1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Issue 9 2015
(Published Fortnightly)
Newsletter
Kia ora koutou whanau,
We are in the midst of what is called the Easter Season— 50 days beginning
on Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection, and finishing on Pentecost
Sunday, thus 50 days later. It seems ideal that Mother’s Day is right in the
middle of this important season,
Sunday Services:
This Sunday, May10
10am—Northcity
So Happy Mother’s Day to all those special Mums amongst us!
During May we continue to follow the story of Jesus, now post-resurrection.
Jesus appears to his disciples on many different occasions, with the coming
anticipation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that great day of
Pentecost, commissioning the
disciples to take the good news
of His Lordship to all nations.
The photos on the right were
taken during our recent time in
Jerusalem in what is called the
“Upper Room’, known as the
possible place of the Last
Supper and/or the outpouring
of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Everyone acknowledges that
neither is possible as this actual
room was built by the Crusaders
in the 12th century as part of
the Church of St. Mary of Zion.
However, it was almost certainly
in this vicinity and the
atmosphere draws you into the
Biblical story.
Worship; Prayer for Missionaries;
Janice speaking, interviewing other
Northcity mums; Cambodian church
selling lunch
 4:30pm—Highway
Worship service
 6pm—Northcity
Megan Bijl speaking—”A Journey of
Restoration”
Next Sunday, May 17
10am—Northcity
Worship; Donald speaking— “The
Ascension of Jesus”
 4:30pm—Highway
Missional activity
 6pm—Northcity
No service this week
We entered the room and it was
virtually empty, but whilst taking
photos a great crowd gathered
with several groups from many different nations entering and a great
cacophony of different languages rising above the silence. It seemed in some
small way a fulfilment of that great promise of the Coming of the Holy Spirit
where God was worshiped in the languages of the nations present (Acts 2).
Today the same promise is to us as it was to the early disciples:
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth.’ Acts 1:8
Shalom, Donald
P.S. For those who are interested to hear more about our time in Israel, an
excerpt from our blog is attached with this newsletter.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Upcoming
2
General Notices
2-4
Other Organisation Notices
4-5
Connect Groups
6
Rosters
6
EMAILED WITH THIS ISSUE
The Intrepid Pilgrims
1
Simply Cooking
There is still room for you—or someone you know—join the “Learning the
Basics ” Simply Cooking course.
This four week workshop series is designed for anyone who has limited
cooking skills and would like to be able to feed their family healthy, nutritious
meals on a budget. Each workshop is very ‘hands on’, with the opportunity—
under the guidance of the instructor—to prepare and cook the recipes each
week, making enough to take a meal home.
You will also look at different topics related to cooking and food prep.
Course dates: Thursday mornings 7,14,21 & 28 May
Time: 9.30 – 12 midday
Cost: $7.00 per session
Contact: Karen Watson to register, brochures are in the Northcity foyer
Kairos Course
Kairos means God’s appointed time.
The nine week course begins on Tuesday, May 26 and is $50 per person for the
full course.
Please pray about coming and investing in your life with God. Discover his
appointed time for you. Click here to check out the Kairos website for more
details. You can register online on that website by selecting New Zealand from
the list of countries, then scrolling down the page to find the Northcity course.
Please talk to Ralph Chen-Green if you want to know more about it or email
him at [email protected]
Zion Fundraisers
Upcoming
 Sun May 10:
 Mothers Day
 Sun May 17:
 Flu jabs after the service
for those who have
registered
 6:30pm—Zion movie
fundraiser
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Don’t you love a win-win! Zion
Studios has a couple of ways that you
can support their fundraising efforts
and have something for yourself.
Have a think about maybe one of the
following:
1. At 6:30pm on Sunday May 17th (no
evening service that night) Zion is
hosting a night at the movies.
Join us to see Pitch Perfect 2—a
comedy musical that you can check
out by clicking here. Tickets are $15
per person, with 50% of that going to
Zion.
2. The new Entertainment Books are
available for sale via this link.
The books offer great discounts and
deals for a wide range of food and
entertainment retailers in the
Canterbury region and is back to its
best! A sample is available at the
Northcity reception desk.
Each book is $65 and Zion gets $13
of that—so you only have to use it a
couple of times to get your money
back and your donation is a bonus!
Gotta love that deal!
Frontline at the Footy this Friday
Frontline is going to the Crusaders vs. Reds rugby game at AMI Stadium this
Friday night. Tickets are $10 but need to be pre-booked with Rachael by
tomorrow (Thursday 7th) so she can purchase them in bulk. Please meet at
the venue and bring cash to pay for your ticket.
Crèche Helpers Needed
This would involve being rostered on for 2 Sunday mornings
every few months. Contact Kathryn Fortune 021 211 1923
Not Just a Pretty Picture
It’s been a big job, but thanks to the
creative talents of Rach Prior, Barb
Watson and Deb, Mishael and Ethan
Buckland along with the construction
skills of Brett Watson, Matt Bijl and
Simon Buckland, our ‘stained glass
windows’ are now hanging in the
auditorium. Not only do they look
beautiful, but they also illustrate parts
of the Northcity story.
The double window above left is the
Northcity ‘identity’ window. It has
representations of prophetic words
given to Northcity, who we are and
endeavor to be:
The Tui is the first bird that returns to
the bush after a fire, it speaks of Hope
and Restoration. It is also one of the
few birds in the world that has 2 voice
boxes—used separately and together
to create its unique range of sounds.
The Huia Feather also encourages us
to recover and foster our sense of
identity as a nation. It symbolises the
preciousness of our indigeneity and
speaks of restoration and pride in the
unique cultural heritage of our land
and its people.
The Fig Tree is a tree that grows much
wider than it grows tall— representing
increasing influence, it fruits for most
of the year and has room for many in
its branches.
The tree roots are a Raranga—
a weaving together of the many
strands of diversity which are vital in
giving life to our tree.
Quick Bits...
 Help for the Homeless
If you would like to donate
directly to this organisation,
their bank account number is
01-0815-0090406-01. Click
here to visit the facebook page
 Flu Vaccination
We have reached the required
minimum numbers to have the
flu jab missions fundraiser, but
it isn’t too late to register. It is
likely that the vaccination will
be administered after the
morning service on May 17th.
Info for those participating will
be sent directly to them, so
please reply to this email to get
yourself on the list if you are
keen.
 Coffee Training
Jono Tressler is training a group
of people to properly use the
coffee machine and make great
coffee for sale from the Northcity café. Income generated
from these sales is donated to
mission work.
If you would like to learn the
difference the between a flat
whit and a latte, be taught how
to properly use our coffee
machine and then offer your
time on occasion to contribute
to our mission fundraising,
please contact Jono by email
[email protected]
The other window is the Kotahitanga
window. Kotahitanga means Unity—
literally translated is “the Realm of
Oneness”. It is represented within
this window by a hongi in the bottom
left corner. The colours are the
greens and blues of Creation
with purple for Jesus. The mingling
breaths rise up into arms lifted
in worship. It symbolizes that unity—
with each other, heaven and earth—is
a beautiful act of worship.
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Be In To Win
Johan and Josh Esterhuizen have put together a small raffle with
several prizes that you might like...You might win some firewood,
or a service for your car, or a bioceramic pot and pan set...or...
some other things.
By buying a raffle ticket for $2 you will be supporting their fundraising efforts to help them get to the USA to represent New Zealand in the Razorback Invitational science, technology and robotics
tournament. Their fundraising efforts are going well, but...they
still need your help! Raffle tickets will be available at Northcity on
Sunday...and if you're not into raffles, donations are still welcome!
If you're interested in following their progress, click here to check
out their website, which also contains the full prize list.
Middleton Grange
School : Enrolments
Enrolments for entry in Years 1 - 13 for 2016 are now
open. Bookings are essential for our Open Days which
will be held on 19 and 21 May 2015. If your child (or
grandchild) turns 5 at any time in 2016 an application
must be made during this enrolment season.
t: 348 9826 e: [email protected]
Christchurch District Plan Review
Stage two of the Proposed Christchurch Replacement District Plan is now notified
and open for submissions. Click here to see the stage two proposals online. There
are also hard copies available for viewing at all Council service centres and libraries,
including the civic offices at 53 Hereford Street.
Stage two includes definitions, papakainga, general rules, transport, Christchurch
City Council designations, utilities, energy & infrastructure, hazardous substances,
rural, open space, specific purpose zones (Defence Wigram, cemetery, Styx Mill
Road transfer station, hospital, school, tertiary education and golf resort) and parts
of the commercial, industrial residential, subdivision, development & earthworks
chapters.
The Council has written to the owners and occupiers of all properties directly affected by the stage two proposals. We are also delivering a newsletter to all households
and out of town property owners.
There are now 30 working days for public submissions. Submissions can be made
online via the Council’s website, or using a District Plan Review submission form
available from Council service centres and libraries during the submission period (or
on request from our customer call centre—telephone 941-8999). A submission
form is also included in the District Plan Review newsletter being delivered to all
Christchurch households and PO Boxes. Submissions on the stage two proposals
close on Monday 15 June 2014.
We welcome your involvement in the review process and invite you to share this
information with others.
4
Strategy and Planning Group, Christchurch City Council
Connect Groups
Thank you!
Jesus had a small group of people (disciples) that he
taught regularly - not just on Sunday. Sunday wor-
to all who give generously to
ship gatherings are not all that Northcity is about.
Northcity.
We have a number of small groups called Connect Groups which are one of the
Please note that in order for us
major ways we express what it is to be the whanau of God. Northcity Church is
to provide a tax receipt which
the people and not a building; connecting with each other so we can better
allows you to claim back a third
connect with God is an important part of who we are.
of all you give us, we need to
record your offerings using our
tithe record system. You are
Currently, our Connect Groups are held:
allocated a number to identify
Monday 7:30pm
Tuesday 7.30pm
Wednesday 10:00am
Wednesday 7:30pm
Wednesday 7:30pm
Wednesday 7:30pm
Wednesday 7:30pm
Wednesday 7:30pm
Wednesday 7:30pm
Thursday 7:30pm
your giving, which removes the
need to record your name.
Please ensure that you supply
this number with any payment
made. If you have not been
assigned a tithe number or
can't remember it please
contact Barb in the Northcity
office or check with the
Papanui (young adults)
Russley (mixed adults)
Northcity Café (women)
Avonhead (mixed adults)
Bishopdale (mixed adults)
Casebrook (mixed adults)
Bishopdale (mixed adults)
Redwood (young adults)
St Albans (young adults)
Northwood (mixed adults)
Chris and Michelle Walker
Kathryn Wilson
Janice Scott
Johan and Emmy Roentgen
James & Kathy Duncan
Greg & Janine Greenwood
Craig and Kahla Brooks
Hamish and Jo Read
Cam Fisher
Jeremy & Charleen Chan
EFTPOS operator on Sunday
Youth Groups :
(Generally held at Northcity church. Regular weekly cost = $2 per person, may be
additional event costs)
Friday 7-9pm weekly Frontline (high school age)
Rachel Prior
Friday 7-9pm fortnightly Bootcamp (intermediate age)
Craig & Kahla Brooks
mornings.
Tithe envelopes can be found
by the EFTPOS machine in the
auditorium. Northcity’s bank
account number for online or
We’d love to help you find a group that you can connect with. For
more information please contact Andy Dickson at Northcity 375-0850
or email [email protected]
automatic bank payments is
02 0816 0113227 000
Sunday Service Rosters
Service
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May
10am
Duty Group
Brooks
Duncan
Roentgen
Ladies
10am
Welcome
Raewyn Bell,
Blair Ashdowne
Raewyn Bell,
Blair Ashdowne
Greg Greenwood,
Janine Greenwood
Greg Greenwood,
Janine Greenwood
10am
Host Manager
Mike Gilligan
Mike Gilligan
Rod Cameron
Rod Cameron
10am
10am
EFTPOS
Bruce Fisher
Heidi Fuglestad
Heidi Fuglestad
Barbara Watson
Lunch
Cambodian Church
Zion
Lighthouse Girls Home
Bootcamp
10am
Crèche 0-2 yrs
Blair & Emily Ashdowne
Greg & Heather Stanley
Greg & Heather Stanley
Emmy Roentgen
10am
Crèche 2-4 yrs
Ashley Taylor, Gabby
Wilson
Ashley Taylor, Ashley
Freeman
Dave & Claire
Thompson, Charlotte
Dave & Claire
Thompson, Charlotte
10am
Spark
Marguerite Wilson,
Charlotte McAuley &
Oakley Prendergast
Marguerite Wilson,
Charlotte McAuley & Oakley Prendergast
Marguerite Wilson,
Charlotte McAuley &
Oakley Prendergast
Marguerite Wilson,
Charlotte McAuley &
Oakley Prendergast
10am
Boot Camp
Shane
Shane
Shane
Shane
6pm
Welcome &
Kitchen
Jason Greenwood, Jeff
Greenwood
No Service
Heidi Fuglestad, Oakley
Prendergast
No Service
Thank you to those who volunteer for our service rosters each week, you are a vital part of our ability to
5
function as we feel called to do. We would love to speak to anyone else who feels at any time that they
may like to help in a rostered area. Please approach John Thompson or Barb in the first instance.