Dear Friends,
I am grateful to Archdeacon Mark Chamberlain for writing the main e-Life message last week while Teresa and I enjoyed a break away from Christchurch. This past Sunday we were at the Transitional Cathedral for the Sunday morning services. On Monday it was a privilege to share in the funeral for and burial of Archdeacon Emeritus Owen Kimberley.
Cassie Kamunaga (Parish of Shirley) and Teresa Kundycki-Carrell (The Cathedral Grammar School) will be ordained deacons at 10.30am this Saturday, 20 July 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street. All welcome. The preacher will be the Reverend Matt Maslin. Pray for Cassie and Teresa as they prepare for their ordination and for Archdeacon Nicky Lee who is leading their retreat this week. Clergy, please robe in alb and red stole – also Rsvp to Veronica Cross, bishopsea@anglicanlife.org.nz so we can reserve the correct number of seats for you.For those unable to attend the ordination service in person, it can be viewed via this livestream link.
The Reverend Nancy Tauwhare (Te Waipounamu) has died. Vicar-General Susan Wallace has announced these details for her tangihanga: Nancy, having been at Te Pā Mihinare o Te Waipounamu (The College), 290 Ferry Road until 11am today (Wednesday), then departs the College at 11am to travel to Wheke Marae, Rāpaki where she will lay in state until Friday morning, 19 July 2024. Her final service will take place there, at 11am, Friday 19 July 2024. Whānau and friends are welcome to come pay their respects. E te pononga pai, kua tutuki noa koe i te karanga a te Atua, okioki atu rā ki ōna ringaringa arohanui, nāna koe e whakaokioki. Archdeacon Mark Barlow, our Vicar-General will represent the Diocese at the funeral.
The Royal Commission on Abuse‘s final report has now been presented to the Government, and the Commission has published this news release. The publication of the whole report will be on Wednesday, 24 July 2024. Early next week resources will be emailed to clergy, wardens and ministry unit administrators to assist in responses we make following publication. On Sunday, 28 July there will be a statement from our archbishops to be read at every service in our diocese.
Posters and related publicity for our Diocesan Conference, Saturday, 26 October 2024 in the CBHS Auditorium, Christchurch are available in each ministry unit. We have a great line up of speakers. This is a conference for the whole Diocese – I look forward to seeing you there. Bring family, bring friends. Please register soon. Thank you to those who have already registered. Details elsewhere in this e-Life!
The unfolding life of our world continues to give joy (what a beautiful game of football was played in the European Cup final on Monday morning), sorrow (when will wars cease? – wars in Ukraine and Gaza which serve no good purpose at this time, and thus people die purposelessly) and alarm (the spectre of violence looms again over US politics).
Here in New Zealand itself, as we head towards the publication next week of the Royal Commission’s report, we also learn that the Act Party’s bill on Treaty principles goes to the Cabinet this Monday morning, 22 July. For the Act Party’s case for the bill, see this link. For opposition to the Bill, see (as but one example) this link. An important point made in this particular article is that the bill (which the Act Party has every right to promote) should not be a government bill but something which proceeds only on a conscience vote. Any NZ government has responsibilities under the Treaty to uphold the treaty and this bill does not do that. A particular Anglican objection to the bill is that it fails to embrace the living, developing concept of partnership between Māori and Pākehā evolving through lived experience – a concept the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia has spent decades working on and appreciating how it works for the flourishing of all.
This Sunday 21 July is Ordinary 16 and the Gospel is Mark 6:30-34, 53-56. In these verses Jesus and his disciples are very busy in ministry: “they had no leisure even to eat” (31b). Even when Jesus leads his disciples on a ministry retreat (31a), the crowds follow and bring their needs to them. How do we manage the demands of serving people and the need for rest, recreation and retreat?
Arohanui,
+Peter.