The Reverend Tric Malcolm, ex Wellington City Missioner and Executive Member of the Council of Christian Social Services will join us on Sunday (21 July) as we continue our St Anne's Pantry Review. Tric will discuss current thinking about Christian and Church food ministries and help us as a congregation to  continue our Pantry Review, informedly. The Pantry review working group has met twice and discussed with current Pantry leadership how the Pantry currently works; things that work well and the challenges. One of the Pantry's assets is they make food deliveries. This helps deliverers better appreciate the circumstances of food parcel recipients. We are aware of the extensive network behind the scenes that ensures goods and money are available to resource the St Anne's Pantry delivery operation. While we are aware also of some of the other church and community food providers, we are seeking to learn more as we map the bigger picture. Is there a case for better co-operation, especially across the churches?
In today's Sunday service in St Anne's our Scripture sentence (Psalm 82:3) was,
    Be fair to the poor
    and to orphans.
    Defend the helpless
    and everyone in need.
And our Gospel reading the story of the Good Samaritan.
There is no doubt that our neighbours are not necessarily the people next door; rather the people in our community who have urgent need. There is no doubt God is calling us further into such ministry.
We continue to become aware of a number of households and families with children who appreciate food support. Recently several children came to church and shared in breakfast before the morning Sunday service. We are open to our food resource being used to these ends - even a weekly Sunday breakfast with church members collecting children and delivering them home after the service?
Please pray with us as we at St Anne's seek to be obedient to and discerning of God's call to us about this cornerstone outreach ministry.
Terry - Interim PIC

An International Morning on Pentecost Sunday will mark the end of St Anne's Thy Kingdom Come season of prayer which will begin on Ascension Thursday 30 May. During this season of 'prayer focus' various activities have been scheduled including:

• ​Ascension Day (30 May) Prayer Services at 10am and 7pm
• Sunday June 2 worship with 12 Prayer Stations
• Prayer Stations remain available Monday 3 to Friday 7 June when there will be daily services at 10am and 7pm
• Prayer walking Mon 3 to Fri 7 June
• Pentecost Sunday International Morning as above.

In ten days, on the 6th March, Porirua Anglicans will convene two groups to study about "Christian Grace". Study booklets have arrived and are available for a suggested koha of $5 each. Entitled, "A pilgrimage of grace", this study will run for six Wednesdays through to 10th April. There will be two groups meeting at St Anne's: 10am and 7:30pm. Those wanting to join either of these groups should contact Rev Terry Alve 027 944 4996 or 232 2583 (text or call) and advise which group they will join.

​More information is available in the flyer below.

A wonderful Sunday afternoon and plenty of food & drink and good chat and carol singing and several children to receive gifts. Nearly 50 locals joined the gathering at Ernest Street Reserve/Park on 9th December to catch the spirit of Christmas. Thank you all, especially the St Anne's organisers, for a wonderful gathering.

On Wednesday 5 December 2018 Porirua Anglicans gathered in St Anne's for a day of prayer. This involved folk attending one or more prayer sessions: 6am, 9am, noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm. Each session lasted 30-40 minutes and was developed around a theme.

In promoting this day in an email the night before I had observed, "Porirua Anglicans are a people of prayer who have seen much of God at work through prayer. Tomorrow we expect that our praying will make a difference. Let's respond to God's word."  I ended with this scripture of encouragement,

The Church's new year has just begun with us celebrating Advent last Sunday. So it's time for new beginnings; new resolutions; new hope believing that God is doing a new thing in our midst. It was with these thoughts before us that we launched our day of prayer. Those gathered heard these verses from Isaiah 43 read,

So we are encouraged to pray that God will do the new things in our midst that perfectly reflect God's will for the Church and for the people of Porirua. We take heart for the housing renewal and regeneration plans recently announced by the Prime Minister and we see these as a sign of the spiritual renewal coming. We pray that Porirua Anglicans will be at the forefront of those committed to the renewal and regeneration of our city. That they will be bearers of new hope into the future.

We are NOT talking about the Porirua Anglican family, 'Grace', but high quality Lenten Studies on key Christian themes that have been offered in the Wellington Anglican Diocese in recent years. ​This year's series, "A Pilgrimage of Grace" promises to be up there in quality and content.

What is (Christian) grace? Elegance? Good will? Honour? Study scriptures about grace together. Share your experiences of grace received and given and how they have made a difference. Do you agree that if we do not offer grace, then we become a prisoner?

Buy your copy of this Lenten study series from the diocesan office or get one from Porirua Anglican.
​
Two Wednesday Study groups are planned in St Anne's:

• 10:00am - begins with morning tea
• 7:30pm - supper to follow

Both commence on Wednesday 6th March 2019 and Studies run for six weekly sessions.
​Use our contact form to register.