Faith in the Community

Light in the darkness..

It’s the beginning of a new year, but much in the world looks dark and dismal with the ongoing war in Ukraine. And I think of the world when John wrote his Gospel.

The life of the early church under the crushing power of the Roman Empire was no cakewalk, but John is bold to say in his first paragraph “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The recent Avatar movie, The Way of Water, is another epic tale about the battle of light against darkness. As in all such stories of struggles against overwhelming odds, good prevails. Now we may not have much influence on world affairs, nor even be called as an ‘extra’ in the Avatar movie series, but often the most insidious form of darkness is despair, when hope dies. And that can occur in our neighbourhood, among friends, even in our families.

If you want to help counter that encroaching darkness you could do worse than rise to the challenge in the old song - “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine” wherever and whenever you can.

And if your own light begins to falter remember that the light John was speaking about is still to be found in the life and teachings of Jesus. He’s there to light your way.

Four adults were thrown clear of the vessel, but a child was trapped in the cabin space where there was an air pocket. An officer from Police's 12-metre RHIB Hukatai dived under the vessel and got the child out unharmed.

The boat was equipped with lifejackets and flares; the child was wearing a lifejacket and adults were in wetsuits, which are suitable as long as they are full body suits and worn at all times.

“The skipper admitted everything happened so fast,” says Sgt Kennedy. “We're relieved this had a positive outcome, but it could have been so much worse and shows how things can change in an instant. This is another reminder to every boatie – take water safety seriously, as simple measures like wearing lifejackets can save lives.”

St Alban’s + St Ronan’s: Quarterly Shared Service, this time at 10am, Sun 5 February, at Wellesley College.

St Ronan’s: Services Sun 9.30am - informal 1st and 3rd, traditional 2nd and 4th. Ask if you’d like our monthly printed magazine the Record E:office@stronans.org.nz W:www.stronans. org.nz

St Alban’s: Wellesley College Sun 10am communion with guest vicar. Special activities for children during term time. 1st Thurs only, 10am communion at St Ronan’s with guest vicar. E:office@stalbanschurch.nz W:www. stalbanschurch.nz

San Antonio: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm. Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm. E: holyspiritparish41@gmail.com W: www.holyspirit.nz