This blog complements our website www.stpeter.org.nz and gives us the facility to post up-to-the-minute information and offers you the opportunity to give feedback. Click on the Recent Posts link to thr right for the latest news.
I really enjoyed the 9.45 service on Te Pouhere Sunday, especially the bits when things didn’t run smoothly with the music. Suddenly instead of the congregational sitting passively admiring a splendindly orchestrated show, the success or otherwise of the worship was transferred to the humble folk in the pews. The singing depended entirely on our effort, rather than the magnificence of the musically gifted. It was a great moment: the congregation actually had to leap into the breach. Of course we are lucky that mostly St Peter’s turns on a display of musical excellence, but it was really nice to feel momentarily as if we were in a humble little NZ wooden church with a small congregation doing their best, where every voice counted. Our goodwill rather than our fabulosity counted.Well done everybody who turned up to be part of that.
Wahoo!! What a great site. Love reading through the comments. Just loved last weeks service and so enjoyed the singing. Well done choir.
Looking forward to the mountain!!! This church rocks and everyone in it!!
It is so unfortunate that Te Pouhere Sunday clashes with the Queens birthday weekend and a visit of the Cathedral choir out of town. I know that the planning for the day had been in place for many weeks but it was a shame that we did not know the sung responses and waiata well enough to make it a really moving experience. It could be so good. This certainly not for want of trying on Pine’s behalf. It would have been helpful to have someone who was familiar with hymns 3 and 4 on the day so that a visiting musician was not put under pressure with material he did not know. Three strands maybe, but not quite a tapestry yet. I enjoyed the Archbishop’s address.
Hi This is a response to this mornings service 23rd May, 2010.
This is a church with many excellent scholars and musicians in it. I have quite recently proved I am neither, but I have ENTHUSIASM. Ask anyone who knows me. Today I heard it means God is in me. Nice one Lord. I like it!
Hear what the Spirit is saying we say after every reading. Well I had to ask “What on earth are you saying to us here Lord?” after the Babel Story “Dont you want us to excell? Why did you play Scrabble with the lingo?” The answer shot back – “After Babel they had to open their hearts to hear each other, and that was always my intention.” So it follows that the reason they could understand each other at Pentecost is because they were in a wide open-hearted state.
I think God intends for us to always use our hearts as well as our heads. Minds at work without hearts, knowledge without wisdom, thinking without feeling, can build towering monuments to human stupidity of many kinds as we all know, but open hearts see miracles- as normal events!
Last year I taught English for a while to some new immigrants. It was fun. Perhaps I was contributing to a new global language. Who knows? What I do know is that when I get the opportunity to interact ACROSS a language (or any other) barrier, I get that same big open heart buzz. It feels good. It feels healthy. Connections follow, cracks in the Earth close up, the cloak of Papatuaanuku is mended.
Tui, tui, tuia matou. Tuia ki te mamae, Tuia ki te tumanako, Tuia ki te ora. Needless to say I am looking forward to Te Pouhere – the Maori service on June 6th. Even at our practices you could hear the Spirit stitching. Te ngira o te ngakau.
In June I am going to live in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, to continue learning Scottish Gaelic, and its old songs, in the crofting community of South Uist. I am full of joy because of the connections happening all around me as a by-product of my preparations, which light up my path.
Not being eligible for a scholar’s funding, I am working hard to meet my costs, so I invite you all to consider whether you would like to buy a copy of my poetry book, or a ticket to my farewell ceilidh (concert & dance) on 12th June or offer me some work- see noticeboard in Lounge. I will finish paying off the fare this week, and still have to find conference fees, accommodation, internal travel, and living costs to last until the channel of provision for me over there, eg. a job, becomes apparent.
I have a newsletter out telling about the conference, and how my decision came about, which I will send to anyone who emails me at: alisonmaryross@gmail.com.
I am happy for this article to appear anywhere. And I will be happy to see you all on the 6th when we tie up our waka to Jesus! Alison Ross
hey Peter nice blog but when I went to Work In Progress I got trapped in there and couldn’t get back to the main blog site, ended up having to exit firefox and start all over again . Also, the stpeter.org.nz site doesn’t give the blog address, just a click link., so you might want to add that. I feel disgruntled and disheartened and disempowered and disenfranchised and disappointed to realise that I am not a Who in your Who’s Who selection. You lot (those worthy of inclusion in Who’s Who) wouldn’t be where you are today without us humble bottoms on pews you know. and why are there no dog photos? I like dog photos. Also why are there no photos of dear little rosy cheeked kiddies frolicking happily, soaking up God’s Word? and a few carefully selected punters of various demographic persuasions to show just how inclusive and lovely we all are. mainly the photogenic punters of course. what about a bbq photo with a caption like “our sausages really sizzle at St Peter’s” (or something similarly enticing combining a happy suggestion of both food and entertainment) Good luck with further development of the blog, shannon b.
Hi Shannon,
Thank you so much for being the first to interact with the new site and for you helpful comments interspersed in your witty text which I have approved so all the world can see it!
The Header Bar, which on our site is the stained glass window, is the key to returning to the home page. Thanks to your comment I’ve now added an instruction on the home page to that effect.
The address of the blog appears in your browser’s address bar when you click on the link on the old web page, but I can put it there too. It’s http://stpetercathedral.wordpress.com/
More pictures will be posted when I’m more proficient at laying them out nicely.
All good wishes,
The Administrator
June 14, 2010 at 5:22 pm |
I really enjoyed the 9.45 service on Te Pouhere Sunday, especially the bits when things didn’t run smoothly with the music. Suddenly instead of the congregational sitting passively admiring a splendindly orchestrated show, the success or otherwise of the worship was transferred to the humble folk in the pews. The singing depended entirely on our effort, rather than the magnificence of the musically gifted. It was a great moment: the congregation actually had to leap into the breach. Of course we are lucky that mostly St Peter’s turns on a display of musical excellence, but it was really nice to feel momentarily as if we were in a humble little NZ wooden church with a small congregation doing their best, where every voice counted. Our goodwill rather than our fabulosity counted.Well done everybody who turned up to be part of that.
June 9, 2010 at 8:55 am |
Wahoo!! What a great site. Love reading through the comments. Just loved last weeks service and so enjoyed the singing. Well done choir.
Looking forward to the mountain!!! This church rocks and everyone in it!!
June 8, 2010 at 12:55 pm |
It is so unfortunate that Te Pouhere Sunday clashes with the Queens birthday weekend and a visit of the Cathedral choir out of town. I know that the planning for the day had been in place for many weeks but it was a shame that we did not know the sung responses and waiata well enough to make it a really moving experience. It could be so good. This certainly not for want of trying on Pine’s behalf. It would have been helpful to have someone who was familiar with hymns 3 and 4 on the day so that a visiting musician was not put under pressure with material he did not know. Three strands maybe, but not quite a tapestry yet. I enjoyed the Archbishop’s address.
June 8, 2010 at 1:49 pm |
Your comments have been carefully noted. Many thanks for taking time to write on the blog.
May 24, 2010 at 12:56 am |
Hi This is a response to this mornings service 23rd May, 2010.
This is a church with many excellent scholars and musicians in it. I have quite recently proved I am neither, but I have ENTHUSIASM. Ask anyone who knows me. Today I heard it means God is in me. Nice one Lord. I like it!
Hear what the Spirit is saying we say after every reading. Well I had to ask “What on earth are you saying to us here Lord?” after the Babel Story “Dont you want us to excell? Why did you play Scrabble with the lingo?” The answer shot back – “After Babel they had to open their hearts to hear each other, and that was always my intention.” So it follows that the reason they could understand each other at Pentecost is because they were in a wide open-hearted state.
I think God intends for us to always use our hearts as well as our heads. Minds at work without hearts, knowledge without wisdom, thinking without feeling, can build towering monuments to human stupidity of many kinds as we all know, but open hearts see miracles- as normal events!
Last year I taught English for a while to some new immigrants. It was fun. Perhaps I was contributing to a new global language. Who knows? What I do know is that when I get the opportunity to interact ACROSS a language (or any other) barrier, I get that same big open heart buzz. It feels good. It feels healthy. Connections follow, cracks in the Earth close up, the cloak of Papatuaanuku is mended.
Tui, tui, tuia matou. Tuia ki te mamae, Tuia ki te tumanako, Tuia ki te ora. Needless to say I am looking forward to Te Pouhere – the Maori service on June 6th. Even at our practices you could hear the Spirit stitching. Te ngira o te ngakau.
In June I am going to live in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, to continue learning Scottish Gaelic, and its old songs, in the crofting community of South Uist. I am full of joy because of the connections happening all around me as a by-product of my preparations, which light up my path.
Not being eligible for a scholar’s funding, I am working hard to meet my costs, so I invite you all to consider whether you would like to buy a copy of my poetry book, or a ticket to my farewell ceilidh (concert & dance) on 12th June or offer me some work- see noticeboard in Lounge. I will finish paying off the fare this week, and still have to find conference fees, accommodation, internal travel, and living costs to last until the channel of provision for me over there, eg. a job, becomes apparent.
I have a newsletter out telling about the conference, and how my decision came about, which I will send to anyone who emails me at: alisonmaryross@gmail.com.
I am happy for this article to appear anywhere. And I will be happy to see you all on the 6th when we tie up our waka to Jesus! Alison Ross
April 29, 2010 at 4:33 pm |
hey Peter nice blog but when I went to Work In Progress I got trapped in there and couldn’t get back to the main blog site, ended up having to exit firefox and start all over again . Also, the stpeter.org.nz site doesn’t give the blog address, just a click link., so you might want to add that. I feel disgruntled and disheartened and disempowered and disenfranchised and disappointed to realise that I am not a Who in your Who’s Who selection. You lot (those worthy of inclusion in Who’s Who) wouldn’t be where you are today without us humble bottoms on pews you know. and why are there no dog photos? I like dog photos. Also why are there no photos of dear little rosy cheeked kiddies frolicking happily, soaking up God’s Word? and a few carefully selected punters of various demographic persuasions to show just how inclusive and lovely we all are. mainly the photogenic punters of course. what about a bbq photo with a caption like “our sausages really sizzle at St Peter’s” (or something similarly enticing combining a happy suggestion of both food and entertainment) Good luck with further development of the blog, shannon b.
April 29, 2010 at 11:24 pm |
Hi Shannon,
Thank you so much for being the first to interact with the new site and for you helpful comments interspersed in your witty text which I have approved so all the world can see it!
The Header Bar, which on our site is the stained glass window, is the key to returning to the home page. Thanks to your comment I’ve now added an instruction on the home page to that effect.
The address of the blog appears in your browser’s address bar when you click on the link on the old web page, but I can put it there too. It’s http://stpetercathedral.wordpress.com/
More pictures will be posted when I’m more proficient at laying them out nicely.
All good wishes,
The Administrator