News & Announcements
To keep up to date with what’s happening, take a look at our weekly Newsletter here and our latest Parish Magazine here.
Coming Up:
Mary and Joseph on their Advent journey:
Mary and Joseph are looking for kind families to accommodate them for one or two nights as they make their journey through the season of Advent – the time of preparation for Christmas.
Families are invited to take some photos of Mary and Joseph, e.g. while eating dinner, reading books, playing a game… use your imagination! You can email the photos to Sarah at children@staidans.co.nz or remueramainlymusic@gmail.com, and we will compile the photos and show everyone what those guys have been up to.
It’s then your responsibility to make sure that Mary and Joseph get delivered to their next home for the night (you’ll be provided with the address of the next family). Sometimes you might have them for more than one night if Mary and Joseph are particularly tired from their travelling or if there isn’t anyone to take the next day slot.
Mary and Joseph will be on their journey from December 1 until Christmas Eve. There will be a sign-up sheet in our Gathering Area.
Many thanks to the exceptionally talented Gail Hodder who has brought these gorgeous characters to life.
Christmas Events
For more information about Christmas at St Aidan’s 2019, please click this link.
Summertime Services
9am only each Sunday on 29th December and 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th January
Recent Events:
Christmas 2019
Blue Christmas 
People were invited to do the following:
‘Take a candle to represent whatever pain and loss you’re experiencing most strongly tonight. When you are ready, light it and plant the candle down in the sand in the tray. As you do so ask for God’s help to keep on trusting him in the middle of whatever’s going on around you.’
Indaba Visit to St Aidan’s, Sunday 17th November
We had visitors to St Aidan’s by small groups from St Chad’s, St Andrew’s and St Thomas’ as part of ‘Indaba’.
St Francis’ Day Pet Service, Sunday 6th October
We had a short service at 4pm, with an array of dogs, teddies and pictures to be blessed. Keep an eye out for next year! Check out a video of the service below:
Our 2019 Pet Service, in celebration of St Francis Day
Posted by St Aidan's Anglican Church Remuera on Wednesday, 9 October 2019
St Aidan’s Garage Sale, Saturday, 14th September 2019
Quiz Night, Friday 9th August
We fundraised just over $3,000 for the Auckland City Mission HomeGround project, which will include a safe, permanent shelter “to stand against homelessness, hunger and poor health.”
The dress code was 1920s style, as Auckland City Mission was established in 1920 and there were prizes for the best-dressed table & best-dressed team.
For more info about the Auckland City Mission HomeGround Project: https://www.aucklandcitymission.org.nz/homeground/
Sri Lanka Fundraiser
To support the families of the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka, we had reusable coffee cups on sale in the Gathering Area. $16 for one, $30 for two. The funds will go through the Salvation Army in Sri Lanka.
One Can – Two Can Appeal, June 2019
St Aidan’s was part of the City Mission’s One Can – Two Can Appeal again this year. City Mission are only able to meet the needs of so many people because of the support they receive from the Auckland community, through donations of staple food items and money.
Although the Appeal is over, we do have a weekly collection of food, so if you would like to donate some food, please bring drop them off in the Gathering Area. To find out more about the Auckland City Mission Food Parcels, click here.
Pentecost, 2019
We celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, with a bit of flair this year by picking up the old medieval church practice of Holy Spirit Holes…
Kids’ Church, Youth and our Young Adults also cooked marshmallows together and played a few games.
Paper, Pens Pencils
We recently had a stationery collection box for Paper Pens Pencils, available at church. We were collecting contributions of new and unused stationery items (e.g. pens, pencils, colouring pencils, erasers, sharpeners, exercise books, etc.). Please check their website out if you would like to make a contribution!
Fishing Trip, Saturday 11th May
A dozen keen anglers arrived at the marina at 7am ready for a big catch. The fog kept us waiting and it looked like we might have to cancel, but fortunately, it cleared briefly and allowed us to head out into the bay a couple of hours late.
Going slowly through the fog we watched the fish jumping but they proved elusive. We arrived at our fishing spot around 11:30am near Motutapu Island and as the sun burnt off the fog the catch finally started coming in, however, they were all on the small side and we had to throw everything back until Lily Ashworth caught a generously sized snapper.
Sadly that was the only fish we brought home, but everyone had a great day out on the water enjoying the sun, sea and scenery.
A big thank you to George, skipper of “Marnine”, and Pete for organising the trip.
Christchurch support:
Christchurch unites in grief: What you need to know
How to support NZ’s Muslim communities
Donate to Christchurch City Mission
How to talk to your kids about: Trauma
St Aidan’s Church Family Picnic, Sunday 3rd March 2019
Our first intergenerational event for the year was a lovely picnic in Cornwall Park. We had a range of parishioners come along to this event, which featured; a scavenger hunt, shared food, ice-creams, cricket, chatting and playing around in the trees. We look forward to our next event, and would love to see you there!
Christmas, 2018
Let us be reminded of our Christmas challenge – to remember that as people who believe in God, we are called to walk a different beat to society; we are the ones who should be demonstrating God’s love to those around us, reaching out to those in need, and being God’s hand and feet here on earth. The drum is a reminder of this challenge.
The gift box reminds us of our call to be part of the ongoing gift of Jesus’ birth at Christmas, and be like Mary and the shepherds willing to see God in surprising places, willing to be part of the ongoing Christmas story that started over 2000 years ago.