Dear Friends,
This has been another interesting and very busy week for me. I am glad to have the regular daily round of the Church’s prayer and worship to keep me grounded in the life of God that, in the end, this is all about.
On Tuesday I was pleased to take part in the seminar sponsored by Anglican Ways, in memory of The Revd John Fisher. This was presented by John Bruerton and was a sharing of some responsible critiques of the fashionable policies of our time in which social goods are given no value and therefore society itself is undermined. Christians need to be much more thoughtful and resourceful about what the commandment to love God and neighbour involves.
On the same evening a panel of national and local politicians and police and other relevant parties discussed the present crisis for the city connected with our liquor laws. This brought a good crowd to St Michael’s and a very worthwhile discussion was had. We hope and pray the something will come out of it.
I have also chaired our regular Trust meeting, and a one-off meeting of the Parish Trustees with the School Board, to discuss common issues.
The Wardens and I have also met with the Archdeacon (The Ven. Craufurd Murray) to plan a Parish Review which we are required to have from time to time, and which we hope can be accomplished in the third quarter of the year. On Thursday I met with all the clergy of the Archdeaconry at Christ’s College, for our regular monthly meeting.
We have also been rushing to complete our proposed amendments to the St Michael’s School Statute, which we shall be taking to Synod in early September. The draft had to be presented by last Friday. I spoke about these and why we are proceeding at the Annual Meeting in April. It was ten years ago exactly, that we were first presenting the new Statute to the Synod.
During the last two years, I have been friendly with Fr Emmanuel Crainic and his wife Maria, the newly appointed Romanian Orthodox priest in Christchurch. They have shared Michaelmas with us twice now. On Friday he brought his newly appointed Bishop to visit St Michael’s, and today I shall be present at the Baptism of the Crainic’s first child, Andrew, by the bishop, who is based in Melbourne.
Along with all this, I have been called to bless a house in which disturbing things were happening, to respond to a couple of pastoral emergencies, visit a couple of our very sick people, teach a lesson in the School, and line up with the staff and the servers for School photographs.
John Dela Bere will be well on his way to England now, and Dorothy Perkins and Ron Fussell will be producing the Trumpet.
God bless you all.
Peter Williams
