Read on for more information for how you can take part in this...

24 Hour Prayer: The most important activity we can do is pray as the Electoral College approaches.

Some Brief Instructions:

• You can come in person or join on-line (or click here:https://anglicanchurch-nz.zoom.us/j/91837365507) at St Matthews Dunedin (Friday lunch time to midnight) or St Michael's Andersons Bay (Friday midnight to Saturday noon). There may be a delay as people shift from one venue to the other... on line will continue uninterrupted. For St Matthew's, enter via the non-tower entrance (next to the Hope Centre). For St Michael and All Angels, enter from the Harding Lounge door behind the church.

• St Matthews: There is a toilet you can use (near the front of the church on the left hand side) and an urn will be on the go if you need some hot water for a drink.

• St Michaels: Toilets will be signposted and hot water is available in the kitchen area off the Harding Lounge.

• If you are the only person in any venue and do not feel safe being there by yourself, feel free to quietly take yourself somewhere where you do feel more comfortable to pray.

• If you leave any of the venues and there is no-one else there, please extinguish any candles - the virtual platform will have a candle burning that will remain alight. Feel free to light any candles if you arrive and none are lit.

• A vigil is primarily about prayer - if you do want to say anything out loud, be brief and keep it general (we are praying for the Diocese and any potential candidates for the new Bishop without mentioning any names).

• There may be other times when acts of worship are taking place - go with the flow, enjoy and participate as you want to.

Bishop Ross writes:

I am so grateful for the efforts that are being made to hold the work of the Electoral College in prayer as we prepare to discern God’s call on a person to be the next Bishop of Dunedin. I am overseas this week but will be joining my prayers from afar with yours. Let’s remember these words of St Paul:

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

+ Ross

Please pass on this article to your contacts and ask people to sign up for a prayer slot

or just show up.

More information

Rev'd Michael Holdaway (Otago Peninsula Parish) and Rev'd Esther Clarke- Prebble (St Martha's Church, Dunedin) are calling us to meet in person or virtually to pray for the Electoral College which opens on 22 November.

Prayer will take place from 12 noon on Friday 8 November to 12 noon Saturday 9 November. On Friday, the venue will be St Matthew's Church, comer of Stafford and Hope Street, Dunedin until midnight, and then it will move to St Michael and All Angels' Anglican Church at 44 Elliot Street, Anderson's Bay.

A virtual prayer space will continue uninterrupted over the 24-hour period.

How can you be involved?

Come along in person or virtually and join in with this - there will be a short act of worship to begin and end the vigil.

• We will have the virtual (zoom) platform open so that you can share your computer screen or unmute yourself and speak.

• You can sign in for a Prayer Slot by by emailing Rev'd Michael Holdaway michaelmaryjo007@gmail.com and indicate your availability. Lettign us know when you are thinking of showing up means you can contribute in some way in prayer: Spoken, silent, with music, interactive drawing, a written prayer poem - whatever you feel is right.

If you are joining from home, why not (safely) light a candle and join with others in the Diocese as we enter into God's presence to be transformed...