Bishops Address | Christchurch Memorial Service

18 Mar 2011

The Bishops Address at the Christchurch Memorial Service, 18th of March, Hagley Park

Today is a day of mourning, sadness and lament for everyone of us. On February 22nd we rose from our beds as happy or sad as most days find us. Perhaps it was your birthday or anniversary; the first day at a new job; the deadline for an assignment; all the usual routine and momentous events happened as per normal. Right up until 12.51 when the earth moved beneath our feet and our world fell apart. At 12.51 we were witnesses to the loss of lives: infants and pensioners; kiwis and internationals; residents and visitors; language students and teachers; parents, sisters, brothers, friends and colleagues. We, the survivors, witnessed the life changing moments of all those who were injured badly. We who were ordered to walk home knew emergency crews were fighting to save lives and free the trapped. We heard the sirens and we saw the smoke. And we know there are those who are still missing. Our hearts go out to those who wait. February 22nd will be a day remembered in Canterbury history; and you, the living, will tell the story of where you were when it all happened at 12.51. But that is not the only story you will tell. For you the living and the bereaved, you the survivors, you, the emergency crews and student army; you, a person of faith or no faith at present, you will also have opportunity to tell the story of what came after the tragedy of February 22.

What story will you tell?

In the years to come this city will look very different than the devastation we watched on the video. The new Christchurch may well win awards. But that is not the story I hope you will tell. The story I pray you will tell is the story of the people and the community. I hope you will say to those who come after, "We walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Death and injury was all around us. Those were grim times and everyone lost someone or something very important to them. We were in shock and did not know where to turn. But something else also happened, and it had to do with life not death; hope not fear; it was about love not hate. Out of the ashes and the rubble came a new spirit with a strength beyond our imagining. In the midst of all the suffering love triumphed. The Spirit of God was present and hasn't left."

This isn't an altar call. But I do want you to look deep within yourself and ask what has motivated the selfless acts of kindness and generosity over these past three and a half weeks. Have you not witnessed humanity at its very best? This is the humanity made in the image and likeness of God. This is the humanity we are created to be; made and fashioned to care for one another. This is the stuff of true holiness. Listen again to the words of Paul's letter to the Romans: "In all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life; nor angels; nor rulers; nor things present, nor things to come, or powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God."

Did your son; your daughter; a grandchild, your husband, your wife, a best friend, die in this quake? Listen to those words. Love is stronger than death and you and your beloved are held together in the embrace of God's love. Do you fear another bigger earthquake, (even if you aren't guided by the moon man's predictions)? Fear not for God's love is stronger than any earthquake or tsunami. Do you wonder what the future will hold for you, given what the earthquake has snatched away? The God of heaven and earth has a place being prepared for you and your loved ones that we may abide with him for ever. God has declared, "Where I am, there you will be also." We are God's beloved and God will lead us in green pastures and beside still waters. God will never abandon us.

You know where you were on the day of the Quake and what you were doing at 12.51. It is your story to tell, and tell it you should. But what will be the next chapter of your story? With whom will you create and build community? To whom will you reach out as friend and neighbour? Will you embrace the needs of friend and stranger alike? Will you remember and include the ones we overlooked and forgot before the earthquakes? Will we care for the lost, the least and the last, knowing absolutely every person is a beloved child of God? Will you dare to care and dare to allow others to care for you? If we can do that, our next chapter will proclaim and our stories will tell “they were more than conquerers through the love of God." To God be the glory.