Vicar's Letter - 14 Apr 2022

Greetings to you all today, in what is considered the holiest week of the church calendar. Last night, Guy sent out an activity suggestion to our young families house church. The link to the activity has a picture of pizza and fizzy drinks - not what I would usually expect from a Maundy Thursday activity. It suggests that we spend time with our families tonight, preparing our favourite celebration food and remembering that the night Jesus was betrayed was actually a day of celebration for the Jews. It was an evening spent enjoying food, friendship, and faith – remembering God’s faithfulness in delivering them from bondage in Egypt.
 
I woke up this morning thinking about Jesus’ disciples at the Passover meal that night before Jesus died. They were celebrating, fellowshipping together, trying their best to learn all that Jesus taught them. Were they confused? Were they wondering? What were they talking about between them? Were they scared?
 
The next several days for Jesus’ disciples were incredibly intense. I imagine the feeling that we all get when we are in a crisis and we draw close to those around us to survive. Is this how Jesus’ disciples felt? Did they cry together? How did they lament? Were they scared?
 
Because of Covid we have been in our house churches for many weeks up until Palm Sunday. My hope and prayer is that you have been able to grow more deeply together in that time. My prayer is that you all are finding vulnerability with one another, knowing each other more intimately, and supporting one another well.
 
Our family was isolating with Covid for just short of 2 weeks recently and our church family and particularly our house church was our village – they came around us, made sure we had what we needed and brought us treats. We felt so deeply loved and cared for. These relationships that we have with one another, as disciples of Christ, are so incredibly important. We wonder together, feel sadness, fear, and joy together, journey together.
 
As each of you go on your Holy Week journey this year. Don’t go it alone. Reach out to fellow disciples and journey together. This is how God intended it – for us to be in relationship with one another, and it’s through these relationships that we are able to grow even more in our intimacy with Jesus.
 
I pray the spiritual journey you go on in the next few days draws you close to Jesus. And I look forward to celebrating his resurrection with you on Sunday!

Ngā Mihi 
​Summer