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.

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