Dear Friends,
This past Sunday it was a delight to confirm 12 people at St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst in a beautiful English-Mandarin service, on the occasion of that church’s patronal festival. Later in the day, it was a privilege to share in the memorial service for the late Rose Marriott at St Silas’, Northwest Christchurch.
Thank you to all who pray for the Regeneration of the Diocese, and to all who pray for our ministers, ministry units, and for our Diocesan, Cathedral, and Anglican Care staff and volunteers. Please keep praying! Our Diocesan Prayer Community, launched earlier this year, has a particular intentionality in prayer. We have aspired to have 220 people belong to this Community before the end of 2024, and I am pleased to report that currently we have 211 members.
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. Details elsewhere in this e-Life!
The Reverend Tim Handley and Kathryn, his wife, are settling into life in the Parish of Westland, based in Hokitika. Tim will be Interim Priest in Charge there through the remainder of this year. A formal parish welcome takes place at 4.30pm this Saturday 6 July in All Saints church/lounge, Hokitika – all are welcome.
I am pleased to announce that the Reverend Mike Hawke has been appointed Missioner Priest for the Parish of the Chatham Islands. His duties have already begun and will include visits to the parish two or three times a year and online support for the congregation in its monthly worship services.
All are welcome to our next Diocesan Ordination service. Cassie Kumanaga and Teresa Kundycki-Carrell will be ordained deacons at 10.30am on Saturday 20 July 2024 in the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street. Clergy, please robe in alb and red stole. Pray for Cassie and Teresa as they prepare for their ordination and for Archdeacon Nicky Lee as she prepares to lead their retreat.
A few years ago, Eddie and Ripeka Bijl began studies at St John’s College as ordinands of our Diocese. Last year, with my blessing, they transferred to the oversight of Bishop Te Kitohi Pikaahu, Pihopa o Hui Amorangi o Te Tai Tokerau. I am pleased to report that on Sunday 23 June, Eddie and Ripeka were ordained deacons by Pihopa Te Kotahi in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Auckland. They continue their residency at St John’s College and ministry in the Parish of Mangere Bridge.
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 in the week beginning 22 July 2024. As we prepare for the publication of this report, let’s remember that – tragically, sadly, painfully – in every congregation across the Diocese there are people who are victims of abuse and for many such survivors of abuse, the very publication of the report will be a retraumatising event. Most survivors of abuse never share their experience with other people. When the report is published, let’s take care not to see the report as only about the people whose stories are told within the report. Such stories may make us feel the problem of abuse and the challenge of living with the trauma of abuse in society and in the church is “over there” – in another diocese, in another denomination, in a parish distant from our own. Abuse in our communities is also about the untold, unknown people whose stories are held tightly, whose pain is not openly shared and who may be sitting alongside us in church.
This Sunday 7 July is Ordinary 14 and the Gospel is Mark 6:1-13. In this passage Mark tells us some things about “who” Jesus is, and “what” disciples do. What do we learn?
Arohanui,
+Peter.