Dear Friends,
The weekend past was an open weekend for visits to the Cathedral in the Square. The organisers of the weekend (from Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement Limited) were thrilled with all that happened and with news coverage of the weekend’s activities. I thank all those who contributed to the weekend, especially CCRL staff and Cathedral staff.
Our Special Synod this Saturday, 22 June 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral will consider the current financial challenge the Cathedral Reinstatement Project faces. The formal motions which will be proposed to the Synod are now published on our Diocesan website. Naturally there has been keen media interest in how the financial challenge is going to be met, including another frontpage article in The Press on Monday and an article today. Your prayers are much appreciated for the situation generally and for the Synod in particular. I expect the deliberations of our Synod will make the news over the weekend.
This past week I have been in the Chatham Islands with the Reverend Mike Hawke. Mike is going to be the new lead visiting priest for this parish – visiting the Chathams two to three times each year and otherwise supporting the parish in its regular worship from a distance. Since I was last in the Chathams in 2021, a new and effective mobile internet service has been established and Mike will be able to take advantage of this enhanced connection to the parish.
We have enjoyed meeting parishioners and leading Sunday morning’s service at St Augustine’s Church, Te One, Chatham Island. The highlight of our visit has been to share with the Preece family in the Unveiling of Memorials for two brothers at the urupa at Owenga on Sunday afternoon. The Reverend Riwai Preece was the last residential vicar of this parish (1990 until his death in early 2015). Alfred (Bunty) Preece was a former mayor of the Chathams, a well-known farmer, and the last surviving officer of the Māori Battalion when he died in 2018. After a stormy Saturday, the sixty or so family and friends who gathered at Owenga on Sunday were singularly blessed by a warm, sunny day. By Monday the weather was back to a more normal overcast winter’s day with plenty of rain!
Last week I mentioned being at an event arranged by the Diocesan World Missions Council. At that event two stalwarts of the Council, Jean Hollis and May Carrell, were warmly thanked for their service. Both Jean and May have contributed many years of service in the cause of world mission support within our Diocese – thank you Jean and May!
Over the past weekend one of our Anglican Schools had a notable success: The Cathedral Grammar School’s Lit Quiz team won the NZ champs in Wellington. In four weeks’ time the team heads to Canberra for the world finals!
This Sunday 23 June is Ordinary 12 and the Gospel is Mark 4:35-41. In a storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus is asleep. Everyone else on the boat is frantic and fearful. No one thinks to copy Jesus’ example! They all think it a good idea to wake him up and plead for help. This miracle story is a parable of life (there are many stormy situations) and of the church (in ancient times understood as the boat, buffeted by persecutions from without and controversies from within). What would Jesus have us do in our storms? What do we want Jesus to do for us?
Arohanui,
+Peter.