december
Anglican Parish GERALDINE
newsletter january DECEMBER 2023 | JANUARY 2024
A time for new beginnings Since our last newsletter, we have lost two stalwarts of the parish. Ro Acland passed into glory on Friday, 29 September, following two strokes. Lynne Woods followed on Monday, 9 October. Lynne had been getting frailer and was resident at Wallingford home. As most are aware, Ro had a very active ministry both at Peel Forest and in the McKenzie Healthcare Hospital. Her passing leaves some large shoes to fill - our condolences to their respective families. As you receive this, we will be beginning the season of Advent - a whole new church year. On Sundays, we will change our focus from the Gospel of Matthew to that of Mark. Strangely, although it comes second in order, most scholars agree that it was the first to be written, with Matthew and Luke borrowing heavily from it. Scholars agreeing is a minor miracle. With Advent upon us, Christmas can’t be far behind. Indeed, Advent has become not so much a mini-Lent, in preparation for Christmas, as an anticipated celebration of it. While liturgical purists like myself may be a little bothered by this, that is the reality of a Southern Hemisphere Christmas. You will find a programme of Christmas events which begin on the second Sunday of Advent. A highlight of the last two months was my attendance at the Leading Your Church into Growth (LYCiG) conference held in Christchurch in October. Team leaders Rev Harry Steel and Ven Rhiannon King from the Church of England led an inspiring conference. Many churches have used their programme to grow their ministry. We just need mustard seed faith and prayer. I will recommend their programme as our Lenten study this year but of that more anon. Keep praying our
church growth prayer, not that God doesn’t know our needs, but he does like to be asked. (Luke 18:1-8). A big thank you to Eve and Jimmy Wallace for opening Sundrum to us and donating the gate take to the parish coffers. Congratulations to Susanne West and her team of helpers for an amazing Pop-Up Art Sale as part of festival week, to Ron Bax for his energy and skills as a street trader, and to impresario Fi for organising the Soul Food concert. Our float in the Christmas parade was a great effort led by Susanne West and Barbara Cassidy; thanks, Owen, for providing and driving your tractor for us. Now, we are looking forward to Lily Day at Mount Peel, all before the Holy Season of Christmas. Let’s make sure we are in a condition to enjoy Christmas when it arrives. I shall be away (or pretending to be away) for much of January. Have a holy and blessed Christmas, enjoy the holiday season, and come back refreshed and ready to take on 2024.
Rev Hugh McCafferty PRIEST-IN-CHARGE LEFT: Lynne Woods, who in 2010 flew in a glider to celebrate her 80th birthday; BELOW: Stalwart
of St Stephen’s Ro Acland leaves not only big shoes to fill, but muffin tins, too.