The Beca Heritage Week was launched on Friday evening and will run until Labour Day. The theme for 2008 is ‘RETROSPECTIVE: Christchurch life, architecture and design 1940s–1970s.’
As one of the major heritage sites in the city, S. Michael’s has always taken its part. With the present theme, and our very much older heritage, it seemed that this year we might have little to offer. Then, when a visiting architect wondered if it would be possible to remove the rather discordant reredos and tester (the wall piece and canopy over the altar at the east end) and to put in a Victorian-style substitute such as appears on a photograph from the 1890s, I was fired up. First, the reredos and its guarding angels were designed and installed between 1953 and 1955, and so fitted the scope of the Heritage Week theme. And secondly, to Anglo-Catholics the design and installation of this magnificent piece was a high point in a very important story for the Church in general, and for S. Michael’s in particular. The result is that I shall conduct a ‘walk and talk’ entitled ‘1950s Baroque’. While moving through the building, I intend to show a series of photographs of the interior from about 1900 until 1970, and to tell the story of what was going on in relation to movements in church life at the time.
It would be a great help if a couple of parishioners could offer to help welcome any visitors who choose to come to the talks. The times are: this afternoon, Monday early evening, Wednesday morning. We shall also be keeping the church open for as many daylight hours as possible during Heritage Week. There are already a number of volunteers, but more offers would be welcome.
Last night some of us joined with the congregation of S. Luke’s Church to celebrate their Patronal Festival. It was generous of our musicians to provide the music. As we celebrated S. Luke the Evangelist, I was very conscious of the pains that that Gospel writer took to show that the good news of Jesus Christ is for absolutely everyone. If anyone is excluded from the promise of the Gospel, then it cannot be good news at all. God’s acceptance and love are unconditional, despite the tendency among some Christians in our time to proclaim it in a very conditional way.
It is time to set up our catechumenal programme for the next cycle. This is a group process that helps prepare those who wish to enter or return to the practice of Christian faith, and which reaches its climax at Holy Week and Easter. Please tell me if you would like to be part of this. It is open to anyone. Perhaps some School parents or others with indirect connections with the parish may wish to respond.
A daytime Education for Ministry group is also being planned. This is a group-based course of biblical and theological education for thinking adults, and especially for those who wish to enrich their sense of Christian ministry in everyday life. Flyers are available, or please speak to me in the first instance.
I hope that all of you can make the most of the Labour Day holiday next weekend, to enjoy the beauty of our city in its most striking season. Every day I am enjoying the blossoms and the new green on the trees, and some beautiful days have given a taste of what we hope is to come.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
A Prayer for our times:
Lord God, we live in disturbing days:
across the world
prices rise, debts increase,
banks collapse, jobs are taken away,
and fragile security is under threat.
Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer:
be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands,
and a light in the darkness;
help us receive your gift of peace,
and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
