From the Priest Assistant…
Dear Friends,
In the Northern Hemisphere the arrival of the spring and the greening of the earth herald the triumph of life over death that we celebrate at Easter. Here in the South, nature has a different way of proclaiming the Easter victory, as the gardens and parks around us turn to gold and bronze reflecting the glory of the Risen Christ, and we enjoy the gentle warmth of the autumn sun. It is also a great joy for us to be able to include Harvest Festival in our Easter celebrations.
Offering these gifts in thankfulness and humility seems to me to be a wonderful and appropriate response to all that we have received and celebrated at Easter of the abundant grace and mercy of God. How fitting that as we celebrate Jesus as the first-born from the dead, we offer to God our harvest festival offerings, our symbolic first-fruits. Looking around the church at the wonderful displays is a wonderful reminder that God’s creative love is at the heart of all that is in heaven and earth, and that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is good news for all creation.
In last week’s Gospel we heard how the disciples were sent out to continue Jesus’ mission. Today we hear Our Lord’s instructions to Peter, “Feed my sheep,” and “Follow me.” All of us who are baptised into the Body of Christ are given gifts that enable us to be Jesus’ voice, his feet and his loving hands. We are all called, and empowered, to follow Christ and to feed his sheep, through sharing the Gospel of love and forgiveness and through service to others. Today’s harvest reminds us of our responsibility to share what we have received, and what a privilege it is for us to be able to do that by forwarding our harvest gifts to the Christchurch City Mission and the Community of the Sacred Name.
It is also a delight to welcome Jack and Leonie Ward to S. Michael’s this morning. Jack and Leonie are the parents of Derek Ward and parents-in-law of Keryn, both of whom have enriched our music over the past two and a half years. They are celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary by touring around New Zealand and spending some time with each of their three sons and their families. We congratulate them most warmly and sincerely on this marvellous occasion. We give thanks for Jack and Leonie’s years of marriage, and pray that God will bless them richly in the years ahead.
May God bless you all, and may the presence of the Risen Christ bring you strength and joy and peace in your daily life and work.
