Dear Friends,
It is not possible to talk about a “Happy New Year” as 2026, less than one month old, sees no cessation in conflict and oppression in Gaza and the West Bank, Syria, Sudan and Ukraine, news of Iranian citizens being slaughtered by soldiers, terrorists and police employed by their own government, the breakdown of international law and order via US intervention in Venezuela and Trump’s obsession with owning Greenland, and flooding in parts of our islands as heavy rain falls in summer (once unknown but now a regular feature in our changed climate). I ask that our intercessions in regular services and our foci in parish prayer meetings includes prayer that our God will deliver the world from evil, with a special focus on deliverance from the evil of killing people in the Middle East: Gaza, West Bank, Syria and Iran. I also ask, as we perhaps have our attention taken up with the latest headlines, such as those about Iran, that in our prayers we continue to pray for all caught up in war, not forgetting enduring conflicts that now may not receive headline treatment. Evil is being visited on our world in these days. There is no cause in this world worth killing people for. I honour those who have given their lives in recent times for the simple cause of seeking to live free lives in a civil, just society.
Nevertheless, at the beginning of this year, we have some things to celebrate, and I congratulate the following in our Diocese who have been awarded honours by the King on recommendation of our Government: the Reverend Dr Patricia Allan (ONZM), Mr Graham Carr (ONZM), Mrs Bev Forrester (MNZM), Miss Jill Kerr (MNZM). I also note that Mrs Jane Zintl who lives in Wellington but in recent times has contributed to our diocese’s boundaries training has received an MNZM. Please open up this link (or In the Media in this e-Life) in order to find citations for each individual’s award.
Last night we had a wonderful induction service for the Reverend Dr Joshua Taylor as he became the Vicar of Avonhead. Please pray for Joshua and Jo and their family as they settle into their new life in Avonhead. As a new era begins for Avonhead, I thank the Reverend Dr John Fox for his work as Interim Priest in Charge of Avonhead and the Reverend Les Memory for his work as Assistant Priest through the past year. John Fox reverts to being Assistant Priest for Avonhead (0.5 FTE) and continues as Senior Ecumenical Chaplain at the University of Canterbury (0.5 FTE).
This Friday night, 23 January, at 7pm in St. Barnabas, Fendalton, I will induct the Reverend Dr Andrew Butcher as Vicar of Fendalton and commission the Reverend Kay Webster as Senior Associate Priest for the Parish of Fendalton. All are welcome to this service and clergy who robe should vest in alb and red stole. Kay Webster comes to our Diocese from the Diocese of Wellington: welcome Kay!
This Sunday afternoon, 26 January, at 4pm in St. John’s Church, Barrhill, the Archdeaconry of Mid Canterbury meets for worship. Archdeacon Indrea Alexander will be our preacher and I will be presiding at the eucharist. All are welcome – from within and without the Mid Canterbury area.
Today is the final day for Nathan Muirhead in his work as our Diocesan Safeguarding officer. Nathan shortly takes up a full-time teaching role at Paparoa Street School here in Christchurch. Thank you, Nathan, for your outstanding work in this role. We are moving ahead on a new appointment for a successor to Nathan.
The Reverend Jim and Sandra Robb have recently shared news of their son Timothy Robb‘s death, on 7 January 2026. Timothy has been the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church in Eaton Socon in Cambridgeshire, England. Please pray for Jim and Sandra and the whole Robb family as they grieve, and for Timothy’s widow, Julie and their daughter Sarah as they prepare for his funeral.
Mrs Wyn Ehau has died. She is lying through this week at Te Pa Mihinare o Te Waipounamu, Ferry Roard, Christchurch, with visitors to Te Pa Mihinare welcome. Wyn’s funeral will be in the Aranui Wainoni Community Centre, 31 Hampshire Street, Christchurch at 1pm, this Friday 23 January. Wyn has been a longstanding and much-loved member of the congregation at Te Pa Mihinare. Together with her late husband George they founded Wai-Ora Trust and Wai-Ora Enterprise, a faith-based community organisation dedicated to the restoration of people and the environment.
Our Synod in September last year concluded with one lay membership on Standing Committee vacant. Recently the lay members of Standing Committee have filled that vacancy by electing Ross Jones (Hornby, Templeton and West Melton). Congratulations, Ross!
I am very pleased to announce that the Reverend Bosco Peters will be a Clerical Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, filling a vacancy created when the Reverend Mark Chamberlain retired as a clerical canon at the end of 2024. Bosco will be installed as canon at Evensong, 5pm Sunday, 1 February 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral.
During that same service we will be commissioning Archdeacon Nick Mountfort as Archdeacon for Ministry. In this role Nick will be undertaking work associated with the role of “ministry educator” for our Diocese, including leadership of Post Ordination Training, collaborating with me in our Diocesan Discernment process, representing the Diocese at various national church meetings concerning ministry formation and theological training, and facilitating such training and education as we need for lay and ordained ministers in our Diocese. For the time-being Nick will also continue as Archdeacon for Selwyn-Tawera.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent is imminent: Wednesday, 18 February 2025. I commend ministry units organising ecumenical services for Ash Wednesday and look forward to joining in our annual Roman Catholic – Anglican cathedrals’ ecumenical service (details next week). I also commend Bible study groups for Lent and recommend for study the next instalment of Theology House’s Lenten study series, In the Spirit of Lent. The edition for Year A (2025-2026) again includes art by the Reverend Sarah West and text by Gareth Bezett, Director of Theology House. Orders can be made at Theology House and books will be posted to you as soon as possible. Orders made before this week are being fulfilled this week. Copies are $9 each.
I am planning a series of Quiet Days in four parts of the Diocese in March 2026. Each Quiet Day will consist of Bible study and prayer and take place on a Saturday, 9am to 3pm. I will then preach and preside in a local church the next day. The weekends are, 7-8 March, at All Saints, Hokitika, Westland; 14-15 March at the Church of the Epiphany, Hanmer Springs; 21-22 March here in Christchurch (venues to be confirmed), and 28-29 March at St. Alban’s, Pleasant Point. 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. More details in the next few weeks.
Archbishop Don Tamihere has announced that the Electoral Synod for next Bishop of Te Hui Amorangi ki Te Waipounamu will be on 17 and 18 April 2026. Please pray for Archbishop Don and the committee planning for this important hui, and pray that God will call candidates to be presented for consideration by the synod members.
This coming Sunday, 26 January 2026 is Epiphany 3 and the Gospel reading is Matthew 4:12-23. The mission of Jesus is (a) for the whole world, for all peoples, irrespective of nationality or tribe; (b) centred on a simple message, paraphrasing, turn away from wrongdoing, live under the rule of God; (c) always personal because the mission involves calling individuals to follow Jesus.
Arohanui,
+Peter.