Dear Friends,
Please pray for Bishop-elect Susan Wallace, who is now in retreat preparing for her ordination as bishop and installation as Pihopa o Te Hui Amorangi o Te Waipounamu at 11am, Saturday 6 June 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral, 234 Hereford Street, Christchurch. The preacher will be Archbishop Marinez Santos Bassotto, the Primate of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil. All are welcome to the Transitional Cathedral on Saturday. Please note that traffic restrictions in streets bordering the Transitional Cathedral, due to the Crusaders game at 4.35pm at Te Kaha, do not begin until 2pm that afternoon.
On Sunday it was announced to acclamation at a combined church service for the Parishes of Methven, Mayfield-Mt Somers and Rakaia, that Standing Committee has approved their merging into one Parish of Mid Canterbury. This is an important development for the coherency of our ministry and mission in this large portion of the Mid Canterbury Archdeaconry. A very big thank you to the Reverend Sage Burke, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander and the wardens and vestries of these three parishes for their work on preparing for this merger.
Last Sunday was the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron‘s last Sunday in the Parish of Kaiapoi where he has been the Interim Priest-in-Charge. Thank you, Hugh, for your ministry in Kaiapoi.
This Sunday, 7 June, is the Reverend Helen Roud‘s last Sunday as Vicar of the Parish of Addington. Thank you, Helen, for your ministry leadership at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin through the past eight years. Helen’s ministry focus will continue to be on her role in delivering Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Christchurch.
Having recently commended “Connected to the Vine” prayer workshops on e-Life, I am pleased to report that nine parishes have expressed an interest in this workshop being held in their parish this year. Some have invited ecumenical partners which is encouraging. In good news, there will be more space next year to hold a workshop in other ministry units in the Diocese. The “Connected to the Vine” team consists of Mother Alena CSN, Glenda Prosser, Eddie O’Connor, Jack Hollis, and Archdeacon Nick Mountfort. Different traditions and styles of individual prayer will be offered, and we will practise them together. If your ministry unit would like us to come, then email Nick at education@anglicanlife.org.nz Further details are at “Connected to the Vine” prayer workshops.
I am delighted that a much-needed upgrade to the kitchen at Sister Eveleen Retreat House has been completed and thank SERH Board member Dugald Wilson and his hardworking team for their work on this renovation.
Congratulations to the Reverends Annette and Harvey Eggleston (Ashburton) who celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary today!
Next Tuesday 9 June, at 5.30pm, I will deconsecrate St. Andrew’s Church, Tinwald in the Parish of Ashburton, preparatory to it being listed for sale. All are welcome to this brief service and refreshments following. Note, for those who know our Tinwald properties, that the church hall on the other side of Thomson Street is not being sold.
The commissioning of the Reverend Dr Joshua Taylor as the new Archdeacon of Selwyn-Tawera will take place during Evensong, 5pm, Sunday 14 June 2026 in the Transitional Cathedral. Clergy are invited to robe, with Green the colour for stoles. All are welcome from all Archdeaconries to this service.
This weekend past, Teresa and I were able to travel to Methven, Waimate and Tekapo, meeting with clergy and lay leaders, and participating in services in St. Augustine’s, Waimate on Sunday morning, and in the Church of the Good Shepherd, Tekapo in the late afternoon. It was a joy to be with God’s people in these places and to experience ways in which regeneration is taking place in our churches.
I am very pleased to give an advance notice for our next Diocesan Youth Group Games Night for Years 7-13. This will take place, 7pm – 9pm on Friday, 3 July at the Bishopdale Recreation Centre, 13A Bishopdale Court, Bishopdale. There will be prizes for the Best Dressed, Best Team Chant, and more 😊. Please register your Youth Group today: youth@anglicanlife.org.nz. This will be a wonderful way to end this term!
This coming Sunday, 7 June 2026 is Ordinary 10, or Te Pouhere Sunday, and the Gospel for Ordinary 10 is Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26. In this passage Jesus teaches the importance of mercy (9-13) and the associated stories of healing (18-26) illustrate the point Jesus makes: we bring our troubles in life to God whose character is merciful. If, alternatively, we celebrate the constitution (Te Pouhere) of our church (for which four gospel reading choices are given), then we might reflect on the quality of mercy which runs through our constitution as it sets down in writing how three tikanga (cultural streams) will relate to each other with kindness, respect and fairness.
Arohanui,
+Peter.