Vicars Letter 14th November 2025

Rev Guy Benton 

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,