Vicars Letter - 16th August 2024

Rev Andrew Spence

Kia ora All Saints whānau,

Over the past few weeks I have been doing a course called Emotionally Healthy Relationships. It is part two of the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course, which you can learn more about here. It has been really insightful and helpful. One of the requirements of the course is to spend 20-30 minutes twice a day in Silence and reading the bible, with the devotion they give you. What I have noticed as I have intentionally stopped and sat in silence (a rarity in my house) is that I have become more aware of my feelings, more aware of God working and speaking to me and also just more relaxed. Despite having quite an extensive to do list I feel more at peace in general in my life.

Here is how the devotion goes:

• 2 minutes silence and stillness
• Reading the Bible Verse for the Day
• Reading a little commentary on it
• Prayer
• 2 minutes silence and stillness

I encourage you to give it a go, particularly if you do not do something at present in this manner. Work your way through a Gospel or a letter in the New Testament. I wonder what we will discover if we do this together?

The reason I write this is that I have noticed that we have a lot on in the next few weeks. It is important in the midst of this all that we slow and recognise God at work in our lives. 

As we work through the Parables we too are looking out for Jesus and his Kingdom. This week we are looking at the Banquet in Luke 14:1,7-14 which is both a great life lesson but also has a deeper message for us as Jesus followers. I am excited to discuss this on the weekend.

This week we are really pushing to get all your answers in about our Building Survey. The last day that you can submit answers for this is Sunday - we will be collating the results for Parish Council next week, so we can release them to the Parish in time for our building conversation on the 8th September.

I personally want to invite you to September the 1st, our final farewell service - we would love to see as many people as possible and bring something finger food like to share.

Blessings this week
Andy