Dear Friends,
This weekend The Abbey—a weekend gathering for Anglican youth and youth leaders in our church—is taking place at El Rancho, Waikanae, with around 50 people participating from our Diocese. Please pray that this event will be uplifting, encouraging and practically helpful for those attending.
We are just two weeks out from our annual Diocesan Synod which begins with the Synod Eucharist at 7pm, Thursday 4 September in the Transitional Cathedral—all are welcome—and continues with our plenary sessions at St Christopher’s, Avonhead, beginning at 9am Friday 5 and Saturday 6 September. We expect to conclude by 4pm on Saturday afternoon. I will say more about themes for this Synod in next week’s e-Life.
This past week has been busy in our Diocese. On Thursday evening 14 August, at All Souls, Merivale-St Albans Parish, the Reverend Andy Dickson was ordained priest. On Saturday, also at All Souls, Merivale-St Albans Parish, over 100 people participated in a day-long conference with the Reverend Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St. Martins-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London. Sam pushed and prodded our theological views as he expounded the major theme of the Bible being “God with us” and proposed the key thing we do when working pastorally and socially with people in need is that we are “with” them more than working “for” them. Sam preached at the Transitional Cathedral on Sunday morning, and I had the privilege of hearing him at the 8am service (YouTube link, start at 30:19). I thank Director, Gareth Bezett and the Theology House staff for organising Sam’s visit to our Diocese.
Accompanying Sam Wells through the weekend was Bishop Jo Bailey Wells, his wife, who works as Bishop for Episcopal Ministry in the Anglican Communion Office in London. On Sunday, Bishop Jo participated in a service at Te Hepara Pai, Ferry Road, Christchurch in the morning and joined with Teresa and me at the Tongan Congregation service at St Barnabas, Fendalton in the early afternoon.
During this weekend past I learned of the death of the Reverend Angela Hepi, one of the clergy ministering at Te Hepara Pai. Please pray for Rangi, her husband, their family, and the church family at Te Pa o Te Wai Pounamu as they mourn her loss. Angela is being buried today in Ōamaru, after a brief service this morning in Te Hepara Pai, and a funeral service in St Luke’s, Ōamaru this afternoon.
Our third and final ordination service for this part of 2025 is next Wednesday 27 August in the Transitional Cathedral at 5.30pm, when I ordain the Reverend Dr Anne Shave. All are welcome to this service—clergy please robe with alb and red stole. Please pray for Anne as she prepares to be ordained a priest in the church of God.
During the daytime 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.
We continue to pray for peace in our world, which may be closer for Ukraine, after developments this week, and appears to be some way off still in Gaza and the West Bank. And there are no reports I see of peace emerging in Sudan. It is very disturbing to see the influence of far-right politicians within the Israeli government, with tragic, devastating effects in Gaza and the West Bank. (One reason why I will always vote for a 5% threshold in our own MMP system is seeing the death and destruction wrought by politicians in Israel who cannot command 5% of the vote there). Two things I am glad to draw your attention to in respect of Gaza and the West Bank are, first, a three part video series featuring Archbishop Justin Duckworth and Dr Salim J. Munayer, a Palestinian theologian working for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East; then, secondly, an opportunity to hear Pastor Hana, a Gazan pastor, speak on the theme of “Being the church amidst conflict” at All Saints, 305 New Brighton Road, Burwood, 7pm, Saturday 7 September. All welcome.
This coming Sunday, 24 August 2025 is Ordinary 21 and the Gospel reading is Luke 13:10-17. Is there some way in which we apply rules of church life to restrict Jesus from freeing people from things which ‘bind’ them?
Arohanui,
+Peter.