As you may have heard announced last Sunday, Anna, the family and I are leaving St Barnabas' at the end of November to take up an appointment in Ashburton and Tinwald. We'll be sorry to say goodbye to the Lifestreams' community and all that you have contributed to our lives over the past two years. We are also looking forward to new adventures in Mid-Canterbury as we discover what God is doing in new places. I hope to catch up with many of you over the next four weeks; please help me to do this by letting me know if you have time to get together for a coffee and chat. Currently I can be contacted either at home: 328 7127, or by cell phone 0212014798.

This Sunday our Diocesan Educator, Peter Carrell, will be our guest speaker at Lifestreams, at which we will be celebrating All Saint's Day.

A Few Words

"...so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints." - Saint Paul to the Ephesians

Who wants to be a saint? Do you? I suspect that not many of us seriously consider that we may be saints. But here in the letter to the Ephesians the apostle Paul is talking about members of the church as saints in the making. We don't become saints by trying harder, as if holiness could somehow be manufactured. We become saints by wanting to become saints. Making things holy is God's business, and God's been at it a lot longer than any of us!  So Paul is reminding us in this letter that God's power, the same resurrection power that raised Jesus to life, is the power that enables us to grow in spiritual depth, wisdom and love.

May Christ's resurrection power be within you, raising and strengthening you as you discover the pathway of the saints.

blessings,

Andrew

A Message for Kidzone teachers, helpers and parents.

All Kidzone teachers, helpers and parents are invited to Angela  Brown’s, 132 A Hamilton Ave, on 2nd November 7.30pm to discuss the Christmas Wearable Art Children’s Pageant and roster for 2011.
The presentation is 12 December so we need to get planning for this awesome event in St Barnabas Church in the combined 10.00am service.

There has been some discussion on the need to reintroduce the separate Xstream group which would require extra teachers for 2011. I hope we can celebrate the strengths of our Kidzone programme and be creative about the challenges we face. There have been some behavioural challenges especially in the Splash/Xstream group and so we will be reinforcing the conduct code by sending a helper to get the parent of any child who is disruptive or disrespectful of the adults teaching. We value our teachers and helpers and want them to look forward to this time with the children and not come away stressed and reluctant to stay on the roster! Thank you for discussing this with your children and do feel free to contact me if you have any other concerns. 

Angela Brown ph.3513 442

Meanwhile, this Sunday:

First Reading: Vicki Gilmour

Ephesians 1:11-23

11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. 15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Gospel: Virginia Ashby

Luke 6:20-31

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Welcoming: Vicki Gilmour and Stephanie Sturge

Prayers: Leonie Stapleton

Sidespeople: Steve Wakefield

Assistants: Kevin Maxwell, Richard Aitken

M of H: Linda Adams, Charlotte West

Morning Tea: Moka Ritchie and Amanda Cairns

Kidzone: 

Bubbles - Cheryl Earl, Karen Smith

Splash/Xstream - Monica Coulson, Anthony Fokkens
GRID - Angela Brown