Celebration weekend
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Welcome to parishioners past, present and future. Welcome to friends, family, nosey neighbours, brothers and sisters in Christ. Welcome young and old, men, women, gender fluid and neuro-diverse. Welcome to the faithful and the faithless, the sure and the struggling. Welcome to prophets and priests, cleaners and clerks, professors, shop workers, typists and teachers, job-seekers, invalids, drivers and doctors. Welcome alien, orphan, and widow. Whoever you are, wherever you have come from, nau mai, haere mai ki tenei whare karakia.
Welcome to St Mark’s Church. Welcome home.
Prayers have been offered on this site since 1865 (157 years!) And whilst it’s been 4,114 days since we last had public worship in the church, the stones of this particular building have been soaking in prayers for the last 70 years. This is a holy site, and we’re glad to be reinhabiting it and adding to that life of prayer.
Today, like every Sunday, we primarily give thanks to God. We remain in the season of Easter, celebrating Christ’s resurrection from the dead. By our baptism we join in with the life of Jesus, baptised into his death, and into his life. It is so special to be able to re-start our worship in this place by baptising Ida Alice Bailey Greenwood, and being reminded of our own baptismal promises.
Finally, I want to offer thanks to all of those that has assisted with the restoration and renewal of St Mark’s Church. There are, simply, too many to name. However, I must mention by name the following.
Stephen Crooks: Our architect has been incredible to work with. Prompt, thorough, creative, diligent, joyous, organised. Thank you.
Wayne Sinclair: The site manager for HRS has been incredibly gracious and patient as we have beavered around him. Wayne has delayed his retirement in order to see the project through, and has always worked with intelligence, wit, and faith.
Karen Bayne: Having served years as warden, she then continued to serve as chair of the building committee to see the project through. She has been invaluable in the journey
Neil Shewan: Our treasurer has been unbelievable arranging finance, assisting with donations, keeping the Vicar within the budget, and selling the vision. Not to mention sharing his wealth of engineering wisdom and spending hours in the last week setting up the site.
The Worralls and the Wilsons: Barb, Hugh, Anna, Nick – What a dream team. I cannot put to words the hours they have contributed, the stress they have shouldered, or the faith that they have shown. I could not have prayed for better support.
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