Guy preaching week 18 of our Mark series - The Last Supper - Mark 14:12-31

Kia ora All Saints Whānau,

What a joy it was to meet together again last week! I (Emily) feel so grateful that we could do this when so many in the world can't. Chris shared a great message with three pieces of advice Jesus gave his disciples, but the first really stood out to me: "Don’t be alarmed in the face of world turmoil." There are many things happening in the world right now which can feel alarming, but I believe Jesus’ words would be the same to us today - do not be alarmed. Through the Spirit we can have peace during hard times and confident hope that things will not always be this way. God's kingdom brings healing and restoration.

Perhaps this week you could consider how your heart is in this time. Are you feeling alarmed? Are you holding onto the hope Jesus offers? Are you finding ways to join God in bringing healing and restoration to our world (or maybe just to a friend, neighbour or stranger)?

As we meet together in our house churches this week, I encourage you to use the time to truly engage in your faith. Enjoy the smaller group setting, the conversation, the snacks (my favourite part), and encourage and spur one another on to help our hurting world. As you do, know that we are praying for you, and may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

​Emily, Andy, Guy and Summer

Kia ora All Saints Whanau!

There are many great things about being together this week - we get to have a coffee together, we get to worship together and I am sure you have your own excitements about coming back together this week.
It is important to remember that we both believe in the 'Temple' and the House. Both are important and both offer different things. To really embed our house church rhythm we are going to be doing service gatherings fortnightly. On the other fortnight we as Deacons encourage you to find and then attend some house church gathering. You can click here to sign up to a house church.

As we meet together this week and explore our next part of Mark - where Jesus is predicting the destruction of the temple. Perhaps this will resonate with you - a symbol that so much stood for that community and a communty of faith is coming down. I think its very relevant for our time and space. I eagerly await for Chris to share his thoughts on Sunday.

As we head into our next season we are so loving being on this journey with you. We are encouraged by the faith we find here, the faithfulness that has existed and the future vision we are starting to grasp on to. 

I pray that this week will be refreshing, encouraging and sustaining for us as a church.

See you sunday
Andrew Spence on behalf of the deacons.