Kia ora All Saints whānau,

I was blown away by Jairus' message last week. I thought it was poignant and the Spirit was using him to speak to us as a family. If you have not heard it then please find it here. The thought of not letting our fears get in the way of mission is something I have prayed for this week. I think our continual prayer is that in a world that so badly needs God's help - that we can be agents of his message to this hurting world.

We are diving into our Romans series again this week before the Bishop comes and the reading this week says:
"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Further on it then reiterates:
"For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

How much does this tie into what we have been talking about, doing and leaning into as a Parish in the past month. Mission and sharing our faith are inextricably linked with our belief that God gives life and what he has done is something we should be boasting in - not hiding away from. Confidence is key!

I particularly like Jairus' idea of stepping towards God and God meeting us there. Perhaps this is the confidence we need to have - confidence to step out and realise that God will meet us there, as he did with Moses in the burning bush. 

Coming up there are some key events we can continue to dive into:

• Bishop Justin will be in the house on the 8th October at both services.
• Halloween Alternative Trick and Treat Party 29th October
• All Saints Day 5th November
• AGM 12th November

When we met last week as a Parish Council we were really keen to see a new crop of people come on board to help run and direct this Parish. We are looking for people to stand who represent different parts of our Parish. I encourage to come have a chat to me if this is something you would be interested in. We are looking for 9am people, 10.30am people, young adults, retired people.
Parish Council requires attending a meeting once a month (3rd Wednesday), doing some reading beforehand and participating in taking the messages back to the people. Attending Ministry Family Camp, Dio Training Days and a Parish Retreat are also encouraged.
Please consider this as we head towards our Parish AGM in November.

Andrew Spence
​Co-Vicar

Kia Ora All Saints Whānau, 
We are coming into our last Sunday of mission month and I don’t know about you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the conversations about how we engage those around us with the love of Jesus. 
Last week in our house church we explored the fact that the word mission elicits a vast array of emotion and response. For some, mission brings about a positive association of good that the church does in the world. For others, it may be associated with negativity or hurt because of its connections with things like colonialism or imbalanced power dynamics. And for many, the concept of mission, whether good or bad, feels scary as it threatens to push us outside of our comfort zone. 
I believe that mission in the past has been done both well and poorly and that the word does require some intentional reframing as we move into the future. 
It’s my hope that some of the conversation that has been generated this month has helped to reframe mission a bit for us all - from something (good or bad) that is a part of church we can opt in or out of, to an exciting opportunity that is central to the gospel, and not really all that scary. 
Regardless of how you’ve felt about the conversations thus far this month, there is another opportunity at our central gathering on Sunday that you don’t want to miss! We have a guest preacher from NZCMS, Jairus Robb, and we are having a gathering after the service to learn about an exciting and innovative (and definitely not scary) missional opportunity we have emerging. You don’t want to miss it! 
See you on Sunday, 
Summer

Kia ora All Saints. 

Guy here this week. It has been such a privilege walking with you through this month of Misson here at All Saints. For the last two weeks, we have looked at why mission is core to who we are and the God we believe in, as well as touching on Local mission and, again, what we mean when we talk about mission. This week, I will be bringing in our Mission Action Plan (MAP), a process we went through here at All Saints last year, listening to God and trying to articulate what we are called to here in this community. 

If you want to remind yourself about our Misson Action Plan, click here. 

This is a reminder that we have our 9 am gathering this Sunday, and for many of us, we are in House Churches. So talk to your House Church leader about where and when you are meeting, and don't forget to bring some food to share.

Something that I have been reflecting on, and that is cycling around in my heart, is this call bestowed upon us to go out and make disciples for the Kingdom. To share the good news, to raise up leaders, and to send them out to share with others. The call of a priest is to gather, equip and send. So, during Mission month, this is sounding louder than ever. 

I wonder what and who you feel like God is calling you to serve? And who is God calling you to serve with? 

A couple of exciting things are coming up in All Saints' life. 

Next week, the 24th Sept, we have our final week of Mission month with Jairus Robb coming from NZCMS to speak to us and the crew from Common Good, who have an exciting missional opportunity they are presenting and looking for people who are keen to invest in. Check your inboxes for more information on that one. 

October will bring us back to our Romans series we have been going through; there is also the 10th birthday of our Hall, our annual light party we host for the community, and of course, All Saints Day. 

Loads of things coming down the line. Make sure you don't miss out. Watch the newsletter for more information. 
Feel free to write us with any queries or comments. 

So thankful to each and everyone of you and for your commitment to the gospel.

Ngā mihi, 
Guy 

​Kia ora All Saint Whanau 

This week, All Saints is launching into September with Mission Month. A Month each year where we re up what role Mission plays amongst us, how Local and Global Mission play out amongst our community, and what exactly it is that All Saints mission is here in our community. It's all very exciting; I (Guy) am bringing the word for this week, which I'm looking forward to. Just a reminder that we have 9am and our House Churches this week, so some of us will be in the room together for traditional liturgy, and others will be gathering in a deeper way to dig into what part Mission plays amongst us. 

As I spend time thinking about who we are as a community and what Part Mission plays amongst us, I continue to be drawn to our call; in our relationship with an inherently missional God,  of the Great Commission, which is to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching. Matthew 28:16-20, This is huge!
This week we said farewell to my Oma (Grandmother), who was my Step Oma (Step fathers mother); I remember them coming into my life as a small boy when my mother and Step Father met, not having grown up in a world with this God they held out to me I was intregued. This week, as I reflected on her life and her role in my world, she so embodied the Great Commission; she was faithful in the way she presented God and Jesus to me! She was steadfast in the way she would teach me about God's love, and consequently, I was introduced by some friends at school to a radical relationship with Jesus. Is our life geared towards living out the Great Commission? This was a question my friend Steve Maina used to ask. It's either yes or no, and if it's not, why not? 

I hope and pray that as we walk through Mission month together, we are profoundly struck by the role our Missional God plays in how we live out our lives in accordance with him! 

I just want to mihi to you all as we continue to grow together and serve together! God is doing wonderful things amongst us! 

Much love, Guy