Kia ora All Saints. 

I am not really a rocket kind of a guy, but there is something fascinating about the fact that we have a Rocket Company operating out of New Zealand. Those moments where people gather to watch RocketLab launch their new rocket off the Mahia Peninsula, I often wonder what is it that attracts people to it? Is it the visual of the launch process? The technological marvel of shooting a massive piece of metal into the sky? Is it the hope and anticipation of what we might discover or find or deliver? I'm sure its many different things for many different folks. 

Launching something is something that has always fascinated me. The ignition, the propellant, Everything needed to sustain the journey, all the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes to get it all set for the moment of "Fire Away". Then all the thought and planning of where to follow after the launch?

This Sunday is our annual Launch Sunday or Welcome Back Sunday. A chance for us all to gather in the room together as we set the year together. Where are we going? How are we getting there? What's needed to sustain the journey? What's igniting us and propelling us? 

Just like anything that launches or takes off, we require a lot of work behind the scenes in order to create a foundation and structure that can sustain the journey. As we look to launch our year together this year, our hope and prayer is that we are prepared to lean into the work it takes to either build up and strengthen or even possibly retrofit a little or a lot the scaffolding and structure of spiritual formation and disciplines in the Lord. Regular Study with others, regular Bible reading, regular rhythms of prayer, Confession, Sabbath, and community. For many of us, we have been around the church for a long time, but maybe haven't had any spiritual formation. We've sat through sermons, we've talked about prayer, we've tried praying, we try reading out the Bible, it doesn't make sense to us, life gets hard, and we like Jesus, but why does bad stuff happen to me? 

Let's go on a journey together, not only for ourselves in the present season of All Saints, but for generations to come, setting clear, solid pathways of Spiritual Formation and Disciplines by way of pushing and pulling each other closer to the Lord day after day. 

I'm reminded of the parable from Mark's Gospel of the Sower. Mark 4:1-20 
The seeds fall on different types of soil, and some do and don't take root, some do and don't get strangled out. The image draws out the idea of where the seed is falling and how the soil is cultivated, cheeky tip, it doesn't happen by accident, that's arguable, the seeds part. The soil requires regular care, rhythm, work, grunt, rain, sun, weeding, celebrating, and fertilising. 

Let's do that together. 

My prayer for us as we walk this out together is this: Lord, humble us in our growth in you, highlight the gaps, Lord, let us walk with others, Lord, Humble our pride and ego, Sustain us as we learn new rhythms and strengthen old ones. Protect us from the one who wants to distract us and break down our foundation. 

I look forward to sharing with you from scripture on Sunday at our 10 am Combined Service here at All Saints. 

PS, as I was thinking of rockets, this is arguably the best piece of television production I have ever seen made. Remember, this is before digital effects and post-production. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WoDQBhJCVQ

Much love, 

Kia ora All Saints. 

Happy New Year. I hope this letter reaches you and your family well. Our family, as many of you know, spent the Christmas-New Year period in America with Summer's family, which was a great joy and a great privilege. Alongside some deep, joyful times with family, Summer and I enjoyed a few nights away traveling together, some family adventures, and we also experienced some abnormally hot weather! 28 degrees over Christmas, in the middle of winter. We were not prepared for the weather as we had packed for colder weather. We have heard that the weather was a bit fickle over the Dec Jan period here, which wasn't surprising to us. We are thankful to see that there have been some warmer days recently. 

As I was in America, I had this overwhelming sense in the middle of my lack of preparedness for the warmer weather about us as a Parish, as people, as Jesus followers. What is our preparedness? 

It's one thing to plan a trip, go away, do many wonderful things, but if you don't have the right foundations (gear or supplies etc), it's a bit all over the place. Summer and I went to New York for a few nights and, naturally, packed really warm clothing, but in the end, due to warmer weather, we hardly needed it. 

What about us in our faith? Have we set ourselves well? Is our foundation laid? 

This year, as a parish, we are going to work on strengthening our Spiritual Formation pathways as a church and as people. drawing from Colossians 2:6-7  "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

As a Parish, we will unpack this more as we go on in the year, with a specific focus at our Welcome Back Sunday on the 15th Feb, 10 am.

In short. Whether you have been following the Lord for decades, years, months, days, or not at all, there are things that help us to know, understand, and live into the freedom we have been given by God. Some of us have a really good handle on this, some of us kinda know, and some of us have no idea. There are also Spiritual disciplines that help us to live into who God has created us to be. Again, some of us know, some kinda, and some not at all. 

Our heart this year is that whether you have followed for a long time or a short time, or you are seeking, we want to create clear and powerful ways to deepen and strengthen our spiritual formation and rhythms of disciplines together. 

It is a great joy to be back amongst you all after several weeks away. I am deeply proud of you all for holding a space of worship all the way through the year, continuing to call on the name of God, read scripture, and pray together. 

I look forward to seeing some of you over the next 2 weeks as we round off our summer series together and look to all join back in the room on 15th Feb for our 

Excited to see you all Sunday, 

Much love, 

Dear All Saints whānau,
As we reach the final days of this year 2025, we pause with grateful hearts to look back on all that God has done among us. This has been a year filled with growth, generosity, resilience, learning and the quiet but steady work of the Holy Spirit shaping us into a community of hope.
I am reminded of the many moments where Christ’s light has shone brightly —through worship, prayer, hospitality, children’s ministry, home groups, shared meals, pastoral care, and the countless unseen acts of kindness that make our parish family what it is. Thank you for the way you have served, prayed, given, encouraged, and walked alongside one another. Your faithfulness is a gift.
In this holy season of Christmas, we are reminded anew of the profound mystery of God made flesh—of Emmanuel, God with us—who comes not in splendour but in humility; not distant but dwelling among His people. Who steps into our ordinary days and brings extraordinary grace. Whether this past year has been joyful, challenging, or a mixture of both, we hold fast to the promise that Christ is our light in every season. May this assurance strengthen your hearts, bring comfort to your homes, and renew your trust in the God who is ever present.
Over the coming weeks, my prayer for you is that you may find rest, renewal, and moments of deep and holy joy. May your homes be filled with Christ’s peace; may your relationships be strengthened; and may you sense the nearness of God in new and life‑giving ways. “Those who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). May His presence guard your hearts, refresh your spirits, and guide you gently into the year to come.
As we look toward the coming year, I entrust our parish into the gracious and tender care of God, trusting that His mercy will continue to uphold and guide us. And as we step into the new year, may we do so with quiet faith, with renewed hope, and with hearts open to follow wherever Christ lovingly leads us. We look ahead with expectation, believing that God has good things in store for All Saints—new opportunities for mission, deeper connections within our community, and continued growth in discipleship. It will be a joy to walk that journey with each of you.
Thank you for your faithfulness, your prayers, and your presence in the life of All Saints. You are deeply valued, dearly appreciated, and it is a privilege to serve alongside you in this beautiful, diverse, grace‑filled church family.
God of hope,
when your Son comes
may he find us watching and waiting in joy,
so that with his light shining upon us
we may be gathered from the darkness
into the glory of his kingdom;
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever. Amen.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a grace‑filled, hope‑filled New Year.
With love and gratitude,
Cassandra

Kia ora, All Saints

I am sitting here thinking through the year that has been; there has been a lot in there. We had our final Parish Council meeting together this Thursday (11th Dec), where we were able to pray for and send out those stepping off as we look to welcome those stepping on in the new year. I was struck by something someone said that we are a people of hope who, no matter what, have always been a people that walk through hard times, suffering, turmoil, and at times great despair with a greater knowledge and truth that God is much bigger, larger and stable than any of these things that come at us. 

We started the year leaning into our call to be a people of prayer and calling on the spirit of God to breathe life amongst us. We walked our way through prayer in scripture, the Lord's prayer, how to pray, and what cultivating a life of prayer might look like. 

We ended the year with the baptisms of four of our Young People, what a way to end the year! Such a celebration! Please take time to have a look at the article and pictures in our weekly newsletter. 

Something we looked at during our Prayer series was a prayer tool for choosing a psalm and praying it. This will be a practice that I am taking with me to America as we travel for Christmas and a Family wedding. I wonder if you would like to join me. 

Have a look through and find a Psalm, or part of a Psalm, or a line from a Psalm that is resonating with you. Find some time each day to reflect on the same passage, let it sink into your heart, memorise it, and share it with others. 
If you need some guidance on how to pray the Psalms, I have attached a guide here for you. 

AS we find ourselves in the middle of Advent, a season of preparation for Christ's first coming, let us not forget that we are in the middle of the 1st and 2nd Advents, longing for Christ to return again and redeem the world, healing, renewing and making whole. Let us come this Sunday with hearts expectant to see God move amongst us as we look at Matthew 11:2-11, which focuses on Jesus and John the Baptist. You might like to read ahead and let this scripture ruminate over the weekend. 

I have included in the newsletter this week two Summer Book options. 
The Intimacy Deficit - Ed Shaw and The Greatest Story Ever Told - Bear Grylls. 
I am currently reading The Intimacy Deficit and highly recommend it. I think it's always encouraging as a community to go on a reading journey together. I will likely pick up some of the themes from The Intimacy Deficit next year as we gather together. I have attached a book review for each for you to look through. 

It has been a great pleasure to lead you all this year and be a part of what God has, is and will continue to do amongst us. I am proud to be on team with you all. We have wrestled and celebrated and struggled alongside each other well this year. Life is never perfect - hence our desire and hope for the 2nd Advent - but amidst all that the world brings, we seek to see Christ amongst us and others. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. I will be fervent in praying for you while I am away, and I eagerly await our return to connect back in and continue this adventure. 

Much love,