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'Nativity Women check this out - Secret Sisters is back! This concept is to develop fellowship amongst women across all Nativity congregations. The church office has spare registration forms to complete and leave there or you can email Libby. Address on form' Registrations close 19 March. ![]()
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![]() Everyone is especially invited to the 7pm Word and Worship service at the Nelson Cathedral on Sunday, 12 March, when Steve Apirana will be singing. Steve was a street kid in Christchurch in the 1970s who was marvellously converted. He is a great singer who speaks well and has produced a number of Christian CDs. ![]() Most of you know Pauline and Roger Tisch. For at least 12 years she has been a Church Warden in this Parish. That means she is one of 2 lay leaders of the Parish who work most closely with me. As the People’s Warden, she has been elected to the position by the people at the AGM each year. In many ways Pauline (with Roger) is an example of Jonathan’s sermon. She has endured 3 Vicars, and overseen leadership of the Parish during some sustained difficult periods, including the long gaps between Vicars. As someone with a huge shepherding ministry she has loved people and served even when people were critical. As someone with a strong faith she has held to and cherished God’s promises. She has imitated God’s faithfulness. She has done it in a manner that is true to her own character and adorned it with ministry that is true to who she is. All this time Roger has walked beside and behind her, backing her, sharing her pain and her joy even when he wasn’t part of the events that led to the tears and laughter. At this AGM Pauline will not be standing for this ministry. It’s time for her to back off and have a breather. She will still be available to stand as a Vestry member. We need to pray for a suitable person to pick up the baton and step into this ministry, making it their own. At the AGM – and not before (!) - we’ll release Pauline in prayer from the ministry of Church Warden. But this morning, before Pauline leads us in prayer we bless you Pauline and Roger, and thank you for your love to us for many years. Pauline has been nominated as a Vestry member for 2017. We have also received one nomination for People’s Warden. Shared at 10am on Sunday 12 February
As you are now aware I am standing down at the AGM from the position of Peoples Warden. A position that I have been truly privileged to have been doing for the past 12 years, on your behalf. I have not taken this position lightly, and have tried to do the best I can to represent you. Thank you for this time you have entrusted me to it 12 years ago, I was asked to be Peoples Warden, I didn’t think I was good enough to do it, that others would do it better than me. Rog & I prayed over the next few days and asked God to give us direction for what he wanted me to do. If it had been up to me, I think I would have run a mile, but overwhelmingly thru our daily readings, thru the people we talked to about it and the thoughts God put into my mind, and that it was to trust him, and that he wouldn’t leave me or forsake me, that he would walk with me and guide me thru the pathways of my being a warden. And he certainly has. He has helped me thru the difficult times, he has helped me thru the times when I have walked with others thru the things that they are going thru. He has been there thru the fun times, rejoicing with me. He has helped me say the things that needed to be said. He put me with people like Stephen (current Vicars Warden) and David James the previous Vicars Warden, where we have worked as a team supporting the Vicar and the staff team and being instruments in the life of this parish. I have valued immensly these 2 men for whom I am very grateful to have been working alongside. Last Sunday Roger and I were at St Barnabas Church Fendalton and the Preacher Rev Dr Pauline Stewart spoke on gifts and talents that God has given us, she said
People may think with me standing down, that they would have to take over all the things that I do, and the answer is no. God still wants me to do the things he has given me gifts of, hospitality, on a fun & fund raising team, doing catering with Pam(often to help others), greeting (Susan will be heading a team). I are not walking away from church, I know God has new things he wants me to do, some I don’t even know yet, but he is allowing me to pass the baton of Peoples Warden on so he can use me for other things. I would like for you to think and pray for the next peoples Warden. If you are the right person God will lay it on your heart, you will hear him calling you, and you need to be obediant to him. Trust him. God is wanting us all to step out in faith, hear his call on our lives and live every day for him. What does he want you to do? listen to Him. He wants us to be involved here, doing the things that need to be done to further his kingdom. May God Bless you all. ![]()
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