Vicars Letter 13th february 2026

Rev Guy Benton

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,