SUNDAY 24 December 2023, Advent 4 – Christmas Eve

Readings: 2 Sam 7:1-11, 16; [for Ps: Luke 1:47-55, The Magnificat]; Rom 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

Let us pray for the church and for the world, giving thanks for God’s grace and goodness.

Richard Apperley is the new Events Manager for Anglican Movement who will be leading the organisation of key events in the Diocesan calendar in 2024.

On the second Wednesday of each month you will find members of St Luke’s Wadestown holding a Holy Communion service for the apartment dwellers and care home residents of BUPA Crofton Downs, and sharing morning tea with the apartment residents. 

As Advent begins and ordination services continue around the diocese, St Alban’s parish of Eastbourne had extra reasons to celebrate. 

It was a stifling hot afternoon to be packing out Whanganui's oldest public building - St Peter's in Gonville - for the ordination to the priesthood of Rev Robyn Moses and Revs Luca and Sam Tovey Duckworth on Saturday. 

As we enter this time of Advent we continue to pray for the people of Israel and Palestine.

This Advent, while we are busy with our services of worship and celebration, let us also remember Christ’s call to help and care for the least, the last and the lost.  

On Sunday we celebrated the ordination to the Priesthood of Rev Jessie Thornton Black, Rev Heidi Nayak and Rev Lynda Whitwell in their local context.

The rain came down but that didn’t dampen the warm atmosphere as Bishop Justin ordained seven Transitional Deacons to a full house in the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul.

SUNDAY 17 December 2023, The Third Sunday of Advent

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; [Luke 1:47-55]; 1 Thess 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Let us pray for people everywhere, that this season wraps the world in peace.

Here at St Mary Magdalene in the Parish of Pohangina in Ashhurst we are on a restore and rebuild journey with God as our partner and at our side every step we have made. 

We celebrate the achievements of those in our Diocese who received valedictory awards at St John’s Theological College in Auckland.

Nikki and Scott Wheeler and their family are NZCMS mission partners in Kapuna, Papua New Guinea. Read Nikki’s update about how life has been going for them recently and their next steps. 

We celebrated at the Wellington Cathedral on Sunday as Murray Edridge became the first of our Priests to be ordained this year.

Come down to Southern Cross Garden Bar at 3pm-9pm this coming Sunday to support the work of the Free Store, and enjoy an afternoon of music, food and fun!

Supporters of Common Grace Aotearoa recently gathered at Ngatiawa River Monastery to learn how better to be a just church – in our country and the world.

It was a happy occasion at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Sunday afternoon, as The Very Reverend Katie Lawrence was installed as the ninth Dean of Wellington.

I had a moment last month where my past caught up with me. I walked into Thorndon New World and saw an elderly gentleman. I thought “I know who you are, but it can’t possibly be you.”

Readings: Isa 64:1-9; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

Let us pray for the church and for the world, giving thanks for God’s goodness.

SUNDAY 26 November 2023, Christ the King – 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Aotearoa Sunday

Readings: RCL Ordinary Time: Ezek 34:11-16, 20-24; Eph 1:15-23; Matt 25:31-46

Or Aotearoa Sunday FAS Deut 6:1-9; Col 1:3-14; Mark 4:26-34 (Sunday before Advent)