Coming and going from Theology House’s new location in the vicarage I cannot help noticing how busy the St Aidan’s complex is! Between casual hirers, regular non-parish users and regular parish activities a lot happens here. Let’s pray that every person coming through the doors of the church knows that they are entering a building consecrated to the worship and service of the God of Jesus Christ.
Teresa, Alice and I managed a brief visit to the Festival of Salt and Light last weekend at Gore Bay. It was inspiring to see 330 young adults, including St Aidan’s young adults, gathering to explore the meaning of discipleship for today.
I apologise again for absence from the AGM this evening but will be praying that this meeting will remind us of the blessings of the past year and help us face the challenges for the year ahead.
Blessings,
Peter

Most of our young adults are away this weekend at the Festival of Salt and Light, being held on a farm on the Gore Bay road near Cheviot. This is a new venture in the Diocese’s ministry among young adults. Let’s pray that those participating are drawn close to Christ and more deeply into following him.

I had a great meeting with our pastoral care team during the week. As a result of this meeting we are adding Carol Trotter’s name to the contacts on the back of the newssheet. Pastoral care is an every member responsibility in the church but some situations benefit from being able to ring those with special responsibility for pastoral care. If you would like to be more involved in pastoral ministries such as assisting with services in rest homes (Elmswood, but we would like to restart our work at St Winifred’s, please get in touch with Sue Sinclair in the parish office).

Before accepting the role of being Priest-in-Charge I already had some Sundays booked up in my diary. One of those is this coming Sunday 19 February. As I will be away all day I apologise for absence at the Parish AGM. The meeting will be in good hands under the leadership of our wardens Neville Yeoman and Mark Worner. Let’s pray through this week for the meeting, noting that it will include the usual elections for People’s Warden and Vestry members, as well as the triennial elections for synod representatives for the parish.

Blessings,

Peter

It has been a welcome surprise to be asked by Bishop Victoria to be part-time Priest in Charge of Bryndwr during the interim period between vicars. As I get to grips with the situation I am reminded of a song a visiting missioner to Blenheim taught us many years ago, “It’s an adventure following Jesus.”

Together we enter a period with a number of unknowns. We do not know how long the interim period will be, or who will be appointed to be the new vicar, or how and when the post-quakes building issues will be sorted out. We also do not know how to fill in all the gaps created by Malcolm’s departure – I can only be “0.2” Priest-in-Charge and I am definitely going to be “0.0” guitarist!

I suggest that the best way to approach this set of unknowns is to think of it as a faith adventure rather than as lots of hard work: the unchangeable fact through these days is that Jesus Christ remains Lord of the church, the Holy Spirit continues to empower the church, and God the Father loves us more than we can ever know. God’s work can continue in changed circumstances, all we are asked to do is to move forward in faith and not to be anxious about what we cannot see.

A couple of practical notes re my role. First, it happens that my main workplace, Theology House, is itself in a period of uncertainty which means we are moving from one temporary location to another. This past week we have moved into the vacant St Aidan’s vicarage which we will rent from the parish. That means that I will often be on site both as Priest-in-Charge and as Director of Theology House.

My third role, Director of Education for the Diocese, however, means I will be often offsite, either in meetings at the Anglican Centre in Upper Riccarton or travelling about the parishes.

Secondly, the two best ways to contact me are by email (prcarrell@gmail.com ) or by my cellphone (0274 772 975, either calling and leaving a message or by texting). Otherwise please leave a message with Sue Sinclair in the St Aidan’s office or with Chris Church in the Theology House office (351 1364).

Blessings,

Peter