Dear friends,Tuesday July 8th, 10:30 - 11:30.
All those with pre-schoolers are invited to a coffee morning/play group in the Quiet Room
We hope to run these informal get-togethers once a month so parents of pre-schoolers can get to know each other.
Contact Debby Smith 545 8908 for details
Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 2.00pm
From 10.00am Friday 5 September
To 7.00pm Saturday 6 September
Bridge Valley Christian Ranch
Wakefield
Concludes with a Pot Luck meal after the 10.00am service at the Cathedral on Sunday 7 September.
This year’s retreat will be led by the Rev’d Dr Raymond Pelly, former principal of St Johns College and now a priest associate at St Paul’s Cathedral Wellington.
Dr Pelly will present six addresses interspersed with times of silence, worship and of course sharing food and then preach at the 8.00am and 10.00am services on Sunday morning.
Children’s Art Competition
Theme: When Nelson Became a City
Cathedral Foundation Day Lunch
Meal at the Ocean Lodge After the 10am Service
$20 per person
telephone 548 1008 to book your seat.
Street Party Trafalgar Street
150th Anniversary Service
Cathedral Open day
Historic Walking tour
Family Fun Day at Founder’s Park
Dear friends,
With the publication of this edition of the Nelson Cathedral News we have entered the seventh month and the second half of the year.
As Victor Meldrew used to say, I don’t believe it! I used to be cynical about people who said that the older you get the faster the years pass by.
I am beginning to think they may be right!
Time passes at the same rate it always used to, it is we who seem to be living busier lives.
Whatever, we must make the most of the time, as Jesus said.
This month I shall be marking the 30th anniversary of my ordination as a priest in Liverpool Cathedral.
Last year people kindly gathered with Elaine and me to mark my 30th anniversary as a deacon and I will never forget their kindness. If you are free, you are most welcome to join me again on Wednesday 2nd July at 10am to mark this year’s anniversary.
If I were to receive any gift at this time, it would be to have a candidate for ordination coming up through our congregation.
If you, female or male, have been considering offering yourself for discernment for the ordained or lay ministry, I would love to hear from you. I still maintain that Christian Ministry is the greatest privilege a man or woman can know in this life.
When I first began as a Curate in training, little did I know that one day I would have the joy of serving in two cathedrals here in New Zealand. Cathedral ministry is vitally important to the future progress of Christ’s mission to the world and never let anyone convince you otherwise. With that sure belief in mind, I am now happy to announce that I shall be leading a cathedral pilgrimage to England and France after Easter next year. Originally I was hoping to go this year but personal circumstances did not permit it. If you are interested to go with me, please ask me for a brochure and I will furnish more details when they come to hand.
These days I am not able to play the piano or organ as I once did.
You may ask if this is frustrating to me? Well, to a certain extent it is and so I am even more reliant now on recorded music and the ministry of organists and choir members at the cathedral. It is almost a year since John Wesley Barker died and the current music team has carried a greater weight of responsibility. I am indebted to them. I am pleased to say that a letter of offer has been sent to the successful candidate for the position of director of music. I will let you know what the response is as soon as I have it to hand. In the meantime, please pray earnestly about this situation.
Finally on a musical note, the TVNZ programme Praise Be is hoping to return to Nelson in September to record an Ecumenical programme of hymn singing. I do hope that every member of our congregation will plan to be there (September 15th and 17th) and make this 150th anniversary edition the best ever. It is hoped that Bishop Richard will conduct the congregational hymns.
Time flies, yes, but with God ‘...one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.’ (2 Peter 3:8) Let’s make every moment count in God’s wonderful service.
With my good wishes,
Charles Tyrrell QSO
Dean
On the Cathedral’s Mission Sunday in June we were expecting to hear from Canon Robert Kereopa, Executive Officer Anglican Missions Board. Snow closed both Christchurch airport and the roads from Christchurch to Nelson. Robert just couldn’t be with us.
When we make plans whether in ministry or our personal lives we can never be certain things will work out.
Sometimes it’s the weather and sometimes there are other unforeseen events, after all that’s why we have insurance cover for so many aspects of our lives.
I believe that God works through all things; God does not cause the problems, but God helps us to navigate through them.
People frequently ask, “Why did this happen to me?” or “Why is there so much suffering in the world?”
We cannot have the answers to these questions; faith is all about trusting God in the difficult times, in fact, that’s how our faith grows.
A recent Word for Today read: “Don′t waste your trials by trying to fit them into your limited vision and understanding or you′ll end up frustrated. It′s much better to trust God, rest in His wisdom and take Him at His word.” Or as Romans 12:28 puts it: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
Usually it’s when we look back that we can see the positives, the lessons and growth that took place during those difficult times. Of course when we are in the middle of the storm it doesn’t feel that way! That’s when we need each other, when we have to forgo our pride and ask for help, when we have to ask for God’s help.
So if that’s where you are today stop asking “Why?” and begin to ask for help, it’s amazing what God can do when we turn to him.
Sometimes God helps us through other people and sometimes we receive his guidance and strength directly. I received so much positive feedback for the sermon I wrote late on the evening of Mission Sunday. I thank God for that encouragement and I thank God for meeting my needs when I asked for his help.
This is something we all need to remember to do.
With God’s love and blessings
Yvonne McLean
Last week Janice and I had three days at the beach in Golden Bay.
When we arrived late Sunday evening the waves were pounding on the beach and lulled us to sleep that night.
Next morning, as we walked along the beach after breakfast the sea was like a mill pond, flat with only a slight ripple here and there.
It reminded me of a certificate I received with a Sunday school prize. In one corner was a boat sailing in calm waters and underneath in fancy blue and gold scroll writing were the words;
“Jesus said peace, and there was perfect peace”.
This certificate remained pinned on my bedroom wall until I left home. Often in times of trouble as a teenager it gave me a sense of peace. Someone greater than me was in charge. Since that time I have often stopped, as I rushed around, at churches and chapels in the midst of big cities just for a time of quiet and peace with the one who gives that perfect peace.
Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” Then the wind ceased and there was a dead calm.
St. Mark 5:39
Dear God,
Teach me that paperwork is far less important than peoplework.
Amen
The Reverend Allen Michel
I hope you’re managing to get through life at the moment without too many lumps and bumps, after suggesting last month that our faith needs to be balanced by having as much “down” as “up”. Getting the balance right isn’t easy, is it?
Do you know O. Henry’s short story Telemachus’ Friend?
Two men, Telemachus Hicks and Paisley Fish were very close friends - so close, in fact, that when they both set out to win the heart of the Widow Jessup, they promised each other never to try anything without the other being present.
It wasn’t long, however, before it became obvious that Telemachus had the upper hand ; he was much more of a charmer, whereas Paisley frightened the dear lady with wonderful and exaggerated stories about himself - to no avail, and in the end Telemachus’ proposal was accepted, and the friendship remained strong.
That was a problem.
Even the wedding was held up because Telemachus had difficulty with an unaccustomed collar and studs, for which he needed Paisley’s expertise. The extent of the friendship went too far, though, when on his honeymoon, he sat out late one night on the veranda. His new bride asked him why he didn’t come in - to which he replied, “Well, well. Darned if I wasn’t waiting for Paisley to ...”
His sentence and friendship with Paisley were terminated by a well-aimed broom-handle wielded expertly by the bride (to the best of my knowledge, broom handles are not provided on modern honeymoons).
It is entirely possible that we can become so used to the familiar and friendly circumstances of our church-going faith that we forget the reason why we have faith in the first place. It is the survival of the world, not the survival of the church, that should be our priority.
Perhaps we will get that balance right because of some hard knocks like rising fuel prices, global warming, and food shortages in poorer countries.
One of the writers who continues to keep my feet on the ground is the late Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Christian martyr who resisted the evils of Nazism. He said in his book Ethics, “No one can look with an undivided vision at God and the world of reality so long as God and the world are torn asunder... Whoever sees Jesus Christ does indeed see God and the world in one, and can henceforth no longer see God without the world, or the world without God.” Look out for that well-aimed broom handle.
Canon Colin Wright
Do we realise how lucky we are?Dear Parishioners,
Earlier this year I attended a Christian camp in the Marlborough Sounds.
Whilst there I was given the following to read by a lovely lady. I thought you would enjoy reading it too.
Blessings
Valerie
Do we realise how lucky we are? If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who won’t survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 20 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you hold up your head with a smile, on your face and are truly thankful, you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can read this message, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all. You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.
Thank you for those who took part in Missions activities in June. We had delicious soup after the 10am service on June 8th. Thank you to the soup makers.
Thank you to those who gave money to the mission’s project in Papua New Guinea – the total is now over $1600.
Thanks also to Patrick and Claude Meffan who shared their story about going to Nepal. They told us how, even help that seemed little to them, was greatly appreciated by the people there, and how happiness is not related to having many possessions.
Thank you to the Rev’d Yvonne for filling in for Robert Kereopa when bad weather prevented his arrival here.
As a continuing challenge would each household in the church family be able to contribute an item of groceries or tin of something to the foodbank ‘basket’, particularly over the winter months when people have extra costs to keep warm.
Thank you to you for what you do to build up the Christian relationship with those outside our church fellowship.
Jenny Wells
Missions Motivator
A parishioner is prepared to donate for auction a special album of Royal stamps with all proceeds to our Missions Project.
This album (NZ. Post 1986: only 1500 produced) is catalogued at $300 (cost price was $135).
Please contact the cathedral office with your bid.
This silent auction will close 25th July.
Big Brothers Big SistersNelson Cathedral’s Joe Currie was this year awarded the Queen’s Service Medal.
The citation for the award was his work in setting up across the country the community organisation Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Joe was interested in the approach to mentoring youth at risk which is the basis of this programme. Joe’s original initiative here in Nelson arose out of his association with Sergeant Trevor Gaskell of the Nelson Police who had spent some time working with the police in Canada on this project.
There are some very heart-warming stories to be told about many of the successes of this programme. After 10 years the number of volunteer mentors in Nelson was 70-80, but just as interesting was that other districts throughout New Zealand were learning of and becoming interested in the programme. Joe set up and chaired a sub-committee to construct a constitution for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Zealand.
By 2006 there were 13 Regional Offices registered. In April 2006 Joe, being over 70 years of age and having served as chairman for 10 years, resigned to allow younger blood to take the project forward into it’s new stage of development. There is no doubt that this is a worthwhile project, and that New Zealand will hear more of it in the years to come.
Joe also has a long and busy career of involvement with community and church activities. His earliest connection with Nelson Cathedral was when a boarder at Nelson College he became a Cathedral chorister, continuing this activity at St Peters Church Willis Street when he went to Victoria University College. Joe was over many years involved first with the Jaycees and then with Rotary. He was well recognized for his ability in public speaking and in judging speeches and debates – a task he still carries out.
In the 1990 Joe became involved with the Whareama Trust Board As chair of that organization Joe was responsible for a major expansion of rest homes, hospitals and retirement cottages.
Joe’s QSM award is indeed recognition of outstanding community service.
Married according to the 1928 riteCongratulations to Catriona (Triona) our former Dean’s Verger, Cathedral News Editor and Bell-ringer who was married to Bruce Williamson earlier this year.
The marriage service was conducted by Dean Charles in the Chapel of Christ the King, according to the 1928 rite. The Venerable Te Hawe Whakaruru gave an uplifting and very humorous address.
The service was for close family and friends and a reception followed at Melrose house (where the photo was taken).
Triona and Bruce and their families have both experienced sadness through bereavement and so it was wonderful to share in this new chapter of their lives. We wish the happy couple many happy years together and God’s richest blessings.
Dean Charles
a creative form of inspiring worshipAs we move towards the season for celebrating 150 years of our diocese and cathedral we need to remind ourselves of the inspiring worship offered through our Cathedral bells and bell ringers.
There are currently three bell ringers, Jocelyn Smith, [who has been a bell-ringer for many years – also formerly a Nelson Cathedral chorister] Helen McKenzie and Barry Nalder. Barry Nalder, who was prior to his retirement, a music specialist in schools is in to his fourth year as a bell ringer for Christ Church Cathedral. We thank these three for using their talents to add to our worship in this way.
The Nelson Christ Church cathedral bells came to us in 1960 from the Taylor’s Bell Foundry in the United Kingdom. Our Cathedral bells are different from most – the bells stay still – it is the clappers within that swing.
We need to listen carefully when the bells are being rung to recognise the different rhythms and patterns of the peals.
Our bell-ringers will say that bell ringing is creative - like performing jazz! The bell ringer makes up patterns and rhythms appropriate for particular events or services. Remember that bell-ringing is a form of worship, which gives meaning to different seasons in the church year.
For example, on Good Friday have you noticed the bells toll out exactly the number of years Christ lived physically among us? As we move towards celebrating the 150 years of the Nelson Diocese and city there will be many opportunities to listen more carefully to the messages of the Holy Spirit to be heard in our Cathedral bells.
from the Iona EucharistCome Father of the poor; light of our hearts, Come generous Spirit, By the glory of your creation around us, By the spirit of your forgiveness within us By the wind of your spirit eddying through The years within these walls, renew us So that we may come glad to this celebration
Two Celtic forms of Holy Communion [from Iona and from Lindisfarne] feature regularly in the midday services at the Cathedral and Bishopdale chapels.
A sense of God’s presence in “special places” comes through in these Celtic eucharists.
Share the experience with a friend or visitor!
Five years ago Hugh Nielsen, one of our choir members, retired and left Waiheke Island to move to Nelson. He immediately joined the Cathedral choir. While on Waiheke, he founded Sing Waiheke, which he directed for ten years. Under his leadership, the choir went from strength to strength, and forged strong affiliations with well known Auckland choirs, singers and musicians and hosted workshops with Karen Grylls, the N.Z. Youth Choir, and the British Youth Choir on their first visit to N.Z.
A highlight for the choir was their recording of two CDs and a special programme on Waiheke Island for ‘Praise Be’. The choirs patrons were well known N.Z. composer, Edwin Carr, and Owen Jensen, the founder of the New Zealand music schools at Cambridge.
When Hugh retired. the reins were taken up by his deputy, Iain Tetley, who has since made a tremendous impact on the Auckland musical scene.
Early in June this year, Iain directed and conducted the Auckland premiere of ‘The Armed Man’, with a choir of 150 voices including Sing Waiheke, and an orchestra of 169 players. Iain said he was very nervous, as the performance cost $30,000 to stage, but it was an enormous success, receiving rave reviews.
Hugh felt very flattered to receive special mention in the official programme.
Keep the family entertained through the winter! The library will be open most Sundays after the 10am service or by arrangement.
Contact Debby Smith: 545 8908
A big THANK YOU to Helen & Rosalind Baker for running the library until now.
Workplace Support is wishing to grow their team in Nelson.
We require vibrant, hope-filled people with qualifications/experience in people focused work.
Workplace Support is a sought after provider of employee assistance programmes.
As these positions become available it is important that our team are ready for placement.
Please indicate your interest by writing, enclosing a CV to:-
ITIM - Caring for People at Work
Workplace Support is the trading name of ITIM (Inter-church Trade and Industry Mission)
| Sun July 6 | 8.00am | Holy Communion | |
| 10.00am | Holy Communion | ||
| 6.00pm | Compline | ||
| Sun July 13 | 8.00am | Holy Communion | |
| 10.00am | Holy Communion Celtic Service |
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| 6.00pm | Evening Prayer | ||
| Bible Sunday | Sun July 20 | 8.00am | Holy Communion Guest Preacher Rev'd Dr Tim Harris Dean of Bishopdale Theological College |
| 10.00am | Holy Communion Guest Preacher Rev'd Dr Tim Harris |
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| 3:30pm | Evening Prayer Sea Sunday service |
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| Sun July 27 | 8.00am | Holy Communion | |
| 10.00am | Choral Eucharist | ||
| 6.00pm | Choral Evensong |