Cathedral News October 2007

From the Dean

Weaving the Cross

Each year our Bishop calls representatives from every parish and ministry unit across the Diocese to gather for Synod. The key-note address, known as the Bishop’s Charge, sets out priorities for the Diocese as the Bishop sees them. This year saw the introduction of next year’s 150th Anniversary of the Diocese of Wellington, and a year of pilgrimage. You can read Bishop Tom’s Charge on the new Diocesan website http://wn.anglican.org.nz/index.cfm/News/Synod_2007

The most significant item of business this year was probably the passing of the new Parishes Act, after three years’ hard work. (Here we must pay tribute to members of the Cathedral family so closely involved in the drafting of this piece of legislation – Briar Gordon, Elizabeth Smaal and John Morrison.) But Synod is more than simply arguing about legislation. There is time to hear and reflect on the many different shapes and forms of mission and ministry in a large and diverse Diocese like ours – hence the concept of ‘weaving the cross’ which comes through strongly in the Bishop’s Charge. Last year we reduced the amount pledged to overseas mission – this year, following a pleasing increase in giving, we raised the target again. The Dean was among those elected to go to General Synod.

Silver and Gold have I none

The response by St Peter to a lame man’s begging (Acts 3: 1 – 10) provided the theme for Roman Catholic Archbishop John Dew in his sermon at an ecumenical service hosted by the Cathedral recently. The occasion was the annual national service putting the focus on Hospital Chaplains. The Archbishop encouraged the Chaplains (supported by many voluntary workers) in their task of bringing Christ into the hospital and health system. A little later the Hon Annette King (representing the Minister of Health) praised the work of the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy (ICHC). http://www.ichc.org.nz/

The Anglican Church (and the Diocese of Wellington) continues to play a key role in providing hospital chaplains throughout the country. Chaplains and their assistants logged a quarter of a million visits last year alone! Please keep Hospital Chaplaincy in your prayers – especially Anglican Chaplains working in the greater Wellington area: David Tannock, John McCaul, Michael Jones, Kath McLean, Michael Watson, Warihi Campbell. Margaret Poynton, who holds a Lay Minister’s Licence to the Cathedral, is active in chaplaincy most Sunday mornings at Hutt Hospital.

A Tribute to the Dean Emeritus

Over the past few months the Cathedral Vestry has been discussing a suitable way of honouring former Dean Michael Brown, particularly his role in bringing the Cathedral to completion and consecration. He and Anne have been invited to attend next year’s Patronal Festival when a plaque will be unveiled.

With every blessing as we weave the cross on our journey.

Cathedral Administration

Just when we thought it was all sewn up and a new Administration team was in place, someone pulled the plug, and the search for a Bursar had to start again. In the meantime Anne Smith was bade farewell at a well-attended morning tea when tribute was paid to her for her many and changing roles in the Cathedral. On behalf of the Cathedral the Dean made a presentation to Anne, which will ensure one or two trips for her to ‘Kirks’.

The space formerly occupied by the Gift Shop is now being remodelled as the Cathedral Office, and will include items for sale. Irene Bignall takes on the new position of Administrative Assistant and will soon be based in the new Office. The present Friendship Centre will become even more user-friendly as a place of gathering and greeting during the week, and able to be used as a crèche during services.

Synod Reflections

I was struck most of all by the explicit way we were encouraged to acknowledge our diversity and guided to draw that diversity together under the theme of ‘weaving the cross’. Our worship, prayers and reflections focused on this theme and provided a strong foundation underlying our debates. This was in marked contrast to the more divisive debates on unity within our Anglican Communion that strongly influenced Synod last year. Those who represented our Diocese at the recent Hermeneutics Hui gave a clear and profound presentation on the event, emphasising the significance of a space being provided for well informed input (in the form of academic guidance from outside our immediate community) and a respectful dialogue. Ellie Sanderson

This was my first Synod and I enjoyed it very much. It was fantastic to see that the Church is open to people’s suggestions and hopes on the running of the Church. It is encouraging to see that the processes used to make the church what it is now, and what it can be in the future, are clear and well thought out. I had many interesting discussions with people from around the Diocese, and I am excited and very enthusiastic about the direction of the Anglican Diocese of Wellington. Gavin Dawson

Praying for Others

The Wellington Cathedral Prayer Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays monthly, in the Lady Chapel, following the 12.15pm Eucharist. We offer prayers which are printed on the weekly prayer sheets, and pray for those known to us to be in trouble, need, sickness or any adversity. We give thanks and pray for all who minister in any way in the Cathedral. We share favourite prayers and scriptures which we have found to be especially helpful. Silent worship also can bring a wonderful sense of God’s presence. It is a privilege to share in these times and we would welcome those who would like to join us.

Tom and Janice Woodford Tel 971 2560

Norm Kershaw Tel 972 9576

A friend writes:

My latest CT scan showed that the tumour is starting to grow again … I am very much at peace about it, and am leaving everything in God’s hands. He has walked with me wonderfully over the years and I am sure that he will sustain me through this bit of the journey too. But please pray – my experience last time was of being most wonderfully upheld by you all, so that when I was too weak to pray myself, you were praying in my place. So thank you in advance – and perhaps I could share with you a lovely thing that happened when I was praying this morning. I suddenly experienced a moment of pure joy and laughed out loud and sat there grinning at God, as it were. It was as if Jesus were saying: "Don’t worry – we’re on our way to Jerusalem together – the chemo is just a step on the way". So please surround me with your own prayer, and then whatever happens, "all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well" as Julian of Norwich would say.

Music Notes

Cathedral Choir Tour Fund

With less than a year to go before the Cathedral Choir takes off for its tour to the UK and France, fund-raising for the daunting amount of $100,000 continues. Choir members have already raised over $25,000 in a variety of ways. Ventures thus far have included the sale of wine, fudge and home baking, film evenings, concerts and car park rentals.

With no let-up in the demand for fine choral singing at normal and special services, choir members are understandably stretched. Vestry has agreed that a letter of appeal be sent to all associated with the Cathedral, thus giving many more people the opportunity to support our Choir, and acknowledge the fine singing which so enhances Cathedral worship.

Choristers' Spring School

The Cathedral Choristers are in for a busy time the first weekend of October. Not only will they enjoy three days of training, both music and Christian knowledge, but they will sing at three services – the regular Saturday morning Eucharist, the annual St Francis Day service (at 4.00 pm on Saturday 6th October) and at the Choral Eucharist on Sunday 7th October.

Richard and Rebecca Apperley

Richard takes up the position of Assistant Organist late in October when he, Rebecca and little Edith arrive from Lincoln, UK. Richard is no stranger to Wellington Cathedral, having been the Richard Prothero Organ Scholar for three years till his departure for the UK early 2004. (Please see the photo pages for a picture of the family)

Cathedral Retreat

• Theme: Seeking God and Balance with St Benedict
• Conductor: Frank Nelson (Dean of Wellington)
• Date: 5.30 pm Friday 26th – 3.00 pm Sunday 28th October
• Venue: Star of the Sea, Seatoun
• Cost: $175.00

This is a residential retreat for (primarily) Cathedral people. The weekend is based on spending time together in worship, a series of talks and silence. There are 16 single rooms available. All meals included. Please pick up a brochure from the Cathedral.

Dates worth Noting

• 6th October - 4.00 pm St Francis Day Service
• 13th October - Missions Day at Tawa
• 2nd November - Duruflé Requiem for All Souls’ Day
• 4th November - Parish Lunch to mark All Saints’ Day

Thursday Evenings with St John and Raymond Pelly

Curious. What “take” would a scholarly theologian like Raymond Pelly have on St John and his Gospel? Only one way to find out – trot along to the Brian Davis Room at the Cathedral on Thursday evenings during September. Not surprisingly, it was hardly a “once over lightly” – rather an in depth and wide ranging look from various angles. Information, insight and intelligent observation.

Amongst my companions, there was much taking of notes. Dazed demeanours from some. Enlightened comment from others. Familiar words and familiar stories, now understood in much greater depth and seen in a different light. This was not Sunday School stuff. You had to be there.

Paul Drake

It has been a joy attending the short course on the Gospel of John. I enrolled a little tentatively at first feeling like an interloper slipping away from the parish on Thursday lunch times. After the first week I discovered that there were another 3 people from St Luke’s Wadestown attending the evening sessions.

My New Testament study up until now has been mostly on the synoptic gospels so I wanted to take advantage of Raymond’s wisdom about the Gospel of John, such a complex and coded text.

It has been very enlightening and empowering. I have often been amazed at how the pieces of text we have been unraveling and the themes we have been exploring on a Thursday have seemed to echo and magnify in the things I have been engaged in for the remainder of the week. I have been pleasantly affirmed as not all that we have explored has been brand new but more an expansion and an adding to what I already new. Thank you to Raymond Pelly and to the Cathedral for this opportunity and for opening this study to those in the surrounding areas. Tric Malcolm

From the Register

• Funeral
  • William Trevor Park
  • Faey Hayston

Cathedral News Archive

Past editions of the cathedral news are available here.