Sun 29 May
This week as part of the two week theme ‘Community’, we have heard accounts from two very different groups who meet within the Community Centre or Church. Both groups reflect some important attributes our community holds dear:
- The importance of children, excluded ones and those who try hard to hide their wounds
- The importance of music and play
- The importance of talking together, praying together and finding together what might be true and right for us at this point in time.
- The importance of being together, eating together, being ordinary, for we need each other in order to be who we are.
Another group within our community is ‘1st and 3rd’. This group was formed so that every one of us could have an opportunity to meet and talk over morning tea any 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. All are welcome to come as often or little as they feel able. I really enjoy attending when I can as it is a lovely opportunity to spend time talking and building friendships.
The Pastoral Care Team meets weekly and plans and coordinates contact and support, acknowledges new people seen at church and also acknowledges and celebrates achievements and highlights of members. Over the course of a month dozens of visits and phone calls are made, including a visit to Faye Green with Communion this month. The Team always has room for offers of help to visit or phone people or help with a meal. Convenor Noeline Creighton would welcome any offers of help. Pastoral care is an expression of community goodwill and caring, seen in practical action, giving visibility to the philosophy and vision of St Luke’s.
Another meeting place is the Sunday Roast. This is held on the 3rd Sunday of each month at midday in the Common Room. It is for all adults who live alone to share a roast dinner, conversation and companionship. All people living alone are very welcome to attend as frequently or infrequently as they want.
As a part of this community, we are often together to share in the most joyful and painful moments of our lives. Every one of us will at some point, leave behind a community of compassionate friends.
Your order of service contains the infamous St Luke’s information form for planning your funeral which has not been distributed for some time. Completing this form can make it easier for families or next of kin as information can often be difficult to find. It is especially valuable to fill this out if you have no immediate family to arrange your funeral. It can be helpful to the Minister to know what your preferences and requests are concerning your own funeral. You do not have to fill in the entire form and it can be changed over the years as preferences and circumstances change.
We encourage you to think about filling out this form. It is an extension of the responsible act of writing a Will and is a caring thing to do.
The completed form should be given to Allan or Glynn and is confidential to them.
The Community of St Luke is very dear to my heart. Over the past 25 years, as well as meeting an amazing group of people, I feel I have also had the opportunity to explore my personal spirituality through excellent progressive theological worship, liturgy and teaching in a compassionate community where differences in beliefs are respected and diversity and inclusiveness are important values. There is something special about church friendships; they feel meaningful through the special bonds which are created and the spiritual dimension and pilgrimage we share together. St Luke’s is more than a church – it is our community – it is our whanau.
