Greetings all. The past fortnight has had a few interesting highlights for me which I’m pleased to share below. As I write this I know that some of you will be making plans to head to Dannevirke tomorrow morning to support The Rev’d Tim Delaney and his family at the memorial service for Margie. We continue to hold Margie in our prayers and indeed Tim, his family, and all who mourn. I will be there alongside The Rev’d John Matthews as together we lead the service.
Visit of Compass Rose Society and General Secretary of the Anglican Communion
This time last week and over the weekend I had the pleasure of being alongside Archbishop Don for three functions in Hawke’s Bay as part of the visit to our Province by members of the Compass Rose Society, and Bishop Anthony Pogo, General Secretary of the Anglican Communion and some members of the Anglican Communion Office team. The group made the visit to Aotearoa/New Zealand and Polynesia at the invitation of Archbishop Don to experience the uniqueness of our part of the worldwide Anglican family. The visit included a visit to Te Aute College where I was able to join with local kaumatua and the college community to welcome the visitors into Heretaunga. The group spent time at the kura exploring the interweaving of education, faith, culture and history on the site. While in Hawke’s Bay the group also explored mātauranga through the experience of navigation by spending time at Waitangi on the foreshore of Hawke’s Bay. To conclude a busy schedule over a few days around Heretaunga the group gathered at Waiapu Cathedral on Sunday at midday for a Eucharist at which Archbishop Don preached the kauhau and I presided. We enjoyed welcoming the visitors into our Cathedral and being alongside one another for this service as part of the haerenga/pilgrimage which the group are making. After leaving Napier on Sunday they headed to Suva to experience Polynesia and then will return to Aotearoa early next week to join the Archbishops from Oceania at the annual FONO meeting, this year being held in Taranaki. There are some very good video clips about the haerenga with reflections from individual members available on Facebook page for Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa. https://www.facebook.com/pihopatanga/videos/7948979921893904
Mission to Seafarers
Near the end of 2024 the House of Bishops appointed me as liaison Bishop to the Mission to Seafarer’s, primarily as an episcopal support to The Rev’d Lance Lukin who is Regional Director for MTS in Oceania and the Pacific Region. As well as holding that role Lance is also Port Chaplain in Wellington along with a small team. I had the pleasure this week of making a visit to Wellington to understand how my role of liaison Bishop can provide helpful support to Lance and to MTS around the province. As part of the visit I spent some time with the chaplains at Wellington Port which included a ship visit aboard the bulk carrier SPAR PYXIS. It was an inspiring time to understand at a deeper level the breadth and complexities of the ministry of MTS and the various expressions of that ministry around our province. I am grateful for the team for taking me aboard and helping me to gain a better insight into the life of seafarers, but also to hear firsthand how they value the ministry they receive from the MTS chaplains. We are blessed with three ports in Waiapu, all of which have different models of expressing a ministry to seafarers, some of which include MTS. Some of you may recall that with the encouragement of the Rev’d Stephen Donald who was at the time very involved with MTS in Gisborne that we had an entire Synod dedicated to knitting beanies for seafarers. It was not missed by me aboard the ship how much the seafarers continue to value a warm beanie to wear in the coolness of NZ waters!
The week ahead and Ash Wednesday
This weekend I’ll be heading to the Parish of Whakatāne to spend some time with them as my last opportunity to be alongside the Rev’d Linda King in the parish before I head away on sabbatical prior to Linda’s retirement. I’m looking forward to being with the parish and Linda and to acknowledge the many gifts that Linda has shared with the parish and the Diocese over the past 7 years. I’ll be staying in the Bay of Plenty and will be joined by Colleen and Graeme for most of next week. We will be spending time particularly with Vestry members of three parishes which are all working through various stages of interregnum. As part of our visit will coincide with Ash Wednesday I’m looking forward to opportunities for community worship in three places across Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. It will be nice to be in a few different parish communities for these services. We will finish our time in the Bay of Plenty by returning through Rotorua to spend time with Te Manawa o Te Wheke looking at how we can continue to support the amorangi as they prepare for the retirement of Pīhopa Ngarahu. We know that Pīhopa Ngarahu will retire at Easter this year and expect that there will be services to acknowledge his ministry around that time, so I am keeping my diary open and flexible around Holy Week to be able to prioritise time in the amorangi as plans are confirmed. As part of that I will be working with Bettina and Wiremu to look at how we can support a service for the blessing of Holy Oils and affirmation of Ordination Vows in the Bay of Plenty. We will share details on services once they are confirmed for the Bay of Plenty and also around all parts of Waiapu.
Faith in Action report
Some of you may have seen a copy of the Faith in Action report, but if not, you’ll find a copy included here. The report looks at an overview of Christian Charities and Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand and explores some of the features of governance, ministry and administration of Church life. You may find it interesting to read from a governance perspective or from your own local experience of being on a Vestry or involved with another Christian charitable organisation.
Have a blessed week everyone,
Nga mihi,
+Andrew
Comments