Dear Friends,
Last weekend included the ordination at St. Michael and All Angels on Friday evening of the Reverend Robert Jamieson as priest. He will continue serving at St Michael and All Angels. Tomorrow evening, at 7pm Thursday 14 August, at All Souls, Merivale-St. Albans, I will ordain the Reverend Andy Dickson as priest. All are welcome—clergy please wear alb and red stole.
On Sunday morning it was a delight to confirm Kathryn Andrews at St James’, Harewood, and Bruce White at St Timothy’s, Burnside, in the Parish of Burnside-Harewood. The service at St James, and a lunch later in the day were part of St James’s patronal celebrations, with special reference to the current church at Harewood being 90 years old this year.
This coming weekend I am looking forward to meeting the Reverend Dr Sam Wells and hearing him speak at an all day conference on Saturday, at All Souls, Merivale-St Albans, organised by Theology House. We have well over 100 people registered to participate in the day.
In early August, the Reverend Dr Meg Harvey concluded her ministry as Vicar of the Parish of Amberley. Thank you, Meg, for your work in this parish which is much appreciated.
The Reverend Shirley Hawke, Vicar of the Parish of Temuka-Te Ngawai, has announced that she will conclude her ministry in that parish on Sunday 2 November 2025. Thank you, Shirley, for your work in this parish, including the achievement of bring the Parishes of Temuka and of Te Ngawai together in a formal merger.
Please pray for the Reverend Anne Shave, as she prepares for her ordination as a priest at 5.30pm, Wednesday 27 August at the Transitional Cathedral, Hereford Street, Christchurch.
During the day time hours of Thursday 4 September, 2025, prior to gathering at the Transitional Cathedral for our Synod Eucharist, there is a Rural Ministry Day planned, which will be held at Trinity church, Darfield, with doors open at 9am, prompt 9.30am start, and ending at 3.30pm. This event is for lay and clergy, those already travelling for Synod, and anyone else interested from rural parishes across the diocese. An invitation has also been extended to Alpine Presbytery lay and ordained ministers, assisted by Moderator Lyn Sopo’aga, who is based at Darfield and will be part of our day’s programme.
So far the day will include:
International Rural Churches. Highlights from Oceania conference in Fiji in May 2025.
– Presbyterian Moderator Lynmaree Sopoaga (Darfield), and Martin Harrison (Kaikoura).
Rural chaplaincy (Southland style).An introduction.
– Barbara Walker will outline their work, aligned with Rural Support.
Rural Community Needs. Identifying and responding to needs in rural communities eg, loss and grief courses, 1-1 advocacy.
– Alexia Bensemann, Anglican Advocacy South Canterbury.
God So Loved. Live out the love of Jesus globally through rural parish connections with rural Anglican mission, projects, aid and development.
– Member(s) of the Diocesan Council for World Mission.
Flourishing Small Parishes. Learnings from a recent TPMC Flourishing event up north.
– Rev’d Tim Handley (West Coast), Ven. Dawn Baldwin (North Canterbury), Rev’d Margaret Neate (Leeston).
Rural-Imaged Worship. Creating meaningful rural imaged worship and prayers that connect with the community.
– Martin Harrison (Kaikoura).
Part time ministry, full time need. How can part-stipended rural parishes/clergy respond to full time need?
– Rev’d Natasha Glenderran (ex Hanmer Springs and Tapawera).
What buildings do we really need? And what criteria could we use to consider this in rural areas?
– Ven. Indrea Alexander (Ashburton), and Rev’d Sage Burke (Methven).
While I have been absent from the Diocese nothing has improved about the horrific situations in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine and Sudan. In various ways things are much worse as Israel pursues a suite of policies which includes starving Gazans through constraining aid trucks getting through the border, and tolerating the murders of Palestinians in the West Bank. We are all united in wishing the killing to stop and feel powerless to make that wish come true. The power required for the killing to stop seems to lie with the USA and the Israel’s coalition government. One of the best articles I have read in recent times about the continuing tragedy which is Palestine/Israel by Jonathan Dimbleby.
This coming Sunday, 17 August 2025 is Ordinary 20 and the Gospel reading is Luke 12:49-56. This is a bit tricky to respond to in a sentence or two, so my longer thoughts at this link may help. The epistle reading, Hebrews 11:29-12:2. The author’s recitation of the wonderful faith of important spiritual ancestors concludes with a simple and inspiring direction: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on who our faith depends from beginning to end.”
After most of July, 2025 was devoted to the first part of my study leave, I am back at work, focused on all that needs to be done before our Synod, 4-6 September 2025. I return to the second part of study leave on 12 September. I thank all those who helped with various tasks during July, including those who wrote this message for each week’s e-Life.
Arohanui,
+Peter.