From the Church Times
AN IMAGE of Jesus as an All Black rugby player has gone on display in Wellington Cathedral to coincide with the Rugby World Cup tournament, which is currently taking place in New Zealand.
FromAnglican Taonga
Anglicans have raised more than $1m for Christchurch – and those funds have now been passed to the two bishops in the city to distribute for quake relief and rehabilitation projects.
From www.stuff.co.nz
[Click here to see the video]
The Archbishop of York has paid tribute to Sir Paul Reeves, saying he found a kindred spirit in the former Governor-General, who stood for truth and what was fair.
From www.stuff.co.nz
[Watch a video of mouners sharing their memories of Sir Paul Reeves here]
Sir Paul Reeves has been farewelled to the sound of waiata, haka and drums.
From Anglican Taonga
Deans from across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji gather in the Cathedral this Thursday (11 August) to spend a few days in conference and sharing of ideas, challenges and joys.
From Angilcan Taonga
Brother Colin Wilfred of the Society of St Francis has died at the friary of Canterbury, England. Brother Colin was in his early 70s and had been unwell for a time.
From Anglican Taonga website
The Bishop of Wellington, Dr Tom Brown, today announced his intention to retire in March next year.
By Lloyd Ashton in Anglican Taonga
There’s no time to waste. God’s mission is now, and you’re needed on the front line. That call came loud and clear at last week’s big Common Life Mission Conference at Waikanae.
[Editor's note: the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia is an active member of and contributor to the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services]
The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCCSS) social service agency members have identified that much of the misery and social disease they see every day in their communities is caused by the ever increasing inequalities in our society. The changes in the Working for Families regime will see lower income families getting some small increases in their weekly wage, but this will be more than negated by the additional costs imposed by Kiwi Saver and the increases in costs on food, petrol, accommodation and other basic necessities.
From Anglican Taonga
For photos of the service visit here
Suva’s Holy Trinity Cathedral played host on Sunday to the largest ordination service ever held in the Diocese of Polynesia.
By Amelia Wade, www.nzherald.co.nz
A pizza company has upset people over an advertising campaign that compares its limited-edition hot cross buns to Jesus. Hell Pizza has put billboards around Auckland's CBD that advertise its hot cross buns with the tagline: "For a limited time. A bit like Jesus."
Scottish singers came together for a major benefit concert on Monday for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised over £3,000 (over 6,000 New Zealand dollars). (Listen to the concert here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12608694)
Cathedrals around New Zealand, and parliament, will hold services tomorrow to support the people of Christchurch a week after the devastating earthquake struck the city.
From the Taonga News and NZ Herald
Thousands gathered in Christchurch yesterday to worship and pay their respects to those killed in last Tuesday's earthquake.
From www.anglicantaonga.org.nz
The confirmed death toll from the Christchurch earthquake has risen to 123, while the number of missing people remains at about 200.
From www.anglicantaonga.org.nz
Statement from Bishop Victoria Matthews, Bishop John Gray and Archbishop David Moxon from Christchurch Otautahi.
“Is this an act of God?” a TV3 reporter asked as we stood amid the carnage of the February 22 earthquake. It was a genuine question, posed by many in the aftermath of disaster.
The answer, of course, is no . “Act of God” doesn’t even stand up as a legal definition these days.
God doesn’t create earth tremors that kill hundreds of people. God is love, creative freedom, righteousness, and justice. And God doesn’t remove grace from any part of the world that God has created. No way.
So how do we understand a natural disaster such as the Christchurch earthquake?
Good biblical theology accepts that the devastation wrought by plate tectonics is a result of freedom – yes, freedom – in the world that God has created.
God's creation unfolds and develops, from the smallest atom to the movement of vast continents and mountain ranges, according to God-given principles of relative freedom.
God contains this freedom within the creative energy and purpose of divine grace, as a new creation is prepared and anticipated, but God doesn’t manipulate events the way a puppeteer does.
God suffers with creation as it groans in travail like a woman in labour, as St Paul reflected.
That’s to say, God takes on the pain and death of the world on the cross and offers back resurrection, in Christ. God in Christ overcomes the powers of sin and death, with a victory of grace and love.
God knows, this can be so painful. But this is the way God overcomes, and this is the way we’re called to live in a still- imperfect and unpredictable world – as an Easter people .
But let’s go back to the Christchurch quake…
In talking with Christchurch people this week I noticed a deep interest in the place and meaning of the Christian church, especially the church as represented by ChristChurch Cathedral.
This extraordinary and iconic sacred space at the centre of Christchurch has become the embodiment of the very heart of this city – albeit a broken heart at this time.
The Bishop, the Dean and other clergy connected to the cathedral, as well as priests throughout the stricken urban area, have touched some spiritual taproots which in some cases were deeply buried.
One of many signs of solidarity and hope has been the sight of the clergy collar.
We all know it’s just a strip of plastic but it singles out someone who lives with trauma and shock like anyone else, and yet is there for others in the name of God. And that strikes a deep chord.
Something equally profound became clear to me in the midst of the crisis.
A tragic event restores Kiwi community, in a time when many of us have retreated into private cyberspace, possessions, or the medication of drugs and alcohol.
These diversions can become symptoms of escape from the true realities and challenges of our city and our world.
But then calamity strikes, shaking the very basis of our life together, – and people discover that they actually need each other.
Neighbourliness and mutual compassion come alive again, re-creating community bonds that have shrivelled in the past 50 years.
Which is why I saw free water bottles thrust into the hands of thirsty drivers and pedestrians … ice creams handed out willy-nilly from passing vehicles… and homemade meals served up with practical help.
The image of God in everyone – however tarnished, fallen or unrecognized – can be glimpsed in the good that we become capable of.
Which goes to prove, once again, that wherever there is goodness, there is God.
David Moxon is an archbishop of this church.
The first two of the Wellington Anglican priests who’ve offered to help in flood-ravaged South-West Queensland will fly to Brisbane on Thursday.
From tvnz.co.uk
New Zealand Anglican clergy are prepared to fly to Queensland to assist with funerals and pastoral care of flood victims.
