Rimutaka
Wednesday morning playgroup has finally received Ministry of Education certification. At least 20 children attend each week. Another regular weekly group for elderly special needs folk meets for activities and once a month they have a prayer and share time. On average, 20 people along with their carers gather. We held a community market day with activities, a petting zoo, a sausage sizzle and stalls. As an alternative to Halloween we organised a Light Party for children from the area. About 400 people attended. After the Promise Keepers conference the men ran a service to share what they had learnt. Joel Gordon was commissioned as our part-time youth pastor in a special service with local youth pastors. The older youth cell group has been working through Ian Vail’s God’s Awesome book.

Blenheim
Paul Fletcher, pastor for our youth programmes, was registered with the Baptist Union at the Gathering in November. He spoke of his experiences at a workshop run by Westgate on breaking down the silo ministries between children, youth and adults, to effect more cooperative ministry. November was busy with men’s camp at Pine Valley, women’s Networx with Pastor Aaron speaking, Cafe Connexions, Seniors’ Celebration with Richmond View School choir providing the music, and Global Leadership Summit. Approximately 80 from local churches and Top of the South attended on November 4. And the computer network was down for 2 weeks. We farewelled Nigel Wood and Dave Tattersfield to Habitat for Humanity in Cambodia. The church was a polling station on election day, with fundraising at a cake stall and craft display. In December there will be the combined churches Christmas carol gathering in the park, and our own production The Never Ending Story.