What a year that was

Parish

Dec 23

Writing a re-cap is an exciting task. It never ceases to amaze me just how much can be packed into 12 months. Changing people, changing places, changing contexts, but always in service of the one unchangeable God.

The obvious highlight of the year has been the re-opening and consecration of St Mark's Church and the new St Anne's Chapel. It was some 4,114 days between services in St Mark's and so the re-opening on Saturday 28th May was an enormous milestone and an historic day for the parish.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has sacrificially given, prophetically dreamed, doggedly worked, fervently prayed, and patiently waited, for the completion of the repairs. I believe we have created a beautiful and holy space that will serve our needs well for many years to come. I am especially excited by the significant betterment we were able to include in the project. The lighting, heating, carpet, paint, audio-visual infrastructure and of course the CHAPEL are really exciting.

Let me restate the welcome I included in the pewsheet for our first week back;

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.

With the 'biggie' done, here are some of the other key moments of 2022

Property

We're HOME! With physical work starting back on 15th Feb 2021, we received the code compliance certificate, allowing us to formally re-enter the church on 26th May 2022.

MOVING IN was a big task, with the shipping container being emptied on 5th Feb, and then a whole-parish convoy bringing items from St Mark's School, the vicarage garage, and 3 Vincent Pl into the building the week before our first service. Many hands make light work, so we were very

thankful for students from St Mark's School removing the fiddly protective padding from 720 chair legs!

With a new building we wanted to ensure everything inside was looking good too, so have professionally polished and lacquered the brass (much of which had been sitting in the derelict church for 10 years). We will also soon receive new altar frontals.

Sadly our ORGAN didn't get the memo about re-opening, having received damage in storage, but we now think we have it fully working once more. Just when we thought we could take a break from buildings, our tenant at 3 VINCENT PLACE put in their notice which triggered a massive upgrade to the property. My thanks to those that helped with a significant WORKING BEE (12th Feb), and to the many who assisted along the way. Particular thanks go to the Worrall and Wilson families, especially Hugh who put in enormous hours shifting walls, building a bathroom, erecting a wall, moving sheds, fixing the piles, and 1,001 other tasks. It is now up to a healthy home standard and an asset we can be proud of.

Mission

We started the year with a BBQ for our neighbours at Vincent Courts. It was rather good timing, as within a week the covid settings had reverted back to red.

The liturgical year was followed. Sadly we weren't back at St Mark's to celebrate Easter, but it has been a delight to have our first Christmas back, having celebrated three of them at St Mark's School.

Especially exciting has been the Nativity Photo Booth set up in St Anne's Chapel. Whilst it didn't get a lot of community use this year, the students at St Mark's School were very excited with their class re-enactments of the Christmas story.

There were plenty of people keen to visit the Church, so we held open church days in the Saturdays of June. Over 80 came to visit including friends from St Martins Presbyterian, St Barnabas Fendalton, and a local prayer group.

My thanks to the Wednesday congregation who spent the year as nomads, celebrating at School, at cafes, at an under-construction 3 Vincent Pl, and finally in the St Anne's Chapel.

Rest home services were difficult this year under covid restrictions, with almost none of them taking place in the first 6 months of the year. They are now (almost) back to normal.

It was encouraging to take part in the Leading Your Church Into Growth (LYCIG) seminar, with leaders from the UK. Much of the content has made its way into our plans for 2023, and I have included the prayer for growth elsewhere in this pewsheet and ask you to pray it regularly.

The fun and fund-raising events this year were excellent, with over $12,000 raised at our fair (24th Sep). We also enjoyed a games night (25th June), a quiz night (16th Oct), men's groups, WOPS, and other events to bring us together.

Personal

While the re-opening was magnificent, something else was my highlight of the year – the birth of Thomas (9th Aug). My thanks to all those that helped keep us fed in the weeks the followed, and for the visits and baby cuddles in church as we navigate being a family of 5.

I just managed to make it through Easter before the family finally succumbed to COVID on day one of our holidays.

I have been approved some sabatical leave for next year, which I intend to take during May-July. I'll be looking at the way in which parishes and schools work together most effectively as well as taking time to recharge the batteries and retreat. Details on clergy cover will be announced in the new year.

World Events

We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, as they suffer under Russian attack (began 24th Feb). We took part in a moving hour of prayer with Opawa Community Church, and I know many of you are continuing to pray daily for the unjust war.

The world grieved at the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after 70 years on the throne. A service was held here at St Mark's, and official commemoration books were signed. We continue to pray for KING CHARLES III and will be doing something to mark the coronation in May.

COVID continues to spread internationally. We began the year in red settings and spend some of the year meeting via Zoom, and most of the year in masks and with communion in one kind. The numbers nationally seem to be peaking around Christmas and are still significant around the world. At time of writing there had been close to 650 million reported cases and well over 6.6 million recorded deaths. While the covid protection framework was removed in September, we continue to do what we can to limit infections. A reminder that masks are currently strongly encouraged in church and communion is still valid in one kind only.

School

St Mark's School continues to be in good heart. Principal Worner is on sabbatical during Term 1 in 2023 but will be ably covered by Deputy Principal Rennie.

It has been especially delightful to welcome back St Mark's Students to St Mark's Church after a very long absence. A whole generation of the school have missed out on worshipping in their church.

The Board of Proprietors is very happy to have welcomed a new member in Vice Chancellor of the Diocese, Mr Summerlee. Vestry appointee Mr Georgieff continues to do an excellent job as Chair.

People

Thanks was given to Judith who stepped down from vestry this year after many years of faithful service.

We welcomed Rev'd Buick as deacon in April. He splits his time between St Mark's and St Mary's Addington.

We welcomed Rev'd Struthers and Robyn to the parish. My thanks to Neil for covering for a number of Sundays in my absences While speaking of clergy, I am, as always, indebted to Rev'd Pask for her continued support of the parish, often filling in at short notice. In the Diocese we welcomed Rev'd Canon Chamberlain to the new position of Archdeacon for Regeneration and Mission. He guided the vestry in a planning day, and is an excellent resource to call upon.

Donna took up the role as Elder Care Co-ordinator during the year and has been doing a spectacular job.

In June we welcomed Grant and Rose to the parish. They are on the track to be ordained and have been placed with us for 18 months by the Bishop. My thanks for their input into the church so far, especially in launching and leading the weekly night prayers service.

After many years of service, Catherine stepped down from leading the Anabasis Home Group. Thank you, Catherine, for your diligent and faith-filled leading of the group, and to Mark and Marion for taking up the leadership role.

It has been exciting to welcome a number of new parishioners throughout the year, and to be able to host many of them at a newcomer's lunch (2nd July).

2022 will have had its own memories, highs, lows, changes, and losses for you. As we come to the end of the year, I encourage you to take time to review, take stock, and entrust into God's care all that has impacted you.

Thanks

It is a dangerous thing to offer thanks, as there will always be a few folk left off the list. My apologies.

Vestry: Thanks to those that give up at least 2 hours faithfully every month to ensure the smooth running and good governance of our Church.

Emmy: Our administrator extraordinaire. Always a laugh. Always putting in more time than we pay you for. Always ensuring things are looking good and running smoothly. Thank you for your company, your care for others, and your quality work.

Neil: as our treasurer has had an enormous workload over the last few years. 'Business as usual' has been far from usual with selling one church, building another, and dealing with all of the operations during covid. We are incredibly fortunate to have Neil working the books.

Jean: continued her ministry with the magazine which is an incredible amount of work. Its so important to have a space to tell our stories and share our faith. Thank you.

Neroli: Thank you for so ably picking up the treasurers work when Neil was away and then continuing with certain tasks! Thanks also for one of the most thankless yet important tasks—that of roster creator.

Clergy: Jill, Neil, Alastair – my thanks for all that you have given to the parish this year. I'm lucky to have a team of faithful ministers to advise, fill gaps, and pray for us.

Roma & Keith: These superstars and saints ensure the tables are set, the bells are rung, the altar frontals are changed, the chocolate basket is full and that the Vicar is sane. Thank you Roma and Keith for the continued ministry inside the church walls and outside them at our rest homes.

Margrett: Who attends most of our school services, fills in when I'm away, and was chief ironer of Nativity costumes. Thank you Margrett for so often being the one who gets things done.

Carolyne: Covid-care parcel creator and deliverer and Trade-Me whiz. Thank you for all that you do in the background.

Nick & Hugh: The frequent go-to guys if ever something needs fixing be it big or small. A particular thank you this year for all you've done at 3 Vincent Pl and in the week leading up to the re-entry of St Mark's. You saved the church literally thousands of dollars, and looked like you mostly had fun while doing it.

Barb & Anna: The parish is gifted with two of the hardest working, wise, and pastorally gifted wardens. Things would collapse without you. Words don't do justice to the work you have done this year. Thank you.

Baptisms

Nicholas (23rd Jan), Ida (29th May), Ella (24th July), Harry (24th July), Isaac (28th Aug), Lydia (28th Aug), Thomas (30th Oct), Olivia (6th Nov), William (18th Dec), Zara (21st Dec)