Dear Friends,
This week is the most solemn and significant week in the Christian calendar and is rightly known as Holy Week. At the heart of our faith is the death of Jesus Christ, cruelly executed on a cross, for our sakes, that we might have abundant, eternal life in communion with the God of Jesus Christ. May we identify ever more deeply with the suffering of Jesus through these days, especially through services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Then, on Sunday, may our hearts lift as we rejoice that the power of death has been defeated by God in raising Jesus from the dead.
Please pray for Easter Camp – for all campers, staff and contributors: may the life-changing Good News of Christ be heard clearly and responded to joyfully. I look forward to visiting the camp on Friday. Some seriously bad weather is heading towards parts of NZ in the next few days, but at the time of writing the weather for Spencer Park is looking ok – some rain but also sunshine!
The situation in Gaza is, in many ways, worse than ever. The Israeli government is bent on destroying people and infrastructure. This includes a further attack this week on Gaza’s Al Ahli Hospital (a Baptist owned, Anglican run hospital). Our Archbishops “… strongly denounce the missile attacks on the Anglican Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, carried out in the early hours of Palm Sunday, 13 April 2025. Run by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem, this hospital has long stood as a place of refuge, healing and hope — and was the last fully operational hospital in Gaza City. … We stand with the Diocese of Jerusalem and “call upon all governments and people of goodwill to intervene to stop all kinds of attacks on medical and humanitarian institutions. We pray and call for the end of this horrific war and suffering of so many.”” Here is the direct link to their full statement.
Also, from Israel/West Bank, one of our young adults reports, “Jerusalem’s Palm Sunday procession was beautiful, joyous, and fitting as ever in this hopelessly oppressive context of military occupation. Thousands of Christians in a wonderful smorgasbord of cultures and faith traditions, celebrating and lamenting in various languages and intensities despite the heaviness and despair. …In the tens of thousands, West Bank Christians were once again denied entry by Israeli authorities. …Hosanna; save us.” For his full report, head to Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.
On Saturday morning Teresa and I were present for celebrations of Buddha’s birthday at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, Riccarton Road, Christchurch, hosted by Abbess Manshin (MNZM). We are grateful for the opportunity to gain insight into the Buddhist faith and to learn about its connections into various communities in our nation (see further here).
We then travelled to St. David’s Union Church, Ashburton for a service of thanksgiving for the life of John Wallis, husband of the Reverend Helen Wallis, one of our priests in Mid Canterbury. John was buried in Lawrence, South Otago earlier this week. I thank God for John’s faithful support of Helen in her ministry and for his own ministry to many people in the parishes in which they have served, in both the Presbyterian and Anglican churches.
On Sunday morning we were at Te Tōmairangi o Ihu Karaiti, Ferry Road, Christchurch for confirmations, commissionings and ordinations in a service led by Archbishop Don Tamihere. It was a privilege to share with Bishop Anne van Gend, Diocese of Dunedin, in assisting Archbishop Don with the ordinations. Those being ordained will serve within Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu, in districts ranging from Christchurch through to Invercargill.
As Warden of St. Michael’s Church School, I am very pleased to announce that Ms Liz Coster will be the new Principal of the school, beginning in Term 3, 2025. As Warden of St. Mark’s School, Opawa, where Liz has served as Deputy Principal and Assistant Chaplain, I share in the loss the school will feel when Liz leaves to take up her new role!
This ANZAC Day (Friday, 25 April), Christ Church Cathedral will be illuminated in red to commemorate New Zealand’s fallen during service. From dusk to dawn, for the week preceding and including Anzac Day, the western façade of the Cathedral will shine poppy-red as a commemorative tribute to this important day. On ANZAC Day itself, people will gather again – for the third time since the 2011 quakes – in Cathedral Square for the Dawn Service (6.15am) to honour fallen and returned servicemen and women, a tradition passed down the generations over the last 109 years.
Social Housing is a critical issue in respect of housing New Zealanders and their families. An important opportunity to hear from one of our key local leaders on development of social housing in Christchurch is coming up, 6pm Thursday 1 May 2025 at the Knox Centre, corner Bealey Ave and Victoria St: refreshments from 5.30pm, Koha please. This Forum is organised by EcuAction (contacts, Marilyn 021 061 3940; Brian 021 129 4305). At this Forum, Jill Hawkey, Executive Director, Christchurch Methodist Mission will speak on “Social Housing: Where are we going with it?“
This coming Sunday, 20 April is Easter Day or Pascha. The Gospel reading is Luke 24:1-12 or John 20:1-18. In each reading, the tomb is emptied of the corpse of Jesus and the rising of Jesus is proclaimed (Luke; appearances are recounted in the next part of the chapter) or revealed (John 20:11-18). Mary’s cry at the end of the John reading, “I have seen the Lord” is a paramount Christian confession. Jesus has died for us and he has risen for us.
Arohanui,
+Peter.