For a second Sunday we are glad to welcome the people of S. Luke’s, whose lovely church building has been put out of action by the earthquakes. Quite properly, they would like to be able to gather in the geographical area of their primary ministry, but we shall make our facilities available while that is not possible. We also welcome others who have been displaced from loved places of worship, and people who have begun a new personal exploration because of what has happened to them. We are having enquiries from groups who have lost meeting or working places, and would like to share our facilities. I hope that we can accommodate some of them.
Some among our congregation, like many others in the city, have been badly hit and are now having to wait for the verdicts of building and insurance assessors. And apart from the very visible physical damage many may be living with, there is an emotional burden that most of us are carrying. We need to be careful of ourselves, and trust others in the community for companionship and support.
Michaelmas is almost upon us. Our Patronal Festival happily falls in Spring and invites us to cheer up and celebrate after the cold and dark of the Winter, and, this year, the shock of the earthquake. It is also an opportunity, a rallying point, to reaffirm the ethos of the Parish and to celebrate its place in the Church and in the City. I hope that you will all think carefully and imaginatively about inviting friends, and people with connections here, and seekers in general, to the Michaelmas celebration. On Wednesday 29 September there will be the usual Low Mass at 7:00 am, with the Solemn Mass and dinner in the evening. At the Mass Bishop Victoria will consecrate our nave altar in the church, the gift of the Martin family.
Dinner tickets (and invitations to go with them if you are inviting others) are available in the hall after Mass today.
May God bless you all.
Fr Peter Williams
Solemn Festival Mass of Michaelmas
Wednesday 29 September at 6:30 pm
Celebrant and Preacher: Bishop Victoria
Tickets for the Michaelmas Dinner are available today
(adults $10, children $5)
