The parish newsletter will be updated each month in print form, and available at service each Sunday. We always contact church members with extra important information.
December 2020
Happy Advent everyone, we made it! It has been a long and disrupted year. Many of us are carrying stress and tension from the uncertainty and cancellations of 2020, and so it is my prayer that we can all find a place in the sun to relax and recharge this summer. May Christ be born within and among us in a new and life-giving way this Christmas. May we hold each other and be held as a new year dawns.
Summer Dates
5 Dec Girls’ Brigade sleepover in the church.6 Dec 10-11am National Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade Queens’ Award Service hosted by our church. Let’s fill the church to celebrate the achievements of the young men and women from Girls’ Brigade and Boys’ Brigade companies around New Zealand. Please bring a plate for morning tea.
6 Dec 4.30pm Community Carols at St Hilda’s Church (311 The Parade) hosted by the churches of Island Bay. ‘Old school’ games (sack races, tug of war etc) from 4.30pm, free sausage sizzle from 5.30pm and carols and entertainment from 6pm. All welcome!
13 Dec 7-8.30pm Ukulele Carols, in the auditorium. Bring your ukulele or mandolin, music stand, and festive voice to play the favourites! Music provided. Gold coin entry.
15 Dec 7:30pm Last Parish Council for 2020. Please bring a plate
20 Dec noon Our IBPC Christmas lunch will be held fter the service. All welcome. Christmas ham provided (but again, bring a plate!).
24 Dec 6pm Christmas Eve caroling: we will head off as usual. Details to be confirmed
.24 Dec 10:15pm Late evening candlelit service. A reflective, peaceful way to see in Christmas Day with carols and candles.
25 Dec Christmas Day Service. A short celebratory service. 9.30am. Welcome all visitors to the bay, plus the local community.
27 Dec 10 am With so many people away and Christmas two days earlier, we will meet with the other churches at Island Bay beach, below the surf club, at 10am. There will be a short liturgy, a song or two, then time to relax and play in the beauty of creation. Bring games, kayaks, and Christmas leftovers for a picnic.
31 Dec 5:30pm New Year’s Eve BBQ at IBPC from 5.30pm til late. Bring to share your meat to cook on the barbie from 6pm and salads, drinks, nibbles, dessert, and board games. Teas and coffee provided and fruit salad with ice cream. All families and friends welcome. Any queries Contact Brenda .
30 Jan 10am All ministry leaders, PC-ers, Managers, preachers, pastoral carers and loyal servants of the church are invited to our IBPC prayer and planning retreat. 10am-3pm in the church. Bring lunch, and prayerfully read over our interim mission plan before coming.