20/04/2008
From the Vicar...
Dear Friends,
Today we gather for Mass and to baptise Harriet Sophie Thorp. Harriet’s parents, Nick and Chantal, were married here in late 2005, and Chantal is a former pupil of our School. They now live in London, and have come home at this time to visit family. We welcome their family and friends, and all who gather with us today.
Thank you everyone who rallied around to enable us to give Olwen Howells an appropriate farewell, as we commended her to God at her Funeral Mass on Thursday. It was a splendid occasion and a fitting tribute to her. Olwen arrived in New Zealand from Wales in the late 1950s and joined this parish in 1964. While Paul and Sharon were at S. Michael’s School, and ever since, she has been a wonderful worker for both Church and School, and always a delightful personality. We are very grateful for her ministry to children, for her organising abilities and abundant catering, for her warm friendship, and for her robust faith. Though she has been unwell for some time, there was little sign of it two Sundays ago when she was at Mass and at morning tea afterwards. Our love and sympathy are with Sharon and Paul and Leigh, and with Olwen’s many close friends. May she rest in Christ’s peace and rise again in glory.
Jonathan Mané-Wheoki expects to be with us this morning, having returned to Christchurch to receive an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. I sent him a message of congratulation from this parish where he has belonged and served for so long. Here is his reply:
Kia ora, Peter, Many, many thanks for the beautiful (and well-chosen) card and message of congratulation on behalf of S. Michael’s. The good opinion of the people and parish means a lot to me as they remain very close to my heart. I am staying on for a few days after the graduation especially so that I can attend Mass on Sunday morning and I shall look forward to seeing all my friends at that time. Nga mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa, na Jonathan.
Next Sunday, after Mass and a good morning tea, we shall gather in the hall for the Annual Meeting of Parishioners. This is your meeting—please make the effort to come and be involved in the affairs of your parish.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
Annual General Meeting of Parishioners
Sunday 27 April at 11:30 am in the hall
Some annual reports are already available. Please take them home today (but remember to bring them back next week).
Nomination forms for People’s Warden and Vestry members are now available. Please return these to Judy or the Wardens by 12 noon, 24 April, so that voting papers can be prepared. Late nominations may be added at the meeting.
