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From the Pastor:
Warn Christmas greetings to all who are worshiping with us today. Many thanks to all those who prayed and fasted last week, we will look forward to seeing how God will answer our prayers.

We are having a special Christmas Eve Celebration on Monday evening at 7.30 p.m. Please remember to bring a plate for supper. There are some spare invites in the foyer to give to friends and family. If you wish to put some in letterboxes let Katie know so we don�t double up on some streets.

The Leadership Team have clearly felt God guiding us as we have spent considerable time during the past few months putting together our Vision Statement. This was ratified at our final Deacons� meeting for the year. We are very conscious how long this has taken, but during the process which included many draft copies, changes and alterations we felt it was most important to spend the time to get it right, as hopefully it will be with us for a few years to come. The more we pondered our current Mission Statement the more we felt it was too long and lacked a certain punch so have changed this as well. The Mission Statement the Leadership Team have agreed on is �Making a Difference�, and the Vision Statement we agreed on is �Our vision is to make a difference in North Otago by evangelising, discipling and training people to become fruitful, mature, multiplying believers of Jesus Christ.�

If you are looking for some good reading material over the holidays there is some excellent material in the church library in the foyer. Why not take a few moments and have a browse.

Last week you will have received a letter from me about the possible restructuring of our services. Please give this your prayerful attention and get your responses back to me as soon as you can, but no later than January 27. There are some spare copies in the foyer if you or your partner would like to make different submissions. If you choose the option of a separate service it would be helpful for us if you could indicate whether or not you would be attending.

Contributions for Robyn Couper�s airfare are still required for her to come home next year. We still require in excess of $2,000. Donations can be placed in the offering in specially marked envelopes.

If you use the car park at the rear of the church please enter the church through the front door in order to clear your pigeon hole and receive any material that may be given out at the door.

Due to the holidays small groups are in recess until early in the New Year. See Janet Calder if you would like more information.

Rob Kilpatrick has just received word that one of their student sponsors at the John Takle Memorial Hostel in Bangladesh is unable to continue. The boy�s name is Khakon Biswas. He is 8 years old and is one of four children from a poor family. His father is a day labourer. The family was converted to Christianity from a Hindu background a few years ago. He was recently admitted to the Hostel, but needs a sponsor to stay there. If you can help or would like more information please see me.

For Sale: �Occasion Cards� with envelopes $2 each. On display on the table in the foyer. All money from the sale will go towards Robyn�s airfare home. One card is open to examine. Money Box on table for payment. Special cards made on request by Margaret Brown phone 4313675.

Please remember the following in your prayers during the holidays:
v Leadership for Sunday School after the first term.
v Leadership for the Music and Worship Team.
v Wisdom as we plan for the New Year
v Christmas Eve service will touch many lives.
v Alan and Jan in Bangladesh and Robyn in Haiti.
v Wisdom, sensitivity and timing as we decide what is best for our church buildings
v Sue Avis as she establishes Girls� Brigade here in the new year.
v Those not able to worship with us - Ethel Baker, Noel Cleverley and Phil Sargent.

As this is our final newsletter for the year, Gaynor and I would like to extend to each and everyone our love and best wishes for the holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New.

As this is our final newsletter for the year, Gaynor and I would like to extend to each and everyone our love and best wishes for the holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous New Year. We will be on holiday from January 7 - 21.

SPECIAL NEWS from Australia
Jan & Alan have two new grandsons!
Anna and Darren had Ethan Thomas on Tuesday 11th December and Karen and Paul had Bradley John on Sunday 16th December.
Everyone is doing well - especially the proud grandparents. For more details see the missionary notice board in the foyer.
Sorry - no pictures yet!

Transformation II video: This is available for anyone to loan. Janet Calder will let you have it!!!

Are you interested in doing some kind of deeper Biblical studies but don�t want to leave North Otago? There is now available from Carey Baptist College 25 courses offered by Distance Learning. If you are interested I have left a few leaflets on the table in the foyer. If there is more than one person we may be able to form some kind of small group to encourage each other so see me before enrolling.

Pastoral Care: We are hoping to set up teams to be involved in visiting people on a regular basis. This is not social visiting but pastoral care where needs are being met. There will be training given before you are asked to take part in this ministry. If you are interested and think that your giftings would enable you to do this please contact Janet Calder.

                  SERVING THE LORD
Week of      30.12.01            6.1.02
Cleaning      D Cleverley &    Janardan Family                          C Clarke
Hostess       D Murray           D Moir
Door           J & J Thorpe      D Moir &                                                           D Carrington

                         Small Groups

Gary Shirley�s:   Tuesdays, 26 Stuart Street.
Contact Gary/Trish 4349903 for the time.

Women�s Morning Fellowship: Tuesdays,
10 a.m. Venue - Debbie Moir, 8 Nen Street.

Janet�s: Tuesday�s 7.30 p.m. 6 Fleet Street.

Sharyn�s Morning Fellowship Group is having their final gathering for the year - a pot luck lunch on Tuesday at Katie Richards home at 12 noon. Contact Sharyn for more details e.g. date, address etc.

Anyone wanting to join a group please contact the leaders or Janet Calder at 4349435.

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MUSIC PRACTICE: Please contact Worship leader for details of practice times.