The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Kia ora whānau

Last weekend was our Diocesan Synod, and it was without a doubt the strangest one yet. What is usually a raucous good time of gathering together in person, sharing stories, worship, prayer, laughter and hospitality (and making decisions about our common life) was curtailed into three and a bit hours of Zoom conversation. There were definitely plus sides to that, but there was a lot to be missed in not being in the room all together and sharing in face to face fellowship.

As we write, we have just had the announcement that we are moving back into Alert Level 1, which is good news as we launch into what was talked about over Synod: we have been in an incredibly hard season, and this remains a reality for much of God’s world. Though we are so fortunate here in Aotearoa, the reality for many here is increased pressure on mental health, finances and income security. Our calling as people bringing the good news of our transforming God is more important than ever.

That is why we are encouraging our entire Diocese from now until Advent to take part in simple acts of hospitality both to those we journey alongside as followers of Jesus, and for those who may be placed in our paths who are yet to know the endless love that God has for them. Please see the Manaaki Tatou page for more details.

When I first became Bishop, I (+Justin), said that our church would be transformed if we all had these two intentional meals in a regular pattern: one with those in our church community and one with neighbours and friends who are yet to know Jesus. We both reiterated this call to hospitality with our neighbours following the Christchurch mosque attacks. We find ourselves drawn back to this simple intentional call of hospitality now and so we lay it before you all again.

At Synod, I (+Ellie) interviewed my Dad in the UK about his experience campaigning on behalf of a political party to bring about radical change, and how his life, now that he has become a Christian, has moved to applying the same principles of activism within his local parish, for the sake of Jesus.  When we intentionally move together in activism (in the same actions) we exponentially increase our momentum of transformation: the light of Christ shines brighter when we move together.

Jesus, may we rely on you in our strength and lean on you in our weakness.

That is our prayer for this season of hospitality. The hospitality itself need not be hard. Don’t spend time cleaning your skirting boards. Don’t feel you need to buy fancy food or learn how to make elaborate folded napkin swans (unless this brings you joy!). Most people don’t really care about these things at the end of the day. What we are all really longing for is to be drawn into what we are hardwired for by God: relationship. It is the very nature of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So above all we want to encourage you to prayerfully take up this invitation. For example, each time you host an act of hospitality have another team of people praying. We encourage this particularly when you are inviting those who don’t yet know Jesus. We are doing this for Jesus, because we believe that Jesus brings that light and transformation into the dark places of our world and within ourselves.

We are so looking forward to hearing all your stories and seeing photos of your acts of manaakitanga.

In Christ

+Justin and +Ellie