Food for LIFE
What better way to spend a cold winters night than with the church family! We had great food. great conversations and even let off a few fireworks to celebrate Matiriki. The night was all about getting to know one another better, learning about some of our history and having fun. Continue reading Matariki Dinner
It is a good thing to make time. To set apart time to meet with one another and to meet with God. This weekend the women of our church are gathering together to deepen their relationships with one another and God. To weave their lives, their stories and their faith journeys together into a beautiful tapestry. “Threads of Grace.” Continue reading Womens Retreat 2018
This week we will be beginning a six week series looking at Ephesians. We’re calling it a walk through, in essence we are just touching on some key points within the epistle.
Unlike many of Paul’s other Epistles, the letter to Ephesus is not written to confront a particular issue or heresy. It explains the nature and purpose of the church, the Body of Christ.
Come and join us over the next few weeks, as we take a walk through Ephesians.
Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world and make disciples and to baptize them (Matthew 28:19). So on an awesome summer’s afternoon a little while ago, an intrepid group headed for Ashley Gorge to do just that. Just like the early church we even ate together!! The water was warm and a suitably deep spot was found.
Back in November, a keen group of adventurers headed off on a four-wheel drive adventure. The day was great, the company fantastic and the joy of going out into our magnificent back country made for lots of fun.
Every year, as the year draws to a close, it seems that we race head long
towards Christmas and we get caught up in the tinsel, the lights, and how many people are coming for dinner.
Yet, in the midst of all that, there is a simple message that calls us back to the true meaning of Christmas. Emmanuel, the humble birth of a baby 2000 years ago calls us, comforts us, and challenges us.
So we come to celebrate and contemplate the coming of Jesus Christ as a baby all those years ago. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The birth of Jesus calls us back into a relationship with God himself. The birth of Jesus shows us that it was God’s initiative, not ours, that restored our relationship to God the Father. It is the same today; God still calls us to him through Jesus Christ.
The birth of Jesus comforts us with the sure knowledge that God, in his love, sent his Son to dwell among us. That in Jesus, his birth, life, and resurrection, we see the wildly extravagant love of God poured out for us!
The birth of Jesus challenges us to look beyond the things of this world. To see more than what is seen. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are empowered to love this world, just as God loves it. To live lives that declare the goodness that God has poured out upon us, and exhort others to join us in this journey of following Jesus Christ – Emmanuel.
May you know the peace and joy of God’s presence as you celebrate Christmas with family and friends this year.
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
Prayer is a wonderful gift. It is a vital part of the life of a disciple and the life of a church. As a church we are currently facing some challenges, our community is also struggling and the wider Canterbury region seems to be enveloped in a cloud of mental stress and unwellness.
As a leadership we are calling the church to a sustained period of prayer through the month of November. Our focus will be simple: Our church, Our community, Our Region.
We will be having times of corporate prayer where the church will be encouraged to gather and pray for Gods direction, protection and intervention in our world. These times will include both corporate and individual prayer.
We are facing an exciting and challenging time as a church. For over 100 years Kaiapoi Baptist has been a place of worship and fellowship. God has been faithful over many years.
Last Tuesday the Elders and Pastoral Staff met and spent an extended time in prayer. We want to hear what God is saying about the next season here at Kaiapoi Baptist Church and we invite you to join us.
Each year we partner with the New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society supporting Prayer and Self-Denial. It is not just about the financial resources raised or the prayer support targeted at our NZBMS team. It is also about us recognizing that we are a part of a wider Baptist family that goes beyond our town, our region, and our nation. This year the focus is on Taonga/Treasure: The Gospel as Treasure, People are Treasure, and Where is your Treasure?
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”
Matthew 13:44
“For you are a holy people who belong to the Lord your God. Of all people on Earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.” Deuteronomy 7:6
“Where ever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:21