Kia ora, All Saints

We are heading into what is sometimes called "Ordination Season" in our diocese at this time of year. Of course, what we mean by that is it's around this time of year that those who have been discerned for ordination to either the diaconate or priesthood are ordained either in their local context or at the cathedral. You can have a look at all those who are being ordained here.

One that always pops up for me as this time draws closer, as I walk with you in our community who are responding to God's nudge in your own life around ordination and leadership, is this: the role of a priest is to Gather, Equip and Send out. I love this! I live for this!

The piece that has been really present for me is the word Equip. What does it mean for us as a community to be equipped to equip each other? This may mean many different things for each of us, but I would love to hear your feedback. Let me try to articulate what I think it means. To equip is to enable people in their spiritual walk with Christ to understand and stand on the power of Scripture, the gospel message, and to deepen and engage deeply in prayer with Christ, both in their own lives and the lives of others. To encourage, support and challenge one another in our daily walks with Christ in a way that leads us towards freedom in Christ. In deepening and equipping one another in our own walks with Christ, in turn also equipping ourselves to share about what that is and why it's transforming.

Ephesians 4:12-16

12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

What does it mean for us here at All Saints to be a part of our equipping journey? Who are you being equipped by? Who are you equipping?

A couple of notices to point you towards this week.

Welcome to our new Parish Council for 2026/27

Vicar's Warden - Chris Worsley
People's Warden - Rebekah Butterfield
Lay Synod Representative - Cara Brown
Parish Council

• Eric Verner
• Dan Sims
• Casey Pickett
• Adrain Hendry
• Jonathan Peacey
• Hayley Denoual

This Sunday is our last House Church Sunday for the year. Pray for our House Churches as they gather together formally for the last time, after which we will resume our meetings in the room at 9 am and 10:30 am until Christmas.
Advent starts on November 30th where we prepare ourselves for retelling the Christmas story and all the hope that points to.

We will shortly send out an email asking those of you who are around for Christmas and able to help out with serving at our Christmas and Summer gatherings. Cassandra is leading Christmas this year as Summer, the kids, and I are heading to America for our three-yearly Christmas visit, plus the joy of attending a family wedding. We will deeply miss you all over this time, but are so proud that we as a community are able to hold each other and lead each other at different times.

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints

This week, as part of some time spent learning and listening to a series called the Art of Teaching, I found myself in the book of Ezra, a fairly short book in the middle of the Old Testament. I was struck by this piece of scripture that describes Ezra, Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

What struck me was the simplicity yet power of this way of life. Studying the scriptures, living them out and then teaching them to others. 

I would argue that the world has cultivated two ways of "following Christ": one is to believe in Christ, but leave it at that, and carry on as you are. Or you believe in Christ and reorient your entire life, becoming a disciple of Him, spending more time with Jesus, becoming like Him, and doing as He did. 

Are you a disciple of Christ? Are you doing all you can to follow him? When we have a moment to think about anything, what is it that we think about? Are we spending time with him? Are we learning more about who he is and what he's like? Are we to do as he did? 

If you are still with me and haven't completely jumped ship yet, praise God, then let's get excited together. All Saints is really looking forward to what next year will bring with regard to our collective spiritual formation. Not just Sundays but deep, consistent, clear pathways of formation for all of us as we walk together in the kingdom of God, in the light of the liberation, freedom and hope in and of unity with Christ that we all know something of. 

This week is our second AGM for the year, where we present reports and financials from the year for you to look at. We also then vote for our parish council based on all those who have been nominated for PC. 

A reminder that we have our 10 am Combined service this week, we will then move into lunch together, lunch is provided for you, and once we have all grabbed our lunch, we will begin our AGM. 

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ring or email me.

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints

Last week has been a wild one when it comes to the weather around us. It had a little bit of everything: wind, rain, warm, cold, and even a bit of hail. 

As I was in the middle of a string of kids at home due to school not being open on days, I began to think about what things we have in our back pocket when the storms in our life start to rage, that keep our faith strong? When the winds of life really start to howl! When it gets cold and frosty? When we get caught in the rain and it's really miserable?

What are the let's tie down the wheelie bin options? What is the flip the tramp over option? What is the house's foundation and solid workmanship that means we don't have to worry?

Things that help keep our faith strong amidst life's storms are daily scripture reading, as we turn to the Word of God to remind us of God's promises in times of trouble (and celebration). The psalms are full of beautiful images of God's loving protection of us during these times. 
Psalm 16:8, Psalm 107:29, Psalm 56:3 and many more from the rest of scripture. How many of God's promises can you find?

Daily prayer is another way to deepen and strengthen our faith, particularly when rough weather comes. Do we have a daily rhythm of prayer? Do we have times when we are praying deeply with others? in our house churches? Or bible studies? A reminder that tools like the ACTS prayer model can help us with our daily prayer, and Lectio365 is a brilliant daily prayer app you can use on your phone. 
And community, others, our people, I cannot stress how powerful being in deep community with others is and what a powerful role that plays in deepening and strengthening our faith. When times are hard or you're facing things that feel too much, let others in with you, pray together, read scripture together, call on the name of the Lord together. 

As we walk towards 2026 together, let us continue to be deeply rooted in prayer both individually and corporately. My hope is that next year we can go on a journey together of deeper Christian Formation as we look to not only see Christ glorified in our own lives, but also in the lives of those who don't know him. I look forward to sharing more about this in the near future. 

We have our AGM coming up very shortly; we are just compiling all our ministry reports and financials for the end of the year. We need to put together our nominations for Parish Council for the next season here at All Saints. Please take a look at our AGM page with all the information regarding opportunities to serve at All Saints in the Parish Council arena. 
We are looking for Parish Council Members, Synod Representative and your People's Warden. 
The Parish Council and I are encouraging you to pray and discern if you are to join us on the team. 

https://www.allsaints.org.nz/agm2025.html

Finally, for this week, we are heading fast towards Advent and Christmas, which is always exciting. We will be sending out event times and information shortly, as well as an opportunity for us to sign up for a roster over Christmas and summer to serve. 

If you have any questions about anything in this newsletter or AGM, please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints

This is a quick note from me this week. Please make sure you have a look through our weekly newsletter, as there are a bunch of things to take note of coming up and worth putting in your diary. 

This week, we have our annual Light Party for our community - Sunday, 26th Oct, 3-5pm - We have no central gatherings as a parish, as it is our commitment to all lean in and help with the Light Party as a way of connecting with our local community. 
We are encouraging all our House Churches, Bible Studies, Prayer groups and all those who regularly attend All Saints to jump in and sign up for something at the Light Party or turn up on Sunday at 1:30pm to help set up and get set for the afternoon. 

It is always during this time that I think of the early Christians who were preaching the Good News amongst the different communities around them, having to navigate all the pagan Gods and other things worshiped, and articulating the Good News amongst them. This is our role still to this day: how do we create spaces where the people around us are worshiping this and that, can be engaged with, have conversations with, and have their lives spoken into? 

You can sign up for something here, or if you aren't sure what to help with, please add your name to the section "Willing to turn up and help"

Lastly, many of you have asked either about my trip or when there will be a chance to hear, given there are no central gatherings this week, I would love to offer a cup of coffee and tea at 10 am Sunday 26th Oct for about an hour to hear about my trip, I will hopefully have some pictures to present and we can fill the time with conversation and questions. 
If you would like to join, please feel free to turn up; otherwise, I will look forward to seeing you at the Light Party. 

Much love,