FROM OUR MINISTER. The second Sunday in May is observed in many churches as Mothers Day, or Home and Family Sunday.

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1 CONTACTS: Office Phone/Fax: Oxford Street Levin Greetings friends, Parish Clerk Allen Little Facebook Levin Uniting Church Website Minister Rev. Stuart Grant com Or you can make contact via the office. FROM OUR MINISTER May 2016 Like us on Facebook. You will get notifications of special events happening and photos of events already done! First, many thanks for your warm welcome at my induction on Sunday 10 April. It was important to mark the new relationship that has begun between us as minister and people. I am glad that Cornelia, my wife, was able to free herself from her services in the Kapiti Uniting Parish and share in the occasion. Over the coming weeks and months I hope we shall get to know each other better as we seek together to strengthen our life as a church community. There are many among you who are exercising important gifts for ministry. I pray that I may be able to encourage you and help you in whatever ways I can. As the Parish is now under Methodist oversight, an important task I have is to guide you through the stationing procedures of the Methodist Church, with the goal of establishing a new ministry in During the month of May there are several special Sundays in the church calendar. On Sunday 1 May the Tongan Fellowship will celebrate Faka Me (White Sunday), when the children will recite Bible verses they have learned by heart in the presence of the congregation. The second Sunday in May is observed in many churches as Mothers Day, or Home and Family Sunday. On 15 May you will be celebrating International Nurses Day. In Christian tradition this Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter, celebrated by many Christians as the birthday of the church. This recalls the event in the Acts of the Apostles when the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus disciples in a special way, giving them power for ministry. To mark this occasion, I offer you a prayer that I found in a prayer book of the Iona Community: O God the Holy Spirit, come to us and among us: come as the wind and cleanse us; come as the fire and burn; come as the dew and refresh; convict, convert and consecrate many hearts and lives to our great good and your greater glory, and this we ask for Jesus Christ s sake. Pentecost is followed by Trinity Sunday, this year 22 May. For Methodists this is also observed as Wesley Day or Aldersgate Sunday. I have been asked to plan a service on this theme, honouring one of the two traditions that make up our Uniting Parish. We could also look forward to celebrating the Presbyterian heritage on Reformation Sunday, in October. To conclude, please be assured that although I am your half time minister, I am readily available to visit and consult. Don t hesitate to get in touch. Grace and peace to you all, Stuart Grant

2 INDUCTION SERVICE 10TH APRIL On Sunday 10th April, we held the Induction Service for Rev. Stuart Grant. We had approx 126 people, including our Waitarere Congregation (which had closed for this special occasion) and the Tongan Congregation. Plus many visitors from afar. The Service had many people involved. There are many more photos up on our Facebook page, please visit to have a proper look large and in colour.

3 EASTER CAMP We had 2 of our youth attend this Easter Camp in Waikanae, they were asked to provide a story about it, but they must have been too busy :( so I have taken this from the Youth Ministry newsletter. Easter Camp 2016 was a great success with record numbers and many responses. Our speaker Christoph Zintl got us thinking with Easter themed messages and a challenge to hunger for more of God's love and power in our lives, to be used to reach out to those outside our youth groups. There were times of worship, sharing and prayer in our youth groups, team games and challenges, and a Saturday night guided reflection around 16 stations with an Easter emphasis, Huge thanks go to the organising committee who worked so hard to ensure things ran smoothly. It was an excellent weekend enjoyed by all. Such has been the increasing popularity of this event we are considering relocating to a larger campsite in We reached over 140 people this year which is (beyond) capacity for Palm Grove. Watch out for more details soon and if your young people missed out this year make this weekend a must next year. Do you have ? Do you receive Parish s re what s happening here and funeral details? If not and would like to, please let me know in the office and I will add you to the list. levinunting@xtra.co.nz and let me know FORTHCOMING CELEBRATION SUNDAY MAY 15th A Service led by the Women in our church to celebrate Florence Nightingale International Nurses Day. We want to involve all past and present Nurses in our own Parish and those in other Churches and the wider Community. If you know of someone in this category please give their name to Beth Berry or Eileen Bolitho. We look forward to a meaningful celebration.

4 ROSALIE WENT ON OUTWARD BOUND On Wednesday 30th March, we were invited to a presentation from Rosalie Ridley at the Waitarere church hall. Rosalie presented on power point, an hour long presentation of her Outward Bound experience. She was on the course for 21 days, from 6 January 26 January. Outward bound is set in the waterways of Marlborough sounds and located at Anakiwa. It gives access to rivers, bush, sea and mountains. All these were environmental challenges for the outward bound participants. Their activities ranged from rowing in gaff rigged outriggers, kayaking, high rope course, bush experience abseiling and general fitness. The most challenging of all must have been the 3 days and 2 nights solo experience, in one measured place in the bush, with sleeping gear, a certain amount of food and water. (See photo number 4). My thoughts were developing confidence, courage, friendship and resilience. An incredible experience. Rosalie says "Her group was the youngest on Outward Bound and although we did every thing together we always encouraged each other, supported and physically helped each other. Outward Bound was energetic and fun with lots of new exciting experiences." Rosalie agrees with the words in the (photo number 3) and wants to now live by Outward Bound's motto "Plus Est En Vous" (There is more in you.)" Rona Cooper Rosalie will be giving her presentation to Rotary, and if any other groups would like to have Rosalie speak at their meeting, please contact Rona Cooper or the church office

5 SERVICES FOR MAY IN THE HALL UNLESS STATED Come along and support these people leading services this month: 1st Communion Rev. Stuart Grant (CHURCH) 8th Rev. Wayne Jones 15th Florence Nightingale International Nurses Day (Church) 22nd Rev. Stuart Grant (Wesley Day) 29th Rev. Lew Bowen Prayer Chain: The Prayer chain now has 4 people wanting to pray for you, if you would like to join them please let Elizabeth in the office know. The more people helping, the more they can help! If you have something/one you would like prayers for, please let the office know. It will be forwarded on to the Would like to help with the Sunday Community meal? Did you know you can make a taxable donation to the office? Or visit: communitymeallevin To make a credit card or internet banking donation. A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 100 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES." When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. "I've circled this block for 10 Then he (Jesus) opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from te dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent Luke 24: May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being spirit, soul and body free from every faulty at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. Romans 14:19 PARISH COUNCIL 20TH APRIL Parish Council met as usual on Wednesday 20th April when we were pleased to have Rev Stuart Grant join us for the first time. We agreed that our present team of three Celebrants authorised to serve Communion would be commended to the Methodist administration. Work has begun on documentation profiling the parish for inclusion in the Methodist Stationing Process. A draft profile document had been circulated to which various edits and suggestions from Parish Councillor s were added. It was good to have Council engaged with helpful and constructive comments around the drafting process. Elizabeth and I attended an Interchurch Bureau seminar at Palmerston North to learn about new Health and Safety Requirement s and complex new laws facing every church in New Zealand. We are culpable if incidents and accidents happen at any Church property or programme and we need to do two important things immediately. (1) Survey all our Church complex s / buildings to identify, document and fix any risks. (2) Make everyone / all users, aware of their obligations in terms of Risk Management and Hazards. In the near future we will begin implementing new initiatives and hope everyone will feel able to cooperate. To assist getting to know you occasions it was decided to reintroduce name tags for those who would like to have them. Other matters considered include Un-tuned Pianos tuned, Continuing building works, Sale of St Johns Church, Database Access, and Presbytery Central gathering on 14th May. Parish Clerk

6 Giving last 5 weeks: Budgeted: $ Adults attended 27 March rd Apr th Apr Apr Apr Total Budgeted: $ Total Received: $4, over $1, The budgeted amount was included in this years budget that you approved at the AGM. The automatic payments have its own budgeted amount & is not included in this figure. Only the envelope/open combined Levin/Waitarere given amounts. Please consider changing to an automatic payment this is a constant amount, especially if you are unable to attend church every week. Thank you to those who have done this. Can you spare 1/2 hour on Sunday Evenings? From 5.45pm the community evening meal is served and we need people to help to do this. Talk to Peter or Jack. Thank you This is EVERY SUNDAY we would love to see you. Urgently Seeking Volunteers The Levin Interchurch Foodbank is seeking suitable volunteers to fill the following three roles: Chairperson (meetings and document) Grants Administrator (applying for grants - approx 6 annually) Purchasing Officer (buying and store stacking) Packer every 2nd Wednesday from approx pm To find out more please contact Valerie Dobson on or valeriesnz@yahoo.com It is with the deepest sadness and sorrow that we announce the passing of our Church member in the last month: Barry Barker MAY DOOR DUTY: May 1 Margaret Burnell & Murray Easton May 8 & 15 Maurice & Faye Waldrom May 22 & 29 Ruth & Richard Rushton June 5 & 12 no one yet Cuppa Time after Worship for May: May 1 Eileen & Doug Bolitho/Viv Hayes May 8 - Helen Hutchings May 15 Rosemary McKay/Bett Mills May 22 Shirley Welch/Yvonne Symonds May 29 Helen & Paul Kirkby June 5 Ruth Seymour/Elizabeth Harris WOMEN S FELLOWSHIP NOTICES FOR MAY Morning Group: Meets Thursday 5th at 9.45am in the Gilmour Lounge. Speaker at 10am will be Nicola Manville from Bounce. Business follows speaker. Afternoon Group: Meets Tuesday 10th at 1.30pm in the Wesley Lounge Evening Group: Meet Tuesday 24th at 7.30pm in the Gilmour Lounge. Good News stories, celebrations, What s happening in the Parish to include in The communiqué. This is your newsletter about your parish, if you have news, please let the office know (phone or ) If you know of someone who is not well, PLEASE let the office know! I will get someone to get in contact Helpers are needed to help set up (Friday AM) and take down church each Sunday morning. Please consider this important part of making church run smoothly. There is no one to help? Date Time What Where Sunday 1st 10am Communion Worship Church Thursday 5th 9.45am Women's Fellowship Gilmour Lounge Saturday 7th 8am am Monthly Market Hall complex Tuesday 10th 1.30pm Women s Fellowship Wesley Lounge Saturday 14th All day Presbytery Central Gathering Sunday 15th 10am International Nurses Day Church Tuesday 17th By 2pm Newsletter Material Due Office Palmerston North Wednesday 18th 7pm Parish Council Gilmour Lounge Sunday 22nd 10am Wesley Day Hall Tuesday 24th 7.30pm Women s Fellowship Gilmour Lounge Friday 27th 9am Newsletter Team Gilmour Lounge Every Sunday Every Tuesday Every Thursday Levin Uniting Parish What s coming up 10am Worship May pm Community Meal 7pm Service 12pm Prayer with Jack 7.30pm Choir Practice Hall & Waitarere Hall Hall Wesley Lounge Gilmour Lounge