Dear Friends,
Last Sunday morning I was meant to be at Hororata and yesterday at the two Chrism Eucharists (Avonhead, Pleasant Point). However, a positive Covid test put paid to that. I am very grateful to the several people who stepped up to ensure that everything went ahead for all three services as planned—thank you! I am looking forward to coming out of isolation tomorrow but am very mindful of the need to “take things easy” for a while—not only because that is sound medical wisdom but also because my body is reinforcing that message.
Speaking of Covid, unfortunately, one of our number yesterday at the Avonhead service has tested positive today for Covid. The impact of Covid on our ministry units is also being felt as other clergy in the Diocese have been off work because of Covid. We are now into our fourth year of Covid disruption of our life together in Christ!
Congratulations to the Reverend Wendy Heath (deaconed) and the Reverend Tom Williams (priested) who were ordained by Pīhopa Richard Wallace on Sunday in St Augustine’s Church, Waimate, for service in Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu, especially in the Waiho and Arowhenua districts in South Canterbury.
I am pleased to announce the following appointments:
The Reverend Bosco Peters will be Acting Dean of the Transitional Cathedral, from 01 May to 30 November 2023.
The Reverend Victoria Askin, currently Senior Ecumenical Chaplain at Lincoln University and Associate Priest in the Parish of Riccarton-Spreydon (0.5 FTE each), will remain Senior Chaplain but change parishes, becoming Associate Priest in the Parish of Burnside-Harewood from 8 May 2023.
Welcome back to Diocese to the Reverend Harry and Aimee Newton and their family. Harry is the newest vicar in our Diocese, as of Saturday afternoon [see right lead image above]. A big thank you to the Reverend Mike Hawke for your interim leadership of Sumner-Redcliffs prior to the Newtons arriving.
Please continue to pray for the Reverend Jo Latham as she is treated for cancer and has an imminent scheduled operation.
The farewell for Dean Lawrence and Elizabeth Kimberley from their ministries at the Transitional Cathedral will be on Sunday 14 May 2023, following the 10am Choral Eucharist. All welcome.
This is the last week Jo Bean is with us as Media Officer and lead co-ordinator of e-Life. Thank you, Jo, for all you have done for us.
The Reverend Lloyd Williams died on Sunday night. Deaconed in 1967 and priested in 1968, Lloyd served in Shirley, Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst and Southbridge parishes in this Diocese from 1967 to 1976 before becoming Vicar of Wainuiomata (1976-85), Secretary to the South American Missionary Society (NZ) (1985-1988) and Vicar of Edgecumbe-Kawerau (1988-2001). In retirement Lloyd has served for many years in the Parish of Belfast-Redwood (now the Parish of Northwest Christchurch). Pray for Pat, Lloyd’s widow, and their family as they prepare for Lloyd’s funeral, 2pm this Saturday 8 April in St Silas Church, Redwood.
Mavis Hicks, the Reverend Glenda Hicks’ Mum, died on Saturday afternoon. Pray for Glenda and the Hicks family as they prepare for Mavis’ funeral tomorrow (Thursday) 10:30am, Wai-mana, 92 Kippenberger Avenue, Rangiora.
Last week I congratulated Bishop David Coles on his 80th birthday. This week it is a particular pleasure to congratulate my father, Bishop Brian Carrell on reaching his 90th birthday at the end of this week!
Have you heard about Cursillo but never been to a weekend? The next Cursillo (or “short course”) in our Diocese is Thursday evening 11 May to Sunday afternoon 13 May 2023. For more details, please contact Mike Morley-Bunker, mmb@xtra.co.nz.
From time to time, I am encouraged to say something about the situation in Israel/Palestine—mostly the encouragement is to speak in favour of Palestine and against Israel. The ongoing conflictual state of affairs between Israel and Palestine (and within each) is a very difficult situation to make comment on, without doing some form of injustice to one or another peoples involved, not least because of insufficient understanding from afar. On Monday, the Press published a fascinating “duality”—views by both Donna Miles (a regular columnist) and Charles Etherington (a regular letter writer), who happen to be neighbours. In the week in which all Christians are encouraged to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, I draw it to your attention here: The Israeli-Palestinian divide. Whatever side we take (or are tempted to take), there is surely no peace to be achieved without working, as these two contributors do, towards a consensus.
This Sunday 9 April 2023, Easter Day or Pascha has the Gospel reading either Matthew 28:1-10 (following this being the Year of Matthew) or John 20:1-18. Each reading tells a story of dramatic impact made by Jesus being raised from the dead: an empty tomb, confusion, and the comfort of appearance by Jesus. What impact does the risen Jesus have today? On each of our lives as we follow him. On ourselves as church, gathering to worship Jesus and to hear his living word to us?
Looking for Holy Week and Easter services when travelling in our Diocese? Try our website for details about services at a church near to you.
Arohanui,
