Reach out in Christian hospitality
Neighbour’s Day falls on 19 and 20 March and coincides with Palm Sunday, with Easter Friday just four days later. Prescare is inviting parishes to show good old-fashioned Christian hospitality to their neighbours. Consider “Sharing the cross” by delivering bought or baked Easter buns to neighbours.
Ideas for getting involved
As well as delivering Easter buns, you may also wish to share the Easter story. PresCare can help on both fronts:
- Delivering Easter buns – If your parish doesn’t have the funds to purchase or bake buns, then see below about how to apply for a small grant.
- Sharing the Easter message – Simply download and print any of the resources below that feature a picture or explanation about why Easter buns have a cross, and attach these to the buns before they are delivered. They could be delivered to neighbours or youth groups could take the Easter buns to local schools and preschools. (If handing out at a school, because of the Easter story slips on the bags, you need to ask the school to request parental permission for the children to receive the buns.)
There are plenty of ways to reach out to your neighbours. Check out these ideas for different ways of getting involved in Neighbours Day. Read more
Resources
PresCare Neighbours Day Poster
Download a Neighbours Day poster for your church
Easter story slips and images
If you wish, print off any of these images or short stories to assist you to “Share the Cross” with your neighbours.
STORIES
The cross as a symbol of hope (written by the Rev Phil King)
IMAGES
Jesus takes up the cross image (supplied by Kids Friendly)
Jesus is nailed to the cross image (supplied by Kids Friendly)
Simon of Cryene helps Jesus image (supplied by Kids Friendly)
Stations of the cross images (supplied by Kids Friendly)
- Station 1
- Station 2
- Station 3
- Station 4
- Station 5
- Station 6
- Station 7
- Station 8
- Station 9
- Station 11
- Station 12
- Station 13
- Station 14
Apply for funding
PresCare is making a small number of grants available to assist parishes to purchase or bake Easter buns. Each grant will be to a maximum of $50 and in the event that the number of applicants exceeds the number of grants available, parishes will be randomly selected using the age-old method of pulling names out of a hat. To register for a grant, simply email us the following details by 5pm on Friday, 11 March:
- parish name,
- parish contact person,
- that person’s contact details, and
- a 100-200 word description of with whom and how your parish will be sharing the Easter buns.
You will be advised by email of the status of your application no later than Tuesday, 15 March.
Consider working with Presbyterian Support
If you want to get involved, consider making contact with Presbyterian Support in your region to investigate the possiblity of a joint initiative.
Presbyterian Support Northern
Anne Overton
Community Mission Advisor & PresCare Project Manager
E: anne.overton@psn.org.nz
P: 09 520 8624
09 520 8624
Presbyterian Support East Coast
Sylvie Gibbins
Donations and Bequest Manager
sylvie.gibbins@psec.org.nz
P: 06 877 819306 877 8193
Presbyterian Support Central
Jo Prestwood
Fundraiser
joanne.prestwood@psc.org.nz
P: 04 439 492904 439 4929
Presbyterian Support Upper South Island
Lydia Hemingway
Senior Fundraiser
lydiah@psusi.org.nz
P: 03 363 820903 363 8209
Presbyterian Support South Canterbury
Katerina Tiscenko
Marketing Communications & Fundraising Manager
Katerina.Tiscenko@pssc.co.nz
P: 03 687 114803 687 1148
Presbyterian Support Otago
Caroline Simms
Mission Liaison
E: carolines@psotago.org.nz
P: 03 477 711503 477 7115
Presbyterian Support Southland
Peter Wards
Chief Executive
E: peter.wards@pss.org.nz
P: 03 211 826003 211 8260
Tell us what you are doing
So you’ve decided to get involved, great! Let us know. Email us, and we’ll publicise your event on the Church’s Facebook page. Also send us some photos.
Why get involved?
Many people today are isolated from their neighbours, yet are unsure what to do about it. Neighbours Day provides an opportunity to come together, and serve those in need and in doing so strengthen the communities in which we live.
The goal of Neighbours Day Aotearoa – to build strong communities – is well aligned with the Christian mission of the Church and Presbyterian Support. Love thy neighbour.
By participating in Neighbours Day, local churches and Presbyterian Support can strengthen bridges between ourselves and our communities, and in doing so build meaningful mission with those in need in our communities.