Dear Friends,
Welcome to you all as this community of faith gathers to celebrate again its Patronal Festival, the feast of Michael, Archangel, ‘who is like God’.
We are delighted that visitors are with us, friends from other churches, colleagues in ministry, former parishioners, friends and relatives, and enquirers. It is a joy to welcome home some of you who live in other parts of New Zealand, people for whom S. Michael’s has never ceased to be a spiritual home.
I am glad to welcome our preacher, the Revd Lynda Patterson, who is Theologian in Residence at Christchurch Cathedral. Lynda is Irish, and studied and taught Biblical studies at Oxford University before coming to New Zealand for ordination. She has earned a strong reputation as a preacher, calling on her dexterity with the Biblical text, her insight into the human condition, and the silver tongue of the Irish.
There has been a community of faith here for 158 years now. Since 1910 the Eucharist has been celebrated in this place daily, and the Blessed Sacrament reserved as a focus for prayer. Generations have adorned and cherished the building, and music of the highest standard has been offered for the praise of God.
The Liturgy offered here has been a witness to the glory and holiness and loving kindness of God, while it has shaped a people in the way of Jesus Christ, and sent them out to give themselves in costly service.
It is with all this behind us and around us that we gather this evening to celebrate the festival, to open our hearts and minds and bodies and spirits to the good news of God, and to enjoy each other as sisters and brothers in Christ.
Jacob awoke from his dream of the great promise of God, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” I hope and pray that we too may so awaken to God’s presence in this community gathered around the altar that, with our perception heightened, we may go out and welcome the Risen Lord in every corner of the wider community. And even in its darkest corners, may we so engage that we can truly say with Jacob, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.”
May God bless you all.
Fr Peter Williams
