Our Community

What We Do in Our Community

Drop In Visits

A small team regularly make short visits to people in our church family – those who attend
church regularly and those who come less often. This is to maintain connections with people
who may one day need to find their way back.

 

Twinkle Toes

A lively music and movement programme for pre-school children, held on Friday mornings
during the primary school term.

Men’s Fellowship

A social group which includes men in the church and house-husbands (these are kept busy on
Sunday mornings looking after the house). They meet on the last Wednesday evening of
each month for a programme of guest speakers and outings.

Church Services in Rest Homes

Worship teams take services monthly at Jane Winstone retirement village, Kowhainui rest
home and Okere house.

Providing support to the Hospital Chaplaincy

We support the hospital chaplains from donations made each Sunday in a designated
collection bowl. The parish is rostered for one month each year to provide helpers in the
hospital chapel on Sunday mornings – bringing patients to the chapel from their wards, and
assisting with serving Communion. A parish member provides morning tea on 5th Sundays
and two are rostered to play the organ for chapel services.

City Mission – Whanganui Christian Social Services

Each Sunday food and other grocery items are given as an offering to support the City

Mission food bank. Volunteers from the parish help in the food bank. As a member church
the parish supports Whanganui Christian Social Services financially and by nominating a
candidate to serve on its board.

Zest for Mission Shop – 163 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui

This shop is a source of ongoing funding for the work of the City Mission. The team of
volunteer staff includes some of our parish members. We are always seeking donations of
saleable household items so please remember Zest at any time when space gets tight or you
are having a clear-out. Telephone 345-2139 for pick-up.

A.P.W. (Association of Presbyterian Women)

The A.P.W. meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Brechin Lounge. It supports
many projects through its fundraising endeavours. Members knit many garments for babies
and toddlers which are given to community groups both in Whanganui and elsewhere. The
group supported the national annual special project which this year was Bellyfull in New
Zealand and disaster relief in Fiji. They also support various causes in the community, for
example, “coffee on the wall” at the coffee cart in Victoria Avenue.

Angel Tree Appeal

Each year parish members provide Christmas gifts for prisoners to give to their children.

St Luke’s Friendship Lunch

Each Wednesday at mid-day a small number of our members join a team in preparing and
serving a nutritious meal, provided for a small cost to anyone who turns up. Many of those
who attend live alone and enjoy the social time. This takes place in St Luke’s church hall,
Manuka Street, Castlecliff.