Dear Friends,
At the moment I think we are all finding that everything we try to do in Christchurch , takes more and more time and effort. Closed streets, damaged roads and bridges, and very slow traffic make our days more stressful and less productive than we would like. The patience and generosity of so many people is appreciated.
At S. Michael’s we are trying to restart the parish programme, but are aware that it is no easy matter for most of us to get to the church for Mass or for meetings of any kind. As the air becomes suddenly cooler we wonder how long we can go without power in the Church. We are working with our electricians and builders to get as many of our facilities working as soon as possible. If a power supply is not available when the winter comes in earnest, we may have to move into the Parish Hall. The School is well back now and coping bravely with the reduced space and the vagaries of the plumbing.
Despite all this our Sundays have been lovely, with unaccompanied singing and gentle candlelight, and the same sense of community as usual.
Next Sunday is Mothering Sunday again, and as many as possible of the Church and School communities will gather here together for the Sung Mass. This will include the blessing and distribution of flowers to mothers and caregivers. It would be appreciated if those so gifted could make and bring some small posies of flowers and greenery to add to the supply that will be distributed at the Mass.
I leave you with some words from Henri Nouwen:
We often wonder what we can do for others, especially for those in great need. It is not a sign of powerlessness when we say; we must pray for one another. To pray for one another is, first of all, to acknowledge, in the presence of God, that we belong to each other as children of the same God. Without this acknowledgement of human solidarity, what we do for one another does not flow from who we truly are. We are brothers and sisters, not competitors or rivals. We are children of one God, not partisans of different gods.
To pray, that is to listen to the voice of the One who calls us the eloved is to learn that that voice excludes no one. Where I dwell, God dwells with me, and where God dwells with me I find all my sisters and brothers. And so intimacy with God and solidarity with all people are two aspects of dwelling in the present moment that can never be separated.
God bless you all.
Fr Peter Williams
Lent Readings: Week Three
Monday 2 Kings 5: 1–15 Luke 4: 24–30
Tuesday Daniel 2: 20–23 Matthew 18: 21–35
Wednesday Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5–9 Matthew 5: 17–19
Thursday Jeremiah 7: 23–28 Luke 11: 14–23
Friday Hosea 14: 2–10 Mark 12: 28–34
Saturday Hosea 5: 15–6:6 Luke 18: 9–14
At the moment I think we are all finding that everything we try to do in Christchurch , takes more and more time and effort. Closed streets, damaged roads and bridges, and very slow traffic make our days more stressful and less productive than we would like. The patience and generosity of so many people is appreciated.
At S. Michael’s we are trying to restart the parish programme, but are aware that it is no easy matter for most of us to get to the church for Mass or for meetings of any kind. As the air becomes suddenly cooler we wonder how long we can go without power in the Church. We are working with our electricians and builders to get as many of our facilities working as soon as possible. If a power supply is not available when the winter comes in earnest, we may have to move into the Parish Hall. The School is well back now and coping bravely with the reduced space and the vagaries of the plumbing.
Despite all this our Sundays have been lovely, with unaccompanied singing and gentle candlelight, and the same sense of community as usual.
Next Sunday is Mothering Sunday again, and as many as possible of the Church and School communities will gather here together for the Sung Mass. This will include the blessing and distribution of flowers to mothers and caregivers. It would be appreciated if those so gifted could make and bring some small posies of flowers and greenery to add to the supply that will be distributed at the Mass.
I leave you with some words from Henri Nouwen:
We often wonder what we can do for others, especially for those in great need. It is not a sign of powerlessness when we say; we must pray for one another. To pray for one another is, first of all, to acknowledge, in the presence of God, that we belong to each other as children of the same God. Without this acknowledgement of human solidarity, what we do for one another does not flow from who we truly are. We are brothers and sisters, not competitors or rivals. We are children of one God, not partisans of different gods.
To pray, that is to listen to the voice of the One who calls us the eloved is to learn that that voice excludes no one. Where I dwell, God dwells with me, and where God dwells with me I find all my sisters and brothers. And so intimacy with God and solidarity with all people are two aspects of dwelling in the present moment that can never be separated.
God bless you all.
Fr Peter Williams
Lent Readings: Week Three
Monday 2 Kings 5: 1–15 Luke 4: 24–30
Tuesday Daniel 2: 20–23 Matthew 18: 21–35
Wednesday Deuteronomy 4: 1, 5–9 Matthew 5: 17–19
Thursday Jeremiah 7: 23–28 Luke 11: 14–23
Friday Hosea 14: 2–10 Mark 12: 28–34
Saturday Hosea 5: 15–6:6 Luke 18: 9–14
