News from First Church

February has seen this lovely warm summer continue, and Martinborough is still very busy with lots of visitors enjoying all that our lovely region has to offer.
First Church too has been seeing new faces as people staying in town join us in a Sunday service – it’s always interesting to meet them and hear where they’re from, what brings them to Martinborough, sometimes as part of a local wedding, and sometimes discover that they have a family connection with the area.

Recently we met a couple a couple who were married in First Church almost 50 years ago! It’s amazing how easy it is to make connections, finding people and places in common. Truly strangers are simply friends we haven’t met!

On Saturday 5th, the First Church Country Goodies stall will be in action again – please come by, have a chat and check out our home baking, garden produce and seasonal preserves.
We celebrate Easter over the last weekend in March, with a Good Friday service, and on Easter Sunday a Dawn service at the lookout on Bidwell’s Cutting and service at First Church – details and other information on our activities can be found on our website HYPERLINK “http://www.firstchurchmrtinborough.org.nz” www.firstchurchmrtinborough.org.nz
Or email HYPERLINK “mailto:info@firstchurchmartinborough.org.nz” info@firstchurchmartinborough.org.nz

In this period leading up to Easter, we have been looking behind the Gospel stories of the life and ministry of Jesus, and studying the sayings which scholars today believe express his message, to discover what they are really saying – about a new kind of living, a new kind of loving. Some phrases in common use today reflect these sayings: “Turn the other cheek” “Going the extra mile” “Do as you would be done by”.

Let us be simple in our needs
showing acceptance and friendship to each other
sharing generously what we have
letting go our hurts, our anxieties and our fears
a modern version of part of the Lord’s prayer