Tēnā koutou katoa
Greetings from North Canterbury!
We worship a creative God who hears and answers all variety of prayer offerings along with prayers for Regeneration of our Diocese, across all its ministry units through this decade.
Can you touch a prayer? Can you pull it close and feel its comfort? You can if it’s part of a prayer quilt. Prayers & Squares is an interfaith outreach organisation that combines the gift of prayer with the gift of a hand-tied quilt: each knot represents a prayer. The Reverend Felicity O’Brien says the congregation enjoy being able to tie prayers into a quilt which is then gifted to someone in their community. The first South Island chapter of Prayers & Squares is flourishing in Oxford-Cust. Any donations of fabric are welcome.
In Amuri Cooperating Parish our Welcomers invite Sunday worshippers (including visitors) to put their name into a gift box. At the time of intercessions, we have a lucky dip and commit to praying for our chosen person for the week. Verity, a 4-year-old, chose an octogenarian’s name. Where previously she had been reluctant to pray, she now understood what praying for others meant (she had the slip of paper and knew who that person was). Now it is a regular part of her evening routine. She also loved that someone was also praying for her.
This weekend we remember one such man of creative prayer, the Diocesan Spiritual Director of Cursillo. The funeral for Rev’d Don Pilgrim will be held at 2pm on Saturday 2nd August at St Nicholas’ Church, Barrington St. Parking may be an issue given road works near the Barrington Mall so people should allow time for walking to the church. Our prayers of comfort are with Justine and their family.
On a Thursday during term time, some of our children, youth, and youth adult leaders from our Diocese meet together for a ‘huddle’ with our Under 40’s Ministry Team members at the Anglican Centre. This ‘huddle’ brings a lot of joy and laughter (including prayer, encouragement and discussions) to the Anglican Centre. Above is a photo from last Thursday’s group.
This coming Sunday, 3 August 2025 is Ordinary 18, and the Gospel reading is Luke 12:13-21. The parable Jesus offers in response to a plea for arbitration highlights the desirability of godly character over personal wealth. The prosperous vineyard owner thought only of himself, whereas Christ emphasised that true life and security are found, not in possessions, but in relationship with God and a life of generosity and service for others.
As we go and do likewise…
Ngā mihi nui
Dawn
The Venerable Dawn Baldwin, Archdeacon North Canterbury