Upper Hutt
Chris Finlay & Paul Thompson
After some lovely celebrations during the Christmas season most of our programmes have recommenced. A good number of younger and older people took part in the Parachute Music Festival. We welcomed Cat Gooding as our Youth Intern. Progress has been made with our planned building programme with the sale and removal of the little cottage. Congratulations to Edna McCallum, who reached the great age of 99 in January. Sadly two of our folk, Derek Erskine, 89 and May Hailey, 97 departed this life recently. We look forward to Chris commencing a study on Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Blenheim
Church in Action during the week: Sundays – two prayer meetings, 2 services, Fusion Kids for 5-12 yrs olds, Beehive creche for pre-schoolers; weekdays – a growing number of Connect Groups, two prayer meetings (includes one for men), two church choirs, Bizzy Bees for mums and their preschool kids, Just Hangin’ (a lively youth outreach after school on Thursdays), Impact and Fusion Youth for teens, regular men’s breakfasts and womens’ Networx evenings, monthly seniors celebration service for older people (some from rest homes and other churches), monthly BMF prayer, and Sunday quarterly or monthly pot-luck lunches. Taking care of the increasing numbers are pastors, elders, team ministry leaders, teachers, helpers, cleaners, kitchen hands, musicians, sound-desk operators, administrator, librarian – everyone, from about 20 different countries, has a function in this part of the body of Christ, all backed up by prayer.