SAINT GEORGES

PARISH MAGAZINE
January—March 2018

Edition one
1. Front Cover artwork by Dennis Raines
2. Index
3. From the Bishop’s Office
4. From the Bishop’s Office
5. From the Vicar
6. A note from the People’s Warden
7. “A personal story” by Paul Jennings
8. “Selfies” by The Rev’d Brenda Deed
9. “Selfies” by The Rev’d Brenda Deed
10. The Rev’d Arthur remembers
11. Our new Diocesan Council member
12. “ Two new faces” by Jill Mc Leod
13. “ Two new faces” by Jill Mc Leod
14. “Who is this:” by Sharon Cordery
15. “Who is this:” by Sharon Cordery
16. “Life at the Booms” by Bob Cox
17. “Memories of Christmas back home” by Liz Wall
18. Every Picture tells a story
19. Every Picture tells a story
20. Every Picture tells a story
21. Every Picture tells a story
22. Draft Budget
23. Draft Budget
24. Financial Snapshot
25. Property report
26. Property report
27. Property report
28. Notices
29. Notices
30. Selwyn Group
31. AGM Date/ Lent Bible Study
32. Ministry Team directory 2
A love for helping people and the longing for a job beyond the office were
two factors that lead Ross Bay into his chosen vocations.
As a young man he began his working career in banking, but soon jumped
ship and followed his Anglican roots into theological education at St John's
College.
It was during his training for ordained ministry that Bay decided to embrace
his inner child and join the volunteer fire service.
"I was a little boy that never grew up," Bay said. "I grew up in Papatoetoe
where in those days there was still a volunteer fire brigade and I had always
wondered if it was something I might do.
"By the time I got to the age where I could volunteer I found out about this
organization that is now called Auckland Operational Support which is the
brigade that I belong to."
Almost three decades later, Bay has a myriad of volunteer hours under his
belt and has worked in various parishes around Auckland.
He has also served as the dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and has been
the Anglican Bishop of Auckland for the past seven years.
As Bishop, Bay is responsible for the oversight of 90 different churches in
the Auckland region and providing support and encouragement for the clergy
in those parishes.
Despite his devotion to the ministry, he still manages to make time to re-
spond to emergency calls for the fire brigade.
"It gets harder and harder the more responsibility I take on but I normally get
to about 70-80 calls a year, so I am out more than once a week - mostly in
the middle of the night or occasionally on the weekend," he said.
"I still enjoy the aspect of it where you feel like you are putting something
useful into your community, but the other side of it is the friends that you
make over the years.
"It is the ongoing connections with those friends that holds me there more
than anything else. I don't get so excited about the pager going off at 2am on
a very cold August morning anymore."
Bay serves as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer of the Auckland Operational
Support Brigade, a second-tier fire service that provides support for
firefighters at the scene.
"It is not strictly a firefighting brigade so we are not normally putting water
3
on flames, but we are doing every peripheral thing around the scene that
allows fire fighters to concentrate on their job.
"A lot of it is around scene safety, supporting the specialist units,
running a mobile kitchen truck, managing cordons or supporting
victims."

Bay said his theological training helps with the emotional side of emergency
service work, while his fire service work acts as a grounding to the realities
of life.

"One of the challenges of being a paid worker in the church is that it

becomes very easy to get immersed into the life of the church and not
necessarily meet or see any other people.

"People sometimes say that the church isn't the real world, but
I believe to some extent that no world is the real world if it is your only
world.

"I think it is really good no matter what you do, to have another aspect to
so firefighting has been really good for me personally," he said.

"One of the good things about the volunteer fire brigade is it draws together
people from all walks of life and you are interacting with a really wide

4
Welcome to this first edition of our Parish Magazine. The aim of this
magazine is simple, to keep you informed about the following:
 Finance
 Property/Church Plant/Maintenance
 Vestry matters
 Church matters
 Upcoming events
 Special occasions
 Keep us in touch with each other
 To celebrate one another
 Services
 Activities

This is your Church, your Parish, your Church home, my role is to ensure
you are fully informed of everything.

I am looking forward to sharing your

stories, your thoughts, your ideas
which are all important.
Through the generosity of two of our
congregation, we have a new Parish
office printer that enables us to
economically produce this magazine,
thank you to you both.

We have many Anglicans who for

many reasons cannot attend service, this is one way to keep us connected, I
look forward to sharing other stories from outside of this congregation, from
friends from other Churches, and this amazing community you live in.

If you would like an electronic copy of this magazine, please email me and a
copy will be emailed to you.

The Rev’d Brendon Wilkinson (vicar@thamesanglicanchurch.co.nz)

5
Initially when Brendon asked me to take on the role of People’s Warden
I delayed responding. Firstly I had been managing the property portfolio
which is a huge undertaking in itself and, secondly could I possibly live up to
the role as the parishioners would want me to?

Well after the annual election here I am. I am literally a go between.

If you feel you would like me to discuss anything with Brendon on your behalf
don’t hesitate to contact me for that is my primary role.

Brendon, Kate and I met in January to discuss any issues that needed airing,
and to outline what the first vestry meeting of the year could look like.
Brendon has made my role that much easier in two ways.

One - he is a great communicator and has kept in touch regularly with all
goings on in the parish and - secondly by the very nature in which he has
conducted himself in his role in the parish and Thames at large. Word from the
parishioners is so positive and they love the direction in which we are heading.
I have also had people out in the community talking about Brendon, and
extolling his virtues enthusiastically. He has been engaging people from all
walks of life and has been working at a frenetic pace both within the church
and out in the community.

Over the past year many of our prayers asked

God to support the nominators and the diocese
in choosing the sort of person we would want as
our vicar and haven’t our prayers been
answered.

We thank you Brendon for all that you

accomplished in the first three months you have
been with, and a part of us and we look forward
to the journey ahead.

Paul Jennings.
People’s Warden
6
Maori have the word turangawaewae which as a noun means domicile,
standing, place where one has the right to stand - place where one has rights of
residence and belonging through kinship and whakapapa.
Well for me I feel a strong sense of belonging to Thames and in particular St
Georges not just through my faith but through my ancestors.
My great-great grandfather Edwin arrived in New Zealand with his wife Jane
and their seven children in January 1863. They had purchased land between
Waiwera and Puhoi, sight unseen from England, and upon arrival found it too
difficult to farm. They lived in a house in Waiwera until the discovery of gold
in Thames. My great grandfather, Joseph, and a younger brother, William,
walked to Auckland then hitched a ride on a scow to Thames and the rest of
the family were to follow. William washed sediment blankets on the gold
fields as a 12 year old, earning one pound a week. He lived till one month
short of his hundredth birthday.
Edwin was a plane maker, the tool variety, and folklore of the family is that he
worked on the windows of the church. Like many such stories of old there is
no hard factual evidence of this deed but I like to think there is a great deal of
truth in the matter. So five generations later I stand where perhaps Edwin
stood. As psychologists say we stand upon the shoulders of those who have
gone before us and this was one of the deciding factors in my taking on the
property responsibility, for I feel an obligation to carry on my ancestors’
work.
I’m often asked my name around the town and when I tell them I get the re-
sponse “I’m related to you,’ then am informed through which family line.
Young John Read from Read Brothers, for example, is related through his
mother’s line.
One day a student of mine, a strapping lad of Fijian Maori descent named
Dustin, said in class, “My father’s surname is Jennings and my great uncle,
Arthur Jennings, was an All Black (a Fijian AB). In that case I replied, “You
are related to me.” You can imagine the hoots of laughter from the ‘kids’ in
the class, a) there was no physical resemblance between us and b) fancy
being related to the teacher. George, the youngest of my great- grand father’s
brothers traded in the Islands and married a Tongan women then a Fijian by
whom he had three sons. It’s through this line that Dustin is related to me.
I’m now called Cuz, instead of Sir or Mr.

Edwin and Jane are buried in the Shortland

7 Cemetery, several lots of great
grandparents are interred at Totara along with my father and mother, Don and
Doreen, and many other relatives. So, for me, this is definitely the place where
I stand, my turangawaewae. Paul Jennings.
It’s rather daunting to be asked to write a piece for the first
Parish Magazine.
”What do you want me to write about?” “Anything, it’s up to you.”
My first reaction was to say, “I Pass”, but as the PASS
( Priest Assistant), thought it prudent not to! After much thought and
tossing out most ideas I settled on a piece about SELFIES

My husband Ray enjoys doing jigsaw puzzles particularly the 500 extra
large piece variety that he can complete in a day or two, sometimes
needing a helping hand from me. He was delighted to get a new 500
piece SELFIES jigsaw from a friend for Christmas and keen to tackle
putting it together.

We set up the table and opened the box looking forward to sorting out
sides and then colours BUT instead of finding the usual regular size and
shape pieces we were confronted with a bag full of mismatched shapes
and sizes.

His first reaction was to put it in the ‘too hard basket’ and shelve it.
After some thought he decided to face the challenge and have a go.

The edges weren’t as hard to find as he thought and went together quite
quickly and then the challenge really began. There seemed to be no
logical place to start, usually he worked from
side to side or top to
bottom with regular cut puzzle pieces but that
didn’t work.

Then groups of pieces started to make sense, the

odd shapes and sizes had their specific role in
making up the picture and came together in
unexpected ways.

More often than not the colours on the

8
pieces differed from those on the
box and you needed to leave your search, walk away and come back with
a new look to find what was needed.
There was great rejoicing when the final piece was found to complete
the SELFIE. It was the smallest seemingly most insignificant piece
that had been there all the time overlooked but the vital link.

Why SELFIES? This experience made me realise once again that this
is what the make up of any gathering is all about. To be inclusive we
need people of all shapes, sizes, colours, ages, life experience to
connect and make the picture complete.

As we pray for St Georges may one of our prayers be to be vigilant

and aware of the amazing contribution each person makes to the
continuing life of this Parish and give thanks for the diversity that
makes the SELFIE of St Georges Parish.

In the words of an ancient Sanskrit poem:

Look to this day for it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course lie all the realities and truths of existence.

The joy of growth the splendour of action the glory of power.

For yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is only a vision.

But today well lived makes every yesterday a memory of happiness

and every tomorrow a vision of hope.

9
 Part One, 315 Mackay Street
In 1967 I was appointed to Thames as Assistant Priest
and Hospital Chaplain. At that time many people came
to Thames Hospital for operations which they could get
done more quickly than in Auckland. Because so many
people were coming from outside the Thames Parish, The Vicar, Rev.
Bob Newman, asked for the Diocese to pay half the Stipend of a
Hospital Chaplain. This was agreed to by the Synod. So in December
1967 I did a few weeks training in Chaplaincy work with Rev. Bob
Hanson at Middlemore Hospital.
In my first Curacy, I had been living in rooms at Henderson. Shortly
before I was due to come here my landlady told me she had met a young
man from Thames and suggested he come to Henderson to meet me.
The young man was Mervyn Tilsley who later became my Best Man,
and now lives a couple of hundred yards from me in Baillie Street. The
eighty-year old Curate’s house of the Thames Parish was at 315 Mackay
street, now owned by Te Korowai Health Service.
There was no garage because the house was built right on the boundary.
My car was parked across the road where the High School grounds man
now lives. The church house had been used by several Curates but be-
fore I came to Thames it had been rented by a school teacher.
The House was badly in need of renovation nothing had ever been
finished properly. In the kitchen there were boards without even primer
paint.
One Curate had painted the ceilings and the walls down to the picture
rail jet black. My girl friend, Nina, to whom I became engaged a few
months later, said she couldn’t let me live in the house as it was. She
came up with some very tasteful and discreet patterns for the paintwork
and did a lot of the actual renovations. A member of the Vestry who was
a painter lent me ladders and trestles. When the work was finished he
said he’d give me a job any time. Why didn’t I take up the offer?

10
315 Mackay Street, the old Curates house
The Auckland Diocesan Council "looks after the responsibility of Synod between
sessions." It is composed of clergy and lay people from throughout the Diocese and
led by Bishop Ross Bay, with Assistant Bishop Jim White also taking a leadership
role. During Synod, if there are vacancies on DC, they are generally filled by electing
people to DC. Last year there was one space unfilled following the election, so
people throughout the Diocese were invited to put forward their interest in joining the
Council. There were a number of applicants for the one position and the Diocesan
Council determined who they wished to invite to join DC.

I was honoured to be chosen for this role and I take it very seriously. Diocesan
Council meets monthly, on the final Thursday of
each month, except for December when there is no
meeting. I have now attended two meetings, which
are held in the boardroom of Neligan House, oppo-
site Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland. After most
meetings, which generally run from 4 to 6:30pm, we
have dinner together as a group.

The minutes of each Diocesan Council are posted on

the Diocese's website, so everyone has access to
them. It enables people to understand the work of the
DC, which can involve decisions on funding requests
from parishes for capital improvements to approval of payments for sabbatical cover,
plus review of the current financial statements of the Diocese.

Further, there are housekeeping matters to address, such as healthy and safety
reports. And Bishop Ross and Bishop Jim give updates on their work in the Diocese.
Each year the DC also has a retreat, with the Coromandel being the location for this
year's. It is a 2 day retreat in which the Council discusses matters of significance to
the Diocese and the wider church and plans for the future. There is an opportunity
for the DC members to visit Saint George's, likely when returning to Auckland
(where most of them live) on Saturday 3rd March, as many of them have not visited
our church. Again, I am honoured to be part of Diocesan Council. It is a steep learn-
ing curve and involves a lot of reading! I am constantly aware of the importance of
being well informed and striving for objectivity, particularly as much of the business
we conduct and the decisions we make have a significant impact on the people in the
90+ parishes, mission districts, and local shared ministries in the Diocese.
11
Ever since Alec and I were married 57 years
ago, (and indeed before we met at Bible
Class) we have been active in a worshipping
congregation. The journey has been ever
changing , though we have spent the longest
time at St. Columba’s Presbyterian. Church
in Pakuranga, some 30 years, as our family
grew.

I became a Pastoral Elder, and we hosted a

weekly home group at our place, for 15 years.
Once the children had been launched to make
their own ways, I spent time studying
towards a Certificate of Ministry from the
B.C.N.Z. ( now Laidlaw College) and was
active in counselling within the church, then
adding a postgrad. paper in General
Counselling which I took at home, from Massey.

The Lord opened my soul to a deeper dimension when a dozen of us attended

a seminar presented by the fledgling Spiritual Growth Ministries group in
1990. During that day, I knew that I needed to apply for the course which
they were offering ( and still are !).It was called Spiritual Direction; the first
question I was asked at the interview was,
“Have you ever made a retreat , a silent retreat ? “
That was intriguing, and I set off on a heart and soul restoring journey,
which has continued in surprising ways.

At the end of 1996 we moved to the family holiday home at Orere Point.
Our parents had left the cliff top property next to my brother and me.
We were able to divide it so that each of us had cliff frontage with a glorious
view over the Gulf to Coromandel. “
He built a new house on his side, and we took over the original house.

12
My aunt had added an upstairs self-contained flat. By then I had had experi-
ence in Leading Quiet Days and working with S.G.M . retreat teams.
 We called the flat Seasong, and offered it for any Christians who wanted
time to reflect on their faith journey. The guests looked after themselves, but
most asked for an hour with me at some time during each day.
They appreciated being able to speak about their lives, and their faith
knowing that what they said would never go any further. That satisfying
ministry continued alongside commitment first to Kawakawa Bay
Community Church, then later some years to Clevedon Anglican Parish.

There, in that tiny Selwyn Church, we learned to appreciate the Anglican

form of worship. Before long I was ordained as a Lay minister by Bishop
John, and had responsibility for the Reserved Sacrament services at
Alfriston, Hunua, Clevedon, Kawakawa Bay, and the monthly home service
at Orere. At that time, Clevedon had one ordained priest, and the Parish
relied on the team to help out with services.

Five years ago we knew we had to move nearer to medical facilities, and
made the difficult decision to sell Orere after 60 years! The Lord brought us
to Tararu Village. It has been a surprise to find that until now we have been
held back from our usual commitment to a congregation!
St Francis welcomed us to the midweek services in their chapel, and
gathered us up for three or four years though it always felt like a stop on the
way to ???Now we know the answer to that, and are feeling at home with
you.

For free confidential appointments13please phone the Parish office on

(07) 8686267
I have been asked by Rev. Brendon to share a little about myself as I have a
real desire to be of help in this church family wherever it is possible for me
to do so and I am seeking the face of the Lord in the matter.

My name is Sharon Cordery and I have lived in Thames for the last 13 &
1/2 years. I have had the wonderful blessing of being a Christian for 36 truly
precious years and I have been attending St George’s about the same length
of time as the Wilkerson family.

In July my lovely gentle husband David went home to be with his Lord and
Saviour; absolutely wonderful for him but not so good for me! I miss him
like I wouldn’t have believed possible but I am so happy for him that he is
now with Jesus, after his very gracious 2 year struggle with the disabilities
following an earlier stroke.
David and I lived in Palmerston North where I trained as a nurse and
worked for 28 years in various medical areas in the hospital. David worked
as a Radiation Oncologist until his retirement in 1994 when we moved to
Auckland where I worked as a Practice Nurse for 4 of the 8 years we were
there. A final move brought us to Thames where I continued my work as a
nurse at the Thames Medical Centre for 11 years.
During this time David and I established a large garden on a rather steep
hillside until I retired in 2015 to care for David at home after he suffered a
stroke. This was a very precious time we viewed as our “Indian Summer”
as our love for each other deepened and our love for and dependence on the
Lord allowed us to experience 2 years of joy and friendship with Him and
each other.
Between David’s retirement and our moving to
Auckland, we travelled for 8 months overseas,
6 months of which were spent in Israel working
as volunteers in a Christian guest house in a
little Druze village on Mount Carmel high above
Haifa. It was a wonderful time spent in the
service of the Lord and fellowship with other
Christian volunteers from many different
countries. 14
Now that my days are not so full I often find myself wondering how the
Lord can utilise the skills I still have even as I enter my 70s. Skills never
leave us and the nursing role is very hard to relinquish.

I have looked at St George’s congregation in the weeks since I started

attending and have noticed a fondness developing for the older people there
and a recognition that I may be able to be of help to some of these dear
people. I wonder for example if they are aware of all the WINZ allowances
they are entitled to, maybe amongst others - disability allowances?
There may be entitlements unclaimed because they are simply not known
about. Maybe some of them are lonely and would love a visit and talk about
lost loved ones or just talk! I wonder if maybe I could help with advice
about something that they may not even be aware of! Maybe someone needs
someone to share the precious time set aside to pray.
My heart has a real concern for the lost in our community and an awareness
that the message of the gospel needs to be talked about more than it is, so
maybe some people simply have a need to talk about the Lord.

I was very heartened to hear Rev. Brendon last Sunday urging our
congregation to be a praying people and hearing his yearning for us to seek
the face of God for His will for us as His people. What an encouragement
that was and I know it was for many others. A church that does not pray will
be an empty church. Nothing draws a people together more than corporate
prayer and how shall we know the will of God except we ask Him?

I am happy to be amongst people who seek to serve and worship a living

God but we need to EXPECT to hear from him and see Him working in the
lives of His people. We must never take our relationship with Him for
granted. We see in the world around us as we wait for His return to earth the
darkness getting darker, but thankfully God always has his witnesses in
every generation and in pockets around the world marvelous things are being
done by the Lord as people seek His face in prayer.
I want to be one of those whose motto is
“as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Sincerely Sharon.
For free confidential appointments please phone the Parish office on
(07) 8686267

15
For some time I had some back problems which in 2014 were diagnosed as
a marked degenerative scoliosis, which with the aid of a walking stick and
some mild medication made life bearable. However early 2017 I suffered a
sudden decline in mobility and was admitted to the Waikato and then the
Thames Hospitals.

Many tests and examinations followed, but I progressed poorly in terms of

mobility and function, surgery was considered
but not advised in view of my age, and the
DSL assessment was that I would be better
placed at the “Booms” where I have been since
May 2017. While here I have been well looked
after, and I have been trying various exercises
etc. but these have not made any great im-
provements and I still cannot stand up on my
own or walk. Luckily I have the use of a manu-
al as well as a power wheelchair, but I still need help to get out of bed and
into them as well as get back to bed again. I do not see any end to this situa-
tion, which means that travel outside is limited although the Booms mobility
van is available for me for visits within the Thames area.

The Booms is made up of three units, the Dementia, Rest Home and the
Hospital which I am in the care of. The staffs are excellent and include a
number of overseas, both male and female and this variety of cultures makes
a good mix as most of the residents spend most of their time on the premises.
I have breakfast in my room; have lunch with rest home folk and tea in the
hospital dining room. In that way I can keep in touch with most of the other
people except those in the secure section.

One drawback to the present situation, is that Diana and I are living apart with
she still living at Richmond Villas but she is able to visit me each day and
join me for lunch, and with the local bus service now operating and help from
the staff transport is not too much of a problem as neither of us drive
anymore. And we still feel lucky that we are not short of visitors as we do
have many that call in.
While we can see some drawbacks to our current situation, we are encouraged
to make most of what we still can do and not get downhearted by things that
we can no longer do.
16
Bob Cox
Going back 80 plus years I recall the happy and blessed time of Christmas Eve.
(That’s the day we celebrated Christmas because of the birth of Jesus Christ, this
tradition I have kept up even when living in England for 22 years.)

There were my parents, two brothers and two sisters. On Christmas Eve we all had
supper together, sitting in our large living kitchen, a large Advent Candle
suspended on bright red ribbons from the ceiling with four big red candles which
were lit whilst we had our meal.
Afterwards we all had to help with the washing up. My father then went in the
lounge to light all the white candles on the real TAMMEMBAUM that reached from
the floor to the ceiling adorned with silver baubles. We children were not allowed to
see the tree beforehand . (I remember when I tried to peek through the key hole!!!)

My elder brother played the violin and my elder sister the piano.
We all sang “Holy Night, Silent Night” to people then wished each other a happy
and blessed Christmas.

Presents were always few and useful things placed unwrapped under the tree.
I might have received some new clothes for my dolls (made by my mother) or a new
cover for the doll’s pram or a new ball.

About 11:30 we wrapped up well (it was usually between 15– 20 degrees) to go to
midnight mass. Stamping through deep snow to ST. Martins Church.

Midnight mass always started with a short service in front of a beautifully carved
nativity scene. The figures were quite large and there were Mary and Joseph, the crib
with baby Jesus laying on straw. The three wise men, 2 angels, a shepherd, donkey
and sheep. For me as a child this service was the highlight ( as I was brought up as a
Catholic).

There we went back home to drink HOT PUNCH or GLUHWIH – made from red
wine, a little rum added, some cinnamon sticks ,
cloves, fresh lemon and orange peel, this was
drunk out of crystal cups and eaten with home-
made cookies.
There was complete silence out in the street,
everybody was at home with their family
celebrating the birth od Christ.
Because this is what Christmas is all about,
the the birth of our Saviour.

Mrs Liz Hall 17

 This was a common sight along the Thames
Coast, after the recent storm.
A gift from a lovely family visiting
St George’s from Fiji this morning
upon them hearing of my love for
rugby.

An afternoon with Dr Bruce and Rev’d Catherine

Mackereth. I am blessed to have 5 retired Priests
with Bishops permission to officiate license in the
Parish to learn from including Rev’d Catherine,
Rev’d Peter Philip, Rev’d Arthur Mead, Rev’d
Brenda Deed and Rev’d David Cooper. Besides
Margaret Williamson aged 93 and a
half was baptised in 1924 by Rev’d
Beck and confirmed in 1937 by Rev’d
Corbin. For 40 years she lived in the
white building across the road from St
George which was once the Vicarage
tenanted by Rev’d Lush. Up until 2
years ago Margaret was still serving
home communion to many younger
than her.

In the early 1900’s parishioners would rent

space in the pews where they could store
their bible and prayer books to save carry-
ing them to church each week.
18
Technology means you now store them in
your phone. (pictured on the left)
 St George needed schematic drawings of the
Dianna Cox once taught Sunday School at St Church and so Vivienne stepped in and used
George with 49 children. her experience as a draughtsman measuring
She asked the question” what happened”? and drawing plans over a 7 month period. No
easy task but another story of fantastic
Bluetooth and wifi have been parishioners.
installed in St George.
This will enable us to stream
funerals,
weddings and services.
Welcome to the 21th
century St George .

Our wonderful
Edward and Stephanie Du Plessis kindly
ladies leading us
donated all the cable and fittings required
for Christmas
to rewire the Parish Hall which the Vicar
Eve service.
as an Electrician installed. Thank you
Rev’d Catherine,
Stephanie and Edward for your generosity
Rev’d Brenda
and Margaret
Mac Kay
Lynne
Mounsey’s
hands not only
play organ but
also bake
delightful food

Volunteers form a team called Inspire.

They sit daily in the Church to welcome, inform and
care for its many visitors.
19 Mavis (pictured on the left) is part of a very
important team to which we are very
grateful.
 Young Bob Cox has lived in Thames all his 88
years and has recently retired as our auditor. Bob
is very proud of his Church .
Read Brothers hardware in Thames spans
five and soon to be six
generations. John Read, the first
generation was a member of St George
Anglican Church for 50 years seldom
missing a service. 150 years later and
Russell( pictured) supplied the Church
today with 9 new keys at his cost. Thank
you for your long service and generosity.

This photo from the 1950s was taken at a time

when communion was served at the high altar.

91 year old Rev Arthur Mead displays

psalm 27 printed on his shirt from
Bangladesh
“ The Lord is my light and
my Salvation, whom shall I fear”
20
Finishing touches to the Parish hall bathrooms.
Thank you Paul and Rex.
 Young Betty Mc Carthy has
Claire Twentyman is one of our
lived in her home in Sandes St
young Inspire team members
for 93 years originally built by
her father. She has the best
view overlooking St Georges

The
faithful
Rev’d
Claire

The handsome Rev’d David Cooper with

Kate Sayer

Dr Nick Harry was a GP in my previous

Parish of Northern Wairoa. He and Babara
faithfully serve God in many ways throughout
the Coromandel and beyond.

Selwyn Christmas party with the the Rev’d

Joyce Marcon and Miriam. John Mounsey and
Judy are pretending not to be in the photo

Young welcome
team members
Christina and
Raewyn do a great
job making us all
feel very21welcome
each Sunday
22
23
24
The Way Forward.

This is a summary report adopted by Vestry listing the building repairs and
maintenance in order of priority

1. The walls of the church are to be reinforced.

2. The brick piles need to be reconstructed.
3. The rot in the walls and in the triple and double lancet windows needs
to be addressed, along with rot around the door arches and the doors.
4. The steeple has rotten frames which need to be addressed.
5. The roof of the nave has to be replaced.
6. Once the rot in the exterior has been addressed, and the walls pulled
back into place and reinforced then the church and hall need to be
painted. Planks may well need to be replaced and/or re-nailed as the
steel nails have rusted over time as have the flashing around the
windows and string line.
7. The Holderstein wiring is to be replaced.
8. Refurbishment of the interior is needed – paint work, carpets, heating,
sound system…
9. The carpark is to be expanded to run the full length of the
property adjacent to Mackay Street.

Vestry made the decision that all discussion and work on the Link cease,
until after 2022. This gives us a four year window of opportunity to begin the
massive task of restoring the church before the 150th anniversary in February
2022. Quotes need to be obtained, priorities and a work schedule
established .

In the meantime we continue with work on the hall complex - the

painting of the admin block, the renovation of the kitchen, lino for the
internal ramp, and the storm water drainage.

Vestry has received quotes to paint our Parish Hall, a painter has now been
contracted to have it complete prior to the 30th April 2018.

25
 Property Report for St George The Martyr Church
November, 2017 to February, 2018.

 Paul visited the TCD Council several times to ascertain whether a re-
source development fee of $2084, incl. GST, could be waiv-
ered in respect of the church’s storm water drain being connected
to the town system. The answer was repeatedly no, we had to comply
and pay the fee. On top of the Thames Drainage quote of
$2673.12 for linking the admin/hall block to the town storm water drain
we are looking at a cost of $4757.13, GST incl.

 December. Brendon replaced electrical wiring and fittings in the admin/

hall block. Bakelite around the lights had disintegrated and light shades
to reflect the light downwards weren’t able to be installed. Thank you
to the du Plessis family for the donation of materials, to Brendon for em-
ploying his electrical skills.

 Over the December/January period there have been ongoing

negotiations with firms selling photocopiers and service con-
tracts. The drum on the old Konica Minolta, KM, was so worn out that
KM would no longer service the machine. The functions the machine
could perform were so limiting that it was time for it to be replaced. In a
previous life Brendon worked in the p/copier industry so has been inval-
uable in getting us a great deal. A Canon p/c has been purchased, thanks
to generous donations from parishioners to cover the
costs. The new machine is linked to Brendon and Robbie’s computers
and they can now print directly from the machine. For example the pew
sheets can be printed and folded at the press of a button, allowing our
team to carry on with other work. A great labour saving device.

 Brendon also carried out the necessary electrical alterations needed to

house the machine.

 December/January. Brendon moved into the front admin office as he felt

he was more visible to the visiting public. The original vicar’s office has
now become a pastoral retreat where parishioners and others may meet
one on one with him in complete privacy.

26
 January/ February a new door bell system was installed on the admin
entry door, so people arriving at the door can be seen. They in turn
ring a bell which connects to Brendon’s phone alerting him to visitors
when and if he is not in the office.

 There is an opportunity to apply for more grants of money from Trust

Waikato February/June/September.

 Thank you to those parishioners still donating money to the restoration

fund.

 A ride on mower has been purchased by Brendon and this machine

will reduce the two hour ordeal with a hand mower, down to one hour.
It will also allow other parishioners to come on the lawn mowing ros-
ter as it is now a far less onerous job

Recommendations approved
 The resource development and Thames Drainage fees should be paid
as (i) the resulting drainage will remove the storm water from the
church property and, (ii), will allow for future development of a car
park the full length of the property bordering on Mackay Street.
 We accept the quote , to paint the admin block on the understanding
the work is to be completed prior to the 30th April 2018.
 We reimburse the vicar for the purchase of the ride on mower and buy
garden sacks for the lawn clippings to be transported off site, in my
case, to the transfer station.
 An interest group needs to be formed to investigate the renovation of
the kitchen. How far do we go? There is a $500 donation to go
towards the dishwasher and Flooring Xtra is holding lino, the same as
the toilet lino, and we need to uplift and pay for it. We also need non
slip lino on the internal ramp.
 What do you want regarding the celebratory service for the 150th
anniversary of the 1868 church i.e. the hall. Do you want the hall set
up in the same manner as the 150th of Thames? What form is the ser-
vice going to take and are we going to repeat the Victorian Tea? We
are two and a half months away – 6th May 2018

27
 150th Anniversary of our 1868 Church.
(Now used as a hall.)
On the 5th of May it will be the 150th anniversary of the 1868 church and a service
commemorating this event will take place on Sunday, the 6th May so write the date
down on your calendar. The service will follow the same format as the 150th
anniversary of Thames, with the church service in the hall. The Victorian tea will also be
on offer in the 1872 church as per last year.
There will be invitations sent out to other churches of all denominations in the region
and local dignitaries. Kate and I will be heading the organising committee and we will be
calling on parishioners to help out in various ways prior to the event. Let’s make this
occasion as memorable as the 150th of Thames. Paul Jennings.
Parish Cookbook
Calling all Mrs Beetons and Mrs Bridges! Do you have a tried and true family favourite
recipe? Denise Norris is compiling a Parish cookery book as a fundraiser and would
love your recipes. Perhaps one of Grandmas recipes, or a recipe that has become your
family favourite. Anything from Victorian High Tea to a quick and easy family lasagne.
Please contact Denise Norris on (07) 868 8076
End of Year Gala
Please keep our end of year gala in mind. We require white elephant, baking, as well as
any items you would like to donate. Contact Denise Norris.
Lent Bible Study
Starting this week Thursday 22nd February at 2-3:30pm. A 6 week course with the first
meeting being held in the church hall meeting room.
St Francis Irish Fling
Friday 16th March starting at 4.30pm.
World day of Prayer
Friday 2nd March 2018, 10am at the Salvation Army.
Church in the Park
Sunday February 25th 4-6pm at Victoria Park
Easter Services
Palm Sunday: Sunday 25th March 2018 9.30am
Maundy Thursday: Thursday 29th March 2018 7.00pm
Good Friday: Friday 30th March 2018 9.30am
Easter Sunday: Sunday 1st April 2018 9.30am
Baptism Service
Sunday March 11th 9.30am
28
29
 Selwyn Centre
Friendship for older people

Every Wednesday
9.30am—12 noon

_______________________________

Social games, activities

and morning tea

________________________________

At Saint Georges Hall

ALL WELCOME

The Selwyn foundation (Auckland Diocese) funds staffing of Selwyn

Centres throughout the upper North Island so that over 65s can
gather for friendship, exercise and contact on a regular basis.

Thames SELWYN CENTRE is assisted by the Thames Anglican

Parish and is available to all members of the local community

30
Starting Thursday 22nd February 2-3.30pm is a 6 week course in which
we will join with Jesus’ disciples to learn all that we can from his prayer in
John 17. As a Church family, we are being challenged to pray, and we will
be both challenged and encouraged as together we explore this amazing
chapter in the Bible.
Anyone will be most welcome, but we would ask you, wherever possible,
to make a commitment to attend all 6 weeks. Full study notes will be avail-
able each week. Please bring your bible and pen/pencil. (this week we will
meet in the Parish meeting room at the Parish hall. Future venue will be
determined by numbers attending).
31
 Services of Worship
Saint Georges Anglican Church Thames
9.30 am. Eucharist
Thursday Eucharist 10am
Te Puru Community Church
Eucharist every 3rd and 5th Sunday 9.30am
Selwyn Group
Each Wednesday 9.30 am in the Parish Hall

Saint Georges Ministry Team

Vicar: The Rev’d Brendon Wilkinson
Parish Office Ph: (07) 868 6267
Vicar’s Mob: 021 556 710
Email: vicar@thamesanglicanchurch.co.nz
Website: http://www.thamesanglicanchurch.co.nz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thames.anglican.1

Assistant Priest: The Rev’d Brenda Deed 07 8678012

Clergy : Rev’d Catherine Mackereth 07 8686829

Rev Arthur Mead 07 8683913
Rev’d David Cooper 07 8682769
Rev’d Peter Philip 07 8685028
Rev Jim Neilson 07 8683134
Jill Mc Leod 07 8690284
Wardens: Kate Jones 021958003
Paul Jennings 0278685102

Organists: Finlay Clement

Stuart Du Preeze
John Mounsey
Lynne Mounsey

Parish Office: info@thamesanglicanchurch.co.nz 07 8686267

Vestry : Paul Jennings, John Mounsey, Margaret Mac Kay,

Raewyn Grey,
32 Kate Jones, Doug and Denise Norris,
Fiona White, Sue Lewis O Halloran.