Vicars Letter 6th march 2026

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora All Saints. 

This week, as a Diocese, we have our annual Ministry Leaders Family Camp. Where, as a Diocese, many of our ministry leaders and teams, plus their families, gather for worship, teaching, prayer and time together. It really is a powerful and wonderful time of the year. 

I have been praying for not only those of us going to All Saints but from around the Wellington Diocese and have felt a real burden to be praying for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit, particularly for those who are weary, or maybe a bit cynical. Praying for the word of God to come alive and present afresh and new. The main speaker, Kevin Denholm, Chaplain to the film industry, will be speaking on disappointment and how we respond to that in Christ without trying to shunt over it. Our passage for the weekend is Luke 24:13-35 the road to Emmaus, where those who thought all had fallen apart are met along the way by Jesus. 

My question to us is, what's our angle and what do we go to when life is hard, or the "joy" has run out, or we are feeling cynical? Or we feel a sense of shame for maybe not getting it, or wanting to ask a question? The answer is, back to the source, back to the one who paid it all for us, back to the one who, across the arc of history, has never stopped telling us how good we are. 

As we journey through Lent and these conversations Jesus is having with people, keep an eye on the way their situation is presented with an opportunity to find freedom and liberation, not to have the suffering or trial removed, but to find the true hope and joy amongst it. As we walk towards Easter, when we sometimes wonder if the bottom of the basket has fallen out, remember that it is Jesus who meets us on the road, and our hearts come alive. 

A reminder that there is a 9 am service this week. NO house churches meeting in the centre, and please check with your house church leader if it's on if you meet in a home. 

Check out any other news in our e-news this week. 

Much love,