March 1983
HASTINGS (Rev Robin Golding and Rev Graeme Henshaw)
Our church family camp in October, with Gerald Bradley of the O.A.C. as guest speaker, was a happy time of fellowship. Over Labour Weekend Bev Holt conducted a Youth Leaders' training camp which was attended by about 30 young people. As a result of the outreach programme last year, the number of children attending the Junior Department of the S.S. has doubled - we will need all those new leaders. Mr Doug Bewley's resignation from the diaconate has brought to an end 28 years as an elected church officer. For 13 of those years Doug was secretary, and his contribution to church life has been immeasurable. At Zach's Place in Flaxmere a successful craft exhibition and sale of work was held. Then on Christmas Day Zach's became a restaurant and provided Christmas dinner for the lonely people of the district. Through January our evening services have catered for the whole community, including holidaymakers, by screening a series of Christian films on various aspects of family life. These were very well attended.
May 1983
HASTINGS (Revs. R. Golding and G. Henshaw)
In preparation for our 1983 outreach programme, a team from our church visited Wanganui Central Baptist to observe and learn from their key resource people. The thank offering given at this year's thanksgiving service is to be used for this programme also. On "commitment Sunday" we were asked to commit ourselves to whatever aspect of the programme each of us felt able to assist with. A cricket match between the B.Y.M. and the young marrieds was no less exciting than the T.V. matches we have seen this summer with the B.Y.M. accepting their defeat graciously. Palm Sunday came alive in a special way with a real donkey taking its appropriate place in the role play during morning service.
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Back Row: H. McMullan, J. Dewdney, R. King, G. Colville, H. Phillips, N. Jeans.
Third Row: T. Geddes, N. Ono, L. Standen, S. Taylor, I. Simister, G. Galtry, R. Low, D. Rogers, A Gamman.
Second Row: R. Cutforth, P Eaton, S. Hanna, C. Rickett, M Klaassen, S. Dewdney, A. Windsor, A. Walker,
A. Pound.
Front Row: J. Barllett, M. Hensman, Rev. B. K. Smith, Or R. J. Thompson, Mrs S. Thompson, Rev. H. J. Pidwell,
J. McMullan, R. Jensen.
August 1983
HASTINGS (Revs. R. Golding and G. Henshaw)
The church has been looking particularly beautiful since a floral art workshop, dealing particularly with flowers for church decoration was held there. Another instructional and entertaining evening resulted when the "over 40s" were initiated into the magic of food processors and various other items of kitchen gadgetry. Their successful use provided delicious items for supper. After 4 years as pastor at Zach's Place (Flaxmere Fellowship), Rev. Graeme Henshaw is moving to Mangere. He is leaving behind a flourishing group of Christians who will miss the love and care which has been poured out so liberally by Graeme and his wife Sally. Our church has been full each Sunday night for the Joyce Landorf series of films, "His Stubborn Love," which is currently being shown in Hastings, at three locations each week. All screenings have been well attended, and a number of troubled people have been helped through the telephone counselling service we have offered to complement the films.