North Canterbury, NZ
From the Vicar
Jane writes…Here we are already at the beginning of February.
I hope everyone had a joyful Christmas.The Pageant was a great success. A very big thank you to Colleen and all those who helped her. Especially Desiree- the costumes were wonderful. My congratulations to all the children and young people who took part. There was a very real sense of the wonder and joy of the coming of the Christ child.
The New Year brings new hopes, new decisions, new plans. Uppermost for the Parish is the coming to fruition of the Heaven Scent Plant Sale, which is to be held on the 20th February. Please note this is a week earlier than previously advertised.
A huge number of hours have been put in by the team preparing the plants for sale. Without them there simply would not be a plant sale, and the Parish is extremely grateful for all their hard work; as well as work being put in by the rest of the Plant sale team.
The AGM will be held on the 7th March. Elections will be held for various positions on Vestry. In putting your name forward for this very important part of our Church please be sure that you have the time to give to it, as there is much more to do than just attend meetings. Being on Vestry means being a team member, which is being co workers with the clergy, being responsible for the day to day operation of the Parish, sharing in spiritual leadership, and aiming at consensus decision making.
In the last year the Parish and particularly the Vestry has had to adjust to 50% ministry and all that means. And as you will read from the Warden's report there will be further changes in the coming months.
In order for a church to grow there will be changes. That is obvious. Change is constant in our lives and the world. However many of us find change difficult.
As creatures of habit we are usually more secure with what we know. Many resist change. We can deny what is happening, for denial is a coping mechanism. We can bargain and negotiate, saying things worked better before the change, we want to go back to the good old days. And when we realise change is here to stay and we can do nothing about it we get angry. This anger will come in many forms and can be directed at the ones responsible for the change.
It takes courage to change, to bridge the gap from what was to what will be, to step out in faith, especially if we don't know whether that change will work. With clear, direct communication and a willingness to be responsible for ourselves it is possible. And let us never forget we have the assurance that Jesus gave us- that he will be here with us to the end of the age, that he is the one who is constant.
If we keep our focus on the ultimate priority, the sharing of the Good news of the Gospel we recognise the difference between Source and resource. That God is the Source, the one who provides life, the one who never changes.