Dear Friends,
The post-summer holiday part of 2026 is well underway as we look ahead, to a busy period with many important and wonderful services/events coming up.
Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2025, is one of the most important days in the church’s calendar and I am delighted that ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday are planned across our Diocese. I am looking forward to preaching at our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service which will be in St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Manchester Street, Christchurch at 5.30pm. All welcome.
The following night, 7pm to 8.30pm, Thursday 19 February, is Open Heaven, at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch. I attended this event last year and it was a highlight of the year as some 5,000 Christians from across our city and region came together to praise God and to pray for our nation. I will be there this year and I encourage all readers of e-Life to join me. Doors open at 6.15pm and entry is free. This year the capacity of the arena for this event has been increased to 8,000 so there will be room for everyone. More details at Open Heaven.
Coming up in early March is the World Day of Prayer. This is a global annual event, always held on the first Friday in March – so this year, Friday 6 March 2026. Please look at for a local, ecumenical, prayer service held in a church near you and join with others in praying for our world. This year Nigerian women have written the service based on Matthew 11:28-30. With all that has been in the news about Christians being persecuted, kidnapped and killed in Nigeria, it is timely to hear their voice. Further details are at on the AAW website, AAW events, and elsewhere in e-Life next week.
Clergy Announcements
At the end of January, the Reverend Lisa McInnes concluded her role as Vicar of Avonside, and the Reverend Steven Dunne concluded his role as Priest-in-Charge of Woodend-Pegasus. I thank Lisa and Steven for the respective ministries and wish them well for the next chapter in their lives.
The Reverend Sammy Mould will lead the Parish of Woodend-Pegasus as Deacon-in-Charge until Wednesday, 18 March 2026 when she will become Priest-in-Charge of the parish, following her ordination to the priesthood at 7pm on Wednesday 18 March, in the Transitional Cathedral. All are welcome to this service for which the Reverend Lucy Flatt, Vicar of Johnsonville, will be the preacher. Sammy will work 0.8 FTE for the parish and continue working one day a week in her Diocesan role as leader of our Under 40s Diocesan Ministry Team.
March 2026 Quiet Days: 9am to 3pm, with the morning spent in Bible study led by Bishop Peter, and the afternoon in prayer for the world and for the Diocese:
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Saturday 7 March, All Saints, Hokitika (Gospel of John chapters 1-3 for the Bible study)
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Saturday 14 March, Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs (John chapters 4-6)
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Saturday 21 March, The Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch (John chapters 7-10)
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Saturday 28 March, St. Alban’s, Pleasant Point (John chapters 11-13)
All are welcome to the quiet days. Please bring your own lunch or plan to go to a nearby eating place. Morning tea is provided.
On the Sundays following the Quiet Days I will then preach and preside in the local church at the main Sunday morning service, except for Sunday 22 March when I will preach and preside at Te Hepara Pai, Te Waipounamu, Ferry Road, Christchurch. It would be a great encouragement to the Parishes of Westland, Hanmer Springs and Temuka-Te Ngawai if some members of the Diocese outside those localities planned to participate in one of those three weekends.
The internationally acclaimed King’s Singers return to Christchurch Town Hall on 11 March 2026 for a very special concert marking Christchurch-born baritone Chris Bruerton‘s final New Zealand performance with the ensemble. You will experience an unforgettable evening of flawless harmony, wit, and a richly varied programme spanning Renaissance masterpieces to contemporary favourites, in a heartfelt homecoming and farewell celebration. Tickets are available online. Chris Bruerton’s musical journey was shaped by his years as a chorister and lay clerk at the cathedral. He and his colleagues in the King’s Singers are extraordinary singers.
The Reverend Jim and Sandra Robb write:
“Our heart-felt thanks for your comments and prayerful support following our son Timothy’s recent death. Some of you have asked for a link to view the service: A recording of his funeral held on Monday 2 February in St Mary’s Church Eaton Socon, England is currently accessible on You Tube as “Timothy Robb’s Thanksgiving Service”. We’re not sure how long this will remain on-line so as a back-up it’s now permanently stored on Vimeo and can be accessed.”
Last Friday was Waitangi Day. Teresa and I were able to be in Waitangi for our first experience of Waitangi Day celebrations and commemorations. It was a privilege to support local Māori Anglican Bishop, Kito Pikaahu, by sharing with other bishops and church leaders in the well-known Dawn Service and then in another, similar service at 9 am. I have written a few reflections about the experience of this important day in our history on my personal blog.
This coming Sunday, 15 February 2026 is Epiphany 6. The Gospel reading is Matthew 5:21-37. Being a disciple of Jesus is costly. Jesus calls us in passages such as this to live up to a very high calling. If we are challenged by this passage, let’s pray for God’s help through the Holy Spirit to live up to our high calling. If we are not challenged by this passage, let’s take care not to be proud of our righteous state!
Arohanui,
+Peter.