Dear Friends,
We had a wonderful and moving ordination service for the Reverend Cassie Tumanaga (Parish of Shirley), and the Reverend Teresa Kundycki-Carrell (The Cathedral Grammar School) as they were ordained deacons in the Transitional Cathedral. The preacher was the Reverend Matt Maslin. Thank you for praying for Cassie and Teresa. Thank you to all who contributed to the service.
The following morning a memorable weekend for the Carrell family continued when our granddaughter, Kiritapu, was baptised in the Transitional Cathedral.
The Royal Commission on Abuse‘s final report will be made public today at 4pm. It is a huge report in terms of its sheer volume, and it is a huge report in respect of its significance for New Zealand as we face many dark days and dark corners in our history. I ask that we are mindful of the fact that for many people who have been abused or whom have had loved ones abused, the publication of the report will be both welcomed and experienced as re-traumatising. Some 3,000 Kiwis made submissions. It is estimated that 250,000 have experienced the trauma of abuse in the period the Commission has focused on. We will not know who these people are (unless they tell us) but they may be among our friends, workmates, neighbours, and fellow parishioners. Let’s be kind.
Earlier this week resources have been emailed to clergy, wardens, ministry unit youth and children’s workers, and administrators to assist ministry units in responding to the Royal Commission’s report and to any enquiries made which are prompted by the report. If you have not received these resources (there have been some problems with emails getting through e-security, possibly because of the links being in the communications being reported as being “high confidence phish”), they are available from our diocesan website, anglicanlife.org.nz . This Sunday 28 July a statement from our archbishops will be read at every service in our diocese. This statement will be emailed to vicars/priest-in-charge either later today or tomorrow morning.
Theology House is hosting seminars on two fascinating and important topics in August, bringing scholars and practitioners together for what will be engaging conversations. “Flourish” will consider what is conducive to human flourishing from a range of perspectives on 17 August; and on 31 August the subject will be “Preaching the Gospel from the Old Testament“. For details, including times and venue, visit the Theology House website.
The forward of the Anglican Consultative Council’s publication “Intentional Discipleship and Disciple-Making” defines discipleship as “… simply the most challenging, the most beautiful, the most costly, the most rewarding journey we could ever choose to begin”. One way we can help our people grow in their discipleship is to encourage them to attend the Living Faith Conference on 26 Oct. This is a conference for enquirers, new to faith and old hands—it will encourage us all. I urge you to register for this conference as I have done, and to invite friends, family, and fellow parishioners to come as well. More info and registration here.
What a difference a day makes! On Sunday morning (US time) President Joe Biden was standing for president amid an increasing number of Democrat doubters. By that evening he was no longer a candidate and Vice-President Kamala Harris was rapidly being endorsed to take his candidature. Cue, through days following, some wild enthusiasm for a younger person than Trump or Biden, and some signs of panic in the Trump camp!
This week I am in Samoa for a meeting of a three Tikanga body known as Te Kotahitanga and I am privileged to be able to preach this coming Sunday in All Saints Anglican Church, Apia.
This Sunday, 28 July is Ordinary 17, and the Gospel is John 6:1-21. In the Year of Mark’s Gospel there is also a lot of John’s Gospel. In this case John 6:1-21 parallels Mark 6:34-53, in both passages the Feeding of the Five Thousand is followed by Jesus Walking on the Water. The feeding impresses the people so much that they want to make Jesus king which he avoids happening. His mission is not reducible to politics. But what is his mission? In the remainder of John 6, we are taken deeper into the mission of Jesus because the bread which feeds the people is symbolic of who Jesus himself is, the Bread of Life.
Arohanui,
+Peter.