Dear Friends,
In this past week it has been a joy and a privilege to share in the formal opening of Wai Ora last Friday morning, visit our Deacons’ Retreat at Te Waiora, Hororata on Saturday morning, confirm Marian Harrison and Emma Tovey at All Souls Church, Merivale-St Albans Parish on Sunday morning, and then to share in the final Evensong with Richard Webster as our Interim Cathedral Music Director while John Linker has been on sabbatical leave.
Wai Ora is the new University of Otago Faculty of Medicine building a few hundred metres to the west of the Anglican Centre between Tuam Street and Oxford terrace. It has cost $292m and will draw into a single site important work in teaching, research, and training in clinical practice. Relevant to some present-day concerns about AI, it was helpfully informative on a tour of the building to hear and see a brief presentation from world leading researchers into analysis of cancer tissue, who use AI to analyse the results of digitisation of tissue slides, enabling advances in research into how cancer treatment might be aligned with the individual physical make up of each patient. Without AI as a tool, this research would not advance.
This weekend I am looking forward to participating in the formal inauguration of the new Parish of Mid Canterbury (i.e. combining of the former parishes of Mayfield-Mt. Somers, Methven, and Rakaia). All are welcome to join us on Saturday on a tour of the churches of the parish, with prayer and reflection at each place, and lunch in the middle at St Stephen’s, Ashburton (9am, St Mark’s, Rakaia; 10am St Patrick’s, Dorie; 11am St James’, Chertsey; 1.30pm St Aidan, Mt Somers; 2.30pm All Saints, Ruapuna; and 3.30pm St. John’s, Barrhill). Then, on Sunday there will be a celebration eucharist at 10 am at All Saints, Methven—again, all welcome.
Phil Trotter, our current Safeguarding Educator, had a medical incident post Synod whereby his memory was affected. This led to a visit with a Neurologist where it was discovered that he joins other members of his wider whānau with a susceptibility to temporal lobe seizures. It means he cannot drive for up to a year. Phil very much takes a field worker approach to this role and would struggle if parked behind a desk. He turns 64 shortly, and Carol his wife has asked him to join her in an early retirement. Phil has a peace about this and will be continuing in his supervision practice, as supervisees either come to his home office or meet online, so no driving required! Apart from following through on some parish training commitments, Phil will finish this Diocesan role on Thursday, 15 October 2026.
The Reverend Lawrence Kimberley has recently announced his resignation as Chair of the Board of Anglican Financial Care (AFC is our church’s body responsible for clergy pensions, a Kiwisaver fund for clergy and church employees, some welfare funds, and other investment funds). Lawrence has served with AFC for 26 years. The most recent AFC newsletters offers this well-deserved tribute to Lawrence:
“Rev’d Lawrence has led the Board with care, dedication, and a deep commitment to service and unity. He has always made time to listen and engage with staff, bringing warmth, thoughtfulness, and a gracious demeanour to his leadership. His considered and approachable style has been greatly valued, and he will be sincerely missed by both the Board and staff. Lawrence has served AFC with distinction, and the Board offers its heartfelt thanks for his outstanding leadership, commitment, and care throughout his long tenure.”
On behalf of all in our Diocese who have benefitted from Lawrence’s work with AFC, I endorse this tribute: thank you, Lawrence!
Christchurch city’s annual Heritage Week is coming soon. One highlight will be events/conversations at St Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, central Christchurch. For those who have not stepped inside St Michael’s you might be interested in the following events. The Church will be open from 10am to 2pm with various people available to answer questions. (There is usually a service between 12.30pm and 1pm to which you are welcome):
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Friday 16 October: The founding of St Michaels 1851-2026 with Johnann Williams
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Saturday 17 October: Our treasures and taonga with Fr Peter Williams
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Tuesday 20 October: Our stunning stained-glass windows with Robert Maclagan
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Wednesday 21 October: Our music: the restored pipe organ with Daniel Cooper
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Friday 23 October: Our bell and its belfry with Johnann Williams
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Saturday 24 October: Our timber Gothic church building
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Monday 26 October: Some of our remarkable parishioners
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Other heritage week events can be found on What’s On: Christchurch City Council
A number of other important events are coming up in the next weeks:
Michaelmas service at 7pm next Tuesday 29 September 2026, at St. Michael and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, to which all people across the Diocese are welcome. In 2026 we are celebrating on this occasion 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael and All Angels. Our guest preacher is Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon. Refreshments in the parish hall follow after the service. All welcome.
At 7pm on Thursday 1 October, in St Peter’s Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, the Reverend Prince Devanandan will be inducted as the next Vicar of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Mary Caygill.
At 2pm Saturday afternoon 3 October, the Reverend Brett Roberts will be inducted as the next Vicar of St Mary’s, Timaru. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron. All welcome to each of these services.
For young adults across the Diocese of Christchurch: you are invited to Ebb and Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s), 12pm Friday 2 October to 4pm Sunday 4 October 2026 at Little River. Slow down, become quiet and still to create space to encounter God afresh through the life of Jonah. It is a time to ebb, to come in, to sink deep into ourselves and into God so that we can open ourselves to flowing out into the places, relationships, work that God is calling us to. Details and registration at: Ebb & Flow Young Adults Retreat (18-30s)—Fill out form
On Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm to 8.45pm, Sister Eveleen Retreat House is running a Quiz Night and Silent Auction fundraiser at Brighton Beach House Café—organise a team now! Details at https://www.anglicanlife.org.nz/event/quiz-night-and-silent-auction/.
At 7pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026, I will ordain the Reverend Dr André Muller to the priesthood in Holy Trinity church, Avonside, and at 5pm, Sunday 1 November, I will ordain the Reverend Cirũ Muriuki to the priesthood in St Martin’s, Lincoln Road, Spreydon. All welcome.
In a follow up to the recent “Bearing Witness” speaking tour featuring Lamma and Yousef, Palestinian theologians, recordings and videos of Lamma & Yousef’s seminars and sermons from the tour are available on ac4pp website. You can watch and listen to some of their sessions and interviews here.
This coming Sunday, 27 September 2026 is Ordinary 26 and the Gospel is Matthew 21:23-32. Sometimes Christians take a ‘pick ‘n’ choose’ approach to what parts of the gospel we take as coming directly ‘from God’ and what parts we treat as ‘optional, up to each of us to do as we see fit in our own eyes’. The religious leaders with whom Jesus was in conversation had developed a response to God which suited them. When challenged by a prophetic figure such as John the Baptist they were momentarily unsettled (until Herod solved the situation in their favour). Now Jesus continues the challenge. Is Jesus challenging us today about the way in which we respond to God? The church to which we belong: is it being shaped by us to suit ourselves more than allowing God to shape it for God’s glory?
Arohanui,
+Peter.