WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PRAYER CYCLES. 11 May Fourth Sunday of Easter. Ormond Chapel, Napier Terrace: am - Eucharist Rev d Anne van Gend

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "WEEKLY NEWSLETTER PRAYER CYCLES. 11 May Fourth Sunday of Easter. Ormond Chapel, Napier Terrace: am - Eucharist Rev d Anne van Gend"

Jasmine Harrison
5 years ago
Views:

00 am - Eucharist Rev d Anne van Gend Please ensure all cellphones are switched OFF when in the Cathedral; if necessary, adjust hearing aids to the Loop system.

00am service on Sundays of the school term; or there are craft/colouring activities available for children on the back table.

1 A place of resurrection, life, and hope WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 11 May Fourth Sunday of Easter 8.00 am - Eucharist (NZPB 404) Dean Michael Godfrey am - Choral Morning Prayer with Cathedral Choir Preacher: Dean Michael Godfrey Ormond Chapel, Napier Terrace: am - Eucharist Rev d Anne van Gend Please ensure all cellphones are switched OFF when in the Cathedral; if necessary, adjust hearing aids to the Loop system. The CATHEDRAL KIDS programme is normally offered at the Cathedral during the 10.00am service on Sundays of the school term; or there are craft/colouring activities available for children on the back table. In this issue NCW; AAW; Op Shop 2 FREE concert details 2 Sentence, Collect & Readings Gospel Comment; Notes on the Creed 3 4 From Your Dean 5 Bishop Electoral College candidates 6 Vestry News 6 Taize Vespers 7 Linden Singers; Choral Society 7 Mid-Week services 8 Diary Dates & Directory 8 PRAYER CYCLES Anglican Communion We pray for the Anglican Church of Korea, the Most Rev d Paul Kim, Archbishop of Korea, Bishop of Seoul Anglican Board of Missions We pray for education and educators in Papua New Guinea; staff & students at Newton Theological College, Kerina Evangelists College, and those supporting them Diocese, Parish and Community Rev d Brian Hamilton, Vicar-General; Dean Michael Godfrey; Regional Deans (BOP, East, HB) Bishop Victoria Matthews; Waiapu Standing Committee; members of the Electoral College Planning Committee Taradale Parish, Rev d Steve Hayes, Vicar; Tamatea Cooperating, Turangi, Puketapu Parish, and their local ministry support teams Archbishops Philip, Brown, and Winston; General Synod Office, Rev d Michael Hughes; General Synod members Parishioners in retirement villages and rest-home care We pray for those who are unwell, awaiting for, or recovering from surgery, or bereaved, especially: Nancy, Pat, Ian, Chris, Richard, Helen, Diana We have low-gluten wafers (below 20ppm) available - please advise the Presider, or one of the Welcoming team, if this is your dietary requirement.

TODAY We extend a very warm Welcome to all who are worshipping with us especially if you are visiting Napier or at the Cathedral for the first time you are welcome to join us for morning tea (or

2 TODAY We extend a very warm Welcome to all who are worshipping with us especially if you are visiting Napier or at the Cathedral for the first time you are welcome to join us for morning tea (or coffee!) served at the back of the cathedral following the 10am service. Welcome to members of the HMNZS Otago Assn in Napier for their reunion and joining us for the 10am service. National Council of Women of NZ (Inc) ANNUAL DINNER with guest speaker Dame Lesley Max, CEO Great Potentials Foundation Every child needs to be wanted - and nurtured - How do we get there? At the HN Function Centre, 30 Te Mata Rd, Havelock North, Thursday 15 th May, 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Tickets $35, available until 12 th May from Kath de Lautour, ph Thank you Hawke s Bay! To show appreciation for the many generous donors and supporters in our parish & community, the Waiapu Cathedral Organ Fund-raising Committee have organised a FREE CONCERT by international Organist & Composer John Wells. This afternoon - Sunday 11 th May, 2.30pm Don t miss this opportunity to see and hear NZ s finest concert organ in action!! Association of Anglican Women Evening Fellowship Monday 12 th May, 7.30 pm in St Paul s Presbyterian Church Lounge, Tennyson St, Napier. Guest speaker: Dawn Harvey - Re-living my African Adventure. All Welcome. Contacts for more information: Isobel, ph , or Judy, ph OP SHOP VOLUNTEERS MORNING TEA We ll have a thank you morning tea, with the team of volunteers and Rebecca (Op Shop Manager), next Thursday 15 th May, 10.30am in the Parish lounge. This is an occasion for the Parish/Vestry to appropriately thank and acknowledge the many (very many!) hours the volunteers have contributed to our community since the Op Shop first opened over twenty years ago; some volunteers have offered their time and talents since opening day! For catering purposes, an indication of numbers attending would be appreciated - please phone Marie Knight,

3 Sentence: I am the good shepherd, says the Lord. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10: 11 Collect: Good shepherd of the sheep, by whom the lost are sought and guided into the fold; feed us and we shall be satisfied, heal us and we shall be whole, and lead us that we may be with you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, where you reign one God for ever. Amen Acts 2: They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the Today s Readings 3 6 presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. 1 Peter 2: For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering un justly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. 23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. John 10: Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they

4 will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers. 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. GOSPEL COMMENT For a long time now scholars have noticed that the Fourth Gospel Jesus story incorporates a series of I am statements, and that these appear at critical moments in the drama. A simple way to understand these statements is that these are critical insights into all that we need to know of God, revealed and embodied in the life and action and teaching of the Word, Jesus. Therefore the I am gate aspect of God that Jesus reveals in this moment is a critical aspect of God. Gates invite - liberal theology is keen to emphasize this aspect of the life and teaching of Jesus. Gates also divide - conservative theology is keen to emphasize this aspect of the life and teaching of Jesus. We emphasize one at the cost of the other at great peril. Jesus invites us into the heart of God, yes. Is he though, just mister Nice Guy, inviting everyone? What of the Boko Harem terrorists or the sex slavery traffickers of whom I write elsewhere in this newsletter? Does Jesus simply yell come on dudes, join the party? Or is there no party - in which case the tragedy of 270 stolen Nigerian lives is bigger than the hope of God? Jesus says some harsh words. Our response should be to look at ourselves: are we with the thief who comes to pillage (often voicing support by our complacency and silence)? Or the life-giving, justiceproclaiming, crucifixion-inviting Shepherd? THE CREED AND CROSSED FINGERS? GOD MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH Scientific proofs or disproofs of the existence of God are to me an overwhelming yawn. God can be known only by revelation, not investigation. By revelation an investigation may point us towards belief in God, but God, not our finite mind, makes the connection. Nevertheless, the scientific determination to disprove the existence of God does have a few more hoops to jump through than its proponents care to admit. For a Big Bang to happen some form of energy must be introduced to some form of matter. For a single uncreated God to exist there only needs to be a single uncreated God, willing existence into being. Speculation will not lead us to the God of the Cross. It may lead us to the clockmaker God beloved of the nineteenth century. This god winds up the universe and sets it on the shelf to tick away, and away, and away to nothingness. Language of Architect of the Universe points to a partial truth, but only partial: the architect of the universe needs to draw a lot nearer to creation than most architects do to their creations, if we the creatures are going to respond in love, worship and service. There will be more thought of that in the second paragraph of the Creed. In the meantime, though, the creeds have a God who intrudes on God-space by making a universe: maker of heaven and earth. Why would God want to do that? Was God bored, all alone, existing, existing, existing, Grand Architect and no more? Were we created as no more than a play-thing for a bored deity? Slowly the rest of the creed may offer some tentative answers. But there is yet one subclause of the first paragraph to consider. 4

5 From Your Dean Like most westerners, it was with painful lethargy that I became aware or the abduction of more than 270 Nigerian school girls. A quick check of my Facebook page reveals that the horror dawned on my consciousness only last Monday. One New Zealand media chain as late as Tuesday was paying far more attention to Dan Carter s achilles than to 270 missing girls. The girls were kidnapped on April 14 th but media were at that time still obsessed with the missing Flight MH 370. That focus is of course understandable: MH 370 is a major tragedy. Yet the subsequent loss of interest in that story, too, tells us much about how our media and our mind works. Lost plane? For a while mystery is obsession, and we care, perhaps even pray. After two weeks? Meh. Eventually the radical terrorist group Boko Harem (which translates No Western Education ) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, with little question of the truth of their claims. Boko Harem has been attacking Western and Christian targets since 2009, although it existed for seven years before that. In the period the group is likely to have been responsible for 900 deaths, including the slaughter of many Christians at worship. The executions also include execution of Muslims opposed to or critical of their interpretations. Commentators have often noted the extent to which African tragedies sink without a trace African lives approximately = one local life in western media coverage. Today, as I write this, the story of an American woman who was lost in a car wreck for five days in Colorado, and the sexual peccadilloes of Warriors player Konrad Hurrell are given far more prominence in the Fairfax Stuff media 5 than the Nigerian tragedy. There are signs though that at last the West/North is responding. Barrack Obama and David Cameron have made statements about the kidnapping (though eight or ten more students disappeared today). I have not heard much from John Key, though his government did declare Boko Harem to be an officially acknowledged terrorist group two weeks before the kidnapping. It is highly probable that the girls will be sold as sex slaves. That sex slavery exists at all will come as a shock to many in our comfortable western existence, though the horrors of this trade and the sexual exploitation of children for pornography lie only just beneath the veneers of our western civilization, and we should not be surprised. One may well ask Boko Harem about the ethics of selling girls for sex when opposed to western sexual standards, but I m guessing they won t be answering my questions right now. Because in the end Boko Harem, Al Qaeda, or any other global south terrorist group is not about ethics: until there is a commitment by the global north (which, er, incudes the South) to a radical redistribution of wealth and opportunity, groups like Boko Haram and Al Qaeda will utilize radicalized religion (Islam, for now...) to wreak mayhem in revenge for economic imbalance. This means hankywringing liberals (like me) may have to demand a distinct reduction in lifestyle and luxury (like not having umpteen electronic devices per person per household and cafés that throw out more food each night than many whole villages eat in a week/month.) But I won't hold my breath - because to be honest I don't know what to do, how to go about it either.

6 THE PROCESS TO ELECT THE NEXT BISHOP OF WAIAPU Nominations for the 16 th Bishop of Waiapu are now closed - there are five candidates: Rev d Alex Czerwonka, Rotorua Rev d Andrew Hedge, Cambridge Rev d Dr Howard Pilgrim, Napier Rev d Barbara Walker, Hastings Rev d Oenone Woodhams, Napier Profiles of each candidate, along with their biographies, are now posted on the D i o c e s a n w e b - s i t e h t t p : / / waiapu.com/resources/electoral-college -candidate-profiles/ Video interviews will be completed later this month and details circulated to members of the Electoral College in preparation for the meeting on the th June 2014 in Havelock North. Please continue to pray for the candidates, the electoral college members, and our Diocese. BELL TOWER Vestry members have received, considered and discussed the engineering report into the state of our building. There is much to be optimistic about; some areas to be concerned about; and more detailed engineering exploratory work to be completed! In the meantime, please be aware of new signs attached to the bell tower, which state: This tower and entrance are earthquake prone as assessed under the Building Act USE AT YOUR OWN RISK 6 VESTRY NEWS Vestry met this past week, and noted with appreciation the work of so many (volunteers and paid staff) who have contributed to the Parish Op Shop over the past 20+ years; expressed sadness at the decision to close; and agreed to host a thank you morning tea for the Op Shop volunteers & staff; affirmed the lay ministry exercised by Jennifer Harris and Elisabeth Paterson and approved the continuation of their ministry by endorsing the renewal of their Lay Licences commended the Organ Fund-raising Committee on their hard work for the past 5-6 years and approved the final payment of the organ rebuild, and supported the thank you organ recital by John Wells on Sunday 11th May; received the Dean s report and recommendation that young people continue to be involved in the leadership of Parish Eucharist services. confirmed the date for the Parish Annual General Meeting as Sunday 29 th June 2014 at 11.30am (ie following the 10am service in the Cathedral). ON LEAVE The Rev d Margaret Thompson is on leave from the Parish Office until Tuesday 3 rd June. Thanks to those who are assisting in the Office until then, but there may be times when the Office is unattended and/or the Cathedral closed - please leave a message on the answerphone or contact the Dean on the Parish mobile,

7 TAIZE VESPERS Now that the evenings are drawing in, the Taize vespers season is beginning at St Paul's. Join in the gentle rhythm of prayers, short songs and silence to restore your souls at the end of the day and prepare for the start of the new week. Services are on the third Sunday of the month beginning next Sunday, May 18 th at 7.00pm at St Paul's Presbyterian Church, cnr Tennyson and Dalton Streets, Napier. For further information ph or FROM DEANLY DELVINGS As quick as a flash nothing happened. Trevor Richards, Dancing on our Bones (1999), 167. PRAYER DURING COMMUNION A member of the ministry team will be available in the Resurrection Chapel during Communion at the 10.00am Choral Eucharist service in the Cathedral, for anyone who wishes personal prayer, or prayer for a specific purpose, and/or anointing with oil for healing (if required). If you wish to have someone pray with and for you, please go directly to the Resurrection Chapel (at the back of the Cathedral) after receiving communion. RECEIPTS Isobel, our Parish Recorder, has prepared (and now posted out) receipts for those who have made donations to the Parish through the offertory system (envelopes / direct credits etc) for the year ending 31st March These may be used to claim a tax rebate with the IRD for tax returns. The Hastings Choral Society and Gisborne Choral Society present Mendelssohn s ELIJAH with soloists Catherine Macdonald, Christie Cook, Frank Carter, Joseph Christensen; and Waiapu Cathedral s Director of Music, Gary Bowler, on the organ; Gavin Maclean, conductor. Sunday 18 May 2014, 2.00pm St Matthew s Church, King St, Hastings. Door sales: $25.00 (school students: gold coin donation) Pre-concert ticket sales $22 from Rev d Graeme Pilgrim. 7 THE LINDEN SINGERS first concert for 2014, called Old World versus New World, will be presented in Lindisfarne Assembly Hall/Chapel (Pakowhai Road, Hastings) on Sunday 11 th May at 2.30pm. The programme traces musical styles from 16 th Century England and Europe through to 21 st Century America. Afternoon tea will be served in the interval by the students from the Hastings Intermediate School Hospitality Academy. Ticket prices, including afternoon tea, are: Adults $20 and students $5. Because catered seating numbers for the concert are limited to 160, individual tickets or tables of eight can be reserved via the.linden.singers@gmail.com or via phone: Limited door sales are also available on the day.

8 COMING UP THIS WEEK & OTHER DIARY DATES - Monday 12 May AAW Evening Fellowship Thursday 15 May 10.30am - Op Shop staff and volunteers thank you morning tea in lounge Thursday 15 May 4.30 pm - Chorister practice 7.30 pm - Choir practice Tuesday 20-Thursday 22 May Diocesan Clergy Retreat at Hamilton Wednesday 21 May am - Home Bible Study group Monday 26-Thursday 29 May Schools Big Sing in Cathedral Monday 2 June Cathedral CLOSED for Queen s Birthday statutory holiday Sunday 8 June am - Day of Pentecost - Parish Eucharist and Baptism Sunday 8 June 2.30 pm - Concord Strings and Cantare Singers in Concert in the Cathedral; Adults $20, seniors $15, students $10 NEXT SUNDAY - 18 May 2014 Fifth Sunday of Easter Readings: Acts 7: : 1-5, Peter 2: 2-10 John 14: 1-14 Cathedral: 8.00 am Eucharist am Parish Eucharist with the Cathedral Choristers Ormond Chapel, Napier Terrace: No service Sunday 8 June 5.00 pm - EJP meeting in lounge Sunday 22 June am - Woodford House school at the Cathedral for Choral Eucharist with the Woodford House choir JUNE/JULY/AUGUST ROSTERS have been ed please arrange a swap and advise the Office if you are not available for your rostered duty. Thanks. MID-WEEK SERVICES (in the Resurrection Chapel) 9.00am - Morning Prayer - Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 10.30am - Eucharist - Tuesdays 12.30pm - Mid-day Prayer - Wednesdays 5.15pm - End of Week Prayers - Fridays CLERGY: Dean: Michael Godfrey Parish Mobile: Assisting Clergy: Dorothy Brooker Graeme Pilgrim Jon Williams Anne van Gend WARDENS: Dean s Basil Brooker People s Marie Knight DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Gary Bowler LAY ASSISTANTS: Elisabeth Paterson Jennifer Harris OFFICE: Monday-Friday 9.30 am pm Waiapu Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, 28 Browning Street, Napier, NZ Phone ~ PO Box 495, Napier ~ office@napiercathedral.org.nz 8

Prayer Cycles - We pray for

Prayer Cycles - We pray for WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 17 September 2017 - Ordinary Sunday 24 8.00 am Eucharist (Aotearoa Chapel) Dean Ian Render 10.00 am Choral Eucharist Dean Ian Render Ormond Chapel, Napier Terrace: No service Please ensure