St Luke's on the Taieri

28/05/2026

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23/05/2026

St. Luke's on the Taieri Pink Ribbon High Tea was held on
Saturday, 16 May, at 2.00 pm. A wonderful time was had by all attendees who were expertly hosted by Heather, and served with a smile by all her amazing helpers. Enjoy some photos of this fabulous event.

18/05/2026

Monday, 18 May 2026 Just try! 'I've commanded you to be strong and brave.' Joshua 1:9 CEV

It's impossible to live successfully without taking risks. Leo Buscaglia wrote: 'To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out to another is to risk involvement...To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk being called naïve. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair, and to try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing...Only the person who risks is truly free.'

Franklin Roosevelt spent much of his life battling illness and was confined to a wheelchair. Yet he became one of America's greatest presidents. He said: 'It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.'

In The Pursuit of Excellence, Christian author Ted W. Engstrom gives this advice about the importance of trying: 'Starting today, you can begin to enjoy using and developing your gifts...If you've always wanted to write, then write something, a short article, a poem, an account of your vacation. Write it as if you were going to be published; then submit it somewhere. If you're a photographer, gather your best pictures together and submit them as entries in a contest. If you think you're a fair tennis player or golfer, enter some tournaments and see how you do. You may not win the top prize but think how much you'll learn and experience just by trying. The worst failure...is failure to try!'

SOULFOOD : Ruth 1-4, Matt 11:1-19, Ps 88:1-9a, Pro 13:1-3

17/05/2026

The Pink Ribbon High Tea held yesterday afternoon at St. Luke's on the Taieri was amazing. Photos to come! If you couldn't make it, or even if you did, and you wish to donate, its not too late. Go to this link to donate:

I'm fundraising for Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, to help fund breast cancer education, research and patient support. Please donate to help the 3,700 Kiwis diagnosed with breast cancer each year in NZ.

16/05/2026

Bible Month is back, and this year, it's personal!

Leaving No One Behind

5 weeks.
5 five parables from Luke.
21 free resources your whole church can use together.

Individuals, small groups, churches, and ministries are all welcome.

Pre-register today, and we'll have everything ready for you in July.

👉 Register here for early access - https://tinyurl.com/bible-month-26

16/05/2026

With Rev Joel Stutter starting part time ministry at St Luke's we wanted to acknowlege all the work Rev Vivienne Galletly has been doing. At the start of the discernment process Vivienne kindly offered to take 2 Sunday services per month to give some continuity and stability to the ministry rather than having a different Visiting Minister each week. She has also helped with services at Christmas and Easter, Wednesday services and, has taken a number of funerals. Vivienne will still be taking a Sunday and Wednesday service and helping where needed. She shows her servant heart by quietly ensuring that ministry continues at St Luke's. Last Sunday, Vivienne's wonderful service was acknowledged by the St. Lukes's whānau who took the opportunity to show our gratitude. Vivienne was presented with a card and a bouquet of flowers. Thank you Vivienne!

13/05/2026

Thursday, 14 May 2026 Crisis or Christ? 'Let us go over to the other side.' Mark 4:35 NIV

Jesus told his disciples: 'Let us go over to the other side' (Mark 4:35 NIV). Next, we read: 'A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat' (Mark 4:37 NIV). The disciples turned to Jesus and found him sound asleep! They screamed, 'Don't you care if we drown' (Mark 4:38 NIV)? Jesus woke up, commanded the storm to shut up, then said to the disciples, 'Do you still have no faith' (Mark 4:40 NIV)? The sea was raging; the water was churning. Why did Jesus scold them? Simple: they didn't take him at his word. He said they were going to the other side. He didn't say, 'We are going to the middle of the lake to drown.' Jesus had declared the outcome. But when the storms came, the disciples heard the roar of the winds and forgot his word.

Storms are coming your way too. Winds will howl, your boat will be tossed, and you will have a choice: will you hear Christ or the crisis? Will you heed the promises of Scripture or the noise of the storm? God told Joshua to 'meditate in [Scripture] day and night' (see Joshua 1:8). The word meditate means to 'mutter' over what you're reading. The image is one of a person reciting, rehearsing and reconsidering God's word over and over.

Paul says: 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another' (Colossians 3:16 NKJV). Begin by praying: 'God, speak to my heart as I read.' Then read with an open heart to receive the message.
SOULFOOD : Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:1-11, Eph 4:7-10

11/05/2026

The wonderful words of children!

10/05/2026

10/05/2026

Here is a link to the annotations for this week's readings from Sacredise for anyone who is interested:

10 May 2026 This week flows beautifully - and challengingly - from last week. The assurance that was explored through the readings in Easter 5A is found this week in the promise of God's presence. In the light of the huge struggles we face in the world today, it can be tough to speak about God's