Vicars Letter - 5th July 2024

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora All Saints Whānau

Guy here this week. I had the privilege of attending a church renewal conference this week here in Wellington with several people from All Saints called Little Revolutions. It brought together 150 people from around NZ from all denominations to discuss church renewal. There were keynote talks from a group called the Underground Network and our friend Bree Mills. What was exciting for us from All Saints was an overwhelming sense of affirmation of how we are walking together, meeting together, and reaching out together here at All Saints, which aligns with the content and research the keynote speakers were bringing. Much of their input centered around Microchurches; we here at All Saints use the language of Missional Communities and House Churches but effectively are the same thing: Groups of people who are passionate to see people in their area know Christ, to disciple and be discipled and to see the church grow. I found it especially engaging around some of the structural input around how to hold this well within an existing institution that has a predominant worship style and how to support and mobilize groups of people well to start and multiply missional communities while also holding the more predominant worship environment well. 

I also found the unpacking of Matthew 14:22-33 Peter being called out of the boat to Jesus. What profoundly spoke to me, and I think a word for us as a parish, is that Jesus calls Peter out, Peter heeds that call, and then gets wobbly in the middle of the miracle! It's amidst the drowning and sinking that Jesus grabs Peter and rests him back in the boat; at that point, Peter and the others worship him! There are times when we will feel like we are sinking/drowning, but it's during that time that we must reach for him, and when he grabs up, we worship him! We are in times of shifting waters, where things never feel stable; the world is moving around us fast! It is not a firm foundation, we must be adaptable. But! what stays true and firm his God! He will never leave us or forsake us! he is there to call us out and to grab us! 

Please dont forget to check out the notices this week to keep up to date with what is happening. 

We have house churches this Sunday, 7th July; we are also starting a new series on Giving for the month of July. 

Please continue to pray for Andy and Emily as they prepare to transition towards the Peninsula Parish and all that God has in store for them; a reminder that their final Sunday is 1st Sept which will be a combined service with a lunch following as a way of celebrating and sending them out. 

Yours in Christ,