Dear Friends,
As I was writing this on Thursday, I was very aware of all those gathering in Greymouth for the memorial service for the Pike River miners. I telephoned Barry and Lesta Smithson and left a message of assurance of our love and prayers for their small community as it copes with this huge disaster.
The assurance that Matthew’s Gospel seeks to give us, as we read it in the Liturgy over the next twelve months, is that God is always with us, in the very best and very worst circumstances of human life. God suffers with us as we suffer, and rejoices with us as we rejoice. Matthew begins his Gospel with the birth of Jesus Christ whom he calls ‘Emmanuel’, God is with us. At the end of his Gospel, the Risen Christ promises “I am with you to the end of the age”. During this season, let us learn again to be people who trust that God is with us, in every circumstance. And let us help others to learn that this is so, especially as we try to support those who are suffering through mine disaster and earthquake.
After the Sung Mass we are invited to patronise the bring and buy stall in the hall. Anne Ladd is overseeing this to raise some money for the organ restoration fund. There is a raffle running too, with a hand-made quilt and a rich Christmas cake among the prizes. At 5:00 pm today the S. Michael’s Church School community will gather in the church for its Christmas Carol Service. This will follow the annual Santa Parade in the city, for which a group in the parish will open the playground for parking at a modest price. There will be a Taizé service tonight.
This is the last week of our School’s year. The Leavers’ Lunch will be on Tuesday. The final School Mass will be on Thursday, and the Break-up and Prize-giving Ceremony will be that evening at 7:00 pm at Christ’s College.
In this busy season, please do not forget the CWS Christmas Appeal. I am glad that as a parish we contribute generously each year. As we spend a lot on ourselves and our families, may we put aside some resources to give hope to those who have very little. CWS is the Church’s very reliable and efficient agent, delivering help to places and communities where it is especially needed.
I hope that you may give yourself some time for the daily Bible readings (listed below) and so expose yourself to some of the wonderful Advent images there: images of God who comes to us at every moment, and often in circumstances unpromising and surprising—as a child born in an animal shed, or a young man executed on a gibbet, in hope when all seems very grim, in acts of kindness and undeserved forgiveness, in extravagant generosity.
May God give us all strength and discernment in this season. May our quiet trust help us to make it a time when our longing for the reign of God is refreshed and nurtured, and our desire for many lesser things put in its proper place.
May God bless you all.
Fr Peter Williams
CWS Christmas Appeal
Theme: “Share the care”
A prayer for Tonga:
where many people are suffering from the impact of imported food and the resultant problems of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Community Trust workers teach and lead workshops on traditional foods and ways to improve its production.
God of peace and justice, we pray for the health and welfare of all people, that they may eat the food that sustains life. Grant us all the resources and wisdom to address the critical health issues facing the planet. In particular we pray for the Tongan Community Trust in its work to assist Tongans reclaim healthy nutrition, cheaper food and their traditional ways of life. We pray for a quiet food revolution in Tonga that will testify to your love and care for all Tongans. Amen.
Please give generously this Christmas, and share the care with CWS partners.
Theme: “Share the care”
A prayer for Tonga:
where many people are suffering from the impact of imported food and the resultant problems of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Community Trust workers teach and lead workshops on traditional foods and ways to improve its production.
God of peace and justice, we pray for the health and welfare of all people, that they may eat the food that sustains life. Grant us all the resources and wisdom to address the critical health issues facing the planet. In particular we pray for the Tongan Community Trust in its work to assist Tongans reclaim healthy nutrition, cheaper food and their traditional ways of life. We pray for a quiet food revolution in Tonga that will testify to your love and care for all Tongans. Amen.
Please give generously this Christmas, and share the care with CWS partners.
Advent Readings: Week Two
Monday Isaiah 35: 1–10 Luke 5: 17–26
Tuesday Isaiah 40: 1–11 Matthew 18: 12–14
Wednesday Isaiah 40: 25–31 Matthew 11: 28–30
Thursday Isaiah 41: 13–20 Matthew 11: 11–15
Friday Isaiah 48: 17–19 Matthew 11: 16–19
Saturday Ecclesiasticus 48: 1–4, 9–11 Matthew 17: 10–13
Monday Isaiah 35: 1–10 Luke 5: 17–26
Tuesday Isaiah 40: 1–11 Matthew 18: 12–14
Wednesday Isaiah 40: 25–31 Matthew 11: 28–30
Thursday Isaiah 41: 13–20 Matthew 11: 11–15
Friday Isaiah 48: 17–19 Matthew 11: 16–19
Saturday Ecclesiasticus 48: 1–4, 9–11 Matthew 17: 10–13
