Dear Friends,
Last Friday night, over 150 people gathered at Christ’s College to celebrate 170 years since the approval on 31 July 1856, by Queen Victoria, via a legal means called “Letters Patent”, for the then town of Christchurch to become the city of Christchurch, simultaneous with Bishop Harper being appointed the first Bishop of the See of Christchurch (aka the Diocese of Christchurch). Aspects of the history of Christchurch, the Diocese and the ministry of Bishop Harper were spoken to by Dame Anna Crighton, Bishop David Coles and Professor Geoffrey Rice. Recalling the travels of Bishop Harper, including falls from his horse, river crossings and accommodation sometimes in basic cottages reminded me what an easy life I have when visiting parishes. The Reverend Canon Cameron Pickering, Christ’s College, Chaplain, working with the Christchurch City Sisters committee, organised a superb evening – thank you, Cameron and team!
After inclement weather on Friday evening, and prior to the stormy weather through this week, it was a joy to travel on a perfect, windless, blue-sky day to St. Mary’s Church, Rotherham (Amuri Cooperating Parish) on Sunday. The congregation there is thriving, and it was good to see a new ramp and deck for the church hall almost completed.
The previous weekend an important Pastoral Care training day was held on Saturday 25 July 2026 at St. Timothy’s, Burnside-Harewood, led by Richard Black and arranged by the Reverend Joe Keighley, Vicar of Burnside-Harewood. This was attended by 66 highly engaged people, from 18 different parishes, spread from North Canterbury to South Canterbury. Some feedback from participants on the day has been: greater confidence in supporting people, clarity around healthy boundaries and “staying in my lane”, practical listening and questioning skills, increased confidence in knowing when to refer someone to a specialist. Overall the day was encouraging because participants left feeling equipped to care of others in our ministry units more wisely, safely and confidently.
Thank you for praying for the next meeting of General Synod – Te Hīnota Whānui (GSTHW) for the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is in Tonga from Saturday 15 August to Thursday 20 August, and for a prior meeting of Pakeha representatives of the seven New Zealand dioceses in Auckland on Friday 14 August. Our representatives are Bishop Peter, Clergy: Toby Behan, Kofe Havea, Ben Truman; Lay: Jo Bean, Toupili Pamatangi , Jack Hollis, Vivienne Jackson. Rachelle Mathews, our Diocesan Manager will also be there, joining other diocesan managers as they assist the General Secretary of our church, the Reverend Michael Hughes in the running of the Synod. Papers for GSTHW are available online.
Your prayers are also coveted for our annual Synod which will be held Thursday evening 3 September to late Saturday afternoon 5 September 2026. On Thursday 3 September, at 7pm, we begin Synod with our Synod Eucharist in the Transitional Cathedral. Dean Ben Truman will be our preacher. All are welcome to this service, whether members of Synod or not. Our Synod business sessions take place through the Friday and Saturday at St. Christopher’s, Avonhead. Papers to date for the Synod are publicly available at our Diocesan website.
This coming Sunday, 9 August 2026 is Ordinary 19 and the Gospel is Matthew 14:22-33. Matthew has ‘form’ when it comes to stories involving the combination of Jesus, water, storm, disciples and faith. Here, uniquely, Matthew reports to us that in one such storm, Peter attempted to walk on water, with predictable results. The lesson Jesus wanted him (and us) to learn is about faith. Peter was doing fine (29) and then not (30). What changed? A reasonable, and popular suggestion is that he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the strong wind. His response to Jesus had been to have faith, his response to the wind was to be afraid (30). When we are afraid of something, let’s fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).
Arohanui,
+Peter.