Dear Friends,
There is a lot happening with the Cathedral Reinstatement Project this week. On Saturday, The Press published a much-needed response to its misleading article the previous Saturday. Useful still is this Q and A in The Press, “Christ Church Cathedral: How on Heaven and Earth Did We Get Here?“. Then, yesterday, as The Press reports, the City Council, following a period of submissions, has determined that it will commit a further $15m from its annual surplus to the Cathedral Project, dependent on a central government commitment of $15m being agreed to following the general election in November this year. I am grateful for the Council’s leadership on this matter. I am aware, as all readers here should be aware, that our ability to re-start construction requires a further $15m of funding to be secured, on top of a commitment to find a further $20m from within the Diocese and $20m from public donors. Funding remains challenging even as we rejoice in the good news of the announcement this week.
Please note a change of venue for the Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Susan Wallace which will be on Saturday 6 June 2026 at 11am at the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street, Christchurch, with a Powhiri preceding it at 9am, also in the Transitional Cathedral. Please pray for Bishop-elect Susan and Archbishop Don Tamihere as they arrange the details of the Powhiri and Ordination service for this important day in the history of Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu.
Tonight, 7.30pm Wednesday 13 May, all interested in overseas mission are invited to join the Diocesan Council for World Mission to hear from Peter Akester about his most recent visit to Tanzania. This is an opportunity to see the benefits of short visits within a long-term relationship with Christian communities beyond New Zealand. The online room will open at 7.15pm. There will be a short update about resources for Mission Motivators, and Peter will start his presentation shortly after 7.30pm. It will be an interactive talk, and Peter will be happy to answer questions. Zoom Meeting link: Meeting ID: 873 7793 7113 Passcode: 169569.
The memorial service for the late Reverend Diane McEvedy will be held at St Mary’s, Church Square, Addington at 1.30pm, Saturday 16 May 2026. All welcome.
The funeral for Joan Dephoff, widow of the late Rev’d Harold Dephoff, deacon at Ashburton, will be at 2.30pm, Saturday 16 May in St Stephen’s church, Ashburton. We thank God for the lives and faithful witness of Diane and Joan.
The Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron announced on Sunday 10 May that he will conclude his interim ministry in the Parish of Kaiapoi at King’s Birthday Weekend. Please pray for this parish as we seek the next interim ministry leader.
The commissioning of the Reverend Dr Joshua Taylor as the new Archdeacon of Selwyn-Tawera will take place during Evensong, 5pm, Sunday 14 June 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral. Clergy are invited to robe, with green the colour for stoles. All are welcome from all Archdeaconries to this service.
Thank you for praying last weekend for our annual Diocesan Discernment Weekend. It was a delight to work with our three candidates for discernment in the beautiful house, chapel and surrounds of Te Waiora, Hororata.
Archdeacon Nick Mountfort is promoting opportunities to learn how to pray through half-day workshops to encourage one another in the life of prayer. Different traditions and styles will be offered, and those styles of prayer will be practised them. This offering is a follow up to a resolution of our Synod in 2025. Please find further details further on in e-Life at “Connected to the Vine” prayer workshops.
Seeking Diocesan Youth Reps for our Synod for 3-5 September 2026. Note that there are two ways of representing the youth of the diocese at Synod. One is that you can be elected as the Dio Youth Rep, with speaking and voting rights. The other is that you can be a Parish Youth Rep with speaking rights only. The pathway to becoming a Diocesan Youth Rep is to find someone to nominate you (i.e. your Youth Minister, Young Adults Leader, or Vicar) and to have your nomination for consideration to be a Diocesan Youth Rep emailed to youth@anglicanlife.org.nz by Monday 1 June with details, including involvement at your parish and support from Vicar/ youth or young adult minister. If needed an election will be held on Monday, 15 June at a Pre Synod youth gathering. Note that there can only be one Diocesan Youth representative from any single ministry unit of the Diocese. To become a Parish Youth Rep you have to be nominated and selected by your parish. Speak to your Youth Minister, Young Adults Leader, or Vicar about this if you are keen.
This coming Sunday, 17 May 2026, Easter 7, also known as the Sunday After Ascension, to which the readings for Ascension Day (14 May) may be transferred. Following the last option, the Gospel reading is Luke 24:44-53. Jesus has ascended to the Father. The Holy Spirit is about to be released to empower the mission of Jesus as it continues through his followers in the world God so loves. As we celebrate the formal conclusion of Jesus being physically present in the world as a human being, we re-commit ourselves to being the physical presence of Jesus in the world as the Body of Christ, the Church.
Arohanui,
+Peter.