Cooking School and Bible banquets

Greetings, friends, members and supporters of our church at Clevedon, Kawakawa Bay, Orere Point, Conifer Grove, Takanini, and in the southern part of Auckland – and beyond. The Peace of Christ be with you! Let us Pray Lord of Hosts, We give thanks for those special times of celebration in our lives. Times when we have come together, with food and joy and laughter. Times when we have met new friends or celebrated important moments. God, giver of all good things, We celebrate your love and welcome. In Christ’s name, AMEN   Cooking Class On Saturday afternoon I went to a class on how to cook a fish. A little explanation here – I’ve had reasonable success in catching snapper, but both Sandy and I have often talked about how little of the fish you end up eating if you just eat the fillets. So the course was focused on how to eat the whole fish. The head for soup, the ‘wings’ baked, and the body of the fish cooked in a kind of Thai sauce. (let me know if you would like the recipes and instructions) It was quite a fancy cooking class, and I am not sure that I could ever manage to assemble all the ingredients involved, but I am pretty confident that I can adapt the recipes to use when (or if!) I catch a few more fish. We ate what we cooked, and I have to say that the soup, wings and fish all tasted pretty good. What is more, we cooked and ate together – I didn’t know anyone else there, but meeting new people and doing these things together was a real highlight. Cooking and eating in the Bible. Have you noticed that many of the major events in Scripture happen around the preparation and sharing of food?  - for example: the special meal prepared on the night of Passover as the Hebrew people prepared for their great march out of slavery; the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples – and the meal on the lakeshore prepared by Jesus for his followers straight after his resurrection. It was Jesus’s readiness to eat with ‘tax collectors and sinners’ that got him into so much trouble. The Messianic Banquet Christians have seen in this prophecy from Isaiah the fulfilment of God’s purposes for all people: On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,  of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.   He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.   This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:6-9) Let us Pray Jesus, you who welcomed sinners and outcasts, We pray today, for all who feel unwelcomed. For those who find themselves left out, overlooked or discarded. Help us, Lord, to see you in the stranger, and to know that as we welcome, care for, or visit ‘the least of these’ We discover your presence.  In Christ’s name AMEN   Our Notices Cottage Cafe this Friday 1st March 2024, 10 am to 12pm at the Cottage (5 Kawakawa-Orere Rd). Great Company, Coffee and home baking. No charge although gold coin donations will be gratefully appreciated. Worn Again will also be open and has heaps of Summer Stock. International Children’s Day. Please find attached a reflection sent via the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church encouraging us to pray for the children in our community and world.   Youth Group. Clevedon Youth Group Friday, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at 87 Settlement Road, Papakura. This term, we're joining forces with the Youth Groups from Papakura East Presbyterian Church and Drury Presbyterian Church.  Join us every Friday for games, devotions, small group discussions, and, of course, food! Bring your friends The group is open to all Year 7 – 13 young people.  To find out more, or if you need a ride, please contact Paia on 027 724 2100.   HATCH – our community dinner and church continues this Sunday. All welcome. Please let Mathilde know if you are coming. mathilde@clevedonpresy.co.nz   Men’s Group. We continue with a discussion on the Biblical concept of ‘hope’.  How do we think about and hold onto hope within the complexity of our lives – and all that is happening in the world?  All men are welcome at 7.30 pm each Wednesday in the Clevedon Church lounge.   Community Lunch at Clevedon. The first of these will be on Thursday, March the 7th. Tuesday Morning Home Group. Ardmore 10 am. All are welcome to join with this very friendly and welcoming group for prayer, discussion and Bible readings. Please contact Bev Sutton for details: beverleySutton@xtra.co.nz Tuesday Evening Ladies Bible Study meets during the school term in locations in Ardmore and Conifer Grove. 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm. If you would like to find out more, please give Geraldine Oosterbeek a call on 027-2704-904 Prayer Circle Requests. For anyone who is seeking prayer for any concern or situation: prayercircle.clevedonpresy@gmail.com or text: Cath at 021 349 417, Elaine 022 071 7201, or Nikki 021 973 799  AA - every Thursday at 7.30 pm at the Clevedon Church lounge. Friendly and supportive. For anyone with alcohol or drug problems.  https://aa.org.nz/ Pastoral. Martin is conducting the wedding of Mike Smith to Louise Simpson this Saturday. Please hold Mike, Lou and their families in your prayers on this special day.   Sunday Services and activities: Clevedon Church Sunday morning service at 10 am. Join us in person or watch the live stream on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxBzxjBb3xU8ra2NHwvD_9A (The service can also be viewed at any time afterwards.) Prayer before the Service. Join us at 9:15 am every Sunday in Martin's office to pray for the church and community. St Aidan’s Takanini (23 Walter Stevens Drive, Conifer Grove,)  Sunday morning service at 10 am Playgroup - Every Monday and Tuesday morning in the school term.  Contact Brenda at 021 657 178. Men’s group. Tuesdays at 7 pm in the Church lounge. A time of sharing, fellowship, prayer and study together. Wednesday Communion service 9.30 am. All welcome Women's friendship and study group. Evening group, Wednesday, 7 pm.  Day group, Friday 10 am. Contact Lorraine Richmond at 027 476 1169 Know your Bible Women’s study group. Thursday 12.30-2.30 pm. Contact Susanna Ph. 027 450 1926   (note the change from Friday) Kawakawa Bay The service is held in the Community Hall each Sunday at 9.30 am. This Sunday Martin is preaching on Mark 12:1-12  - The Grapes of Grace  Plan ahead Russell’s Car collection. A very special and unique opportunity to view Russell Vincent’s extraordinary private car collection. Saturday 16 March (note correction) 9.30 am. 806 North Road, Clevedon.  (Please RSVP to martin@clevedonpresy.co.nz) Easter - Good Friday 29 March 10 am and Easter Sunday 31 March 10 am. Singers and musicians keen to be involved, please see Gina ANZAC Day: Martin, Sarah Park and Gina are again coordinating the 2024 service on Thurs 25 April, at 9.30 am. 2-part service, with singers and musicians, sought for the ceremony in the Hall and general volunteers. See Roundup or Gina for full details. CVMFT Sunday Serenade Sun 07 April 1.30 pm:  “Fools and Angels” -  A journey through time discovering musical and dramatic moments of the intrepid, the cautious and the downright crazy” featuring past CVMFT scholarship winners and more. Go to CVMFT.org, or see Gina Thank you for your prayers and generous support of our church and its mission. Martin

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