Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It was a real joy for Pip and I to be in the Parish of Waimate on Sunday for a lively café style service ably led by Bishop’s Warden Maria Henry and supported by Rev’d Sue Dickson. Attendance has been increasing at St Augustines over the last year and we were almost at capacity in the parish lounge. Please pray for Sue who has ankle surgery this week.
The two ordination services last week were conspicuous with their very large attendances and the evident joy and spirit of the respective congregations. Both Gabriele Anderson (ordained at St Stephen’s Lincoln) and Simon Green (ordained at St Michael and All Angels) were enthusiastically supported by large numbers of parishioners, family members and friends. Thank you to all those who made these occasions so inspirational and meaningful. Gabriele and Simon’s ordinations are a reminder to us all, lay and ordained, of God’s call to live lives of faithful worship and active mission.
Bishop Peter, Edwin Boyce, Rev’d Toby Behan, Rev’d Lucy Flatt, Rev’d Kofe Havea, Byron Behm, Vivienne Jackson, Jessie McLeod and Sue Robb are at General Synod this week. Pray that they would contribute well to the topics and issues at hand especially regarding the election of a new Archbishop for our church. Pray also for inspirational worship, encouraging fellowship and valuable networking.
The New Thinker Banquet will take place this Monday 27 May at the Anglican Centre from 6 – 8pm. What an opportunity for a tremendous meal and dessert along with great fellowship and encouragement! For those planning to attend, please RSVP to Sammy Mould (youth@anglicanlife.org.nz). Synod Youth Rep nominations are due this Friday with elections at the Banquet – please submit your nominations to Sammy.
It gives Bishop Peter (and many others) great pleasure to inform the Diocese of the renewal of Ven. Dawn Baldwin’s appointment as Vicar of Amuri Cooperating Parish for a further five years. The Presbyterians and parishioners alike were unanimous in affirming this further appointment! Dawn will of course continue as Archdeacon of North Canterbury.
The Diocesan Prayer Community is to be launched this Sunday – 10am the Cardboard Cathedral and 2pm at St Mary’s Timaru. So far almost 150 people have registered representing 29 parishes. It’s not too late to register. Join us as we pray for the regeneration of our Diocese. Please note that the service at St Mary’s is the annual South Canterbury Archdeaconry service. Bishop Peter will be preaching.
Please note that invitations have gone out to Synod Reps for the Special Sitting of Synod on 22 June. If you have not received a summons and expected to, please email Scott Walters at dioadmin@anglicanlife.org.nz .
This Sunday is Trinity Sunday and the three readings are Isaiah 6:1-8, Romans 8:12-17, and John 3:1-17. This is the only festival based on a doctrine rather than an event so let’s make the most of it! What could be more exciting than the doctrine of God which is full of wonder, mystery and challenge.
Arohanui,
Ven. Mark