Our Mission in the City
On Wednesday I had the privilege of having a short tour of the new City Mission buildings with our City Missioner, Corrine Haines.
It. Was. Incredible!
I found myself moved to tears. The is not hyperbole – I was literally wiping away tears. It was moving to know both how enormous the social need is in Christchurch and how beautiful the response is from those that work at the Mission.
The new complex now has a mini supermarket where Foodstuffs have donated the shelving, the design, and the point-of-sale operations. Clients book to come in, and are allocated a certain number of points they can use to redeem what they want.
But the foodbank is often a gateway to more significant support: financial planning, access to government subsidies, addiction help, safe lodgings, minor medical assistance, educational support, the list goes on.
What was most moving was the interactions between people. Everything had been designed and planned to ensure the safety and dignity of the clients. One word kept floating to my lips – HOLY. This was holy work, where the Kingdom of Heaven was overlapping our present reality. Holy.
So this week, let me thank those saints in this parish who participate in that holy work. We have parishioners assisting at reception, at the op-shop, cooking meals for the night shelter, and hosting cuppas at the Thrive Café. Thanks too for those who each week or two come with a small something to drop off in the mission basket in the porch.
You are participating in the holy work of God, one box of Weet-Bix at a time.
From the Vicar
Parish Officers
Parish Governance
The executive team of Vicar, churchwardens and treasurer meet constantly on parish business.
Parish Groups
Worship leaders, lay readers, servers, ushers, greeters, flower arrangers, cleaners, counters, intercessors and cup bearers all join together to support the service.
From the Vicar
We live in a society that has in many ways abandoned its traditional patterns of mourning.
A time to relax and to reflect on the efforts made by trade unions to get this balance.
God gives us shelter from both rain and sun and picks us up when we stumble
Community Fair bringing affordable toys, books, china, vintage clothes and more from the Opawa - St Martins Parish.
