SUNDAY 4 February 2024, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings: Isa 40:21-31; 1 Cor 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39

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

Join with us as we celebrate being whānau together looking back over some of the highlights of 2023.

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1.23

On a windy Wellington day, a crowd gathered in anticipation at St. Jude's Church hall to witness the ordination to priesthood of Rev Jax Clark and Rev Kevin Denholm.

The Diocese is entering into a new direction for the provision of its regional theological studies programme next year by promoting study through Bishopdale College in Nelson. 

CHRISTMAS DAY 25 December 2023 The Birth of Jesus Christ

Readings: Isa 9:2-7; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) To be used at midnight or on Christmas day

After celebrating 100 years of worship in fine style in February, St Mary’s Raetihi was again filled with joyful worshippers as church, community, family and friends came together to celebrate the ordination of Rev Alison Seifert to the priesthood. 

Onslow Anglicans entered into the spirit of the Christmas season on Saturday night by creating a gingerbread photo booth as a creative way of inviting the community onto the grounds of St Barnabas. 

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.