Last Sunday we attended the church service at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Reefton. By turning up we doubled the congregation there. The service was led by Hilary Ladds, the local lay minister. Songs were played on the computer and automatically coordinated with the overhead projection – they must use a song-bank that makes this…

Recently the Diocese has prepared guidelines for dealing with homeless people on church property. Vestry decided that a short summary should be provided in the newsletter. Welcoming those experiencing homelessness must be balanced with our responsibilities for the safety and wellbeing of parishioners, visitors, and the wider community. Compassionate care works alongside the law and…

Recently I read a book about the 1960s New Zealand Railways days. One of the things that stood out for me was how often railway employees seemed to move around the country. Every few years they would move to another locality, often with houses provided. Some localities gained a bit of a reputation among the…