We now have water back on at the vicarage, but not enough presure for a shower yet.
Am about to head down to the church to make plans for Sunday services, and reassure our parish administrator.
I have received so many emails, texts and calls of support and offers of help. God bless you all!
I have also had a God-indidence this morning in that I checked what the Gospel for Sunday is: Matthew 6: 24-34 on our roster. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (verse 25). Check out the rest of it. Tell me what strikes you about it.
As we stuggle to sort out our basic needs and establish contact with others, God is with us, Emmanuel. In the joys, and in the hurts. And especially in the long term journey as the effects and enormity of this situation becomes apparent.
If I can say one thing that is a huge help is to have people willing to listen as we talk about it. The precious gift of a listening, empathetic ear is food for the soul.
Blessings
Rev Annette
Friday, February 25, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Earthquakes and prayer
Hi All
Being a first time vicar following a major natural disaster in the form of an earthquake is tough. In some ways, it can highlight areas where you weren't prepared - in other ways, it highlights the ways in which strengths come to the fore.
And so I have been praying. Constantly. I have been lamenting. I have been praising. I have watched the news unfolding and used it as a visual prompt for prayer. On the first night when we lacked power and we hunkered down in the lounge for support, I lit candles and used them for meditation and prayer. A symbolic reminder of the presence of Christ in our darkest moments. I have cooked food and cleaned up broken and fallen stuff and prayed.
Its easy to feel useless but this is an event that will require all sorts of skills and abilities over the coming days, weeks and months. Eat, sleep, pray and be ready. You might feel like you're twiddling your thumbs a bit but you will have your time or your way to help. So keep in contact. Keep checking websites - www.anglicanlife.org.nz and may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds on the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Being a first time vicar following a major natural disaster in the form of an earthquake is tough. In some ways, it can highlight areas where you weren't prepared - in other ways, it highlights the ways in which strengths come to the fore.
And so I have been praying. Constantly. I have been lamenting. I have been praising. I have watched the news unfolding and used it as a visual prompt for prayer. On the first night when we lacked power and we hunkered down in the lounge for support, I lit candles and used them for meditation and prayer. A symbolic reminder of the presence of Christ in our darkest moments. I have cooked food and cleaned up broken and fallen stuff and prayed.
Its easy to feel useless but this is an event that will require all sorts of skills and abilities over the coming days, weeks and months. Eat, sleep, pray and be ready. You might feel like you're twiddling your thumbs a bit but you will have your time or your way to help. So keep in contact. Keep checking websites - www.anglicanlife.org.nz and may the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds on the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Dog Parks as a place of prayer
I have now moved into the vicarage and am embarking on the challenge of setting new routines in a new context. Translation: where is the best local coffee shop? Where did I put that important piece of paper in my new office? And how do I re-establish regular prayer time with God?
As you may have gathered, I have two dogs and they are my unpaid, unofficial lay ministers during the week. I have made the discovery that my local dog park opens early enough in the morning that I can take Murphy and Angus for a walk before the rest of the day unfolds. This is exciting news because I find walking the dogs is one of the best times to pray.
I have often found that the best way of establishing prayer patterns in life is to link them with something that you do regularly during the week. It might be in the car driving to work (eyes open of course!) or doing the dishes or putting out the rubbish bin. Maybe this is something that would work for you? Perhaps you have other suggestions that help you to pray. I'd love to hear about them.
As you may have gathered, I have two dogs and they are my unpaid, unofficial lay ministers during the week. I have made the discovery that my local dog park opens early enough in the morning that I can take Murphy and Angus for a walk before the rest of the day unfolds. This is exciting news because I find walking the dogs is one of the best times to pray.
I have often found that the best way of establishing prayer patterns in life is to link them with something that you do regularly during the week. It might be in the car driving to work (eyes open of course!) or doing the dishes or putting out the rubbish bin. Maybe this is something that would work for you? Perhaps you have other suggestions that help you to pray. I'd love to hear about them.
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