Dear Friends,
I appreciate opportunities to preach and preside in churches I have never previously visited. On Sunday morning it was especially lovely to participate in the service at St Mark’s Church Marshland (Parish of Shirley). The weather was appalling, and the congregation was wonderful!
After news 12 days ago that the Government has said, “No” to our request for funding, on Monday the CCRL Board came to the inevitable decision that construction towards the reinstatement of the Cathedral in the Square will be paused. Yesterday Mark Stewart (Chair, CCRL Board), Keith Paterson (Project Director), and I had the privilege of a meeting with the Mayor and the City Council to update them on the situation. We are united in wanting the reinstatement to be completed. Our challenge is how we secure funds to continue towards completion. Following that meeting there was a media release (read here), and many media interviews. For the Reinstatement Project the next three months or so will be spent demobilising the site in the Square, and there will be a refocus of the work of CCRL in consultation with CPT, the sole shareholder of CCRL. As Chair of CPT and Bishop of Christchurch, I am committed to finding a way forward for construction to be resumed and for worship of the living God in the Square to take place in continuing witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ. That way is much harder than it was. Our faith is being stretched. But our worship and our witness continue, in the Transitional Cathedral and in all our churches across the Diocese. This morning, I have been especially encouraged by this lovely reflection by Fr John O’Connor.
Last week I registered for the Living Faith Conference on Saturday, 26 October. Registrations continue to grow – 61 have now registered including nine children and young people representing 20 parishes. This will be an amazing, all-age event! There are now 19 Living Faith Champions promoting and shoulder-tapping people to attend – well done! Just last week I personally registered using the QR code which is printed on the postcards and posters – it was quick and easy. Please assist those who may want to come but are unfamiliar with this method of registering. The alternative is to type in the web address printed alongside the QR code. Click here to register.
I am delighted to announce that the Reverend Jo Cotton will be ordained priest at 7pm Friday 20 September 2024 in St Barnabas Church, Fendalton Parish, and the Reverend Matt Maslin will be ordained priest at 4pm on Sunday 22 September 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral. All are welcome at each service. Clergy please robe with alb and red stole.
We preachers have the weekly task of challenging parishioners in a variety of ways but where do preachers go to be challenged and grow in their preaching? One of the recommendations of the Biblical Literacy Task Group was ‘that preachers devote a proportion of their preaching to books and topics from the Old Testament, linking events, characters and themes to the overarching narrative of the Bible.’ In part response to this recommendation Theology House is offering a seminar on Saturday 31 August entitled ‘Preaching the Gospel from the Old Testament’. There is a great line up of teachers including Dr Don Moffat, St John’s College, Dr Richard Neville (Laidlaw) and our own Rev’d Dr Carolyn Robertson (All Saints, Burwood). The seminar is free but you will need to register here.
That same weekend I will be with about 60 young adults from our diocese at The Abbey, a national Anglican event at El Rancho, Waikanae. Paul Hegglun and a diocesan music team will be leading worship at this gathering.
As the terrible conflicts continue in the Middle East, with prospects for a ceasefire hanging by a thread, Cole Yeoman, a member of the Parish of Bryndwr, is speaking this week at the following event: Two Months in Palestine: Friday 23rd August, 7pm – 8:30pm, St Aidan’s Anglican church, Bryndwr. Cole Yeoman has just returned from two months in Palestine documenting the reality of life in the West Bank, and meeting with affected communities. Come hear his reflections and insights from time spent connecting with and volunteering alongside academics, human rights lawyers, faith leaders, community activists, legal advocates, humanitarian workers, farmers, and more. He believes these experiences provide important insight to the reality on the ground. All welcome. Supper provided. Contact Penny 021 2567 082.
This Sunday 25 August is Ordinary 21, and the Gospel is John 6:56-69. To follow Jesus is to face challenge: will we follow Jesus wherever he leads or will we leave him when we find something we are unhappy about? Despite Jesus’ words being “spirit and life” (6:63), some disciples were offended by what Jesus taught about the heavenly food (bread, Jesus’ flesh and blood, 6:60-61). Facing the core group of disciples, Jesus asks them, “Do you also wish to go away?” Peter’s response echoes through the ages down to us. May it also be our response (6:67-69).
Arohanui,
+Peter.