Pastor’s Message

The front page of our newsletter this week is a reminder to sign up for the mid-winter Christmas dinner if you have not done so yet. We would like to have as many of our families come along to the event. It’s the reason why we are having it at 5pm, so that we can include everyone. Even if you can only make it for one part, please come along. (Register here). The cut-off for registration is Thursday morning.

This week, we are on the last part of Ephesians 4. This is practical Christian living, and the challenge will be to see how counter-cultural we can be, because that’s the call in Ephesians 4:17-32. The title even gives it away.

Get to know our elders: Tim Hodge

Yes, you might have seen this photo used before, but this time it’s the bloke on the right answering the questions. Let’s get to know Tim this week as he answers our questions…

Tell us a little about where you grew up and what life was like as a child. 

I was born at an early age (!), growing up in various parts of the UK, finishing school in Gloucester in the West Country, which, if famous for anything, is known for rugby and cheese – two of God’s good gifts! 

I headed north for uni, to Salford, near Manchester (you might have heard of one of Mato’s favourite football teams, Manchester United :)). Uni was great: I got a science degree, met my now wife Liz, and got stuck in with both mission on campus and a local church. 

Why did I come to NZ? The short story is ‘be careful what you pray for’! The longer version includes Djibouti, distant cousins, and my reluctance…Ask me more! 

How did you become part of HCC? 

Through our two teenagers, really. There was no youth group in our last church, and our two really appreciated HCC Youth. So when our former church deliberately and joyfully closed, HCC was a natural connection. Honoured to be part of HCC. 

What is a favourite memory or highlight from your life so far? 

Being at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and watching Baz McCullum become the first Kiwi to score a triple century in Test cricket. A transcendent moment. 

Although, as amazing as that was, experiencing the joy of grace and forgiveness from Jesus, when at university, is far more awesome! 

Oh, and I’ve acted as a fig tree in the Mark Drama (www.themarkdrama.com) a few times and am genuinely proud of my performances :) 

What advice or wisdom to pass on? 

Follow Jesus, proclaim the Kingdom, and don’t look back. 

A favourite verse to memorise is Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for human masters

What is something surprising about you? 

That I get to speak in public settings so often in front of various groups through my work with TSCF Student Mission (Tertiary Students Christian Fellowship: www.tscf.org.nz).

As a young kid I couldn’t talk for a long time, so when I started primary school I had a lot of remedial speech therapy. In my last high school I was one of eight senior prefects. Part of the role was to lead school assemblies. As I was so nervous of public speaking, I was the only one who didn’t ever do it! 

Children’s church learning

Last week in the I AMs, the children covered “I am the gate”. Rumour has it that there were sheep and goats involved in the sheep pen, and some gates were opened and closed. An even more exciting rumour is that there is a dance from the children coming up, but we will leave the dates out so that when it happens, we will be sufficiently surprised. 

Closer to home, and keeping up the theme of sheep, this coming week, the focus will be the Good Shepherd. “I am the good Shepherd."

Looking forward to hearing what that means for both of us and our children.

Now you know four I AM's.

I am the light of the world. I am the bread of life. I am the gate. I am the good shepherd.

How is your challenge to learn the rest going? We may have to make you dance as a way of learning.

Youth ministry

The youth are studying Philippians this term. They just went through the first part last week. (Philippians 1:1-11). As they do this, there is also an encouragement to memorise Philippians 4. It’s a beautiful and impactful passage. It is also upward (looks to God) and outward (considers the neighbour) and inward (challenges the individual). It's practical Christian living and very applicable in all our situations in life. Therefore, in addition to learning the “I AM's" here, Philippians 4:4-9.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

This week Mato is away in Taupo at the CCCNZ Pastor Link retreat, so Liz Hodge is filling in this spot in the weekly news…

On Sunday, I really appreciated how Matt McFedries helped us to pray for the persecuted church around the world. We were able to spend a short time together in groups learning and thinking and praying about people who we’ve never met and whose names we don’t even know. 

I’ve been pondering this week about why I found that so helpful and thought-provoking; why is it that Christians feel the need to do this? If you’re part of another community group, you’d likely be concerned to care for the people in that community or maybe want to bring them into your circle of friends, but because of our relationship with God as our Father, we truly do know that these oppressed believers are our brothers and sisters, and so we care about what happens to them. 

Matt gave us a list of the 10 countries around the globe where Christians are most at risk of persecution:

1. North Korea

2. Somalia

3. Yemen

4. Sudan

5. Eritrea

6. Syria

7. Nigeria

8. Pakistan

9. Libya

10. Iran

Believers in these countries face imprisonment and death for their belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God. It’s so awful to think about the suffering of these people, inflicted by authorities and rulers who refuse to acknowledge God or even to follow the dictates of international laws on basic human rights.

A few days ago, as I continued to muse on this theme, I was struck by Psalm 82.

The psalmist Asaph (my current favourite psalmist, if I’m allowed one!) begins by reminding us that God is in charge and that he is a judge.

But then Asaph fires some questions at whoever these “gods” are: the people or powers who are not following God’s laws. My guess is that at this point Asaph has looked at the world around him and has seen something like this suffering that we’re thinking about; there’s oppression of some marginalised people by wicked “gods” who have positions of power or authority in society.

So far, so bleak: people are not living as God demands but are exploiting and oppressing one another. Yet this psalm encourages us by reminding us of God’s ultimate power. Humans are not finally in charge of the world; God is. He has the power and authority to judge all nations with perfect justice.

That’s why it’s so good to pray for God’s people suffering all over the world, we know that God cares about oppression and injustice, we know he listens to our prayers, and in his kindness he will answer.

On our “Ians Journey” this week Phil led us through Ephesians 4:1-6, and he asked us the interesting question of where the rubber band of our life comes to rest. God has a plan and purpose for all of our lives, so this will surely influence how we see our work and rest. There’s a profound spiritual way that we can come to rest in God, despite the pressures and stresses of everyday life. 

Phil reminded us there’s a generic calling that we all have: to follow Jesus and to walk as he walked. But there’s also a specific calling that we have as part of the body of Christ, but we’ll need to do this with all humility and gentleness and with great patience, as it says in verse 2. What a challenge!

Phil also noted that this passage is a bit of a pivot point in the book: chapters 1-3 are largely doctrine; we learn that we have amazing spiritual blessings in heavenly places! Then at this opening section of chapter 4, Paul begins on a series of exhortations that come about as a result of the doctrine he’s already explained – this is where the (shoe) rubber hits the road as we walk. That is, we walk in the manner worthy of the calling we have received. 

Have a great week walking worthily by the power of the Spirit!

HCC Kids Update – I Am the Light! 💡✨

What a bright and exciting Sunday we had as we explored Jesus' words: "I am the Light of the World."

Our older kids became mini scientists as they investigated how electricity powers a light bulb. They discovered that a complete circuit is needed for the light to shine, just like we need to stay connected to God through prayer, reading His Word, worship, and spending time with Him so His light can shine through us into the world.

Our 5–6-year-olds had a wonderful time making beautiful beeswax candles while learning that Jesus is the Light of the World and that His light shines in our hearts every day.

Meanwhile, our Little Sprouts explored how light pushes back darkness. Armed with their handmade torches, they ventured into a dark "cave" to hunt for hidden stars, discovering that even a small light makes a big difference!

To top it all off, our children have been enthusiastically practising some fantastic worship songs that we're excited to share with the wider church soon... so watch this space! We can't wait for you to hear them! 🌟 

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

I would like to start by thanking everyone who made it to our call to prayer gathering this last Sunday. Thank you to those who were unable to make it and prayed at home, sent through a scripture, and supported in all the ways possible. I recognise how difficult it is to juggle everything, so thank you for all the support and prayer.

This week, we complete our reflection on the temptations of Jesus by looking at the third temptation. This is the pinnacle. It is set in the place where God received all the glory, the top of the temple. While the other two temptations were private, even personal, i.e., if Jesus had succumbed, no one would have known, this last one is as public as they come. Satan again does the insidious thing and tempts Jesus using scripture.

The devil was quoting from the Psalms, specifically 91:11-12. What strikes me the most is that he knew the scriptures.

What a beautiful opportunity for Jesus. It would be the best stunt to start his ministry journey. The temple was the highest point in Jerusalem, so everyone would be able to see, and those that missed it would hear of it. Word would spread; people would come flocking to Jesus. He did not even need to leave the city. It would be beautiful and efficient and was mind-blowing. Everyone would believe. Time would be saved. Jesus didn’t have to explain himself, do any more miracles or even have any disciples. He could pick and choose; the world was at his feet.

However, Jesus understood his assignment, and thankfully, he understood scripture more than the devil himself. Again, he quotes part of Deuteronomy.

In Deuteronomy, the Israelites were finally in a favourable place. Settled and thriving. God warns them not to follow their own way, because it would be detrimental not only to them but also to the next generation. They were having too good a time to care about consequences; hence, they did not listen. Their lack of obedience would come back to haunt them over the years. 

In Jesus’ response to this temptation, we see him as the perfect replacement and fulfilment of the law. He came to fulfil what the Israelites could not. If he had succumbed to the devil’s misuse of scripture, he would have been the object of fascination, not the saviour of souls. He would have been doing things his way, not God's way. He would have been an extension of Israel's doomed generation.

But Jesus understood his calling. What was at stake were souls, yours and mine, and many others who needed saving, not just a show. He chose the difficult path in order to bring life to the fullest.

Jesus then turns around to us and tells us to follow him. Not for show, but for the purpose of saving souls and finding life and finding it to the fullest, as he said in John.

Mato.

This last Sunday, Tim led us through the second part of Ephesians 3. One area of focus was on the description of God’s love, which Tim expounded very well.

How wide is the love of God?
Isaiah 1:18 says, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.' God, through Isaiah, is saying, 'Even if you’ve killed somebody, even if you have blood on your hands, you can be forgiven.’ It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done. You could be a murderer. If Jesus died on the cross so you’re saved by grace alone, then God’s love is infinitely wide. It’s wide enough for you. Even though your sins are like scarlet, God’s love can reach you, not in a general way but because of the gospel of Jesus. 

How long is the love of God? 
In Philippians 1:6 Paul writes to Christians in Philippi saying, ‘I am convinced that the One who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.’ Not may, but will.
God’s love is infinitely long. How long? In Revelation we’re told that in Jesus God loved us since before the world even started. God put his love on you before time even existed, and he will never stop loving you. Why? Because salvation is all by grace. It’s not by works; it’s not about what you do, it’s about grace. God’s love is infinitely long.

How high is the love of God? 
In John 17, Jesus says about us ‘Father, I want them to have the glory that we had before the creation of the world.’ And in 1 John 3:2 it says, ‘Beloved, we do not know what we will be like, but we know we will be like him.’
That’s the height of God’s love. He’s going to give the same thing that fills his heart with infallible joy from all eternity. He’s going to show us his glory, and he’s going to give that glory to us. Can you think of anything higher than that? 

How deep is the love of God? 
We’ve already sung ‘How deep the father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure. That he would give his only Son to make a wretch his treasure.' That’s spot on.
On the cross, as he died, Jesus cried out, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ This is the depths of the love of God. Jesus was thrown into the deepest pit anyone has ever gone into, and he went in voluntarily. The huge cost of the gospel is paid for by God. 

This term, our beautiful children have started learning the “I AMs". There are seven of them. Take a pause and see if you can name at least 5. I will give you the first two. This past week was “I am the bread of life”. The activity was making scones, and we are thankful to all of them because morning tea was brilliant.

This week we are working on I am the light... We will have light circuits for the older ones (mighty oaks) working on science and electronics. Candle making for the younger ones (strong branches) and holders and understanding light for our little sprout. 

Now you know two I AMs.

I am the light of the world, and I am the bread of life. 

Challenge yourself to learn the other five. There may be more scones for you if you do!!

Youth ministry 

This last week, we concluded our series from last term on mental health and scripture. We considered the importance and the difference between self-esteem (what we know), self-confidence (what we feel) and self-worth. (who we know). Our self-worth comes from knowing and believing who Jesus is and what he thinks about us. Any other scheme we try to find self-worth from fails, because it will sell us a story that is not true. Some of the ways to grow our self-worth are the following:

• Watch how you talk to yourself

• Tell yourself the truth of scripture

• Be willing to be vulnerable

• Stop making decisions based on fear

• Be willing to try and fail (courage)

• Having set that as a 

Building on from that, we are studying the book of Philippians together this term.

The church in Philippi was the first Jesus community that Paul started in Eastern Europe. Read the full story in Acts 16. Philippi was a Roman colony in ancient Macedonia full of retired soldiers. It was well-known for its patriotic nationalism. Paul faced resistance there for announcing Jesus as the true King of the world. After Paul had left the city, those who became followers of Jesus continued to suffer persecution, but they remained a vibrant community, faithful to the way of Jesus.

Paul sent this letter to them during one of his many imprisonments for a very practical reason. The Philippians had sent one of their members, Epaphroditus, to take a financial gift to Paul and to support him in prison. Paul sent this letter back with Epaphroditus to say thanks for the generous gift and address the community.

We welcome everyone to our midwinter Christmas dinner. This is an opportunity for us to catch up over good food and a very exciting and engaging quiz. We start early to give the young families an opportunity to join us and enjoy both the food and the company.

The event will be at Beckenham Baptist; please register here.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Midwinter Christmas

Evening all,

We hope you’re all staying warm this weekend. Here is a little reminder and sign-up form for the Midwinter Christmas on August 15th.

Click here to fill in the online form to secure your seat.

Pastor’s Message

Hello everyone, we have one more reflection on the temptations of Jesus, but we will conclude that next week.

Today, I want to make a call to prayer. In the last few weeks, we have had incidents around us that seem random but feel like we are under spiritual attack. Last week, on Friday, I had a special feeling to call us as a congregation to prayer and spiritual warfare. These words seem intimidating, but what we are doing is praying for each other and praying against the forces of evil and against the devil who roams around like a roaring lion.

Scripture encourages us to pray this way consistently. 

We would also like to pray for the property at Seven Oaks as well as future properties as well.

Please join us this Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm for a special prayer session as we seek God's face.

This week, Tim is taking us through one of the most profound passages.

We look forward to listening…

HCC YOUTH Philippians Study Schedule (Term 3 2026)

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

This weekend has been one for gratitude and prayers. I am not just talking about Matariki, although that signifies a new year, a time to look back and be thankful not to the stars or the planets but to God, the creator. We always worship the creator, not created beings, including heavenly bodies.

Our community came together this weekend to pray for James, who had a stroke on Friday morning and is recovering, as well as Paula’s mum, who has also been ailing. I am sure there are other prayer needs that we had on our minds as well. I just mention those two as an example of a wider praying community. Thank you to everyone who has prayed and asked what they can do to assist during this time. 

This leads to our reflection this week from the second temptation of Jesus. Here is Matthews’ account.

In this second temptation, the scene changes from the desert to a mountaintop. A better term is a “high place”. Allegiances and oaths were historically declared in high places. The devil tries to get Jesus to declare allegiance to him at this "high place".

Notice how he uses owner language, “All this I will give to you," yet it's a lie because nothing really belongs to him. Everything belongs to the father. The irony is that the devil is asking Jesus to worship him so that he could give him “all these", which are ultimately owned by God the Father. In other words, power came with the price tag of worship and service to the enemy.

This temptation taps into our fallen nature that desires to possess things for ourselves and keep from others. Consequently, it leads us to serve the wrong master who deceives us with things of this world. We cannot serve both God and our desires or our constant craving for autonomy and power. One master has to go. This form of idolatry puts us in bondage because we are enslaved by the things we own or crave.

Jesus does not put his hope in what he can see. In the same temptation, he quotes the Shema (Old Testament writing).

We only have one Master, and that is God. Anything else we worship will ultimately fail.

We all have those high places in life, i.e., we can make our own choices; we can rely on the health system, we are smart enough to problem-solve and imagine as well as create, and we have autonomy to make decisions. Has our worship and service shifted to what we can do for ourselves and what we can acquire, rather than trusting the God we cannot see? 

Do we only move ahead when we see the way and the means for ourselves, or do we trust God and go where he calls us to? The mark of a godly congregation is where we place our trust!

Have a trusting week.

Mato.

On the pulpit this week

In the second part of Ephesians 2, Paul paints a picture of unity inspired by Christ himself. His work on earth and, ultimately, the cross.

Because of the brokenness and division in the world, Paul calls the Ephesian congregation, and by extension us, into unity with Christ, but it begins by recognising that our brokenness is indeed brokenness. He calls the Ephesian "congregation", not just the individuals, to despair and grieve in their own brokenness. Then they can be candidates of Grace.

He then turns their (our) attention to the cross and shows how Christ breaks the barrier and becomes the ultimate bridge of unity between ALL people. In the Ephesian case, it was Jews vs Gentiles, the circumcised vs the uncircumcised. Just as in the Old Testament there were two goats, one that shed blood and one that took on the sin of the world, Jesus fulfilled this dual role on the cross, breaking any barriers that ever existed.

Look at Jesus and what he has done for you; that’s the inspiration for unity. It will not be achieved through Convincing each other we are right will not be achieved through politics, compromise or reasonable debate. How fitting is it that the cross that holds us together is also a representative of laminin, the "glue" in our bodies that holds all our cells together in unity?

Prayer corner

As mentioned earlier, please keep James in your prayers as he continues to recover from the stoke he suffered last Friday. He has now been transferred to the ward from the ICU, and he is in good spirits. We will keep you updated on his wellbeing.

Please pray for Paula’s mother (Biff Hitch) as she also recovers. The specific prayer is that she is able to eat better, because she has not been eating, so that she can regain her strength and the medication can be effective. 

We also have a number of families unwell currently. The winter bugs, coughs and colds and the occasional flu that can put people down for a while.

We are in conversation with the MOE and Colliers regarding repairing the heating at church. The interesting part of this is that on the coldest morning of the year (Sunday morning was about -4 degrees in Christchurch) we did not have proper heating. Please pray that we are able to sort this out soon, because we use the space in the evenings as well.

HCC Kids

This last week, our children had a movie session. They watched David, specifically how God calls David and affirms him as a shepherd boy, not for the present but for the future.

This is part of our holiday programme as we get ready for term three. The children’s ministry coordinator has already sent our rosters for us to fill in, indicating when we are available. Thank you for those who have done that already.

The theme of term three will be I AM.

If you would like to help, and you are unsure how you can do that, I can assure you there is something for you. Please talk to Kathy McAuley, and she will point you in the right direction.

Do you have a spare book case? We would love it in HCC Kids. Also, if anyone has good quality Christian kids books we would love it for our reading corner.

Youth group is on break and we will resume on Thursday 23rd July.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Happy school holidays, everyone.

Some of us only realise it is school holidays because there is less traffic. Wherever they find you, it is always a good time to slow down more than usual. This week, our devotion comes from the events following Jesus' baptism. After Jesus is affirmed by his father, he is led into the wilderness for prayer and fasting. 

The first temptation focused on Jesus' immediate need. The tempter called into question the need for Jesus to follow the guidance of the father in all things.

In response, Jesus quotes an Old Testament text in Deuteronomy, which served two purposes. It made the devil understand his place, i.e., he was not the provider of food or anything, for that matter. More importantly, it shows that Jesus is the ultimate fulfilment of all the Old Testament promises. What Jesus quotes is from the Torah, laws for the Israelites from God to help them live a life of obedience. However, they failed over and over again. Jesus quoting the same text to the tempter shows that he is the perfect fulfilment of God's plan for humanity through his obedience to the Father.

God wanted the Israelites to desire his word in their hearts more than food in their stomach. He was asking for their allegiance to him, to surrender to his guidance and Lordship. 

Life as God intended is only experienced through obedience.

The strategy of the enemy is to get us to focus on the immediate, the urgent and the necessary, hence taking matters into our own hands. If we can lose sight of the greater work God is doing in us and through us, focusing only on the immediate, we can exchange dependence on the father for independence and self-reliance.

At stake was much bigger than hunger. God was rewriting history. If Jesus only focused on his hunger, he would miss God's plan. Thankfully, he understood not only the assignment but also his father's heart. For us, the challenge is the same.

The idea that we could give up control willingly, replacing it with intentional humility and absolute dependence on a God we cannot see makes us very uncomfortable. Yet this is the course that Jesus charts for us. Remember.

• The enemy will always attack us where we are weakest, most vulnerable, and when we are not expecting it… It’s always in the little things.

• This temptation surfaces when there is an opportunity for us to grab control for ourselves and trust in our efforts.

• This temptation urges us to focus our attention on the immediate needs and lose sight of what God desires for our lives and our service, as well as destiny.

Chapter 2 of Ephesians called us to action faster than I thought. The first challenge was, instead of asking ourselves what we can do to better ourselves, we can ask a better question… What was I made for? When we find out the answer to this question, we experience deep satisfaction and fulfilment. When we do not find it, we get low-grade anger and frustration, and we start looking for culprits to blame. This can be our job, family, spouse, weather, world, school, or anything to make us feel better about not living out our purpose.

What you were made for is not about you, does not end with you, and does not benefit you only. It is something bigger than you. This is why Paul challenges us that we are God's “handiwork", something crafted for a specific reason. God saved us by grace, through faith, for something even bigger than us. Being polite, Christian and law-abiding is not good enough. We need to be more.

On mission with God to do something for His kingdom in our lifetime. It’s not just about being a good person and staying out of trouble. Connect your actions to your faith. Connect the dots between how you live and who you believe.

• How do you spend your time?

• How do you spend your money?

• How do we carry each other’s burdens?

• How do we submit to one another?

You are the recipient of people who decided being good was not good enough…

• Be willing to share your testimony/be vulnerable

• Forgive easily/don’t hold grudges

• Stop making decisions based on fear

• Be willing to try and fail

This week, we are on the second part of Ephesians chapter 2

Youth group is on break for the next two weeks, we will resume on Thursday 23^rd July.

A reminder again to SAVE THE DATE. More details will follow in time.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

We have just had a significant baptism, and I have felt that it's important for us to understand baptism more, especially from the gospels. This will lead us to the temptation of Jesus, which happens after the baptism. The most important reason for us to be baptised is that Jesus was baptised. Here is Matthew’s account.

This is a significant emergence of Jesus from His many years of obscurity. These first works in His public ministry carry great meaning in understanding the rest of His ministry. Jesus realised that he needed to be baptised so that he could identify with sinners from the beginning. The purpose was for Jesus to completely identify Himself with sinful man. This is exactly what He did in His birth, His upbringing, and His death. So here, as John allowed Him to be, Jesus stood in the place of sinful man.

FF Bruce, a New Testament theologian, observes that “There is also a sense in which this was an important new beginning for Jesus; not in the sense of turning from sin, but in making a break with His previous life. “In accordance with the symbolic significance of the rite as denoting death to an old life and rising to a new, Jesus came to be baptised in the sense of dying to the old natural relations to parents, neighbours, and earthly calling and devoting Himself henceforth to His public Messianic vocation.” 

After Jesus was baptised, God the Father affirmed it publicly. It was important for the Father to publicly demonstrate that Jesus’ baptism was not just like anyone else’s. It was not a display of repentance, but instead it was a righteous identification with sinners, motivated by love, and it was well pleasing to the Father.

More importantly, God affirmed his son before he had started his ministry. This affirmation comes because of Jesus’ obedience. This public affirmation from the father begins the public ministry of Jesus, and it was both a sign and a conclusion. John the Baptist’s testimony in John 1:32-33, when he said that he saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and He remained upon Him. Jesus was about to begin His public ministry, and He would do it in the power of the Spirit of God. “It was the Spirit of God who gave success to Jesus Christ’s ministry.” (Spurgeon)

I would like to draw a parallel from this event, which we miss many times. God affirms us just as we are, with our strengths, with our weaknesses and in the environments he puts us in. We do not need to find our worth in what we do or what people think/feel about us. Our worth is based on God's affirmation and our willingness to obey his word and direction. We are now co-heirs in Christ, as Ephesians 1 has told us. It is possible for God to also say about us, "Well done, good and faithful servants."

Have a faithful week.

Mato.

We are onto chapter two of Ephesians. Here is a summary of chapter 1.

Tim took us through Ephesians 1. Ephesians is divided into two parts. Chapters 1-3 talk about who we are, and Chapters 4-6 talk about how we live.

Ephesians 1:1-14 In Christ

Every good thing v3

• Loved by the Father v4-6

• Forgiven by the Son v7-12

• Held by the Spirit v13-14

The second part of Ephesians talks about Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church.

There is a purpose… Verses 13-15 Paul is commending the Ephesian church for changing their allegiance from idols to the person of Jesus and loving each other as they do it. The question for us was, where do our allegiances lie? Where are our idols? Is it politics, our intellect and planning, or the institutions we have created, including the church?

There is a petition…vs 16-18 for knowledge and understanding. Paul uses the Greek word 'epignosis' (ἐπίγνωσις) for knowledge/revelation/understanding, which means a deep transformative spiritual insight that is overflowing. He also asks that the eyes of the Ephesian hearts be open. In scripture the heart is the command centre of your inner life. Not just an organ or a symbol of your emotion, intellect (thinking & memory), will & choices, or the essence of who you are.

Finally, there is Proof vs 19-23. When the Holy Spirit helps you understand the deep, transformative truth of who you are in Christ, and when your whole essence is directed towards Christ, something beautiful is UNLOCKED!!

It's like we are BORN AGAIN!!! How people see you; how you see/treat people; how you see the world; how you interpret events in your life, positive & negative; and how you carry fewer burdens.

This week, we are in Chapter 2 of Ephesians… 

This is the last week of term, which means it’s the holidays next week. During the holidays, we usually have a combined children’s programme. The children still go out, but they do something together, instead of breaking up into the three groups that they usually have on a Sunday morning.

We would like to say thank you to our children’s volunteers this term and the parents who have been helping as well. We really appreciate you all!

It is also the last week of youth group this week, after which we will take a two-week break. This week we are doing bowling together with the Cashmere Project group as our end of term activity.

We welcome everyone to our midwinter Christmas dinner. This is an opportunity for us to catch up over good food and a very exciting and engaging quiz. We start early to give the young families an opportunity to join us and enjoy both the food and the company.

The event will be at Beckenham Baptist, and there will be more details regarding logistics and cost. For now, please save the date.

Here is an encouragement for all of us. We always pray and believe God, and I believe that God is always working in all areas, even in the small things. We would like to celebrate these testimonies during the service. A short testimony of where you have seen God and how God has come through for you may encourage someone or give someone a reason to believe. So I am encouraging us to start sharing our testimonies even more and more now, as we continue to pray for each other.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

As we reminisce on the beautiful baptism and dedication service this last Sunday, I am struck by how Christ-centred and heartfelt it was. From Tim speaking to us from Ephesians to Lizzie and Ravi sharing their testimony, and as Amariyah shared her testimony before Ravi baptised her, I felt the Holy Spirit hovering gently in our service.

It reminded me of Psalm 23, which I will put up as a reflection. 

Over the next four weeks, I will share a short devotion each week based on the baptism and temptation of Jesus in Matthew 3 and 4. Each week, we will look at one of the temptations and how Jesus responded, as well as how relevant it is for us today. For this week, we reflect on Psalm 23.

I will leave this introduction of Ephesians for one more week….

How Paul came to the city of Ephesus is really fascinating, and you can read all about it in Acts chapter 19. Ephesus was a huge city, acting as the epicentre for trade. It was also a worship centre for most of the Greek and Roman gods. It boasted a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (Greek Artemis). For over two years, Paul had an effective missionary presence there and converted many people to Christianity. Years later, after being imprisoned by the Romans, he wrote an important letter to the church there.

The movement of thought in the letter divides it into two distinct halves. In the first half (Eph. 1-3), Paul explores the story of the Gospel, how all history came to its climax in Jesus, and his creation of a multiethnic community of followers. The second half (Eph. 4-6) is linked to the first part by the word "therefore". Paul explores how the Gospel should affect the way we live our lives, personally, in our community, and within our families.

The big idea is that the gospel should affect the way we live our lives personally, in our communities, and with our families.

Paul in Ephesians talks about God the Father and his love, God the Son and how he unites and unifies us, and God the Holy Spirit and how he helps us live our lives practically as people united "in Christ”. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers so they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and come and appreciate the high goals God has for his people.

Chapter 1 opens with a beautiful, Jewish-style poem, in which Paul praises God the Father for the amazing things that he’s done through Christ Jesus. This week, we look at the second part of chapter 1.

This week, we will also be sharing in Communion together.

Kids and Youth

This week, we have a special guest at youth group. Tim will be taking us through Psalm 88. Generally, in the Psalms, even those that are both sad and dark, the psalmist (those who write the Psalms) ends with encouragement and hope. Yet in Psalm 88, David does not end in hope. In fact, the psalm is all very dark and discouraging. Yet it is still included in scripture. Why does David do this in Psalm 88? This is what Tim will be sharing this week.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

I hope we are all having a lovely week.

Baptism is such a beautiful illustration of faith. It is an outward sign of an inward change. It is a public testimony that you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you get baptized, you powerfully proclaim what God has done, and is doing, in your life.

The word "baptize" is from the Greek verb "baptizo," meaning to cover or plunge in water, wash, dip, or immerse.

Therefore, Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as an outward expression of their previous confession of their communion with Christ's death and resurrection.

Why should you be baptized?

Baptism allows you to remember the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to reflect on your relationship with God and one another through the Holy Spirit. 

Here are a few reasons why we should get baptized.

1. Jesus commands us to be baptized. 

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he asked his followers to make disciples and baptize them (Matthew 28:19). Choosing to be baptized is an act of obedience to the Lord Jesus. It is one of the first steps you can take to demonstrate your willingness to follow Jesus' teachings. 

• Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." 

• Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."

2. Jesus was baptized.

Jesus set an example through his baptism. Jesus' willingness to be baptized serves as an example for his followers. In baptism, we do as Jesus did, and we follow in his steps. 

• Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:6).

• To this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21) 

3. Baptism is a testimony. 

In Baptism, you publicly identify with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. You declare that you no longer live for yourself but now seek to live for Christ, in dependence on God and obedience to him. 

• Acts 2:38—"And Peter said to them, 'Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

• Romans 6:3–5 — "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4. We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:5: "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." 

Your baptism can be an opportunity to share the gospel with friends and family, to let them see what God has done in your life.

4. Baptism unifies Christians. 

Your baptism is a witness to other believers that you are a member of the body of Christ, the worldwide community of believers. In the Gospel of John, just before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed that his followers would be unified. 

• John 17:20 I do not ask for these only but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. 23. I am in them, and you are in me so that they may become perfectly one so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:20–23).

5. Baptism can strengthen your faith. 

For many people, the experience of being baptized strengthens their faith. It can solidify your commitment to living the rest of your days as a follower of Jesus.

Colossians 2:11, 12—"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead."

To profess means to declare openly and freely to others. In baptism, this could mean that you state what you believe in your own words or affirm (say "yes" to) a few specific questions about your faith.

There are three parts of baptism by immersion:

1. Immersion (going down into the water). Believers are identified with Christ's death. 

2. Submersion (being entirely under the water). Believers are identified with Christ's burial. 

3. Emersion (emerging or coming up out of the water). Believers are identified with Christ's resurrection from the dead.

This week, as a first, we will be baptizing Amariyah and dedicating her sister Aasha as well. It's a time for us to witness and celebrate what God has been doing in this family. We will be hearing testimonies from them, joining them in celebration and prayer.

Have a confident week,

Mato

Finishing Galatians and what’s next?

Concluding Galatians.

• We have just completed our series in Galatians, and we are now moving into Ephesians. Some important conclusions from Galatians.

• Paul chooses to boast in the cross and not human effort or human recognition. While everyone else was preaching circumcision for salvation and the importance of human effort, Paul focused on the most contemptible object. 

• There was nothing more humiliating and shameful than crucifixion. "Crux", meaning the cross, was unmentionable in Roman society. Roman society referred to crucifixion as "hanging on the unlucky tree". For Paul to take this imagery and boast in it meant that he was dead to the flesh and the natural human element.

• As analogies go, when someone is dead, they do not respond to anything (threats, excitement, hope, despair). Death on the cross was even worse because it meant that you had been humiliated in the worst way possible. 

• The message of the cross, i.e., crucifying oneself, is the least popular of Jesus’ teachings. The teachings of our day are "self-fulfilment" and "entitlement". We may deny ourselves in the name of a career or health, but never out of our comfort zone, because what we want has to be done on "my terms". Self-denial often feels like oppression.

• Saying yes to Jesus means saying no to innumerable competing options (being liked, being right, and being the life of the party). "What you say, I will do; where you say, I will go” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). “When God calls a man, he bids him to die." 

We concluded with this verse in the middle of Galatians.

Moving to Ephesians.

How Paul came to the city of Ephesus is really fascinating, and you can read all about it in Acts chapter 19. Ephesus was a huge city, acting as the epicentre for trade. It was also a worship centre for most of the Greek and Roman gods. It boasted a pagan temple dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana (Greek Artemis). For over two years, Paul had an effective missionary presence there and converted many people to Christianity. Years later, after being imprisoned by the Romans, he wrote an important letter to the church there.

The movement of thought in the letter divides it into two distinct halves. In the first half (Eph. 1-3), Paul explores the story of the Gospel, how all history came to its climax in Jesus, and his creation of a multiethnic community of followers. The second half (Eph. 4-6) is linked to the first part by the word "therefore". Paul explores how the Gospel should affect the way we live our lives, personally, in our community, and within our families.

The big idea is that the gospel should affect the way we live our lives personally, in our communities, and with our families.

Paul in Ephesians talks about God the Father and his love, God the Son and how he unites and unifies us, and God the Holy Spirit and how he helps us live our lives practically as people united "in Christ”. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers so they might understand better the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace and to come and appreciate the high goals God has for his people.

Chapter 1 opens with a beautiful, Jewish-style poem, in which Paul praises God the Father for the amazing things that he’s done through Christ Jesus. This week, Tim will be taking us through the first part of this poem.

Kids and Youth

Our Monday morning mothers' group started this last Monday with several families joining in, including some that has never been to HCC before. This happens fortnightly.

The purpose of this group is to bring our families together, mums and kids, and invite the community for encouragement and connections. As this group gets underway, please pray for the organisers and the mothers who are coming into our space for the first time.

Pray that they will find deep and lasting connections that lead to conversations about Christ and that the families will be impacted, not just to parent well, but to ground their children in the love of God and to orient their lives and families' lives towards God, who is the ultimate father.

The youth group continues to meet every Thursday evening. It is also very encouraging to see them coming to Church on Sunday morning and sitting at the very front. A question we have been grappling with for a while has been self-worth. What is self-worth? What is the definition of self-worth, and how do we acquire and keep our self-worth? We have talked a lot about what it is not, so as we get deeper into scripture to understand what it is, please continue praying for our young people.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

We are at the very end of our Galatians series. It has only taken us six months to get here!! Sometimes I think it’s easier to preach using themes and topics, which we have done before, instead of going through a book. However, reading scripture systematically gives us a chance to go deeper into parts of it that we otherwise would not contend with. Galatians has taught me that much. Here is a summary of Galatians.

Galatians is one of the first New Testament books to be written (by Paul in 49 A.D.).

The churches in Galatia were comprised of both Jewish and Gentile converts. The author is Paul, and his purpose in writing to these churches was to confirm them in the faith, especially concerning justification by faith alone, apart from the works of the law of Moses.

Galatians was written because the churches of that region were facing a crisis, theologically and practically. The essential truth of justification (being made right) by faith rather than human works was being denied by the Judaizers (legalistic Jews) who insisted that Christians must keep the Law of Moses. In particular, they insisted on circumcision as a requirement for Gentiles who wished to be saved. In other words, convert to Judaism first, and then you are eligible to become a Christian. When Paul learnt that this heresy was being taught to the Galatian churches, he wrote to them and emphasised our freedom in Christ and to counter the perversion of the gospel that the Judaizers promoted.

One key verse is Galatians 2:16. “Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.”

In the end, the issue is not whether a person is circumcised but whether he/she is a “new creation” (Galatians 6:15). Salvation is the work of the Spirit, and we must be born again. External religious rites such as circumcision are of no value in the realm of the Spirit.

Practical Application: One of the main themes of the book of Galatians is found in 3:11: “The righteous shall live by faith.” We must stand firm in this truth. Any compromise with legalism or the mixture of human effort and the grace of God for salvation leads to heresy. If we could be saved through the keeping of the Law, then Jesus did not need to die. Trying to save ourselves nullifies grace.
Not only are we saved by faith, but the life of the believer in Christ, day by day, moment by moment, is lived by and through that faith. Not that faith is something we conjure up on our own. It is the gift of God, not of works, but it is our responsibility and joy to exhibit our faith so that others will see the work of Christ in us and to grow in our faith by the application of spiritual disciplines (Bible study, prayer, obedience, etc.).

Coming up this week…

We conclude Galatians by reading the last part of the letter. Here, Paul offers his latest thoughts to the church and uses himself as an example. You could read it as someone’s last address before they either move jobs or change roles. You could also read it as someone’s life story and what they have decided to live for. Consider this section.

Get to know our elders: Liz Hodge

1). Tell us a little about where you grew up and what life was like as a child.

Grew up in a small town on the east coast of England (called Gorleston-on-Sea) with a loving mum, dad, brother and sister. My family didn’t go to church, but at age 13 a school friend invited me to go to the local Anglican church with her. I joined her in the small youth group and the church choir, and at around age 15, in an uncomfortable bunk bed at a church camp, I decided I needed to follow Jesus.

2). How did you become part of our church/community family?

Looking for a new church home in early 2024, it was because of the lovely welcome when our family first visited, and the teenagers appreciated the youth group very much.

3). What is one favourite memory or highlight from your life so far?

That one time, 15 years ago, I beat every single person at a camp at table football. Playing in the final must be how champion players feel at the World Cup! (I suppose also getting married, having children, etc).

4). What advice or wisdom would you love to pass on to younger generations?

Read the Bible every day. Even if it’s a teeny tiny bit of it, and you’re half asleep when you’re doing it, and you can hardly concentrate, and you’re not sure if you’ve understood anything at all, and it’s getting late, and you’ve only got a kids' Bible or an old-school King James version, just still read it.

5). What is something fun or surprising people may not know about you?

Three things I love: science fiction novels, crochet, and hot weather.

Three things I strongly dislike: sandwiches, being immersed in water, the word literally.

Community

A question that has come up consistently is why we do baptism in the middle of winter. This specific one is happening on the shortest day of the year. The simple answer is that we do not schedule baptisms; we do them as people make decisions to follow Christ and then wish to show this practically.

This specific baptism is special because we will be baptising Ariyah, who is seven and has decided to boldly proclaim her faith, even when it has caused friction within her own family (grandparents, aunties, and uncles) and within her friends as well. She has a beautiful way of inviting the sceptics to church, and, more importantly, to Jesus. She fully understands what it means to follow Christ. This is why instead of dedicating her, we chose to baptise her, and we invite anyone else who would like to be baptised to do so.

Later in the year, we may plan to do a baptism in a natural water point, and we will invite more people to get baptised, but on the 21st, we get to hear people’s testimonies and celebrate that God is still at work. If you would like to be baptised, there is a sign-up sheet at church. We will contact you with all the details.

Youth

Children’s church 

This last Sunday we announced Kathy McAuley as our children’s coordinator. While she has been “holding the fort" for a few months now, she feels that God has strongly laid it on her heart to devote more time and energy into this role.

Assisted by Kirstie, she will be in charge of all children's ministry-related programmes and activities, and she will also be working with all our amazing volunteers across the age groups as we seek to establish our children’s ministry. 

As mentioned before, she will not hold this role forever, and we are still working on a long-term children’s coordinator as we seek to establish our children’s ministry.

Youth ministry 

One more week of telling you what we are up to at youth ministry.

A big part of our youth ministry this term, and probably next term, is focused on helping our young people understand mental health through a biblical perspective. It is not enough to know about it. We would like them to know that there is a way out, and there is healing in the power of the Holy Spirit. I strongly believe that healing comes in two ways.

1. Instant healing through prayer and laying of hands (Mark 16:18, Mark 9:18)

2. Healing through prayer and the power of community around us.

Mental health is a darkness, a dark cloud that continues to hover over people, and the constant feeling that they are walking without seeing any light at the end of a very dark tunnel. What we do is pray that the Holy Spirit pieces that cloud and brings light into the lives of these young people for now and for the future. This is why we are spending so much time talking about it, and even more time praying about it. 

Community

Attached our the minutes from our 2026 AGM.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

In the Old Testament, specifically Genesis chapters 18 & 19, is the disturbing story of Sodom and Gomorrah. These two cities were so perverse in their actions that those around them cried out to God against them. Then God, in the form of angels, came down to destroy these cities, but before he did so, he told Abraham.

Imagine being so close to God that He reveals His plans to you before He acts. 

Because of that intimate relationship, Abraham tried to intercede (pray on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah). The prayers involved asking God to spare the city if there were at least 10 righteous people. (Abraham started from 50 and negotiated with God down to 10.)

Unfortunately, not even 10 righteous people could be found. Do you think that we can stand as the righteous and boldly intercede on behalf of our city? Our Country? Our world today? Is it possible to have the boldness of Abraham?

God eventually destroys the city (read the perverseness of the cities in Genesis 19) but saves Abraham's nephew Lot. I believe it's because Abraham had interceded for him. Lot and his family (wife and two daughters) are told to “flee and not look back".

However, Lot's wife did not listen, and when they were fleeing, she looked back.

Even today, salt formations along the dead sea are reminders of her disobedience. Her disobedient hesitation became proverbial in later generations. My guess is that Lot's wife had built a life in the city. She had friends; she had a lifestyle. Both of her daughters were engaged and planning to marry and settle down. She was excited to be the mother hen. (Genesis 19:12-14). However, that was not God's plan. They were in the wrong place. 

So, as we start a new month, Lot's wife gives us the challenge of the month.

What are you holding on to, or looking back on, that is holding you back? To put it more succinctly, what are you holding on to that is making you a pillar of salt?

May this month be a month of trusting in the Lord’s goodness and not looking back on what we have created for ourselves.

Mato.

Get to know our elders: Richard Howe

1). Tell us a little about where you grew up and what life was like as a child.

I moved from Wellington to Christchurch at age 6 with my mum and younger sister Jane.

My favourite place we lived in when growing up was on the hill in Cashmere – a big historical house that was split into eight flats.

Hopefully my history is right, but my understanding is it was originally transported from Sumner and taken up the hill in four pieces by traction engine! We had lovely views and fantastic areas nearby to explore and find shortcuts down the hill to school. We didn't have much money, but we had lots of fun, joy and beauty in our lives.

2). How did you become part of our church/community family?

My mum made sure we always went to church, and that was a given on a Sunday, even though I sometimes had to miss or be late for soccer practice on Sundays. We went to many different churches, but most of the time was spent at St Augustine's Anglican Church before I left to live in Wellington. When I returned to Christchurch, I had a beautiful wife (Cathy), a toddler (Bella) and a 7-week-old baby (Zack) in tow, along with a dog. We ended up back at St Augustine's, where (amongst others) we met a youth pastor called Mato, whom the kids both loved. When Mato was called to start his own church, we jumped at the opportunity to be part of HCC, having previously prayed about where we should be heading as we prepared to move on from St Augs.

3). What is one favourite memory or highlight from your life so far?

My favourite highlight is undoubtedly the constant blessing of family and especially the (positively) evolving relationships with Cathy, Bella and Zack – and also my mum.

4). What advice or wisdom would you love to pass on to younger generations?

Advice for the young: Back yourself and your values – don't be scared to say no to things or people you don't think will be good for you. For Christians, don't be ashamed of your faith – if others ask awkward questions about what you believe and why, pray that God will help you answer them, and then ask them the same questions. Your answers will be much better than theirs! Finally, don't be scared to ask for advice from people you trust, chances are they have been through similar experiences before – learn from our mistakes and successes!

5). What is something fun or surprising people may not know about you?

Check out my current haircut. Yet, when I was at primary school, my nickname was "Hairy".

Community

On the 21st of June, we will have a baptism service. We love Baptism because it is the outward demonstration of our belief in God. During baptism, we get to hear people’s testimonies, and we celebrate that God is still at work. If you would like to be baptised, there is a sign-up sheet at church. We will contact you with all the details.

Church Sundays

This last Sunday, Phil spoke on the second part of Galatians 5 vs. 13-26, and differentiated between the soul and the spirit. There was quite a lot to chew on, so here is a short summary.

The three main functions of the spirit are fellowship, receiving revelation from God, and worship. Man’s Soul—The soul is the part of us that is self-conscious. It is all about me. It is the part of us that says "I." I want, I think, I feel… In the fall our soul was subject to rebellion. The Body .With our bodies, we encounter the world through our 5 senses: eyes, ears, taste, touch & smell.

The way of the soul—Depending on how much you allow your soul (mind, will & emotions) to run your life will determine its direction... A good upbringing and moral compass may help, but without the Holy Spirit you are all on your own. I, me, my, myself.

The way of the Spirit—God's plan is that we become sons and daughters who love and obey our heavenly Father. Walking, being led by, living in, and following the Holy Spirit. We die to our own will. We dethrone our minds from having exaltation over our lives, allowing the Holy Spirit to govern them. We are not tossed around by our emotions but instead walk by faith, living in the power of the Holy Spirit… We know God!

What is the strongest force in a person? Our will. There is one force outside of this that is stronger. The power of the Holy Spirit… So we pray this for ourselves…

Lord fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit today so that we may walk, be led by, live and follow you in our lives.

Lord, as we yield all we are to you, help us to walk by faith, renew our minds so that they are governed by your Holy Spirit and give us the grace to do your will, dying daily to our own.

Lord, you know our hearts and our desires, we will not get this right in one day. Thank you Lord that “There is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death.”  (Rom 8:1-2)   Amen

This week, Zack is taking us through the first part of Galatians 6, and next week, we conclude Galatians and move on to Ephesians.

Youth

A big part of our youth ministry this term, and probably next term, is focused on helping our young people understand mental health through a biblical perspective. It is not enough to know about it. We would like them to know that there is a way out and there is healing in the power of the Holy Spirit. I strongly believe that healing comes in two ways.

1. Instant healing through prayer and laying of hands (Mark 16:18, Mark 9:18)

2. Healing through prayer and the power of community around us.

Mental health is a darkness, a dark cloud that continues to hover over people, and the constant feeling that they are walking without seeing any light at the end of a very dark tunnel. What we do is pray that the Holy Spirit pieces that cloud and brings light into the lives of these young people for now and for the future. This is why we are spending so much time talking about it and even more time praying about it. 

Weekly plan

• 4/6/26 - Mato, Identity in Christ

• 11/6/26 - Zack, self-worth 

• 18/6/26 - Nicola, peace

• 25/6/26 - Tim, Psalm 88, light in the darkness

• 2/7/26 - Bowling

Evening plan

• 7pm chats and snacks

• 7:20pm conversation question/starter

• 7:40pm game/activity

• 8-8:30pm lesson

• 8:30-8:45pm questions & prayer

• 8:45 – chats and closing

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

I would like to begin by thanking everyone who was there as we had our AGM this past week. I want to thank everyone who contributed to our AGM, including those who wrote and presented reports, asked questions, engaged in candid conversations with me, and made delicious soup for lunch. I appreciate you all. I also appreciated the soup.

One of our new elders, Matt, shared a beautiful devotion, and it was very encouraging. I thought I would share it with us. Our front page comes from Matt McFedries this week.

As I've been praying in recent days about eldership and being a God-fearing member of this local HCC body, there's been one word I feel the Holy Spirit keep landing in my heart: LOVE.

Here's some context:

John 13:35 (NKJV)
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

My prayer and hope is that HCC, as a community of believers, would be renowned for its love for one another. Surely that would be evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in us (and perhaps that we as an eldership have successfully guided this body into a deeper relationship with Christ?).

1 John 3:14 (NKJV)
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

I love the brutal black-and-whiteness of His word. It's hard to escape.

Love for one another (and for the lost) is evidence that we are in Christ, and it is no longer we who live. These verses sum it up well:

Ephesians 4:15-16 (NKJV)
…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

As church members, I imagine we will often need to speak the truth in love, to each other, and to members in the body. 

The alternative is that things go unsaid, and rumours, lies and complaints grow like cancer. We will be divided. The devil's devices will succeed.

WHY IS THE HOLY SPIRIT REMINDING ME OF THESE VERSES NOW?

Here's my sense:

1. There are people at HCC now who feel disconnected and unloved. I have spoken to some. And by His grace followed up on some (time and money spent – because love costs something).

2. People who attend a church expect their fellow church members to care, or at least to acknowledge them – this does not always happen. People become bitter and leave because of this.

3. This is a "whole of HCC thing", every member, not just down to the few hard-working, "pastorally gifted" ones. (per Eph 4:15-16 above). How do we foster and encourage this? How does "love one another" become the culture at HCC?

4. Consumer church culture is killing us. People turn up and expect a good "Sunday service" (music, preaching, kids’ programmes, etc.). It's about what they can get, not what they can give out of what Christ has given them.

5. If we love one another, as the Bible instructs, HCC will grow. Who would not want to be part of a community characterised and renowned for its love for one another!

I'll give The Word the last word:

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NKJV) "The Greatest Gift"
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

In love.

Matt McFedries.

Community

We are almost at the end of Galatians. After this, we move to one of the most widely read letters in the New Testament, Ephesians. This week we are on the second part of Galatians. (5:13-26)

The question for discussion is:

The Bible teaches that the complete person is spirit, soul and body (1 Thes 5:23). What is the difference between a person's soul and spirit?

Join us this week as we shift our attention to how we translate living by grace into loving well.

Community

We have a mothers' group starting at Seven Oaks School on Monday morning. This time is designed to serve our HCC mothers, as well as community outreach. Nikki and Anna Smith will be leading this group.

Sunday morning kids' church continues. This starts with the kids being the service for the first part of worship, and then after prayers, they have a gathering together to share some highlights of the week and some food. They then break off into three or four groups. This will be coordinated by Kathy McAuley and Kirsten Russell. The groups, dependent on numbers, are 0-4 year olds, 5-6, 7-10 and 11+.

Community

This King's Birthday weekend, some of our youth and youth leaders will be attending their first training. This is organised by CCCNZ, and it is for youth who have shown some leadership potential and would like to go deeper in their faith.

HCC Youth will be joined by other youth from Riccarton Community Church (RCC), Grace Community Church in Nelson, Emmet Street Church and Rutland Church as well. Please keep the youth and their leaders, including Lizzie Hodge, in your prayers this weekend.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with people regarding eldership. These have ranged from who to nominate to what the criteria are and, of course, the most contentious issue, can women be in the eldership? I would like to thank everyone who has either nominated or accepted the nomination for eldership. I recognise the gravity of the task at hand, and I know you do not take it lightly.

What I want to do is to spell out what we believe at HCC regarding women in leadership/eldership. I have published a longer paper if you would like to read it.

This has always been a contentious issue, not just in the church, but in many spheres of life. The church seems to bear the brunt of having to explain its stand on women. This is due to scriptures that have been “perceived” to be against women and the application of those scriptures by those leading churches over the years. The cultural norm today is to push for equality and diversity in all areas of life in search of Utopia, i.e., individual autonomy and equality at any price in pursuit of happiness.

With that in mind, the aim of this paper is not to offer THE answer but to offer AN explanation of where we stand as a congregation. We recognise in humility that not everyone will share this position, but we would like to show how we have come to the conclusion we have. This is a summary of the larger document, in which we…

• Do an in-depth analysis of the stances held by the two main positions on women in leadership. Complementarian and egalitarian

• Show a clear path of gifting and calling given by God in the New Testament.

• Show clearly the role of men in this conversation.

• Do a clear and proper exegesis on the passages in the New Testament regarding women in leadership and the words of Paul.

• Give a cultural commentary on our current cultural moment.

• Give a conclusion on where we stand as a congregation.

I believe strongly that our stance is scripturally based. We are not looking to have “equal representation” or a “progressive/liberal theology" in our congregation. We aim to be faithful to scripture and draw out how Old Testament writers, Jesus in the gospels, and Paul in his writings interacted with "women regarding leadership”. We hope this will help shed some light on the decisions we take as a congregation.

After making a comprehensive comparison of the complementarian vs. egalitarian viewpoint, here is one main conclusion.

LEVEL GROUND AT THE CROSS.

There are two main views on this. Complementarians (male-only eldership) and egalitarians. (Male and Female Eldership)

Complementarians should not be broadly viewed as stubborn traditionalists with narrow biblical views, nor as those thinking women are not equally valuable. Equally, egalitarians should not be broadly viewed as liberals who hold the authority of scripture loosely, nor as those thinking women do not provide a complementary role in the Body of Christ.

At Halswell Community Church, we value all people. We subscribe to the egalitarian view of scripture and aim to give equal opportunity for leadership to both males and females as long as they fit the leadership qualification criteria (set out in the Elders' qualification document).

We do not look down on/disagree with the complementarians. Their interpretations of scripture are not wrong; we just choose to be egalitarian.

This path is inspired by scripture, not the trends of the day. Our aim is not to give “equal opportunity to both sexes” neither is it to make sure “every gender/culture/minority group is represented adequately". We seek to be determinately countercultural but fully scriptural and God-centred.

We have thoughtfully embraced our commitment to scripture, and we aim to be faithful to that, not the cultural trends. We aim to serve God with an attitude of humility, just like Christ, and we hope that those who serve approach these positions with the same attitude, whether men or women. 

Our study on Galatians continues; this week we are on Galatians 5. A conclusion from our study in the last part of Galatians 4 last week.

• God's metrics do not consider fairness; they consider obedience. 

• When we choose our own way, we end up being slaves to the very thing that promised freedom. (baboon video) Addictions, mental health

• True restoration and freedom come from obedience

• Law and grace cannot co-exist; it's Jesus or nothing.

Join us this week as we shift our attention to how we translate living by grace into loving well.

Have a confident week,

Mato

Community

Our AGM is coming up on Sunday. There is a lot to cover this year for the AGM.

Here is a reminder of the agenda.

• Welcome and Prayer

• Ministry reports (Elders, Financial, Youth, Admin, Children, Pastors) These will be submitted before, so we will have had a look, and we will have a chance for any questions arising.

• Ratifying the HCC constitution

• Appreciating the outgoing eldership team

• Introducing the nominated Elders. (Rob & Kathy McAuley, Tim & Lizzie Hodge, Matt McFedries, Richard Howe). In order to be the new elders, they have to be ratified by a 2/3 majority.

• Praying for the Elders

• Introducing the Halswell Community Church Trust and praying for the trustees

• AOB and final prayers

Attached to our newsletter this week is a link to our pastors report.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Good morning, everyone

I would like to appreciate everyone who was instrumental in making Mother's Day a significant and God-centred day for everyone. Thank you, Kathy and Cathy, for speaking from your hearts and sharing so vulnerably and honestly, allowing God to use you to speak to us in a powerful way. Thank you to the service planners and leaders, Kirstie and Lizzie, for putting together a service that honoured God and our mothers. To the two young men who quietly but efficiently do tech, Toby and Gideon, and to the men who run kids' church so lovingly and effectively. I would also like to thank the Sandes for being at the door and Kim for morning tea. Nikki did such a good job of getting us gifts and flowers for our mothers. I had a grand time with the older kids, and they taught me a lot about good humility and bad humility. I will go and hang out with them again soon.

The Bible verses that Kathy and Cathy shared have formed who they are. I am sharing them for all of us to meditate on. I suggest you take your Bible and a notebook and read them slowly as you listen to what God may be saying to you through them, regardless of the season you are going through.

Cathy H's verses…

Kathy M’s verses...

We're starting another season, which goes by a few names. In the business world it's called 'Q2', in the education world it's called 'term 2', and in the church world it's called 'waiting for Pentecost'. I pray that each of us will remember that God's grace and mercy transcend all our misgivings in all seasons, and we are called to celebrate and also show grace and mercy.

Have a week of mediating on these incredible verses.

Mato.

Church Sundays

We are on the last part of Galatians 4, specifically 4:21-31. This one takes us to a very significant story in the Old Testament involving Abraham, Hagar and Sarah.

We will be taking a trip down memory lane into the Old Testament with Paul as we talk about what happens when we decide to take matters into our own hands instead of being patient and waiting on God.

Community

We are grateful to our incredible men for leading children’s church this week and equally grateful to all our volunteers who do it every week. I have said this before: our children’s ministry is key for us, and we would like to resource it even more and disciple our children effectively. Studies have shown/are showing two very interesting trends about children.

• People who keep their faith as they get older are the ones who had intentional discipleship at church when they were children (3-8 years old). The research does not say to entertain kids but to be intentional in teaching and walking with them.

• In addition to the parents, the church plays a key role in influencing/impacting kids’ lives and decisions for the future, especially when they are young. This has to come from the top leadership.

Needless to say, we are still on this journey. We appreciate all you parents that bring your children along and entrust us with them consistently. Please join us in prayer regarding the future of our children’s ministry. For a dedicated children’s co-ordinator, and for the volunteers doing it now, that God will use them for his kingdom in the young people's lives.

Community

This is a call to continue praying and encouraging our young people. Our youth group meets on Thursday evening at 7pm.

This is a time of community, but more importantly, immersing ourselves into God's word and how that intersects with our daily life. They have very good questions and perspectives about life, and the leaders are also very encouraged by how much they have grown spiritually.

We can definitely see God working in and through our youth. They have also been very good at volunteering for Sunday morning duties and tasks. Ask one of the young people to have coffee with you after the service. It’s such an encouragement.

AGM Sunday

Our AGM is coming up on Sunday 24th May. There is a lot to cover this year for the AGM.

Here is the agenda.

• Welcome and Prayer

• Ministry reports (Elders, Financial, Youth, Admin, Children, Pastors) These will be submitted before, so we will have had a look, and we will have a chance for any questions arising.

• Ratifying the HCC constitution 

• Appreciating the outgoing eldership team

• Introducing the nominated Elders. (Rob & Kathy McAuley, Tim & Lizzie Hodge, Matt McFedries, Richard Howe). In order to be the new elders, they have to be ratified by a 2/3 majority. 

• Praying for the Elders

• Introducing the Halswell Community Church Trust and praying for the trustees

• AOB and final prayers 

Attached to our newsletter this week is a link to our constitution/rules document and a link to the ministry leaders and a short description of what they do as well.

Attached to our newsletter this week is a link to our constitution/rules document and a link to the ministry leaders and a short description of what they do as well.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

This Sunday, we are celebrating all our mothers. As I said last week, whether we like it or not, someone or something is definitely shaping you and, by extension, your children in real time.

How do we make sure that we are contending for the lives of our children and our families? The ladies speaking have had the opportunity to raise children who are now adults, and those children have individualised and kept their faith. Was this by mistake? Or was there a form of intentionality involved? I am sure all of us who are parents and parents-to-be would like to raise children who know their identity in Christ and who can stand up for themselves in a Christ-centred way, even in a world that is not. Come along and listen to what God has to say to us through these mothers.

This occasion is also a time to remember those who struggle during times like this. Maybe your mother is not alive or is very far away. Maybe you have no relationship, and it's painful. Perhaps you have unresolved issues, and you do not have any way forward. For some of us, we may have gone through a miscarriage or a medical event that affected either our abilities as mothers or our capacity. There are those who are overwhelmed as mothers due to the age and stage of their children. There are those who still struggle with their mothers-in-law, or even their daughters-in-law; we know how difficult it can be.

Wherever you are in your journey. We acknowledge and walk with you as a community, but most importantly, we bring you into God's presence and peace so that you may find comfort and rest in him.

Our study of Galatians resumes the following week.

Have a great week,

Mato

Community

This is a call to continue praying and encouraging our young people. Our youth group meets on Thursday evening at 7pm. This is a time of community, but more importantly, immersing ourselves into God's word and how that intersects with our daily life.

They have very good questions and perspectives about life, and the leaders are also very encouraged by how much they have grown spiritually. We can definitely see God working in and through our youth. They have also been very good at volunteering for Sunday morning duties and tasks. Ask one of the young people to have coffee with you after the service. It’s such an encouragement.

We ask that you please pray for some of our youth as they attend a conference called First Training, run by CCCNZ, on the 29th-31st of May.

Community

Our AGM is coming up on Sunday 24th May.

This is a time for us to look back over the year and celebrate what God has done. It is also a time to take stock of where we are at as a congregation.

This AGM will be a special one because we will also be ratifying and commissioning a new elders' team as well. For many of us, we have never experienced an HCC AGM, so I invite you to please come along. There will be a soup lunch after.

We will be doing a soup lunch after the AGM. If you can bring some soup, then please let Margaret know. 

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Happy New Month, everyone!! We are in May. If you are into Star Wars, this month has a significant date for you. If you aren't concerned about Star Wars, I know you care about Mother's Day, coming up on the 10th of March.

This year, we will be hearing from two incredible women on their motherhood journey, specifically related to raising children who keep their faith into adulthood. Whether we like it or not, someone or something is definitely shaping you and, by extension, your children in real time.

How do we make sure that we are contending for the lives of our children and our families? These mothers speaking to us exemplify the Proverbs 31 woman in more ways than one, and we will be gleaning some nuggets from their experiences.

Closely related, we are still on our journey in Galatians. This has somewhat slowed down in April due to the various church calendar events, the main one being Easter. We are still committed to studying God's word together systematically.

This week, we are up to Galatians 4. I would encourage you to read/listen to the first three chapters of Galatians, which underline that faith is through Christ and not human effort. It is not what we do, but what Christ has done. Understanding the first three chapters lays the foundation for what it means to live not under the law but like an heir to Christ, which is what we will be breaking down this week.

Have a confident week,

Mato

Community

This last week, we got to hear from our youth regarding Easter camp. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for and supported our youth over the years.

This is a call to continue praying for them and encouraging them. There is so much pressure to deal with as a young person, and many of them struggle with the day-to-day emotional toll, and we want to be the family that holds them both in prayer and other support. Please do not give up supporting them.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

As I have conversations and interactions with people both in our congregation and around us, it has dawned on me how intense life is. From the big events of the world, like wars affecting the economy and, by extension, our family budgets, to the weather events affecting our country every other week now that come with untold devastation. Then there are our own realities every day. Raising children well, dealing with sicknesses, having parents who are unwell or live very far from us and yet require our help, or being on the verge of burnout as we work to make ends meet and be good role models to our families. The very many situations that we have to deal with as individuals are difficult to even comprehend or share. 

What we crave is certainty. A sense that we understand what is happening now and what will happen in the future. An understanding that brings peace. Yet we all know that we are never certain of anything in this world, except, as Benjamin Franklin said in 1798, death and taxes. Certainty is different from clarity, which is what we should be praying for. Clarity is being clear-minded/headed in the current situation, even though we do not know the outcomes. We usually do not know the outcomes. Clarity provides us a glimpse into the heart of God if we choose to embrace it.

I have found myself sharing and meditating on the words of Paul in Philippians 4:6-7.

'Do not be anxious' is more of a command rather than an option. He understands that our human disposition is anxiety and stress, so we have to almost “tell ourselves off” and move away from our human nature.

But in every (ALL) situation, by “prayer and petition". These two aspects of prayer are similar but distinct. 'Prayer' is a broader word that can mean all of our communication with God, while directly asking God to do something. Many of our prayers go unanswered because we do not ask God for anything specific. Sometimes we feel he is too busy with more serious things. Here, God invites us simply to let your requests be made known. He is interested. God already knows our requests before we pray them; He wants us, in an act of courage and intimacy, to let us tell Him what we need. Just like a parent who knows what the child wants but will wait for the child to ask, God will often wait for our participation through prayer before granting that which we request. With thanksgiving, this guards against a whining, complaining spirit before God when we let our requests be made known. 

When this first part is done, then the peace of God…not the peace of certainty or resolve, but a peace, as Spurgeon explains it, that is "the unruffled serenity of the infinitely happy God, the eternal composure of the absolutely well-contented God.” Will guard our hearts. This peace surpasses all understanding. It isn’t that it is senseless and therefore impossible to understand, but that it is beyond our ability to understand and to explain; therefore, it must be experienced. 

This peace will "guard your hearts and minds”. The word 'guard' speaks of a military action. This is something that the peace of God does for us; it is a peace that is on guard over our heart and mind. When we “lose” their heart or mind, it often is connected to an absence of the peace of God in our lives. The peace of God then does not act as a guard for our hearts and minds. 

This week, and in the ones coming along, I encourage you to take this verse and pray it aloud. Memorise it if you can and apply it to all the situations you face in your day-to-day life. It gives your life and grace to face the day.

Have a peaceful day.

Mato.

Church Sundays

A new school term is now underway. I would like to thank all the incredible volunteers who were involved in our holiday programme, both in the planning and execution. 

As the new term starts, we have still not finalised the children's coordinator position. In the meantime, Kirstie Russell and Kathy McAuley have graciously planned out the terms’ learning, activities and resources. Our children's ministry is divided into three groups as shown below.

Children’s church oversight: Kirstie
Pre-school age leader oversight: Nikki
5 and 6 Year old’s leader oversight: Rebekah
7-10 Year old’s leader oversight: Kathy

Kirstie will still have oversight of the children's ministry, assisted by the three amazing volunteers. Within the three groups, various people have volunteered to lead a Sunday or two so that everyone gets a turn.

I have been directed to inform you that on Mother's Day, which is on 10th May, our amazing dads will be leading children’s church. Speaking of Mother's Day…

Coming up on Sunday 10th May. This year, we will be hearing from two incredible mothers who have purposely raised their children in the Lord and what that has taken over the various stages of their family life. I am very much looking forward to hearing from them. There might also be a treat for all the mothers during the service. Come along to find out!

Community

This week is Easter Camp Sunday. We get to hear all the incredible stories and “God moments” at Easter camp this year. The youth will be leading our service, as well as sharing and helping us understand what Easter camp is all about and why we spend so much time planning and praying for it. So please pray for our youth as they plan for this Sunday.

Community

An update on the Alpha course

Due to many unforeseen circumstances, we have been forced to postpone Alpha. We are still committed to running this course, but it will happen later in the year. Will keep you posted on the new dates and venues.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Good evening, everyone

I would like to remind us that nominations for Elders’ court are open. The process is fairly simple, so here we go.

1. Read about the qualifications of an elder. Here are the texts. 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.

2. Identify anyone you would like to nominate, and either approach one of the current elders or the pastor and nominate them. Feel free to chat to them first, but if you are unsure, chat to the elders, and we are happy to inform them on your behalf.

3. The person will be given an opportunity to pray, discern and consider eldership. This is both a very personal process and a communal process together with the pastor and current elders.

4. There will be a few outcomes. 

• A nominated person may come back and decide they are not ready/qualified/it is not their time. In that case, they may respectfully decline. 

• During the discernment process, it may become clear that the person is “not yet ready", i.e., they are willing but not fully there. In that case, they may become an elder in training, i.e., attend some elders' meetings and go through a discipleship process with the aim of joining the eldership later.

• The person nominated may fit the criteria and be ready for eldership, in which case they will be ratified at the next AGM (dates will be available soon).

In a congregation such as ours, we need a maximum of 5-6 elders. We also accept both male and female eldership at HCC. If you have questions regarding this, we have a written paper on egalitarian leadership/women's leadership and are happy to share this on request.

Have a lovely week of nominating,

Mato.

Community

Alpha course

Ever had a conversation with someone about why you believe what you believe? Or even how to read scripture? How to pray? How to answer life’s big questions? 

Beginning 3rd May 2026, we will be running an Alpha course at HCC. Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explores all the big questions of life. It includes open discussion, food and a time to ask questions. We will run this on Sunday mornings, from 8:30 a.m., with breakfast provided.

Invite someone along and join them. If you have children and would love to come along, do not worry, we will have a programme for them at that time as well. Here is a link to find out more.

Core Topics (Weekly sessions)

• Is There More to Life Than This?

• Who Is Jesus?

• Why Did Jesus Die?

• How Can I Have Faith?

• Why and How Do I Pray?

• Why and How Should I Read the Bible?

• How Does God Guide Us?

• How Can I Resist Evil?

• Why and How Should I Tell Others?

• Does God Heal Today?

• What About the Church?

Church Sundays

Our incredible children's leaders have been working hard to get the programme ready for term two. This will be available soon. Thank you too to those who have volunteered to help during this time and have offered so much of their time.

Community

Currently, this group is doing an overview of the whole Bible. This is key because the Bible is one big story that begins at creation and has not ended. You are still part of the story.

In fact, a biblical term we use for what we are living in now is “the now, and not yet”. I am also reasonably convinced that many of us have stayed away from parts of the Bible because they are either too difficult to understand or gruesome and uncomfortable. Reading the Bible together helps us understand context, reconcile the scenarios and see how God has woven this grand story together.

Join Tim and Lizzie on Monday evenings as they lead this bible study together. This is open to everyone who would like to come along.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name

Pastor’s Message

Good evening, everyone

We have just celebrated Easter, a beautiful time to relive the greatest story ever lived and told. As I sit today and reflect on both the story and the weekend, I am humbled by God's grace and mercy. 

It’s easy for us to simply take these terms as Christianised, just words we say because we are Christian but devoid of meaning. But I believe there is depth to these words. God's mercy means that we do not get what we deserve, even after we have sinned, i.e., missed the mark. God has mercifully forgiven us and tells us that he does not count our sin against us.

Grace, on the other, is a higher bar. If mercy is not getting what we deserve, God goes a step further and gives us what we do not deserve, i.e., all the blessings we encounter, and how much God comes through for us even when we are unaware of it. So, when we say that God is gracious and merciful, those words have a profound meaning. David, in Psalm 103, writes it this way…

Reading this can bring up a myriad of thoughts and feelings in all of us, depending on the season you are experiencing currently. My response to this is to feel both honoured and humbled. Honoured because God sees me and who I am. Humbled because God does not hold anything against me, even when I have held things against others. I consistently miss the bar when it comes to showing grace and mercy to others, yet God does not miss a beat when showing grace and mercy to me.

We're starting another season, which goes by a few names. In the business world it's called 'Q2', in the education world it's called 'term 2', and in the church world it's called 'waiting for Pentecost'. I pray that each of us will remember that God's grace and mercy transcend all our misgivings in all seasons, and we are called to celebrate and also show grace and mercy.

Have a gracious and merciful week.

Mato

Community

Currently, this group is doing an overview of the whole Bible. This is key because the Bible is one big story that begins at creation and has not ended. You are still part of the story.

In fact, a biblical term we use for what we are living in now is “the now, and not yet”. I am also reasonably convinced that many of us have stayed away from parts of the Bible because they are either too difficult to understand or gruesome and uncomfortable. Reading the Bible together helps us understand context, reconcile the scenarios and see how God has woven this grand story together.

Join Tim and Lizzie on Monday evenings as they lead this bible study together. This is open to everyone who would like to come along.

Church Sundays

We are getting closer to finalising our children's coordinator position. Thank you very much for your patience. Thank you too to those who have volunteered to help during this time and have offered so much of their time.

During the holidays, we will be running a combined programme for all our families. Please keep praying for us as we search and finalise a children's/families co-ordinator to lead our amazing volunteers and parents.

Community

The youth are back from Easter camp, excited and tired. We will not get tired of saying thank you to all of you who have supported us during this journey. Your labour and sacrifice are not in vain.

On Sunday, 26th April, we will have Easter Camp Sunday, where we get to hear God stories from the youth and their leaders and how that has translated to day-to-day life after Easter Camp.

The theme of this will be “Life after Easter”. In the meantime, during the holidays there will be relaxed youth group time with movies, games and reflections. Our usual youth group nights resume on Thursday 30th April 2026.

Community

Alpha course

Ever had a conversation with someone about why you believe what you believe? Or even how to read scripture? How to pray? How to answer life’s big questions? 

Beginning 3rd May 2026, we will be running an Alpha course at HCC. Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explores all the big questions of life. It includes open discussion, food and a time to ask questions. We will run this on Sunday mornings, from 8:30 a.m., with breakfast provided.

Invite someone along and join them. If you have children and would love to come along, do not worry, we will have a programme for them at that time as well. Here is a link to find out more.

Giving

Halswell Community Church

Account Number: 06-0601-0867216-00

Reference: Tithe/Offering Particulars: Your Name