Message from the Bishop — 18 December 2024
Dear Friends,
This morning there is perhaps the most hopeful news coming out of Gaza since 8 October 2023: that a negotiated ceasefire may actually be achieved between Israel and Hamas. Let’s keep praying for peace for Gaza, for the West Bank, for Lebanon, Syria, Kurdistan and Sudan. Peace is only a start—justice for all peoples in these conflicts is a long way off.
In Anglican news relating to Israel-Gaza-Middle East, it is good to note that a young Anglican woman, Layan Nasir, has been recently released after detention by Israel for eight months. I have also read news of the Gaza Anglican hospital rallying as conditions deteriorate.
Overnight news from Vanuatu, after a deadly earthquake, is very distressing. I am sure that any funds directed to the Anglican Missions Board, will be used to support church communities in this neighbouring country and with which we have strong ecclesial relationships.
In a few days’ time, we will have opportunities for Christmas Carol services on Sunday, 22 December and then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Let’s bless our clergy, worship leaders, choir directors, and musicians as they engage with preparation for and participation in the final services for this busy season of Advent and Christmas. Thank you for your ministry!
Last Sunday it was a privilege to be present for the farewell service at St Aidan’s, Mt Somers, for the Reverends Annette and Harvey Eggleston who have served the Parish of Mayfield-Mt Somers for many years. At the same time, Gareth Bezett was at St Aidan’s, Bryndwr, to present Theology House Certificates in Ministry and Leadership to Riley Sutton, Sarah Coulson and Deen Coulson. Later that day, Gareth and I were present at St Barnabas Church, Woodend-Pegasus to present these certificates to Amy Clark and Nadia Fox.
Last Friday evening, at the Laidlaw College 2024 graduation ceremony, the following members of our Diocese graduated: Thomas Brooker, Josiah Langan (Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary); Harold Covey (Diploma in Christian Studies (Christian Leadership); Nathan Muirhead, Azaria Brooker (Diploma in Christian Studies (Theological Studies); Jack Hollis, the Reverend Robert Jamieson, Reuben Maddock (Bachelor of Theology); and Cassandra Allpress (Postgraduate Diploma in Theology). Congratulations to you all!
At the end of every year, it is a pleasure to be present for carol services and prize-givings in our Anglican schools and this year has been no exception. I thank our principals and chaplains for their leadership of our schools: Joe Eccleton, the Reverend Cameron Pickering (Christ’s College), Lara Hearne-Rollo, the Reverend Stephanie Mander (Craighead Diocesan School), Diana Patchett, the Reverend Stephanie Clay (St Margaret’s College), Adrian Rennie, the Reverend Simon Green (St Mark’s School, Opawa), Penny Tattershaw, the Reverend Jordan Greatbatch (St Michael’s Church School), and Scott Thelning, the Reverend Teresa Kundycki-Carrell (The Cathedral Grammar School).
I look forward on my first day at work after some annual leave leading the Reverend Joe Keighley’s Induction as Vicar of Burnside-Harewood Parish. All are welcome to this service at 6.30pm on Wednesday 22 January at St Timothy’s, Kendal Avenue, Burnside. Clergy are welcome to robe, especially those attending from the local Archdeaconry of Selwyn-Tawera: alb and red stole.
The next e-Life will be a “notices only” version on Wednesday, 15 January 2025. I will resume my weekly messages to the Diocese on Wednesday 22 January 2025.
I am very pleased that through these weeks there is some positive media publicity about the Cathedral in the Square, with the Woolston Brass Band playing there, and tours filled with people. As we draw 2024 to a close and look ahead to the Cathedral challenges of 2025, I ask that we are in prayer to God about the way ahead. We need a miracle in respect of funding so we can complete. My personal prayer is that God will supply what we need.
Last Thursday, a refreshed and redesigned Diocesan website went live. Please check it out! Thank you to our Diocesan Communication & Media Advisor, Yvette Koo Butcher and her team of helpers who have worked many hours on this renewed website.
I remind readers that all are welcome to a farewell for Archdeacon Mark Chamberlain, from his role as Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission, tomorrow at 4pm, Thursday 19 December, in the Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch.
Theology House’s Lenten study for 2025 is available to order now. In the Spirit of Lent follows the lectionary’s Gospel readings for the six weeks of Lent. (Ash Wednesday is 5 March 2025.) For each week there is a written reflection by Theology House director Gareth Bezett and a visual reflection by the Reverend Sarah West from the Diocese of Auckland. Questions for discussion and prayers are provided in the expectation that groups who use the study will encounter the Word of God afresh. While there is no intentional theme lying behind the reflections, you will find that the discussion questions tend towards appropriately Lenten self-reflection, especially corporate self-reflection for our churches. Place your Lenten study orders here. Orders will be sent and invoiced from late January 2025.
We now have a confirmed time/date/place for the episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Anne van Gend: Saturday, 29 March 2025 at 1.00pm at St Paul’s Cathedral, Dunedin.
Common Grace Aotearoa reminds us that the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is currently under threat by the Treaty Principles Bill—as Christians, we have a crucial role to defend Te Tiriti and ensure that truth, compassion, and mutual flourishing are at the forefront of public discussions on this Bill. If you haven’t already made a submission, now is the moment to invite your faith community, home group or wider whanau to have their say on the Treaty Principles Bill.Submissions are open until Tuesday, 7 January 2025. Submission resources and toolkit have been prepared to make the process as simple as possible and are available at the link in this paragraph. This morning Standing Committee approved a submission on behalf of the Diocese, to be signed by me.
Rather than focus on one reading for the coming fourth Sunday in Advent or for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day following, I offer the reflection that Christ came to fulfil the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 that “a child has been born for us… and he is named… Prince of Peace.” In a world without peace but with huge desire for peace on the part of most of our world, how might we support Christ’s work of making peace? Not only by praying for peace (see again, my first paragraph above) but by working for peace in each aspect of our lives, our relationships, within our communities, across our nation and calling on all nations to lay down arms. There is no cause in the world today justifying the killing of any human being. On the cross, Christ died that there might be peace—peace with God and peace with one another.
Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year,
+Peter.