Vicars Letter 27th march 2026

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora, All Saints.

I remember several years ago when we first took our kids to Disneyland for the first time, we were there for one day during the Christmas holiday season with all of its pomp and glory. One of the consistent things that happens at Disneyland is the daily parade, where all the characters set to music parade through the park with the streets lined with people eagerly anticipating their favourite character. As the parade came along, there was real fanfare, the anticipation of an up close encounter or a moment of eye contact or a wisk of a wave in your direction. I vividly remember watching one of our kids, with all their might, trying to maintain their waving rhythm that moved swiftly between strong and controlled to something that resembled Queen Elizabeth, followed closely by what looked like an arm that had been tranquillised, as they were desperately trying to wave it anyway.

We still laugh to this day about the memory. We also still remember the feeling of excitement and anticipation.

We have a very different parade from our scripture this week. different in so many ways, yet with such familiarity, anticipation, excitement, hope, adrenaline, and as Brené Brown (and my wife) would say, collective effervescence. (I googled that for you)

The people in this story get it so beautifully right and so awfully wrong all at the same time! Matthew 21:1-11 gives us this story. I encourage you to have a read before Sunday.

My friend and colleague Rev Chris Darnell helpfully pointed out a beautiful moment in our more recent history where by Mother Teresa, when asked Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show about how she handled the accolades with winning the Nobel Peace prize famously said, “Do you think, Mr. Carson, for one moment, that that little donkey thought the crowd was giving him the praise and glory instead of Jesus?”

Let us as we walk toward the cross together this Lent really welcome Jesus in as the King he is in our lives and remember with great anticipation the road and sacrifice he took and made for us.

Please see the notices for some really key things happening around us.

1. Sunday 29th March (This Sunday) 10 am Combined service with a potluck lunch and AGM following the service.

• We will be looking at and voting on our budget for the year, which, in short, is grim! There is good stuff happening here at All Saints, but we need to make some serious calls about how to do that with the level of Giving and Fundraising we are and are not doing. Come along to join what I'm sure will be a lively discussion.

1. Sunday 29th March evening - Move on Orders Vigil. Our friend Adam is spearheading this for us at All Saints. Please click here to find out more, or people can touch base with Adam on Sunday morning if they want to know more.
2. Monday 30th March - 7 pm - Chrism Service at St Peter's on Willis Street. Find out more here.

Much love,