Vicars Letter 17th october 2025

Rev Guy Benton

 

Kia ora, All Saints
Guy here, it is so good to be back from India and catching up with so many of you this week.

Feels like I've been in a whirlwind for two weeks, to be honest. India was action-packed the whole time! I was on the ground for around 11 days in total, which included orientation games, meeting new people, visiting different communities that are being engaged with, and spending time with others from around the world, connecting over a shared connection to the communities. (There is a purposeful vagueness here as this goes online.) That being said, there were some powerful moments which I hope to share in person with you all as I am able. God is at work in many spaces.

A really powerful piece of scripture we chewed through was the Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31, with the focus being on closing the chasm between the rich and the poor and what that looks like from a Christian perspective. I think the beautiful piece isn't that the rich are rich, but how we don't use that to keep widening the chasm, but that is a vehicle we use to close it. You might like to have a read through this passage and have a think about what stands out to you. Some questions I like to ask when reading scripture are, what does this say about God, Jesus, and his plan; what does this say about us as humans? And what am I going to do differently after reading this scripture?

I look forward to sharing more in person. Maybe a conversation evening soon is on the cards.

A couple of notices to really highlight.

1. Pray for Cassandra, Adam, and me as we attend Synod tonight and tomorrow, particularly pray for Adam as he brings a motion to the diocese around installing AEDs in all Anglican churches.
2. Light Party is coming up next weekend - October 26th - We will have no services that day as we treat this as our 5th Sunday. There is something for everyone to be involved in, regardless of age or stage. - Please sign up for something below. (This will be a moving document, so feel free to reach out if you have any questions.)
3. A reminder that we have our AGM coming up soon, so please check out all the information for that. We are looking for people to be nominated for Synod Rep, People's Warden, and Parish Council, so if you are thinking of standing or know someone who would be great in any of those roles, please nominate them.
4. We are going to be having Adult/Young people baptisms on December 7th. If you are interested in this, please reach out to me asap. We are looking to have confirmations early next year. We are just working on a date with the Bishop.

Sign up for a light party station here.

Much love,