Dear Friends,
On Friday and Saturday, Teresa and I enjoyed visiting the Parish of Westland and the opportunity to stay with the Reverend Tim and Kathryn Handley in the recently acquired clergy house in Hokitika. It was good to see various improvements to the church and lounge in Hokitika and even better to learn of growth and development in congregational life there.
On Sunday morning we were at St. Aidan’s, Bryndwr where I confirmed Eliece and Hannah. (Eliece on the left in the featured cover photo, Hannah on the right). On a very cold Christchurch morning it was a joy to be with the lively, multigenerational congregation which worships Sunday by Sunday. It was a special moment to share for one last Sunday in worship in St. Aidan’s with the Reverend Jacqui Stevenson, Vicar of Bryndwr, who concludes her ministry there in early August.
The situation in the Middle East gets worse (Gaza, West Bank), worse then better (war between Israel and Iran, with American intervention, but now, as I write, a ceasefire). Archbishop Hosam Naum, Anglican Archbishops of Jerusalem asks for us to “intercede on our behalf”. Please keep praying for an end to war, an end to the destruction of people and property, and an end to the taking over of land in the West Bank through illegal Israeli settlement.
This Sunday 29 June:
What’s Happening in Anglican Missions? David Dell (newly appointed Community and Church Engagement officer with Anglican Missions) will be visiting Holy Trinity, Avonside for their 9.30am morning service this Sunday 29 June.
The Diocesan Council for World Missions (DCWM) has invited him to stay on for lunch, and he will be available for conversation about what’s going on in various mission activities we’re supporting. Soup and bread provided; or BYO lunch if you wish.
This is short notice, but some things develop quickly. Any questions, please contact DCWM Chair, Bronwyn Tucker (dcwm.chch@gmail.com or text 022 048 2042). All welcome.
Later on the same day, at 3.30pm, in Trinity church, Akaroa, Pauline Hampshire will be ordained and inducted (according to Presbyterian order) as the first minister of the newly constituted Community Church of Akaroa Banks Peninsula (a joint venture between Anglicans and Presbyterians. All welcome. (Please note the correct time is 3.30pm and not 3.00pm as I have been writing for the past few weeks).
Coming up:
All are welcome at 6pm, Tuesday 1 July 2025, in All Saints church, Methven, when the Reverend Sage Burke will be ordained as priest in the church of God. Clergy attending are asked to robe and to wear red stoles. Please pray for Sage and Lara, his wife, and their children as Sage prepares for this next stage in his ministry journey.
A Night at the Conclave with Cardinal John Dew is organised by the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch but open to all interested people. Cardinal John will bring insights, from his experience of recent participation in the election of Pope Leo, to a ticketed event in the James Hay Theatre, Christchurch, at 7.30pm, Friday 1 August 2025. Tickets are $35 (or, students $19). Further details here.
In August I will be ordaining the following deacons as priests – all welcome, clergy robing with red stoles:
The Reverend Robert Jamieson, at 7pm, Friday 8 August at St. Michael and All Angels church, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch.
The Reverend Andy Dickson, at 7pm, Thursday 14 August at All Souls church, Church Lane, Merivale.
The Reverend Dr Anne Shave, at 5.30pm, Wednesday 27 August at the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street, Christchurch.
A significant opportunity to hear outstanding theologian, author, and priest, the Reverend Dr Sam Wells, is coming up. Sam will give a full day seminar on Saturday 16 August, 2025 at All Souls Church, Church Lane, Merivale. Sam offers a vision for a renewed sense of what it means to be the Church in mission, grounded in theology and practice. Details are on the Theology House website, and here is the registration link. It will be a privilege to host Sam in our Diocese. I especially encourage all preachers, and Bible study group leaders to register for this event.
The book “The Circle: Careers with Impact” by Steven Moe was released yesterday and is a free download – Steven’s reflections on work and life and may help young people, people in middle of career or those retiring to consider important issues around identity. It is free! Steven is a well-known lawyer in many Christian circles – assisting with matters such as charity obligations and social impact investing – and is a member of our Journey to Jesus committee.
On the one hand I think it unhelpful overall to give much publicity oxygen to Destiny Church. On the other hand I am aware that some readers think I should speak up more about the damaging way they go about protesting various matters they see as important. In respect of their latest protest, this weekend past, which seemed to be a Kiwi form of “Christian nationalism”, as well as damaging to the harmony of NZ as a multicultural, multiracial society, I am pleased to see that Mark Mitchell, the Minister for Ethnic Communities has roundly condemned their protest march. The kingdom of God is God’s international operation to save the world and to restore it as a place of justice, mercy and healing for all. There is not one square inch of the kingdom which is available for the assertion of nationalism, let alone Christian nationalism.
Recently two changes have been made to our Standing Committee. In the House of Clergy, the Reverend Victoria Askin (Northwest Christchurch) will replace the Reverend Lucy Flatt (Highfield, Kensington and Otipua). In the House of Laity, Hilary Humphrey (Shirley) will replace Fran Boyd (Bryndwr). When a vacancy arises the Standing Committee members of the house in which the vacancy occurs elect another member of Synod from that house to fill the vacancy. Both changes are effective from our next meeting which is Wednesday 2 July 2025. I warmly thank Lucy and Fran for their service on Standing Committee.
This coming Sunday, 29 June 2025 is Ordinary 13 and the Gospel reading is Luke 9:51-62. At the beginning of Jesus’ turn towards his destined end in Jerusalem, there are exchanges between him and potential disciples which teach us that a disciple is wholly committed to Jesus, without entanglements and compromising alternative commitments.
Arohanui,
+Peter.