Vicar Letter - Easter 2023

Kia ora All Saints Whānau
 
Last night (Tuesday evening) I had the privilege of gathering with our huddle of leaders from the parish, we meet every 2 weeks as part of an intentional discipleship journey, to pray, share how we are doing, dig through some content and discuss what we feel like God is highlighting to us. This is not the first time I have had this feeling but as I sat there on Tuesday night I had this overwhelming sense of love and friendship for them. These are my people, and I am theirs. As we push and pull each other towards Jesus, as we ask each other what we feel like God is saying to us and what are we going to do about it. As we challenge each other on ways we can lead others into and towards the kingdom of God.

I wonder about how the disciples felt about their mate? As they reclined and ate together, as he said his last words with them, as they walked to the cross together, as they waited for his return not knowing what was going to happen! Experiencing the return of Jesus on that Easter morning.

Let us journey together this Holy Week with a sense of wonder and expectation not only of the miracle of the resurrection but also the pain and the sadness that must have been felt during those last days leading up to the cross, upon the cross and that long Holy Saturday as they waited, wondered, and I’m sure thought it was all over.

The greatest act of self-emptying love the world has ever seen is about to play out! Let us not forget the magnitude of it all! All for You and Me!!

There are a bunch of spaces for you to participate in over the next few days, Maundy Thursday will open with a light meal from 5:45pm with the service starting at 7pm which will include foot washing, communion and stripping of the altar, this service will end in darkness and silence. Good Friday (10am) is a chance to walk with our Catholic brothers and sisters through the stations of the cross starting here at All Saints and making our way down through Kilbirnie park finishing at St Patricks church. Holy Saturday is a chance for you to spend it waiting, thinking, pondering. Easter Sunday we gather back together for 9am and 10:30 gatherings, celebrating the resurrection and the great victory that Jesus won!

As we journey together this Holy Week, may we find real power in the reflection and tradition of Easter, may we also see real power in the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us by laying down his life that we might have life and how we might lay our lives down for the other! May our hearts be set ablaze for the Kingdom! May we be seen running just as those first disciples ran to see the empty tomb. 

Much love and blessing during this season!

Guy