News from First Church

As winter approaches, we are pleased that some maintenance and weatherproofing of our buildings has been done.
We took part in a moving commemoration of the centenary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, joining with the community at Lake Ferry in a service where this year a second flag – the Australian one was dedicated and flew alongside the New Zealand one, and we were glad to join in a Combined Churches Remembrance Service in St Andrews church in the afternoon.

On 17th May Burnside Church community will celebrate 140 years, at the Burnside church from 12.30pm – if inclement weather at Pirinoa Hall, contact Lisa Portas 06 3077606 for more information. The Burnside Church Committee and residents put in a lot of hard work at this attractive and historic place. They are greatly to be congratulated that the church and grounds are looking so good.
Yes! Spread the word!

Another Martinborough Monster Midwinter Book Fair will take place in June from 19th to 21st. The usual format – Friday evening with a guest Speaker and supper followed by preferential sales, with tickets $15, and entry free on the Saturday 10am till 4pm, and Sunday 10am till 2pm. Our speaker this year will be local author Alice Arndell, author of “Alice in Bakingland”, whose new book “Bake me at Home” has just been launched.

We will be auctioning pristine copies of the greatly prized and long out of print Martinborough Cookbook – the green one, from 1992.
Donations of books for the Book Fair can be left at the Library, P & K, BNZ, Martinborough Transport and the Pirinoa Store
Or contact Carol Hawkins 306 9112, Margaret Griffiths 306 8102, Anne Dodd 306 9012, Mary Smith 306 9594, or any member of First church to arrange collection.

It can be seen from the range of these contacts that this event has become a huge community effort, and we are immensely grateful to our Council, local businesses and individuals who contribute and help in so many ways to stage this event – not just collecting up and sorting books – the more the merrier, but contributing muscle power, publicity, catering – a wonderful team effort.

First Church loves organising this Book Fair for the way it brings the community together, for the fun everyone has of browsing through a Town Hall full of books of every description – and finding books you didn’t know you wanted, books you didn’t know existed! So we encourage everyone to check their book shelves, donate some books and make space for some new discoveries.