MESSAGE FROM THE PASTOR
An outward sign of inward change

This week is baptism Sunday. We are excited to be baptising five people at HCC for the first time. If there is someone else who would like to be baptised, they are welcome on the day if they profess their faith in Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. 

What is baptism?

Baptism can be described as an outward sign of an inward change. It is a public testimony that you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. When you get baptised, you powerfully proclaim what God has done and is doing in your life. In addition, as a follower of Jesus, you are publicly saying that you join with other followers of Jesus from around the world who are unified by faith in Jesus' death and resurrection. 

How is one baptised?

Through the years, baptism has differed from group to group. Here at HCC, we will use a baptism pool. This does not make it any holier or more significant than other baptisms. Some baptise in swimming pools, the ocean, rivers, or lakes.

A mentor can often help with the baptism. However, we will always strive to have a church leader—usually a pastor or church elder—present.

The person being baptised will be asked a few questions to allow them to profess their faith outwardly.

The questions are: (and they will usually start with "do you?")

• Profess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

• Profess your confidence that your sins have been forgiven. 

• Profess that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you will do your best to follow Christ's teachings. 

• Profess that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you look forward to living forever with Christ. 

To profess means to declare something openly and freely to others. In baptism, this could mean that you state what you believe in your own words or affirm (say "yes" to) a few specific questions about your faith.

Then you will be baptised by immersion following the declaration, "I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Jesus instructed his followers to baptise new disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). In Scripture, to do something in the name of a particular person means that the act is done with that person's authority.

There are three parts to baptism by immersion:

1. Immersion (going down into the water). Believers are identified with Christ's death. 

2. Submersion (being entirely under the water). Believers are identified with Christ's burial. 

3. Emersion (emerging or coming up out of the water). Believers are identified with Christ's resurrection from the dead.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes about what it means to identify with Christ: 

This Sunday, we get to do this publicly. The service will start as normal, with worship and prayer, and of course, the welcome, and then we will head outside or inside, depending on the weather, to do the baptism part. We will then have morning tea together. 

• Sunday 19th May: Baptism Sunday

• Thursday 23rd May: Big night out outreach (Youth group)

• The weekend of 25th/26th May: Holy Spirit weekend @ Te Waiora Retreat Centre

• Sunday 3rd June: King’s Birthday weekend

• Sunday 9th June: AGM

YOUTH GROUP AND THE CASHMERE PROJECT
A busy month for our youth

This is a busy month for the youth group. We have the (B.N.O.) Big Night Out on Thursday, May 23rd. This is the night we invite youth from the community to join us for a fun night out, and then we share the gospel and invite them to youth group.

That weekend, the 25th and 26th of May, we have the Holy Spirit weekend coming up. Please pray for our youth leaders and youth group as we plan for these two important events.

COMMUNITY
Young Parents Life Group

Our next family group will be held this Sunday in Prebbleton from 5pm, with dinner served shortly afterwards. Interested in coming along? You can contact Kirstie for more information: [email protected]

CONNECT
Prayer, Youth and Home Groups

We have a variety of home groups at HCC that cater for all.

Ladies home group
Meeting on Wednesday evenings.
Contact Paula for more info: [email protected]

Mens home group 
Meeting fortnightly on Thursday evenings.
Contact Richard for more info: [email protected]

Young professionals home group 
Meeting on Wednesday evenings.
Contact Anna for more info: [email protected]

Prayer group 
Meeting on Tuesday evenings.
Contact Mato for more info: [email protected]

Youth group 
7pm on Thursday at Seven Oaks School.
Get in touch with our Youth workers Zac (0284038758) or Sinead (0224193096) for more details.

CONNECT

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GIVING

If you would like to contribute to HCC

You can make a donation to:

S.B.S Bank Halswell Community Church

Account: 03-1369-0389284-00

Ref: Tithes and offering

Particulars: Your Name