Hi <<First Name>>,

We are now in the crazy season!  Amidst all other commitments, parties and duties, don't forget the carol services which are listed below. They are a fantastic chance for people to hear the best news in the world - that God has come into this world to seek and to save the lost.  Salvation, deep peace and real joy are on offer - for free, courtesy of the love of God.

We begin this weekend with Carols in the (Cathedral) Square this Saturday, 4-7pm, with a local edition of the same at Mairehau Primary School on Sunday, 4-7pm.  

Please pray for these to be great occasions for our neighbourhood and our city.  Do invite others, and come yourself - I look forward to seeing you there!  


James de Costobadie


Can You Help With Locking Up?

We are urgently looking for someone for someone who might be able to assist us by locking up after church on Sunday mornings on a regular basis - for financial payment.

If you are interested in this, please email Steph to let her know (or ask her any questions you might have). 


Carol Services - Christmas Choir

It’s that time again! we would love to be able to have a choir for our church carol services on December 21st. If you can sing in tune (test your vocals out on a good friend to find out!) and roughly read music (that is you can work out if the notes are going up or down on the sheet!) and you are aged 14 years or over, then you fulfil the criteria!!!

We have ONE rehearsal which you need to attend and this will be on Friday December 19th at 7pm at St Saviours Church in Sydenham. (Very low key and NO AUDITIONS!)
You need to be available for the 10am and/or the 7pm services on December 21st!

Please let Naomi Drye know via email (click here to email her) - or see her at church. The more the merrier.


Help Needed - Carols at Mairehau

We are still short by 6 - 7 people from the 10am service to help with the Carols at Mairehau service on Sunday Dec 7th. If you could help with any of the following areas, we would love to hear from you!

• Running kids games (between 4 - 6pm)
• Supervising bouncy castles (4 - 6pm)
• Welcoming people
• Setting up / Packing down (either 1pm or 7.15pm)
• General help

The more offers for help we have - the smaller the contribution needed from each individual person. 

Please contact Steve by email (click here) - or on 021 332 724 and let him know how you might be able to help. 


Walk, Talk, Coffee

Our last Walk, Talk, Coffee for the year is coming up next week (Dec 9)! 

We would love to have you join us - some easy exercise followed up by a relaxing coffee and chat. 

Meet at 9.30am by the old cafe in the Botanical Gardens - and from there we wander through to the new cafe for coffee (not too hard!). If it is raining - just go straight to the new cafe and meet for coffee. 

We'd love as many people as possible to join us for our last one in 2014 - so see you there :)

 
There are a number of Carol services and events coming up in December. Here is a summary so you can be sure you know all that is going on!

• Dec 6:  Carols in the Square (Cathedral Square)
• Dec 7:  Carols at Mairehau (Mairehau Primary)
• Dec 10:  Carols at Diana Isaac Retirement Village (residents only - please pray many would come!)
• Dec 21:  Carol Services (8.30am, 10am & 7pm Sunday services)
• Dec 24:   Carols by Candlelight (11.30pm at St. Saviours)
• Dec 25:   Christmas Carol Service (Mairehau High, 10am)

Choir - Singers for Diana Isaac Carol Service

On Wednesday 10th December St John's will be hosting a carol service at Diana Isaac Retirement Home.  

At the moment we have a choir of 10.  Is there anyone else who would be keen to join us?  

We will be singing traditional arrangements of 5 well known carols.  We will meet at 10.15 on Wednesday 10th, have a quick run through and then sing in the carol service from 11.00am - 11.40am the same day.  No other rehearsals required.  

If you're keen could you please see Shelley Liken at church - or click here to email her.


Sunday School - Performance for Carol Service

For parents of children in Sunday School - on the 21st of December (as you probably know) we will be holding the family carol service. During this service, there will be an item up front that your child will be a part of. 

Rehearsals for this item will be held over the next few weeks within Sunday School. 

Please do mark this date down in your diaries - and it is a great opportunity to bring friends and family along!


Camp Time!

There are two camps on the horizon at St. John's. 

The 2014 Youth Group camp is a brilliant way to start the school holidays. The camp is held from Dec 12 - 14th at the wonderful Glenroy Lodge in Hororata. Please click here for more information - and to register for the Youth Group camp. 

Also - as mentioned on Sunday, the 2015 10am camp at Wainui will be held from Mar 6 - 8, and we are excited to have Dr. John Woodhouse (former Principal of Moore College) teaching us over two wonderful days in such a great setting.

We'd love to have you register as soon as possible so we can keep track of numbers - and encourage *everyone* from the 10am service (especially those who may be new or new-ish) to come along. Click here for more information and to register for the 10am camp.