Dear Friends,
The formal inauguration of the new Parish of Mid Canterbury last weekend was excellent. Our pilgrimage on Saturday was blessed by sunshine and good attendance at each church as we journeyed around the six churches of the parish (St Mark’s, Rakaia; St Patrick’s, Dorie; St James, Chertsey; St Aidan’s, Mt Somers; All Saints, Methven; and St John’s, Barrhill). On Sunday our commissioning, celebration eucharist at 10 am at All Saints’, Methven was made memorable by a contrasting change in the weather, as snow fell throughout the morning. My thanks to the Reverend Sage Burke, Archdeacon Indrea Alexander and many parishioners for organisation of liturgies and hospitality.
Last night it was also excellent to be at a splendid Michaelmas service at St Michael’s and All Angels, Oxford Terrace, Christchurch, celebrating 175 years since the establishment of the Parish of St. Michael’s and All Angels. Our guest preacher was Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon, a special choir assisted with our worship through music and there was a substantial supper afterwards!
Two of our clergy widows have died recently. Joan Mitchell, wife of the late Reverend Keith Mitchell, died last week and her funeral is 11 am tomorrow, Thursday 1 October, at Grace Vineyard church, Ferry Road Christchurch. Gertrud Cocks, wife of the late Reverend Michael Cocks, died at the weekend and her memorial service is at 2 pm, Monday 19 October, at St Mary’s, Addington, Christchurch.
The Cathedral ReOpen project continues to watch and wait as the current general election party campaigns move up several gears and as poll results are communicated which show that nothing is certain about which way this election will land on 7 November 2026. This morning in Christ Church cathedral, it was a privilege to join with Pīhopa Susan Wallace in blessing the team of people involved in a special music recording project which is underway in the cathedral. When this project is complete, I will have more to say about it, suffice for now to look forward to an album of music to be produced which features well known NZ artists, choirs and an orchestra, all making use of the incredible sound which can be made and recorded within our stone cathedral.
The conflict in Israel-Palestine continues, along with the similarly tragic, deadly conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan and other places in our world. Recently I finished reading a recently published book by Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East 1900-2026 (London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2026), which details the many conflicts of the past 127 years in the wider Middle East. It is sobering reading about humanity’s inhumane cruelty towards fellow human beings. I have published a brief review of this book on my personal blog.
A number of important events are coming up in the next weeks:
Tomorrow, Thursday 1 October, from 2 pm to 3.30 pm in the Anglican Centre, 95 Tuam Street, Christchurch, all are welcome to a workshop organised by St. Martin’s, Spreydon which focuses on Churches: New, sustainable funding streams & proactively serving our communities. This is a free in-person workshop with Steven Moe from Parry Field Lawyers. Further details in eLife.
At 7 pm on Thursday 1 October, in St Peter’s Church, Church Corner, Upper Riccarton, the Reverend Prince Devanandan will be inducted as the next Vicar of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Mary Caygill. Clergy are invited to robe, alb and red stole.
At 2 pm Saturday afternoon 3 October, in St Mary’s Church, Timaru, the Reverend Brett Roberts will be inducted as the next Vicar of St Mary’s, Timaru. The preacher will be the Reverend Dr Hugh Bowron. Clergy are invited to robe, alb and red stole. All welcome to each of these services. Please pray for Prince and Brett and their families as they move into their new parishes and make their vicarages new homes.
Let’s talk Palestine: Christchurch Ministry Leaders Workshop is taking place 10 am to 11.30 am at All Souls, Church Lane, Merivale, Christchurch, Tuesday 13 October. This workshop is organised by Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine. Register via humanitix.
On Thursday 15 October, 6.30 pm to 8.45 pm, Sister Eveleen Retreat House is running a Quiz Night and Silent Auction fundraiser at Brighton Beach House Café – organise a team now! Details on the website.
At 7 pm on Wednesday 21 October, 2026, I will ordain the Reverend Dr André Muller to the priesthood in Holy Trinity church, Avonside, and at 5 pm, Sunday 1 November, I will ordain the Reverend Cirũ Muriuki to the priesthood in St Martin’s church, Lincoln Road, Spreydon. All welcome. Clergy to robe, alb and red stole.
This coming Sunday, 4 October 2026 is Ordinary 27 and the Gospel is Matthew 21:33-46. We “get” this parable quite readily: the son in the story is Jesus Christ the Son of God. We can focus on the judgmental aspects of the passage as applying to the Israel which rejected Jesus as God’s Son. But isn’t the better focus to be on ourselves and our contemporaries: are we accepting or rejecting of the claims of Jesus?
Arohanui,
+Peter