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From STRANDS resouces
 
Photo by Strandz

Joining Together in Love and Prayer

Andrew Metcalfe —

Updated : Over the past two weeks, Anglican faith communities have joined with other Christians, Muslims, people of other faiths and all New Zealanders in an outpouring of love and solidarity.


Responses to Date

From Wakatipu on Friday 22 March (photo attached):

We have just re-lit the 50 candles on the St Peter’s altar: 

2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Over 100 people gathered at St. Peter’s green for the call to prayer. Those there included Jim Boult, MP Hamish Walker and his wife,  along with two armed policemen. The Muslim prayer began at 2pm here.

We have much to be grateful for and much to think about. We have been blessed to be a blessing.

See our Media page for other recent news covering this.

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The Otago Daily Times has reported responses  from Oamaru where after a packed St Luke’s Anglican church held a vigil, other vigils took place in Dunedin (otago and Forsyth Barr stadium), the Old Clyde Station in Clyde, Wachner Place in Invercargill, Mosgiel, Wanaka and Queenstown. 

We have also received messages of support and assurances of prayers from Bishop John Armes and Rev'd Canon Dean Fostekew in the Diocese of Edinburgh.

See other international responses from the Iona Community and the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dunedin North Parish typifies the ways we have responded to this unfolding tragedy. The Parish has an important connection with the Al Huda mosque in Dunedin, including taking part in Ifta dinners (friendship meals) together. At all services on Sunday an Interfaith Prayer for Peace was used and during the 10.30 am mass the congregation sang two verses of God Defend New Zealand, including very appropriate words from verse 2:

“Men of every creed and race, Gather here before Thy face, Asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our freeland. From dissension, envy, hate, and corruption guard our state, Make our Country good and great, God defend New Zealand”.

Even more poignant was when Fr. Michael Wallace recounted going into the church on Friday evening after noticing someone was playing the piano, and found a local Muslim there. He expressed gratitude that the church had been left open, providing a place of sanctuary for him and others. On Sunday evening at the Taize service  more prayers were said and tears shed, as a number of Muslim brothers and sisters seeking refuge and support were welcomed. 

Rev'd Jennifer Tapsell from Fiordland Parish writes:

"(On Sunday) we used the Strandnz resources for prayers, lit candles and read various pieces that people had written. I think the one piece that touched most people was the one my daughter who lives in Burnham, Christchurch, had shared on her facebook page and is happy for it to be shared. We also participated in a community vigil that we helped to facilitate with the other churches. This was held in the war memorial garden in Te Anau in support of the Muslim families who live here. It provided space for people respond to the tragic and numbing events."

"Oblivious to what was going on in one of the places they know as home last night my babies fall sleep together in Tama's bed, looking and feeling so loved and safe.

This morning I took the time to make them aware of the basic stuff that has unfolded down the road in Christchurch City because this is going to be a hot topic for awhile and we know children sponge of their loved ones and the vibes they give off. We all can't help but feel mad, sad,angry, confused and helpless at the event that has unfolded in our country. The country we want our kids to feel safe in 24/7.

I love my kids logic a lot.

Tama - he thought perhaps the man did it because that had happened to his family and once we talked about that, I said, I don't think it had but even if it had does that make it ok?? He then was puzzled as to how he could hurt and kill so many people "but his mum and dad are people, his brothers and sisters are people. He is a person. How can he do that to other people? I am sad at how all those people have died. Maybe he was bullied or really really angry but if he was bullied he should walk away and tell them he doesn't like it."

Zeke - "well maybe the police mans could of arrested him when he was buying the guns? Or what if, what if we had a real beach at our house and we could set a booby trap and get some real sharks that would eat him all up."

In the wise words of Dame Whina Cooper "Take care of our children. Take care of what they hear, take care of what they see, take care of what they feel. For how the children grow, so will the shape of Aotearoa.

Keep making our kids kind, keep them feeling protected and safe, keep them feeling loved and we can only hope that this world will be a better place.

Barabara Withington, Vestry Secretary at Dunstan Parish writes:

"St James Teviot Valley put a call out on Saturday night on our local facebook page of a candlelight vigil on Sunday night. We had more than 30 people of all ages come and go through the hour, lighting a candle, praying quietly, listening to contemplative music, focusing prayer, writing messages for Christchurch (which is continuing in the local supermarket until Friday) and adding threads to our prayer net. It was a time of deep emotion and many gave thanks for the opportunity to share such time."

Below also is a sermon preached in Wanaka by Fred McElrea that (like a lot of sermons given Sunday before last) was altered in the light of Friday's events.

A reminder that among various fundraising initiatives taking place around New Zealand, an Anglican Missions Board proposal could be supported by us – we won’t initiate a separate Diocesan fundraising appeal. The details are on this page http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/features/extra/amb 


Resources

Today I awake and God is before me.
At night, as I dreamt, God summoned the day;
For God never sleeps but patterns the morning
with slithers of gold or glory in grey.
Today I arise and Christ is beside me.
Yes, Christ is alive, and beckons his people
to hope and to heal, resist and invite.
Today I affirm the Spirit within me
at worship and work, in struggle and rest.
The Spirit inspires all life which is changing
from fearing to faith, from broken to blest.
Today I enjoy the Trinity round me,
above and beneath, before and behind;
The Maker, the Son, the Spirit together
they called me to life and call me their friend.
He walked through the dark to scatter new light,
Words and Music: John Bell