NATIVITY CHURCH
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RESOURCES

Marlborough Quiz

31/8/2021

 
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​Are you up for a challenge?  Our very own Christopher Cookson has created an informative website about Marlborough with some great local tips (such as some lesser known walks and playgrounds) and some of his own beautiful photography. 

He has recently added a Marlborough Quiz to give us all a challenge during lockdown. 

How much do you know about the area you live in?  How much do you have to learn? 

​Have a go at ​Marlborough Quiz (marlboroughonline.co.nz)
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Looking for some fun family activities?

27/8/2021

 
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Download 'Church Activities at Home'
Download 'Family Fit - Fast'

Home Communion

27/5/2020

 
 The brochure attached supports small groups to partake in communion at home led by a layperson particularly over this time when we are unable to meet as usual.

  Printed copies are available from the office.
nativity_home_communion_brochure.pdf
File Size: 2283 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Resources to keep the brain going!

8/5/2020

 

​Here are some quizzes courtesy of our St Christophers Eldercare co-ordinator Sharon.  They can be attempted by any age young or old so click on the link and have a go!!
questions_for_sunday_03_05_2020.pdf
File Size: 281 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

questions_for_tuesday_28_04_2020.pdf
File Size: 231 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

questions_for_wednesday_29_04_2020.pdf
File Size: 137 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Jesus Loves the Little Children

22/4/2020

 
If you are looking for something bible based to do with your toddlers -this is the place for you.  This week we learnt about Jesus and the Children.  For our craft we got a series of shapes from around the house: corks, bottle tops and bits from a broken shape sorter.  We then used these to dip in paint to make body shapes for all the different children.

Here are the results:
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Here is the link for this week’s story:
If you don’t have any paint that is great because that is another project!  Just make some.  Here is a simple recipe:
https://tinkerlab.com/salt-and-flour-paint/
 
Alternatively, you could just draw around the shapes. 
This week’s snack is a family favourite:
AFGHANS
INGREDIENTS
  • 200g butter, softened
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • 1 and a ¼ cups standard flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • 2 cups cornflakes
  • Icing Sugar
  • Toppings (walnuts/hundreds and thousands)
METHOD
  1. Preheat oven to 180ºC. Grease or line a baking tray with baking paper.
  2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Sift flour and cocoa. Stir into creamed mixture. Fold in cornflakes.
  3. Spoon mounds of mixture onto the tray, gently pressing together.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. When cold ice with chocolate icing and decorate.  We put hundreds and thousands on ours and a couple even had marshmallows on top.

Ka kite
First Steps

Prayer Inspiration

20/4/2020

 
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Philippians 4:6,7:     In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Every Wednesday the Intercessors Prayer Group met in Barnies at 4pm.  Our aim was to seek God's purpose, wisdom, knowledge etc for the way to pray and ask within His will not only for Nativity and the various situation, people and things required but the community, nation, world, current events i.e. the Covid-19 situation.  I would encourage anyone who would like to learn with us, or enjoys this type of prayer to come on by and join us when we are free from the lock-down.

However, this does not suit everyone and even the time can be a deterrent.  There are so many different  ways we can pray, corporately as a large group or smaller ones, twos, threes and so on.  (These days with messenger, Skype, zoom and FaceTime we can keep in touch face to face.) Why not start your own prayer group with friends at a time that suits you all.  There may be people with similar interest or ways of praying you can meet with.  Having groups of people praying in houses all around the town would be awesome.  I heard of one group of 3 people who meet every three months at the change of the season to pray for their street and surrounding area which includes a school. Not an onerous task but awesome to think that it is happening.  God loves faithfulness. You may like to meet and pray more regularly for your school, workplace, church, current events or families.  The list is endless.

As individuals the list is also endless.  You may take a quiet time, and pray daily, this is great for our spiritual feeding. Other ideas are:
  • When ironing, pray for the individual whose garment is being ironed
  • When cooking, pray for members of the family you are cooking for. Give thanks for God's provision.
  • When gardening pray for the people who will enjoy your harvest or enjoy seeing your beautiful flower garden.
  • When making beds, pray for God's Holy Spirit to speak to the people in dreams and visions, pray salvation, healing deliverance, whatever is needed.
  • When driving pray safety for yourself and passengers, for others on the road, for alertness at all times.
  • When passing schools, churches, businesses, pray God's blessing on all the people there, for learning, for faith, for godly practices.
  • When out walking pray for the people in the houses you pass, pray to be able to share your faith with someone, even if it is only a genuine smile and hello.  Let people see the joy of the Lord in your face.
  • When at work pray blessing on your fellow workmates or for the things that are a concern for the business.  Pray for the employer and employees to work together for the common good.
  • Pray for the people who come to your house to know the saving power of Jesus.
  • As you hear sirens of fire and ambulance or the rescue helicopter overhead, pray that Jesus would be in that instance for safety of life and limb. 
  • At sports events, with children and friends pray blessing on all present for safety and enjoyment. Pray off the shock and trauma of accidents for those on the field of play.
  • Pray and ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more labourers into the field....               
    We are all called to be those labourers.
A Prayer:
Dear Lord, I rejoice in you.  I will be joyful in God my saviour. Thank you for this gift of prayer, for listening to my heart, for speaking to me of your grace.
In Jesus name. Amen.

Trusting God in Crisis online retreat

16/4/2020

 
Reccommended by an ex-parishioner living in lockdown overseas for 10+ weeks.  A 5 day on-line retreat:
https://trustinggodretreat.com/

Trusting God in Crisis Online Retreat
We’re all suffering the negative consequences of the global pandemic right now. Perhaps you are feeling stressed, anxious, or isolated. You might be experiencing fear, uncertainty, a loss of income, and a dramatic change in your day-to-day routine…
trustinggodretreat.com​

Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper

16/4/2020

 
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In Coronavirus and Christ, John Piper invites readers around the world to stand on the solid Rock, who is Jesus Christ, in whom our souls can be sustained by the sovereign God who ordains, governs, and reigns over all things to accomplish his wise and good purposes for those who trust in him. What is God doing through the coronavirus? Piper offers six biblical answers to that question, showing us that God is at work in this moment in history.

This book is now free to download in multiple formats, including audiobook.

Click HERE to learn more.

First Steps at Home

15/4/2020

 
Another week has gone by.  Thankfully we have still had lots of sunny weather and been able to get outdoors.  This week we learnt about Jesus Rising Again.  You can find the link for this craft here:
http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/Easter-EmptyTombActivity.htm
 
Here are some hard workers giving it a go:
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Last time we shared the link for the Beginners Bible Easter story.  It is quite long for littlies so here is the short and sweet version:
If you need to burn off some energy you might want to try some music.  Here are a few songs you can find easily on YouTube:
This week’s snack is another easy one for all hands to help with:

CHEESE PUFFS

Ingredients
1 C Flour
2 t baking powder
2 t sugar
1/2C grated cheese
Pinch salt
1 egg
 
Method
Combine everything EXCEPT the egg in a bowl.
Break egg into a measuring cup and beat with a fork.
Fill up the egg measuring cup to the 1C mark with water.
Mix into the dry ingredients.
The mixture should be sloshy.
Bake in mini muffin trays at 230° for approximately 10-15 minutes until golden.
Optional extras: Ham, bacon, onion etc.
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Ka kite
First Steps

Covid Meditation

15/4/2020

 

We were busily rushing around in our everyday lives when Covid brought New Zealand to a grinding halt. Someone in high places pushed the ‘pause’ button, and we were caught unprepared for the imposition of lock-down. As a linguist, I research language, and the frequency of usage of phrases around ‘speed’ signify the pressure we apply to daily life. We run errands, drive impatiently in rush hour. We hurry up, and race through chores. We appreciate fast food, and drive on expressways. We live our lives on ‘fast forward’ – until we’re run down.

I recently had a heart health check which involved both riding an exer-cycle and walking on a treadmill. The latter sped up and I was outpaced, running hard to stand still. It made me think that much of our busy-ness in life is equally ineffective in helping us move forward. The doctor’s stethoscope identified that I’m still alive, but his wry comment was “I’m getting the busy signal!” He also advised me to use more brake and less accelerator at my age!

I recall my Grandma Gertrude had an embroidered wall hanging which read:
“THE HURRIEDER I GO THE BEHINDER I GET”

I told her that some words were incorrectly spelled! Now I understand the sentiment, the pointlessness of frenetically rushing around. So much of modern life is under pressure. We dash from one appointment to another, squeezing the maximum events and duties into every twenty four hours.
Then came COVID. Almost immediately, our engines were reduced to idling. There’s no place to be other than home. Living alone, widowed with an ‘empty nest,’ I’m under no pressure to perform or please others. I had plane tickets and a bag packed ready to spend Easter in Matamata with some of my grandchildren. Thanks to Covid, the brake has certainly been applied to travel, even movement locally. Compulsory isolation imposed is curbing our social and sporting, professional and family life. While we mark time, we appreciate those essential workers who are clearing our trash, delivering mail, treating our sick and keeping the wheels turning through the trials. (My three sons are all working through the pandemic in essential services.) We owe these upright citizens our lasting gratitude.
Confession time. I have yet to change my alarm clock from summer to winter time. Evidently my body requires more sleep than I’ve hitherto allowed myself. My animals are happy about this, they don’t want their mealtimes moved by attempts to manipulate time. I am not alone in my bubble; God is Head of my home and life. He is with me in my bubble, which we share with my dogs, cat, and many rescued birds.
Slowing down is good for us all. Being still give us time to think more deeply. Leisurely walks with fur buddies enables us to observe more of the beauty of autumn. We’re living more simply and cheaply. We’re recognizing what is energy-sapping. We become more aware of our homes, what improvements we can make, what routines we should change, which chores need to be done, what maintenance we have neglected. Without shops open to provide conveniences, we begin to be more innovative. We set our own pace, accept our limitations and find things every day to thank God for.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me….” (Psalm 23.)
Enjoy extra time with God.
Blessings,
Rosemary Francis.
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Nativity Church
P: 03 578 3909     E: [email protected]     A: 76 Alfred St, Blenheim 7201
  • Home
  • About
    • Faith
    • Us
    • Service Times
    • Calendar
    • Ministries >
      • Children and Youth >
        • Preschool >
          • First Steps
          • Tunes 4 Tots
        • Primary
        • Intermediates
        • Youth
      • Families
      • Small Groups (Care Cells)
      • Women
      • Men
      • Senior Adults >
        • Care
      • Prayer
      • Missions
    • Contact Us
  • Haere Mai
    • Try Praying Interest Form
    • Hope Explored Interest Form
  • How We Help
    • Courses >
      • Healing Horticulture
      • The Marriage Course
    • Repair Cafe
    • Baptisms
    • Weddings
    • Funerals
    • Counselling >
      • Bereavement Care
      • Personal Counselling
    • Blue Door
    • Giving >
      • Serving
      • Financial
  • Venue Hire
  • Sermons
  • News
    • News and Events
    • Building Project
    • Bishop's Apology
    • Health & Safety