Dear Friends,
This week is the final week at work for Veronica Cross, the Bishop’s EA. Veronica began working for Bishop Victoria and the Diocese on 6 May 2016 and at the end of this week will enter a well-deserved retirement which begins with an overseas trip with David her husband. It has been a privilege to work with Veronica and she has been outstanding in her work for Bishop Victoria, myself and countless people and groups across the Diocese and in our wider church through these past 10 years. Thank you, Veronica!
Sarah Dunning will continue Veronica’s work as Bishop’s EA for three months, on a part-time basis, while we search again for a permanent replacement for veronica. Sarah may be contacted at bishopsea@anglicanlife.org.nz (the same address as for Veronica). Sarah will also continue in her current role as part-time Librarian for Theology House.
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.
Thank you for praying for our Easter Campers. A good and safe time was had by all.
It was good to be in the Parish of Hornby, Templeton and West Melton on Sunday, sharing in services at St. Paul’s, West Melton and St. Columba’s, Hornby. Please pray for this parish as we seek new interim ministry leadership.
This week our Diocesan Children and Family Ministry Developer, Azaria Brooker, is leading three days of School Holiday Programme: yesterday in All Saints, Methven, today in St. Stephen’s Ashburton and tomorrow, 9am to 3pm, in St. Mark’s, Rakaia.
The Induction Service for the Reverend Dr Meg Harvey, who will be the Vicar of Highfield, Kensington and Otipua (0.8 FTE) and the Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Marchwiel (0.2 FTE), will take place at 7pm, on Friday 1 May 2026, at St. John’s, Highfield, Timaru. All are welcome. Clergy robing, please wear alb and red stole.
In the search for a new Pihopa o Te Waipounamu, two candidates have been announced for the election set down for this Friday 17 to Saturday 18 April: the Venerable Hannah Pomare and the Venerable Susan Wallace. Further details can be read on this website. Please pray for Hannah, Susan and all the electors within Te Waipounamu as they prepare for the electoral hui in a few days time. All are welcome to attend the powhiri and opening eucharist at the beginning of the election, 4pm, Te Pa o Te Waipounamu, Ferry Road, Woolston, Friday 17 April.
The Reverend Diane McEvedy died on Wednesday 1 April 2026. Diane worked for the City Mission for many years. Through ordained ministry service, Diane was focused on serving within the Local Shared Ministry team in the Parish of Addington. She will be much missed for her gentle and gracious manner. A memorial service is planned for Diane, with time, date and place to be confirmed.
The Reverend Jean Mead died on Monday 6 April. Jean shifted to Oamaru from the Christchurch Diocese in 2013, where she had been involved in ministry at St Martin’s Parish, Spreydon.
The latest edition of AnglicanLife, our e-Magazine, is available to read online. The theme of this edition is “Light in the Darkness” and it offers excellent reflections in this season of Holy Week and Easter.
Please continue to pray for the Christchurch City Council as it deliberates on submissions made concerning the funding of the four Iconic Heritage projects, including Christ Church Cathedral. Thank you again to all those who made written submissions in March and thank you to all those who also made verbal submissions in April.
The Reverend Steve Elers, a colleague now working in the Episcopal Church in East Texas and at Le Tourneau University, has been working on the history of Whakaaria Mai as a Te Reo version of “How Great Thou Art”, written in response to the Billy Graham Crusades in NZ in 1959. This work has been featured recently on two NZ media sites, NZ Herald and Te Ao News.
Then, this coming Sunday, 19 April 2026, Easter 3, let’s hear the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ afresh. The Gospel reading is Luke 24:13-35. The purpose of this amazing and moving story of encounter with the risen Jesus is not only to attest to Jesus being raised from the dead a few days after he was crucified but also to encourage us to recognise and see Jesus for ourselves when we gather for Eucharist and break bread together – the bread that becomes for us the living body of Christ.
Arohanui,
+Peter.