6 September 2020. What's Happening

TODAY

Worship for Sunday can be found from 9.00am on the front page of our website or on our YouTube channel or on our Facebook page.

Parishioners will receive an invitation to a Zoom meeting for Sunday. If you don’t get the invitation email Helen to be added to the list.

WE REMEMBER IN PRAYER

Parishioners no longer able to worship with us: Heather Carter, Jenny and Pat Blood, Molly Jenkins, Jean Jackson and Jerome Elkind

Parishioners and friends: Jeremy Thompson, Thérèse Kelly, Jean Brookes, Jeremy Younger, Win & John Blyth, Jose Alburo, Harry Hepple, Xuan Lu, Marcus Alexander, Sidney Neale, Jeffrey Murray, Keith Murray, Rose Christie-French, Paul White, Philip, Antonina Tuala, Bishop Jim White, Roger Mark, Barry Clayton, Sarah Weston, Jake Milbank, Adaline Wetherall, Elle Estcourt, Eleanor Houston

With the City Mission we pray for the Winter Appeal

With the Anglican Communion we pray for the Anglican Church of South Africa

With the Anglican Missions Board we pray for the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea

With the Diocese of Auckland we pray for the Parishes of Onehunga, Royal Oak and Hillsborough

CONCERTS

Upcoming concerts – subject to change due to the Covid-19 Alert Level

Tuesday, 15 September, 12.10pm – The Pettman National Junior Academy - featuring some of NZ’s best young musicians. Remaining Concert dates for 2020 are 20 October, 17 November. Entry by donation

CANCELLED Sunday, 20 September, 2.30pm – SMCO

CANCELLED Friday, 25 September, 7.00pm – Aotea Youth Symphony Orchestra

Sunday 4 October, 4pm – Viva Voce "All Spaced Out"

Well-known chamber choir Viva Voce describes its response to the pandemic and its aftermath in song. The programme includes music by Monteverdi, Purcell, Mozart, Elgar, Saint-Saëns and Anthony Ritchie, along with some lighter numbers, and features Eric Whitacre’s magnificent ‘Leonardo dreams of his flying machine’. For tickets phone 0221200680 or www.iTicket.co.nz

PARISH CALENDAR

We are readjusting our planning and along with everyone else dealing with uncertainty as we do. Worship remains online during Level 2.5, while gathering and distancing limits remain.

ONLINE 6, 13, 20 September – Creation series

CANCELLED 21-24 September – The Labyrinth

HERE'S HOPING 27 September – St Matthew's Day, preacher Bishop John Bluck

Sunday, 4 October – End of Life Choice Bill discussion after the 10.00am service

Sunday, 11 October – Parish Forum with Vestry

SCAM ALERT

There is a scam circulating at the moment in some churches - an email purporting to be from clergy asking for money for a cause or a person. Always be alert to the possibility of scams and always check with us if you are in any doubt about any communications.

CREATION SEASON IN SEPTEMBER

Our three week ‘Care of Creation’ Season begins today and continues over the next two Sundays September 13 and 20.

Following morning worship we will use Zoom to begin our collective journey. Take time to converse, consider, choose and challenge ourselves, and each other, to change; even if just a little, for the good of our planet.

Today we will look at our use of energy and modes of transport. On September 13 we will look at our purchase and consumption of food and disposal of waste. On September 20 we will consider a collective action that we, as St Matthew’s, might choose to take as a concrete statement of our Care for Creation.

Each week, after a short introduction, we will break into small groups to talk together and each of us decide whether, in response to the topic addressed, there’s a tangible commitment we’d like to make.

In late November we will come back together and see how we have done. Rather than seeing the small action we may take as an obligation or burden, we can see the next three months as an opportunity to tell the story of our collective journey. Take photos along the way, narrate the story of our trying something new, with the support of and accountability to each other. Not only fun but a way to illustrate to others the energy and power of collective action.

Have a look at the Auckland Council website www.livelightly.nz. A user friendly website to measure your carbon footprint, it joins our efforts with those of other Aucklanders.

Photos - and to mark the beginning of the season of creation please send a photo to Dmitry of something of God's creation from your neighbourhood. What do you notice on your lockdown walks? Please keep sending photos for the website and our worship videos.

END OF LIFE CHOICE REFERENDUM DISCUSSION

We will pick up the discussion we started last year, led by our medical professionals. We will hear what is actually included in the Bill and reflect together on what we might want to know before voting. For a more in depth understanding of issues around the End of Life Choice Act check out: www.yesforcompassion.org.nz and www.riskylaw.nz - holding opposing views with respect to the proposed Act, each presents their argument.

The End of Life Choice Act itself can be read here: www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2019/0067/latest/DLM7285905.htm

Bruce Gray is the Chancellor of the Diocese and gave this presentation to the Selwyn Foundation explaining what is in the bill www.selwynfoundation.org.nz/promotions/information-for-the-general-election/

WHAT THE TEAM ARE UP TO THIS WEEK

We will be doing a mixture of working from home and the office during Level 2. Cate is taking Ruth Spelman's funeral on Monday. Helen is on leave until Wednesday 16 September.

ELECTRONIC GIVING OPTIONS

Text stmatthew to 818 to make a one off or ongoing donation by credit card to St Matthew-in-the-City. Or you can download the PUSHPAY app from Apple Store or Google Playstore; search for St Matthew-in-the-City.