Parish of Johnsonville, PO Box 13253, Johnsonville November 2013–January 2014 From the Vicar But it’s not all about Sundays. Exactly one year ago, the parish got together and came up with Mainly music has continued to three goals that we wanted to live flourish each week with 35 kids into as a community. These goals coming last week, and Awesome were: Church has had fantastic atten- dance with 15-30 kids and their To grow by 40% over five parents and grandparents at each years of the past three gatherings. For that growth to come through a greater focus on And we’ve been connecting with ministry to children, youth, our community. Teri and I have and families been involved with music classes To make a greater connection at Johnsonville School this year with the wider community to playing various concerts in the which God has called us to community, and last week it was share the Good News about wonderful to have them come up Jesus. and perform at St John’s. The monthly Friendship Lunch contin- So how are we doing? ues to be a place where people are Well, attendance at all services has served and enjoy good food and increased, most significantly at good company, and we are now RoundAbout 10.00am where the service has al- branching out to provide a meal most doubled in size over the past on Christmas day for people who three months. This has largely don’t have family nearby to cele- come about through a greater fo- brate with. We were involved in cus on ministry to children, youth the unveiling of a memorial to a and families with the creation of pioneer woman in Glenside and Kids Church on a Sunday morn- continue to be involved in local ing, as well as through building on 1729 rest homes, and funerals and wed- - connections in the wider commu- dings (seven coming up this sum- nity during the week. As part of mer!) continue to be wonderful this growth we have celebrated six baptisms in the past three weeks! (continued on p. 12) Phone: 973 Email: [email protected] www.johnsonvilleanglicans.org.nz Page 2 RoundAbout Bishop Justin’s prayer vigil Left: students from St Patrick’s Catholic School in Te Awamutu with Bishop Justin, Archbishop John Dew of the Ro- man Catholic Church and Archbishop Philip Richardson outside the cell Bishop Justin spent the week in One wall in Bishop Justin's cell was papered with a list of every jail cell in every prison in the country. During the vigil he systematically prayed through that list for approximately 8100 prisoners, and for all the vic- The Anglican Bishop of Wellington tims. held a week-long prayer vigil for pris- Each day he also led midday services oners and associated victims from 13 that were attended by about 80-90 peo- to 20 October. ple, at which he spoke briefly about an Bishop Justin Duckworth hoped his aspect of penal reform. The topics in- action, in a prayer cell outside Welling- cluded the underlying causes of crime, ton Cathedral of St Paul, would leave such as poverty and illiteracy, and the the country more informed about the need for prisoner reintegration into so- current prison system and more willing ciety. to consider alternatives to prison that Bishop Justin said he was not protest- better serves victims and offenders. ing at any organisation but there is am- "Prisons are intended for society's well- ple research that shows punish- being, yet two thirds of prisoners reof- ment alone does not address the causes fend in two years. So we need to realise of crime, nor solve high rates of reof- that a prison sentence only works in a fending, nor foster safer communities. minority of cases. As a society we need "The government has rolled out an ex- to consider options other than prison tensive restorative justice programme that can repair the harm to victims, but we as a society have been slow to their families, and the community," adopt such programmes. Research says Bishop Justin. shows that 74% of victims surveyed November 2013–January 2014 Page 3 From the Bishop (con’t) felt better served by a restorative justice cluding literacy and drug and alcohol approach than by a prison term being dependency, as their sentence is under served," says Bishop Justin. two years or they cannot read. Bishop Justin applauds the government "It is hard to have fewer victims of initiative with measures to ensure each crime when too many prisoners leave prisoner gets the education they need. with the only skill being able to offend His concern is that until now he has again. That's why prisons become a re- seen and heard too often that short- volving door and that kind of justice term prisoners miss out on much does not serve anyone," says Bishop needed education and rehabilitation, in- Justin. Awesome Church on 30 November This year our final Awesome Church Pray for a joyful time that touches for the year will be on 30 November, people’s hearts. the same day as the Christmas Parade. Come along and show the commu- We have decided to make it a big event, nity how welcoming we can be and we hope to bring in people from Help set up the hall in the morning. the parade and fair. We will hand out Give out flyers during the parade flyers at the parade advertising Awe- some Church. We’ll start at the hall at Help with putting out food and 11.30am with iceblocks and a place for cleaning up. people to rest their tired feet. At Bring food: sandwiches, chippies, around 12.00noon we’ll have a picnic- cookies, curried or hardboiled eggs, style lunch, then have fun decorating fruit and vege appropriate for a the church and hall for Christmas. We’ll picnic finish up with a short child-oriented If you can help with any of this, please worship service in the church. contact Katie, 973-1729 or Can you help? [email protected]. This is very ambitious. A successful event depends on parish support. These are some ways you can help. Page 4 RoundAbout Association of Anglican Women Wednesday, 4 December , 11.00 am. AAW 6.00pm to see floral arrangements etc. Advent Service at St Mary's, Karori before carols. Koha only. Supper after followed by a shared lunch and car- the service at Toni Finkle's. Ring Mar- ols. Carpool at the church carpark at garet Smith, 938-7915, for details. 10.00 a.m. All women of the Parish are welcome Tuesday 10 December, 6.30 pm. St. at these events. John's AAW Christmas meeting Thursday, 12 December, after the 10.00 at Old St. Paul's Carol Service with a.m. service. Senior Parishioners Morn- choir. Carpooling at the church at ing Tea. 5.30 pm to be at Old St. Pauls for Parish Christmas social event This year Vestry decided that we Any money left after costs are covered should have a minor change for our will be used for children's ministry Christmas Social and instead of a bar- Christmas activities as they have in the beque, it will be a dinner. past. Date : Thursday 12 December Please avoid parking at the church so Time : 6.00pm for 6.30pm children can play on scooters, bikes Place: Parish hall etc. there. Kids bring your wheels. Cost: $15 (under 12 free) Tickets available from the office or This will include the meal and a glass Vestry members from 22 Novem- of wine (or similar). You are welcome ber. Numbers will be limited so do get to BYO wine. your tickets early. Removal of hall stage Vestry has been looking into having Quotes have been obtained and an ap- the Hall stage removed to give consid- plication for a grant to do the work erably more usable floor space in the has been applied for. The work will Hall. The Hall is very well used by the go ahead only if an application for a community and the parish but very grant is successful. few ever use the stage. November 2013–January 2014 Page 5 Calendar of events Date and time Location Event Contact Wednesday, 20 November, Aotea Hospital Communion 11.00am Thursday, 21 November, Hunter Lounge Vestry meeting 7.30pm Thursday, 28 November, Hunter Lounge Fair committee wrap 7.30pm -up meeting Saturday, 30 November, Hall and church Awesome Church David Earle, 478- 11.30am 0678 Wednesday, 4 December, St Mary’s, Karori AAW Advent Ser- Toni Finkle, 478-9201 11.00am vice 2.00pm Malvina Major Communion Friday, 6 December, Hunter Lounge Order of St Luke Betty Meyers, 478- 12.00noon 7412 Saturday, 7 December, Hall and Church Working bee Pam Hartley, 232- 8.30am 2138 Sunday, 8 December, Church Missions bring and Claire Hunter, 478- 9.15am buy stall 8568 Tuesday, 10 December, Old St Paul’s AAW meeting: Old Margaret Smith, 938- 6.30pm St Paul’s Carol Ser- 7915 vice Weds, 11 December, Cashmere Hospital Communion 11.00am 2.00pm Johnsonvale Home Communion Thursday, 12 December, Hall Senior Parishioners’ 11.00am morning tea 6.00/6.30pm Hall Parish Christmas so- cial event Wednesday, 18 December, Aotea Hospital Communion 11.00am Weekly events Tuesdays, 7.00pm—Indoor Bowls, Hall. Contact Wayne and Debbie, 477-3833. Tuesdays, 7.30pm—Bible Study, Hunter Lounge. Contact James, 478-4234. Wednesdays, 9.30am—mainly music, Hall. (Finishes on Wednesday, 11 Decem- ber.) Contact Pam, 232-2138.