Welcome!

Great to have you visit our website!   We hope doing so will help you understand a little more about who we are, what we believe and do as a church community at Bucklands Beach.

We are a part of that worldwide community of people called and gathered together by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to serve him and glorify him. We strive to be his presence in today’s world through what we proclaim, teach and do. 
We believe with all our heart, soul, mind and strength that God has chosen and called us in Christ to serve him.  For us worship is not just something restricted to Sundays, what we do in church, but worship embraces all of life.  Christ Jesus is Lord of all of creation at all times.  We strive to reflect this as a community and as its individual members.

Our church, consisting of about 150 adults plus children, draws it members from many of the races and cultures living in this part of Auckland.  While we use English in worship, instruction and fellowship activities, we strive to include and engage non-English speakers as well.  Many of our members have recently arrived from South Africa, Korea, China and South India.  To cater for this, special ‘language assisted’ classes are conducted each week to cater for those who struggle to adjust to the new language and culture of this country.  

We believe the Bible to be the written word of God.  It is the final authority for all that we believe and do.   We are ‘reformed’ in the sense of striving to maintain the truths of the Reformation in the 16th Century.  Our source of authority is the Bible alone.  Salvation comes to us through Christ alone and is received because of God’s grace (another alone!) and becomes a part of our experience by faith alone!

We are Presbyterian (ruled by the locally elected elders) in structure and reformed in what believe.  We therefore teach, defend and promote the reformational truths as summarised in various confessions and catechisms published in Europe and the UK.

There are two worship services each Sunday.  The morning, a time for exhortation and encouragement from God’s word, commences at 10.30am.   The evening service, more focused on instruction, takes place at 5.00pm during the winter months (May-August) and 7.00pm for the rest of the year.

Pastor Dirk J van Garderen

Announcements:

MORNING SERVICE:   10:30am

This morning will be a very special service with the installation of two deacons as well as a baptism!   Much to be thankful for.  We are also starting on a series of studies on Mark 13 – sometimes called the ‘Little Apocalypse’.  In this passage the Lord Jesus speaks about the future of the Jewish temple and, more broadly, on the subject of judgment.  It really is a huge subject that we must consider prayerfully both individually and as a church.  The focus this morning is on the opening verses of Mark 13.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD TEMPLE ANNOUNCED – Pastor Dirk van Garderen

Reading: Mark 13.1-11 Text: Mark 13.1,2

EVENING SERVICE:   5:00pm

Today our focus is on the ‘Waw’ section of Psalm 119, that is, 119.41-48.   The Hebrew letter ‘waw’ translates into English as ‘and’.  Thus every verse in this section begins with an ‘and’ making the whole section one continuous chain.    The Psalmist, now committed to being held  and directed by God’s word, is learning to ‘walk the talk’.  He is now on his way, ‘going and growing…’

GOING AND GROWING - Pastor Dirk van Garderen

Reading: Philippians 2.1-18 Text: Psalm 119.41-48 (Waw)

Duty Elder:  Stef Steunenberg

BREAKFAST FOR THE MEN AND SONS

Hi there brothers young and old.  There will be a ‘men’s breakfast’ THIS SATURDAY, MAY 12th commencing at 8.00am.  A special guest speaker for this occasion will be the Rev Dr Andrew Young who has recently returned to Auckland.  He has quite a story to tell!  Cost: $6.00 each.  Bookings: booking is essential / critical / urgent / immediate / like_NOW.  Please contact sr Gonny van Garderen.  Time: commence at 8.00am sharp and finish at 10.00am.  Don’t miss out!!

Church Spring Cleaning – 19 MAY

Yes it is that time of the year again when we all come together on a Saturday morning and give the church building a good and thorough cleaning. You are urged to set this morning aside as an act of service to your brothers and sisters and come and help.  We normally start around 8:00am and generally finish before 12:00pm.  Come and enjoy the company and fellowship with each other as we serve one another.

FREEZER FOR FROZEN FOOD

There is now a freezer in the church office that needs to be stocked and kept filled.  The food will help the Pastoral Care Team when there is a need to meals.  Please help us fill the freezer by donating meals or baking items.

Many thanks,  Pastoral Care Team

From the Social Committee

Take note of the following activities and diarise them. Note that the date for the Krupa function has changed!

SERMON RECORDINGS

Sermons are now recorded to mp3 files and not to cassette tape. If you have a computer and internet access, you can download or listen online at the church website, http://rcnzonline.com/bucklands/Resources.php. We can provide copies on a USB data stick, a portable music player or on a CD by request - please see one of the sound technicians.