love,