From the Pastor: A warm welcome to all who are worshiping with us today. Today is National Bible Sunday and to mark the importance of this day you should have received a Bible Reading plan. You will find them helpful if you don't already have some kind of plan to follow in your daily devotions. If you already use something - don't throw this away, rather pass it on to someone else who may be able to use it. We will also be welcoming Malcolm and Val Lucas and Graham Mills into membership. This afternoon at 2 p.m. Brenda, Gaynor and I will take the service at Iona Home. If anyone else would like to join us you are most welcome. Tonight at 7 p.m. we will be having our monthly Prayer 'n' Praise meeting here in the church. On Wednesday July 24 Team Leaders will meet. Our next Alpha programme will be starting on Thursday July 25 with an introductory coffee 'n' dessert night. Many people have experienced changed lives through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through this course. Please make a point of asking God who you can invite. In the latest Baptist it was mentioned that 1 in 3 would come if invited - people are often not there simply because no one has invited them. On Saturday July 27 Marjory Gibson will conduct her 'Relational Evangelism Seminar' here in the church. Many people struggle with this issue of knowing how to share Christ sensitively and intelligently with their friends. Over the years Marjory has developed keys most people find really helpful. This weekend could well be a key to release you into this area in a new and fresh way. The seminar will be from 10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church auditorium with half an hour for lunch. Please remember to bring your own pen, paper and lunch. Also because the hall will be used for voting please leave church car parks and those immediately in front of the building free for voters. On Friday July 26, 9.30 a.m. we are getting a team together to give the hall a bit of a spring clean in preparation for voting on Saturday. Please see Nan if you can help, or turn up on the day. Many hands make light work. 'Experiencing God' (knowing and doing the will of God) is a 12 week Bible study course that has been helping people to make real headway in their Christian walk. It is a very practical tool to help us understand God's will and love for us, hearing His voice etc. It takes us past head knowledge to daily experiencing God. People who have taken the course consistently say it has changed their lives. It is a 12 week study course where participants do approximately half and hour personal study each day. I will leave a copy of the study on the Communion Table if you would like to look at it. The book costs approximately $32. We are hoping to start a group up in the next few weeks. See me if you want more information. On Sunday July 28 Marjory will be preaching. Please note there will be no prayer meeting in the evening. This year our church AGM will be held on Sunday August 4 as part of our morning worship service. The Deacons and Elders have decided to try a new format this year that will be a celebration of God's goodness and include more of our people. The formal part of the meeting will follow the service and should only take a few minutes. The meeting will conclude with a cup of tea and fellowship in the back hall. Please note that only agenda items will be dealt with at the meeting. If there are any issues you would like to talk about pertaining to the AGM please contact one of the Deacons or Elders. The annual report will be available on Sunday July 28. Do you have a story about something special that God has done during the past year? If so please see Bruce. Sean Richards has given us advance notice that he will be unable to continue in Youth Leadership after the end of the year. Sean & Katie have done a great job with our youth and we are very grateful for their contribution. We are now beginning to look at other options to pursue for youth leadership. If you have ideas please see one of the Youth Team or myself. This is an important matter for your prayers. Rob Kilpatrick has written thanking us for our generous gift of $1,852 which we gave for our Self Denial offering earlier this year. Concern has been expressed over the past few years about the lack of Christian floats in the Christmas Parade. Robyn Wells is inviting anyone interested to a buzz session at Elim Church, Wednesday August 7 at 2 p.m. to exchange ideas. A workshop about creative Ministry with children and families presented by the National Co-ordinator of Ministry with children and families of the Presbyterian Church will be held on Saturday August 10th from 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St Paul's lounge. See notice board. Sessions will include: - understanding and connecting with children and their faith development - models of ministries with children and families. - Seasons of the Spirit - an exciting new resource. Promise Keepers annual conference will be held in Invercargill August 2 and 3 and Christchurch August 23 and 24. For more information see notice board. Leaflets in foyer. It would be great if we could have a couple of carloads of our men at these meetings. Do you Wannaknow more about the present situation regarding Missions in the world or what opportunities are currently available or how to prepare for Mission work? The Wannaknow weekend will be held in Christchurch August 30 and September 1. See notice board and foyer for details. Advance notice - Gaynor and I will be leaving for Canada on August 5 to marry my nephew and visit my parents. We will also be participating in a Willow Creek Conference (satellite link) in Vancouver. We will start back on September 17. The following is from the Combined Churches Outreach Committee: - there is a weekly half hour church seervice at St Paul's every Thursday at 12 noon. This is followed by a shared lunch. - the Food Bank are very grateful for ddonations of food but find they are getting low on Milo and Long Life Milk. - there is a Health Clinic available foor those who can't afford doctor visits, prescriptions or any health related needs. ring Anne Wilkinson for more details. Please remember the following in your prayers: * Noel Cleverley in hospital * Those caring for the sick * Those not able to get to services - Mavis Kane, Betty Broad, Phil Sargent, Ethel Baker, Elsie Lockhart * New leadership for youth * The Alpha programme * Marjory Gibson's visit * Urgent need for a Co-ordinator for our Music and Worship Dept. SERVING THE LORD Week of 28th July 02 4th August 02 Cleaning D Carrington & N Ley Chellew Family Hostess S Avis D Murray Door D Todd and A Clarke R & D Murray Small Groups Women's Morning Fellowship: Thursdays, 10 a.m. to be held at Katie Richard's place 58 Greta Street. Children are welcome. Contact Sharyn Walker at 434 1105. Senior Study Fellowship Group: Tuesday 30 July at Janice Thorpe's, 5 Bedford Street. Then fortnightly at 10 a.m. Contact Janice Thorpe 4372322. Tuesday evening Groups: Southern Zone: 7.30 p.m. Contact June & Heinz Schtork at 4324232. Venues will vary. Northern Zone: Contact Janet Calder at 434 9435. Venues will vary. MUSIC TEAM PRACTICE: 2nd August at 7.30 p.m. All interested singers and musicians welcome. "Strengthening Your Structures" A Conference for any Christian woman who desires to be encouraged and strengthened in her Christian walk. This Conference is being held in both the North and South Islands in September: Registration Forms are available from Baptist Women's Ministries, Robyn Appleton, 163 Easther Crescent, Kew, Dunedin 9001. OPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE: If you can help with the following areas see Nan Sargent: * Baptismal Stewards - preparation of church for Baptisms. * Clip Boards - for children during school holidays. * Communion Stewards - preparing elements monthly. ELECTIONS are coming up fast. To help people work through the issues, a paper has been prepared that quotes the different Party Policies on Marriage and Education. There are a few copies on the table in the foyer.