Refections from the Diocese of Christchurch

23 Dec 2011

In a moment shoppers who were deciding what to get a loved one for Christmas or how large a ham to purchase were thrown again into crisis response mode. Going out to check on my neighbours I found one group huddled on the grass with their pets, while those on the other side of the street were abandoning their offices to leave on bikes so that they could check on frail and elderly family members. One priest is moving out of her vicarage as the sewer line has ruptured outside her front door, and because in truth she was one of only two houses still occupied on that street.

It isn't that more churches are down or larger numbers are homeless. Rather there is an anger and an indignation that even Christmas is not immune from the quakes and shakes that have plagued the city for 16 months.

For reasons of safety and because there is not the time to have every church cleared by engineers before Christmas services begin, we have decided to ask the Anglican churches of greater Christchurch to hold their services outdoors, "where sheep may safely graze". Late services on the 24th will be BYOT or "bring your own torch". One parish has said that they will have carols by candlelight (or equivalent) and a simple celebration of the Eucharist. It isn't about buildings falling down, but about having large numbers of people from the very young to elderly and infirm not being in close, confined quarters in the event of another magnitude 5.5 or 6 tremor. Outdoors, away from tall buildings, will allow for community but not crowding. I know it isn't what most expected, but the first Christmas was very messy also, and there was a life saving outcome from that extraordinary gathering.

Who knows maybe some people who would not darken the door of a church will hear the music and join the throng. The one thing we do know is that Jesus will be present with us.

Bishop Victoria Matthews
Diocese of Christchurch