The Anglican Centre Roadshow

As our Anglican family have had fewer opportunities to meet together in 2020, our Bishops have encouraged the team at the Anglican Centre in Wellington to get out on the road in the next few months to visit parishes around our diocese and encourage them in their journeys this year. As Bishop Ellie put it, “in a year when we haven’t been able to gather as family, we want to come and bless and offer manaakitanga in such a way that communicates Christ’s love to our Anglican whānau.”

The first of these Anglican Centre Roadshows was held on the 20th of October. The Anglican Centre shut up shop for the day and five or so cars convoyed from Wellington and South Wairarapa up to Whanganui. On the drive up the coast, each carload was tasked with praying for words and pictures from God for the different parishes in the area – Rangitikei, Whanganui, Taihape and Ohakune – to share when we arrived.

On arriving at St Peter’s, Gonville, we spent time in worship led by a team from the Anglican Centre. With a range of ages and geographical locations represented in the room, it was deeply encouraging to see everyone join in proclaiming Jesus’ name as we opened our time together. We got to enjoy one of Whanganui’s best Indian takeaways with homemade naan bread, and spent time getting to know each other over lunch.

Both Bishops shared some of their recent reflections with those gathered, with Bishop Ellie zooming in from Wellington. To end the day, we broke onto groups to pray for and bless the four parishes, sharing what we heard from God on the drive up.

At its heart, the Roadshow was a beautiful opportunity to connect with members of our whānau in a prayerful way that lifted the name of Jesus high over the north of our diocese.

The Anglican Centre team will be continuing to travel around the diocese, with the next Roadshow likely to be in November.

By Holly Morton