e-Life

Dear Friends,

 

Edwin Boyce, our Diocesan Manager, will conclude his work with us in early February 2025. After a break he will be seeking other appointments. I am very grateful for Edwin’s nine and a half year’s service for the Diocese in his role, the majority of which has been during my time as bishop. Edwin has been a delight to work with. He has always gone the extra mile to ensure that each part of the Diocese and the Diocese as a whole have been well served. Every Synod, Standing Committee and other boards and committee meetings have involved Edwin in significant input and facilitation of the moving parts and many papers of these meetings. Through most of my time as bishop, Edwin has chaired the Diocesan Nomination Board for appointing new vicars.

 

Beyond these ordinary efforts as Diocesan Manager, highlights—or “extraordinary efforts”—during Edwin’s management have included two shifts of the Anglican Centre (to Logistics Drive, then to Tuam Street), working with Lynda Alexander on establishing ADMSC, with Kay Wilson on resolving holiday pay issues and, more recently, working with Kay and others on a new payroll software system. In November, the managers of Australasian Anglican dioceses will meet in Christchurch for one of their regular conferences: Edwin has been the driving force behind the organisation of our hosting of this significant event.

 

I wish Edwin and Essie joy in the Lord’s service in the next phase of their lives.

 

On Sunday it was lovely to participate in a celebration service at St Augustine’s church, Cashmere and an excellent lunch following, to celebrate the centenary of Cashmere Hills being a separate parish. Late afternoon, we were at St Albans church, Ohoka, in the Parish of Kaiapoi, for a Service of Deconsecration, following the sale of that church. I thank our vicars in each place, the Reverend Kofe Havea and the Reverend Sandy Constable respectively, for their leadership for both occasions.

 

It is very encouraging to see that registrations for the Living Faith Conference on the Saturday of Labour Weekend have now exceeded 280. I am delighted that people from other dioceses will be joining us, including Bishop Steve Maina (Nelson) and Archbishop Justin Duckworth (Wellington). 37 of our parishes so far are represented. It is not too late to register: Information and registration here. Please pray for the Conference to be inspirational for our “Living Faith”.

Diocesan Conference speaker Grant Norsworthy will be running a workshop called ‘More Than Music Workshop’ for church musicians on Tuesday, 22 October. As a Grammy nominated song writer and musician Grant serves the wider church through teaching, training and encouraging singers, instrumentalists, technicians and leaders. The training will take place at All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, Burwood, Christchurch. Information and registration here.

 

All active, serving clergy women are invited to ‘reflections and prayer’ with Bishop Eleanor Sanderson, our key Living Faith Conference speaker. This will take place on the day before the conference, Friday 25 October, from 2-4pm at All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, Burwood, Christchurch. The topic will be ‘A Flourishing Church and Ordained Women’s Ministry’. Please confirm your attendance with Archdeacon Indrea Alexander on 027 439 7160.

 

This year the Deeper Camp will take place at Living Springs from Friday 1st–Saturday 2nd of November. This is an event for the whole family and there will be something exciting for everyone! The speakers will be the Reverend Harry Newton (Sumner-Redcliffs) and Amy Clark (Woodend-Pegasus) together with MCs Cole Yeoman and Azaria Brooker. Information and registration here. Registrations close on Thursday, 17 October 2024.

On Monday morning I was able to share in the powhiri for Mr Joe Eccleton, new Executive Principal of Christ’s College, as he was handed over to the College from his previous school, Cashmere High School, and welcomed by the College as their new principal. I thank Mrs Gillian Simpson, one of our Diocesan appointees to the College board, for her work as Acting Executive Principal through Term 3 this year.

 

Following the powhiri, I flew to Wellington for a meeting first of the Tikanga Pakeha house of bishops and then, yesterday and today, for a meeting of the full house of bishops for our whole church. This time it has been a particular delight to be joined, for the first time in many years, by an episcopal colleague from the Anglican Church of Australia. Bishop David Bassett, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Perth, has travelled a long way to be with us. Yesterday, for a presentation on an Anglican-Roman Catholic pilgrimage earlier this year which took bishops from Rome to Canterbury, we were also joined by my Christchurch Catholic counterpart, Bishop Michael Gielen.

 

I am delighted to announce two further people to be ordained deacon at 10.30am, Saturday 23 November 2024, in the Transitional Cathedral (joining those already announced, Andy Dickson and Robert Jamieson). Anne Shave will shortly begin working for the Transitional Cathedral in Discipleship Development. Once ordained deacon she will continue that work while also undertaking clerical duties as a curate at the Cathedral, working with Dean Ben Truman and the current curate there, the Reverend Matt Maslin. Sage Burke will move with his wife Lara and their children from Dunedin to Mid Canterbury where, following ordination and based in Methven, Sage will serve as a curate under Archdeacon Indrea Alexander, working as part of a wider team across the Parishes of Methven, Rakaia and Mayfield-Mt Somers. Please pray for Andy, Anne, Robert and Sage as they prepare for ordination and ministry as ordained clergy.

 

Please pray for:

• Healing for the Reverend Jo Latham (Hanmer Springs); and

• The Diocese of Dunedin preparing for its electoral synod which will take place over the weekend 22-24 November 2024.

 

The Reverend Ray Muller (Wellington) has died—a Service of Thanksgiving for Ray’s life will be held at St Mary’s Anglican Church, 170 Karori Road, Wellington on Thursday, 24 October 2024 at 11am NZT, followed by a private burial. To watch via live stream go to www.kcfhvenues.nz. Ray’s contribution to our wider church life was made through Christian Advance Ministries (out of which came Anglican Renewal Ministries), Church Growth Resources and Alpha New Zealand. With respect to the Alpha Course, Ray was instrumental in bringing Alpha to New Zealand from Holy Trinity, Brompton, London, in 1994.

 

The Gospel Reading for Sunday is Mark 10:35-45. The hallmark of Jesus our Saviour and Lord is that he understood himself to be a servant to humanity, even to the point of giving his life to redeem people. The implicit invitation in this passage is that we who seek to follow Jesus will also understand ourselves to be servants of others.

 

Arohanui,

+Peter.

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Dear Friends,

 

Bishop Peter and Teresa take a well-earned week of leave this week – please take the time to pray that they’ll enjoy good rest and recreation. It was a privilege to be with the North Canterbury Archdeaconry group on Tuesday meeting in Amberley. It was great to hear many positive stories of God’s grace at work in so many ways: a number of people seeking baptism (Hanmer Springs); financial improvement (Cheviot); sermon series on the Psalms (Rangiora); vigorous engagement over building improvements (Amuri); challenging but sensitive pastoral work (Glenmark-Waikari); active events group (Kaiapoi); improved parish communication (Amberley); Vicar’s community presence (Oxford Cust); and Pet Service (Woodend-Pegasus) to name just a sample. Our Archdeacons do a tremendous job of encouraging and supporting all our clergy in a whole variety of ways – thank you!

 

It is tremendously encouraging to see that registrations for the Living Faith Conference on the Saturday of Labour Weekend have now exceeded 250. Parishes coming with large groups include Fendalton (27), Woodend-Pegasus (18), Burnside-Harewood (16), Ashburton (15), and Riccarton-Spreydon (13). 37 of our parishes are represented. We will welcome 11 visitors from the Dunedin and Wellington Dioceses including our Archbishop Justin Duckworth. There are over 30 registrants who are under 18 and 7 family groups will be using the Children’s Space. Now’s the time to make further personal invitations – remember what Rev Harry Steel said, “I’m going to the Living Faith Conference. It’s going to be great! Would you like to come with me?” Information and registration here.

 

This year the Deeper Camp will take place at Living Springs from Friday 1st to Saturday 2nd of November. This is an event for the whole family and there will be something exciting for everyone! The speakers will be Rev. Harry Newton and Amy Clark together with MC’s Cole Yeoman and Azaria Brooker. Information and registration here. Registrations close on Thursday, 17 October.

 

Conference speaker Grant Norsworthy will be running a workshop called ‘More Than Music Workshop’ for church musicians on Tuesday, 22 October. As a Grammy nominated song writer and musician Grant serves the wider church through teaching, training and encouraging singers, instrumentalists, technicians, and leaders. The training will take place at All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, Burwood, Christchurch. Information and registration here.

 

It was announced at Burnside-Harewood last Sunday that Rev’d Joe Keighley will be their next Vicar beginning late January 2025. We warmly welcome Joe, Susan, and their two boys Samuel and Reuben into our Diocese. Joe currently serves the parish of Wairau Valley based in Renwick in the Diocese of Nelson.

 

All active, serving clergy women are invited to ‘reflections and prayer’ with Bishop Eleanor Sanderson our Living Faith Conference speaker. This will take place on the day before the conference on Friday, 25 October from 2-4pm at All Saints Burwood, 305 New Brighton Rd, Burwood, Christchurch. The topic will be ‘A Flourishing Church and Ordained Women’s Ministry’. Contact Ven. Indrea Alexander on 027 4397 160 for questions or information.

 

The Gospel Reading for Sunday is Mark 10:17-31. This is a particularly rich passage dealing with aspects of discipleship which is a central theme in Mark.  The passage begins with Jesus and the disciples setting out on ‘the way’ – a deliberate reference to the Christian ‘way’ of life (Acts 9:2). A man runs up and kneels before Jesus saying, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus reminds the man that “only God is good.” Has the man perceived more than he is aware of about Jesus’ true identity? The man claims to have observed all the commandments from his youth. Is he lying, self-deceived or sincere? Or is this akin to Paul’s claim in Philippians 3:6? The narrative pauses as Jesus looks at and loves the man. How good are we at pausing and looking with love at the people we serve? The next paragraph expands on the theme of discipleship. Wealth is clearly a problem for the man and hinders his ability to become a disciple. It is difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom, but not impossible – “for everything is possible for God.” However, in an age that associated wealth with honour, status and the blessing of God, the disciples are also confused! The only difference is that the twelve, unlike the man in question, have indeed left everything to follow Jesus. Perhaps the whole passage turns on the paradox expressed in the very first verse – “What must I do to inherit…” The truth is that an inheritance is less about doing and more about belonging. True discipleship is about belonging to Jesus’ family and following his way of life which is rich beyond imagining albeit with suffering and persecution. No cheap grace or prosperity gospel for true disciples!

 

Arohanui, Ven. Mark.

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