Subject: Letter from Bishop Victoria Matthews Letter from the Bishop Dear Friends, I am writing this letter while on annual leave and hope each of you is also having some rest and relaxation during this month. The year ahead is a year of important decisions and movements within the Diocese of Christchurch and we all need to move forward with hearts full of thanksgiving and openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. On 4 January 2015, the Rev Riwai Preece died in the Chatham Islands where he served faithfully for over 30 years. His was a ministry that brought a strong sense of the presence of Christ to every situation. His contribution to the wider Province has been noted with gratitude by Archbishop Brown. I am thankful that the Ven John Sheaf was able to go to the Chatham Islands to officiate at the funeral for Riwai and assure the congregations there of our love and care. I am visiting the Chathams in the last week of January. The Ven Canon John Days farewell will be held at the Transitional Cathedral at 5pm on Sunday, 25 January. A reception and expressions of appreciation for Johns ministry in our Diocese will follow the service of Evensong. As previously reported, John will be serving in the Diocese of Liverpool as he settles back into the Church of England. You are warmly invited to attend Evensong and the thanksgiving for Johns ministry in this Diocese and Province on 25 January. Donations for the gift for John Day are to be sent to the Diocese as previously noted. I am delighted to announce that the Rev Jenny Wilkens is returning to the Diocese of Christchurch. She will be the Vicar of Christchurch-St Luke as of 1 February and comes to us from the Diocese of Wellington where she was integral to the excellent ministry of the Cathedral there. Jennys induction is 29 January at 7.30pm at KNOX PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH on Bealey Avenue. You may be aware that the parish of Christchurch-St Luke has been worshiping at the chapel at the Knox Centre and I am most grateful for the invitation to hold the induction in Knox Church. The Rev Peter Williams has served the parish very well as Interim Priest-in-Charge and I do thank him for this faithful ministry. Three of our newly ordained transitional deacons are taking up ministerial responsibilities in February. The Rev Harry Newton has completed his preparation for ordained ministry at St Johns College in Auckland and will commence as Assistant Curate at Fendalton Parish in February. The Rev John Hearne will begin 1 February as the Assistant Curate, with off-site supervision, at the parish of Cheviot. The Rev Rawinia Douglas is appointed to assist the Rev Vivien Harber with ministry on the West Coast as a non-stipendiary Assistant Curate. The Rev Dr Michael Baker has accepted my appointment as Interim Priest-in-Charge of Halswell-Prebbleton Parish from February after the departure of the Rev Bryan Haggitt to the Diocese of Auckland. We thank Bryan for his ministry in this Diocese and particularly note the work he did in the parish of Halswell-Prebbleton in enhancing their ministry to children and young people. We also welcome Michael back to pastoral ministry in this Diocese from his counselling ministry as a psychologist. The Rev. David Winfield, who is retired more in name than practice, is concluding his ministry as part time Interim Priest-in-Charge of Rakaia and is assuming the position of Priest in Charge of the parish of Upper Riccarton-Yaldhurst upon the retirement from full-time parish ministry of the Ven John Sheaf in early February. I am pleased to say that John Sheaf has agreed to stay on, for the time being, as Vicar General. Rakaia Parish is entering another innovative stage in its ministry as Al Drye (formerly with oversight of children and youth at the parish of Christchurch-St John) is appointed Lay Minister of the parish for the next year. This appointment will be in association with the ministry of Ashburton and Tinwald with the clergy of those parishes presiding at sacramental services. I am pleased to announce the Rev Joan Clark has accepted my appointment as Priest-in-Charge of Ashburton and Tinwald for the another two years. The parishes of Ashburton, Tinwald and Rakaia are yoked parishes. The Venerable Peter Carrell has accepted my appointment as the Archdeacon of Mid Canterbury in addition to being Archdeacon of South Canterbury. Thank you Peter. The Rev Stephen McNabb will be welcomed as the Priest-in-Charge of St Johns Woolston at the St John the Evangelist Church on 30 January at 7pm. I want to acknowledge the support of the parish of Sumner Redcliffs in this appointment. Steve has been the Assistant Curate at the parish of Christchurch-St John for the past two years. While not yoked there is a lovely spirit of co-operation and support between the parishes of Sumner Redcliffs and Woolston which we trust will continue to bear fruit to Gods glory. Liz Burt began as Anglican Centre Manager on 12 January. We welcome her to the Anglican Centre team and look forward to her assistance as we plan the future of the Anglican Centre and its ministries. Taize comes to Christchurch at the Transitional Cathedral on 11 February this year. The website, with the details for this ecumenical event, is taizechristchurch@gmail Please remember this important gathering in your prayers. Marking the 75th anniversary of the Taize Community and the 100th birthday of Brother Rogers birth, this event is primarily for those between the ages of 16 and 35. I am hoping for a strong attendance from the schools and Universities of the Diocese and do ask that you bring it to the attention of any young people you know. In 2016 it is hoped we will have a New Zealand pilgrimage to Taize and attendance at this local event is essential to understanding the mission of the Taize community. We are now in the season of Epiphany when we remember Gods love made manifest through the pilgrimage of the Wise Men; the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist; and the wedding at Cana, to give just a few examples. Epiphany is a good time to sit back and ask how our own life manifests Gods love and grace. I invite you to do so in deep thanksgiving for the gift of Jesus the Christ and the call to share the good news of the Gospel with the world. I give thanks for you, and for all you do for Jesus in the power of the Spirit. In Christ, +Victoria
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 07:28:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015