Anglican e-Life | 1 May 2024

Dear Friends,

It was a privilege on ANZAC Day to share in the Citizens Service in the Transitional Cathedral. A lot has been happening in the week since: funding Ukraine military capability; negotiations over Gaza; and protests on US university campuses. Keep praying for a just and lasting peace in all parts of God’s world.

All are welcome at the Induction of the Reverend Victoria Askin as Vicar of the Parish of Northwest Christchurch, tonight at 7 pm, Wednesday 1 May 2024, in St Silas’ Church, Main North Road, Redwood. Clergy are invited to robe, alb and red stole. Archdeacon Mark Barlow, Vicar-General, will lead this service.

Thank you to the Reverend Andrew Hoggan for your work as Interim Priest in Charge of the Parish of Northwest Christchurch.

Pray for the Reverend Alexa Evenden, Vicar of Malvern, who has broken her leg and is on leave while healing takes place. Thank you to the Reverend Tom Innes for stepping in to assist with ministry leadership in the parish during this period.

I am delighted that the Reverend Brenda Bonnett will be the next Interim Priest in Charge of the Parish of Opawa-St Martins, from early June, and following the conclusion of the Reverend John Sheaf’s interim ministry there.

Today I am in Auckland for a meeting of Te Kotahitanga—the board which advises the St John’s College Trust Board on its distribution of funds for theological education and training in our church.

Thank you for praying for the Cathedral Reinstatement Project. Thank you for your prayers for me personally—messages that you are praying have been very encouraging.

A final call for prayer this week: we continue to have vacancies for ordained ministers in our Diocese. I am very grateful for the supply of interim ministry for parishes such as Opawa-St Martins, Westland and Burnside-Harewood, but this supply is not unending and so we seek God’s appointee for each place. In Mid Canterbury amazing people under the leadership of Archdeacon Indrea Alexander continue the ministry of word and sacrament in each of the parishes but we continue to seek the Lord for the appointment of a new senior priest for this region.

The Gospel for this Sunday 5 May 2024, Easter 6 is John 15:9-17. Lots to ponder here: about love, fruit, God’s choosing of us as disciples. Isn’t it wonderful that Jesus calls us “friends” and not “servants”? Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Arohanui,

+Peter