Dear Friends,
The deadline for submissions to be made in support of the Christchurch City Council investing funding in four key heritage projects in our city, including Christ Church Cathedral, is midnight, this Friday 27 March 2026. Please head to this link to make your submission. It would be very helpful of we had 250 further individual submissions between now and midnight Friday being made. Thank you to all readers who have already made submissions.
Many people have questions about the reinstatement project for the Cathedral. Dean Ben Truman has published online an excellent set of FAQ videos, which can be viewed here. Among recent opinion features in The Press about the cathedral’s reinstatement I commend “‘Rebuild the cathedral, or find a new name for our city’: A Ngāi Tahu view” by Professor Te Maire Tau in The Press (may be behind a paywall), and in this e-Life.
Early tomorrow morning, NZ time, Archbishop Sarah Mullally will be installed in Canterbury Cathedral as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. Several members of our church will be there, including our three Archbishops. The service will be broadcast on BBC1 from 2.30pm (UK time) and live streamed on YouTube. Head to this link. Please pray for ++Sarah as she is installed and pray that the Anglican Communion will work unitedly with her through the coming years.
Last Sunday morning Teresa and I participated in worship at Te Hepara Pai, Ferry Road, Woolston and enjoyed fellowship and hospitality afterwards. By the end of this week the nominated candidates for the election of the new Pihopa o Te Waipounamu will be made public. Please pray for these candidates, and all electors within Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu as they prepare for their Electoral Synod, Friday to Saturday, 17-18 April 2026.
Thank you to all who supported the Reverend Sammy Mould when she was ordained priest last Wednesday evening, and given her licence as the new Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Woodend-Pegasus.
Let’s continue to pray for peace, praying in hope, praying to the Prince of Peace, knowing that daily news informs us of continuing war and the loss of many innocent lives. Let’s pray for wisdom and compassion to prevail in our political leaders, especially as ramifications of the war with Iran begin to affect the whole world through rising costs for fuel and predictable consequential rises in everyone’s cost of living around the globe. As war and violence continues in the Middle East, it may be helpful to readers to view a recent webinar ‘Waging Peace in a World of Violence’ with NZ theologian Dr Chris Marshall, which you can watch here on YouTube. It is particularly timely as the horrific violence across West Asia/’Middle East’ continues to deteriorate.
The final March 2026 Quiet Day is this coming Saturday 28 March, 9am to 3pm, with Bible study/reflection in the morning, and prayer for the world and for the church in the afternoon at St Alban’s, Pleasant Point (morning Bible study/reflections on John chapters 11-13). Please bring your own lunch or plan to go to a nearby eating place. Morning tea provided. I will be preaching and presiding in St. Albans, Pleasant Point, 9.30am, Sunday 29 March.
Pamela McKenzie has died and her funeral is at 11am, Friday 27 March 2026, at St Barnabas, Fendalton. Pam was 95. She served in ministry and mission with her late husband Archdeacon Alan McKenzie through many decades, mostly in this Diocese, but also for a few years in the Diocese of Singapore. Pam will be much missed in the Parish of Fendalton and across the Diocese as a beloved, gracious servant-leader within the church. Please pray for the McKenzie family as they prepare for this week’s funeral service.
This coming Sunday, 29 March 2026 is Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week. The Gospel reading is Matthew 21:1-11 (and, if following the readings for Passion Sunday as well, Matthew 26:14- 27:66). We currently live in a world where human “kingship” has led to multiple wars and global economic turmoil. Jesus follows the path of a different kind of kingship. What does this path say to us as his followers?
Today is the Feast of the Annunciation of our Saviour to the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the collects set down for the day is this:
God of grace,
Grant that Mary’s obedience may inspire us
To obey your will
And receive Jesus Christ in our hearts as Lord;
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
One God for ever. Amen.
Finally, please pray for all our Easter Campers preparing to head to Spencer Park, Christchurch, on Maundy Thursday next week, to share in teaching, worship, fellowship and fun. Pray for excellent camping weather, and for the speakers and workshop leaders preparing their contributions to the camp.
Arohanui,
+Peter.