Dear Friends,
This Saturday I am looking forward to ordaining as deacons Robert Jamieson (for St Michael and All Angels), Andy Dickson (for All Souls, Merivale-St Albans), Anne Shave (for the Transitional Cathedral) and Sage Burke (to be based in Methven, serving within Rakaia, Methven, and Mayfield-Mt Somers parishes). All are welcome to the service at 10.30am on Saturday 23 November in the Transitional Cathedral. Clergy are asked to robe with red stoles. Please pray for our ordinands as they are in retreat this week, and for their retreat leader, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, who will also be the preacher at the service.
On Sunday night it was a privilege to be part of a moving final service for Antioch, the 7pm evening service at St Barnabas, Fendalton which has been a feature of the life of that parish for the past 17 years.
This week, Monday to Wednesday, our Diocese has been hosting a conference for diocesan general managers, finance managers and registrars from dioceses across the Anglican Church of Australia and the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. Over 70 people have been involved in this conference which has been based at the Novotel in the Square but has included visits to the Cathedral, the Transitional Cathedral, All Souls, Merivale-St Albans and St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. Everyone has enjoyed being in Christchurch (which, as always, is particularly beautiful at this time of the year) and complimented Edwin Boyce, our Diocesan Manager, on his superb organisation of the conference. Planning for this conference has involved a lot of work, over more than a year, for Edwin and his local team from within our Anglican Centre (Lynda Alexander, Scott Walters, Veronica Cross in particular) and I thank them all for their energy and enthusiasm in this task!
Following yesterday’s hikoi about the Treaty principles bill (the subject of a Special e-Life yesterday), I draw your attention to two recent newspaper articles. First, a report on some specific Treaty action in the Diocese of Wellington, seeking to right a wrong from the past over land. Then, secondly, a report on past writing of current National MP, Tama Potaka, who rightly makes the point that debate on the Treaty should be led by Māori – something which is not happening with the Treaty principles bill. Finally, I note that the text of the bill can be read at this link.
This Sunday afternoon, during the 5pm Evensong at the Transitional Cathedral, the dean and I will be installing Marcus Read as a new lay canon. All are welcome to this service.
Continuing our emphasis on Discipleship, within the Regeneration of our Diocese, I note that at 2pm on Saturday 30 November 2024, there is a launch for a missional discipleship gap year, under the oversight of Headspace NZ – led by Jon Slack, a member of one of our parishes in our Diocese. Details for the event and for the gap year programme can be found at the following links: Facebook and website.
Please pray for:
- Healing for the Reverend Jo Gribbon (nee Latham) (Hanmer Springs).
- The Diocese of Dunedin preparing for its electoral synod which will take place over the weekend 22-24 November 2024.
- Andy Dickson, Robert Jamieson, Anne Shave and Sage Burke preparing for ordination as deacons.
- Peace and justice in all places torn apart by war, destruction and chaos.
The Gospel Reading for Sunday 24 November is John 18:33-37. There is a lot going on this Sunday which can be celebrated as “Christ the King” or “The Reign of Christ” or as Aotearoa Sunday or as the Sunday before Advent often known as Stir Up Sunday from the Book of Common Prayer collect for that celebration, “Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people…”. Focusing on Christ the King, as we look around our world today, we see some very, very poor if not downright evil leadership by those who are our modern kings (i.e. presidents and prime ministers). For example, even before he has become president, Trump is signalling he wishes to promote vassals with appalling personal lives and philosophies which could literally kill people (e.g. through rejection of vaccinations). Our privilege as God’s people is to know the best king ever – the King of kings and Lord of lords – who is truly wise and reliably beneficent.
Arohanui,
+Peter.