Vicars Letter 26th june 2026

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora, All Saints

This week, I was reflecting on the power of the "family". Summer made a quick trip to America to surprise her mum (mom) for her 80th birthday, which was such a gift and joy to enable. Her being away meant that I was parenting solo for 5 days, which included playdates, sports and dance schedules, managing workload and some sickness, which meant a missed conference opportunity. 

There were so many facets to this, the joy of being able to take the load so one could go, the joy of spending one on one time with the kids, having fun, the challenge of getting people to where they need to be, the long days until you crash at night because its all you, being outnumbered, sacrificing things you might have been able to do because its just you, being lonely. 

These are not things set aside for someone whose husband or wife is away overseas; they creep into all our lives. 

This is where the power of the "family" comes in. A family is not just a Husband and a wife and 2.4 kids, it's a community of people who are willing to go beyond being guests or casual friends and really lean into each other's lives—creating space to truly be FAMILY. 

I love it when people offer to help out when Summer's away, because I think in the back of my mind, would you really be up for it? If I called you in the middle of a meltdown and said I need you to come and help.

What does it mean for us to be a family here at All Saints? Some of us are lucky to have our own nuclear family and maybe even an extended biological family locally, but what about our Holy singles? What about those who don't have a partner or kids? Those whose spouse isn't here? our widows? those whose families live a long, long way away, or we are not in a relationship with them for whatever reason. 

I love that as we explore our Big Picture series, we are seeing how intimate the relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is, and how that intimacy is passed on and expressed to us even amidst our distance. It's what draws us in. 

As we think about who we are doing life with, who we are family with, let us gather together and lean in both with vulnerability of life's challenges, but also as people who centre ourselves around God's word. The great story of redemption that climaxes in Jesus' resurrection and ascension points to the hope that one day all will be redeemed. 

Maybe our challenge is to lean into life a little deeper with someone we haven't, or with someone who God is putting on our heart. 

Just a reminder that we have a 9am central gathering this Sunday (Dennis Gordon is preaching on Genesis 3), and we have our House Churches in the centre. 

Much love,