Covid conditions changes from 4th January 20
Jesus the Word!
Readings:
Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 1:1-18
Sentence:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Collect:
Saviour of the world, in the birth of your Son you reveal yourself as Word made flesh; grant us your grace that we may live as your children, certain in the knowledge that we are loved beyond measure, and called to be willing to share that love. Through Jesus Christ our Liberator, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Gospel: John 1: 1-18
The Word Became Flesh
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”) 16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Welcome to 2021. So begins another chapter in our lives. New challenges, new goals, new expectations and new mysteries yet to unfold in our lives. What has happened in our lives in 2020 is done and can never be undone.
We begin the year with the words from John’s Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This is where John’s gospel begins–in the beginning. This is John’s Christmas story; no shepherds, no angels nor a baby lying in a manger. In this Christmas story, John takes us back to the beginning. He echoes the words from the book of Genesis: In the beginning God created; God moved over the chaos and darkness and said, “Let there be light.” In John’s gospel, from the very beginning was the Word. The God who moved over the face of the deep, over the darkness, who spoke and said “let there be light,” this same God who was from the beginning and spoke that Word, is the same God who became flesh and blood and dwelt among us. John says, “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
The God who takes on our flesh doesn’t ignore the darkness but shines in the very midst of it.
Christmas is all about being with whanau, spending time with the ones we love, enjoying the exchange of gifts, talking with each other, telling stories about the past and sharing a meal around the dinner table. But I am sure this Christmas has been different for many of us. Early on Christmas morning a young man, a father of one, lost his life in a tragic accident in Auckland. He lived with us for a short period of time. His family are totally heart-broken and our aroha goes out to them as they mourn his loss. No words can ever fill the pain and void when we lose a loved one. Covid19 has also changed the circumstances for those of us living in Sydney. Whanau visiting your home went from 10 to 5. Those who planned to travel had to change those plans. Those that travelled, some may have reached their destinations to spend time with their whanau, some may have been blocked at state borders and told to go back to Sydney. And now, all borders are closed, everyone has to spend two weeks in quarantine and face masks need to be worn. I am certain, many will be glad to have this Christmas over and done with.
However, with all the things that life throws at us, even as we enter 2021, we are reminded, and called back to where our center is to be located. Where our hearts belong, and that is to celebrate the mystery of God becoming flesh and blood and to joyously receive the coming of Christ among us, the Word made flesh, the Word that gives life and breath and hope to us all. The light that shines in the darkness.
Christmas is about God who comes near and becomes real to us. Sometimes we do talk about God being mysterious and unknowable, beyond comprehension–which is true–but here in this celebration, God the Creator takes on flesh, our flesh, and becomes one of us and lives among us. In the midst of our darkness, in the midst of the chaos of our lives, Jesus comes announcing life and not death. Later in John’s gospel, we will hear Jesus say, “I come that you may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus’ way is the way of God, the way of life. He is that Word spoken in the midst of our chaos and darkness and creates life where everything may seem impossible. And in and through Jesus, we are shown how we are meant to be, full of life, full of hope, full of joy–that even as God has poured upon us the new light of God’s living Word, we are to allow this light to shine forth in our lives, no matter what.
The real struggle with Christmas is not if there are to be Christmas trees or fireworks or if we spent more money than we should have; the real struggle for the soul of Christmas is allowing Jesus, the “Word made flesh,” “God made flesh,” to be genuinely enbedded in us, in our hearts and minds and hands, enbedded in our relationships and in our care for those who mourn, for the sick, for the stranger, for the jobless, for the homeless and for those in any need or trouble.
God the Creator, who created the earth and the universe and saw that it was good, continues to create. Creation continues and the creator remains active, always seeking the best for all people, desiring that we may truly live. And today we continue to celebrate that creative living Word, becoming a human being.
As we begin a new year and all that pulls and tugs on our hearts, may we remember the good gifts that God has given us, the sun and the moon, this good earth with all its blessings of sky and water, plants and animals, this incredible gift of life, of flesh and blood, of breath and memory, this day, this moment, and all those people in our lives, both joy and sorrow, and all that it means for us to be fully human and fully alive. And, above all, may we remember the gift of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, sent to save us, to heal us, to bring us joy, to bring us back to God’s own self.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Archdeacon Kaio Karipa
The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Steadfast Faith!
Readings:
Isaiah 61:10–62:3
Psalm 148
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:22-40
Sentence:
My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2:30–32
Collect:
Holy and eternal God, your Son Jesus Christ has taught us to learn from the simple trust of children; give us pure hearts and steadfast faith to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Today is the first Sunday after Christmas. As we move quickly towards the New Year, our gospel from Luke tells us about Jesus being presented at the temple to Simeon and Anna. If you ever needed a good story about, “Good things come to those who wait”? Then, the story of Simeon, Anna and the baby Jesus is a good example and it will also make you and I consider where we want to be as we enter the new year.
Simeon and Anna waited for years for the coming of the Messiah. The centre of Simeon’s joy was the privilege of being God’s servant, and in return, God let him see the salvation of the world as it dawned. Simeon saw the baby Jesus as the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people. In the Old Testament, God promised Moses that a prophet would come who would be unlike any other prophet. God promised David a son who would reign forever. God told Isaiah that a son would be born of a virgin and he would be called Emmanuel-God with us. The Prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
Anna was an eighty-year-old widow who stayed close to the temple and served God through fasting and praying. In return, God blessed her by allowing her to see the Saviour of the world as a newborn baby. God fulfilled the promise made to Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. When God fulfilled that promise, Simeon uttered the words that are part of the funeral liturgy in the Anglican Church: the ‘Song of Simeon’, also known as the Nunc Dimittis-“O Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which hath been since the world began”.
Simeon and Anna have always been symbolic but also excellent examples for us to follow. The world has never been without people like them, people with a future vision that burned with great hope, with freedom in their souls and the light of knowledge in their eyes. Living in hope and expectation that a great day was coming when everything would be corrected, when justice would be done, when God would bring salvation to humanity. I was fortunate enough to grow up among my elders who held the same faith as Simeon and Anna. There are examples, past and present, in our church who carry the same burning faith today! Two nights ago or one night over two thousand years ago, the Word became flesh in a baby born in Bethlehem. One day, it will become flesh again when Christ returns to set up his kingdom here on earth.
Simeon also told Mary of the suffering and death Jesus would have to endure for all of his people. Most people thought of the redemption of Jerusalem and God’s people in terms of freedom from Roman rule, but some had a vision of an even greater redemption. A vision of spiritual renewal. God’s salvation is for all of us, but not all of us will accept it, just like some people did not accept Christ and his teachings and salvation. God’s salvation doesn’t mean that we will never suffer troubles, illness, rejection or death. It happened to Jesus. It happened to Mary. It will happen to us, but if we endure hardships with faith, we will have an awesome future. It takes faith to know a blessing from God. It is the joy of celebrating God’s goodness in the midst of our chaotic lives and our suffering world.
As life passes us by, how do we grow old in such a way to end well and finish awaiting Christ’s message, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? You see, we are never too old, weak or sick to make a difference. Our attitude and behaviour will always make a difference. God will guide us to share the story of Jesus with everyone we meet. We have also been told of the coming Christ. Like Simeon and Anna, we are heirs of a promise. We are prompted by the same Spirit. In other words, we long to see the same face. To do so successfully, we must wait patiently and vigilantly. When we look at Jesus’ face, we will know that it is time for us to repent and come home to God, just like Simeon knew it was time for him to go to his heavenly home when he saw the face of the baby Jesus.
We have just come through the seasons of Advent and Christmas, and during those seasons we, like Simeon and Anna, had to wait and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. God works in a time zone where a day is as a thousand years. For those who have walked the long road of faith and felt all of it’s pain and suffering but also found it comforting and peaceful, for all those who have waited on the Lord while holding on for their lives, they have received the reward of joy.
When our dreams don’t come true in a day, we, like Simeon and Anna, need to keep in mind that God is still at work. God is still preparing the gift to fit our needs. We need to pray, not just for the gift, but also for patience to wait for God’s unveiling. As we practice our faith, hope, commitment and patience, we see the Christ child. We see the love of God. Like Simeon, our eyes have seen God’s salvation. Having been saved, we glorify God and depart in peace to share Christ’s salvation throughout the world. Amen.
Archdeacon Kaio Karipa
The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Photo: 2019 First Sunday after Christmas Day
God with Us
Luke 2: 1-14
The Birth of Jesus
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o te Wairua Tapu
Merry Christmas whanau! I hope you are enjoying your time with your whanau. I have already received many calls to wish our whanau the best for Christmas and it’s great to catch up with different ones. At least I know they are okay and that they are not spending this time alone like many in this huge city.
That is why Christmas is so important as it constantly reminds us that it’s the time when we celebrate God’s unconditional gift of love to the world. The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! God born into a world full of hate, rejection and evil. Yet, with this divine birth, God brings hope, peace, joy and love.
As I reflect on the past year, I want to acknowledge the willingness of our church, with some apprehension of course, to change our values and attitudes to further strengthen our faith, be more generous to others and more open to God’s love so it enables us to share that love with our people in Sydney.
How time passes so quickly! 311 baptisms, 72 confirmations, 30 marriages, And almost 500 tangihanga later. It’s been a privilege to serve Christ as your priest for 20 years in this amazing city of Sydney. It’s been challenging with many ups and downs but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Luke states in our gospel, “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” God is with Us! That says it all. That’s the Christmas truth. It’s the only thing that needs to be said and it’s the only thing I have to tell you. Nothing more, nothing less.
They are the angel’s words to the shepherds. “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” They are words of “good news of great joy for all people.” Today Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 9:2-7) is fulfilled. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.”
Every year I look forward to being reminded of the angel’s words. I want to be told that this story is true and can be trusted. I want to know the reality of this birth is in my life, in your lives and in our world. I think that’s what we all want. We want to hear the angel’s words again like the very first time.
Why do I say that? Because I have walked and lived in the land of darkness. I’ve known when my life was full of darkness. But I’ve also walked alongside many that have been surrounded by darkness. And, I look at our world and see so much suffering that I want to hear some good news of great joy, not just for me but for all people. I think you know what I’m talking about.
There are whanau, friends and loved ones who are walking in the darkness of serious illnesses – waiting, wondering and weeping. We have lived in the darkness of grief, loss, and sorrow. The names and faces of whanau and friends still run through our minds like it was yesterday. The darkness of self-doubt, confusion and not knowing, have caused each of us to stumble and fall. Sometimes our words and actions, our choices and priorities, things we have done and left undone, have darkened our Wairua and our minds, leaving us blind to new possibilities.
There are so many issues that face humanity at this time that you and I don’t know what to do with or actually do anything about them. We all desperately want to hear good news of great joy for all people, for all indigenous people, blacks and whites, Muslims and Christians, Jews and Palestinians, citizens and immigrants; and we want to see that good news overcome all that divides us.
That’s why Christmas is so important. We have all experienced some darkness over the past year and we have longed to be told good news of great joy. And for some of us that wasn’t just about the past year. It describes our life right up to now. Christmas reminds us that this story is real and true. “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” You will never be disappointed because the manger of Christ never disappoints. Every year, the “child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” reminds us like the first time, that we know this story is true. Knowing the reality of its truth for each of our lives. The manger in Bethlehem holds the creator of us all and because of that manger, you and I, and every aspect of our lives, and all of creation are cradled in him. Today the Creator is born and by his birth, we, the created, are made anew, reborn, and recreated to face 2021.
I can’t tell you how this happens. I don’t know. I only know that it does happen. Year after year it happens. I’ve experienced it in my life and I’ve seen it happen in the lives of others. The only thing I can tell you is this: “To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” And that is good news of great joy for all people.
What an exciting time ahead for our church. And, you are all apart of bringing others to Christ through your words and actions. May God with us, through Jesus Christ, continue to strengthen your hope, your faith and your love for humanity and may peace be with you and your families this Christmas. Amen.
The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
No Christmas Eve Service
Posted to Facebook 24/12/20
Let it Be!
Readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16
Psalm 89:1-4,19-26
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
Sentence:
This child will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:32-33
Collect:
God of all hope and joy, open our hearts in welcome, that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.
Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.
Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Usually we would be celebrating the season of Advent at our church in Redfern. But this year has been different to all of our 35 year history. We have had to shut down the church in March, re-open in October and close again in November. It will be the first time we will not have a Christmas Eve karakia. Very confronting for me but even more confronting for you and everyone that attends our Christmas service. For years, we have always had someone drive from Taree for karakia, have a kai with us at 1am and then drive back to Taree. Not this year. It’s wet and cold in Sydney and there is an outbreak of Covid19 re-emerging in different parts of our city. So be careful where you go whanau, wear your masks, make sure you keep your distance from others and don’t get caught up in big crowds. Hence, the importance of being able to re-adjust our lives, and do it quickly. Don’t procrastinate or wait for something to happen, get moving. Like I’ve stated, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. A time for us to let go of our old stories and re-discover a new way forward and a new way of being. So are you ready?
You see, when I reflect on my life and where I have come from to where I am today. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would be here. So it’s a good time to ask the following question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ It’s a question that most of us were probably asked in our younger years. We ask it of our children and grandchildren. But it’s not a question limited to a particular age. Nor is it necessarily that simple. Some of us are still trying to answer that question today. Who would’ve thought, least of all me, that I would grow up to be a priest! When we were kids, we would lie in the paddock at night, looking up at the stars and dream about being astronauts and pilots. Then on holidays with our uncle, I would think I’m gonna be a truck driver just like him. Then as you get older, you start thinking, I’m gonna be a famous muso like Bob Marley. Even though I couldn’t sing or play any instrument. At one level these were nothing but silly fantasies. At another level, they point to the assumption that we are responsible for creating the life we want.
So have a look at all your relationships: your whanau, your friendships, your marriage and partnerships, your jobs and careers, your education and your homes. All of those are attempts to create your life. That’s not necessarily wrong. We have decisions to make and opportunities before us. The difficulty comes when we start to believe and carry the burden that we are the ultimate creator of our life. Seems that’s what happened to King David when he decided that God needed a big cedar house like his. David was convinced that he was the one to build a house for God. Until God said, “No.” God reminded David that God is the builder and creator of life. It’s been that way from the beginning. For in the beginning, God said and it happened. God said let there be light and there was, let there be sky, dry land, earth that brings forth vegetation, fish that fill the waters, a sun and a moon. Let us create humankind in our image and likeness. God said let there be all these things and there was all those things. Creation is the larger context for today’s gospel, the Annunciation to Mary.
God speaks the creative word. And, today we remember Mary’s words, “Let it be.” “Let it be with me according to your word.” Mary’s words, “Let it be,” echo God’s words, “Let there be.” It’s like an ongoing call and response between God and humanity. God speaks creation into existence and Mary says, “Amen. Let it be.” This is not an ending to the creation story but the continuation of creation and the beginning of our salvation. Think about this. God says, “Let there be” and his words bring forth creatures into the world. Mary says, “Let it be” and her words will bring forth the Creator into the world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is able to take flesh because Mary’s humanity gives him that possibility. This could only happen with Mary’s “Let it be.” Her gift to God is her humanity and through her it’s our humanity. The incarnation of God in Jesus is not, however, limited to Mary. It’s an affirmation of God’s creation and the goodness of humanity. God chooses human flesh, not a big huge cedar house, as the place of God’s dwelling. Each one of us can stand as the “favoured one,” the one with whom God is. Each of us is called to grow up to be God-bearers, to carry the life of God, the life of Christ within our own humanity. Let it be and accept it!
Tradition says that Mary was one of the virgins chosen to weave a new veil for the temple. The veil was the curtain that separated humanity from the holy of holies, the place that God lived. Neither the temple veil nor Mary’s virginity, however, can separate God from humanity. As the Archangel Gabriel declares, “Nothing will be impossible with God.” We all live with veils that we think separate us from God and allows us to remain hidden. There are veils of fear, shame, and guilt. Independence and individualism become veils of isolation. Sometimes we are veiled in logic and reason, unable or unwilling to abandon ourselves to the mystery of God. Often our veils are the life we have created for ourselves. God looks through all our veils to see the “favoured one” even when we can’t see ourselves that way. God’s words of possibility speak across our veils announcing that God is with us and that we will conceive within us God’s own life. God is always stepping through our veils to choose us as God’s dwelling place and create a new story and a new beginning for each one of us.
“How can this be?” With those words Mary acknowledges that the life Gabriel announces is not the life she was creating for herself. “Let it be.” With those words Mary receives the life God is creating in her. Between “How can this be?” and “Let it be” the impossible becomes a reality, the never before heard of will forever be spoken of, and the veil between divinity and humanity has fallen. Offer whatever excuses, reasons, and veils you have why this cannot be true for you. Gabriel will tell you differently. Because “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Amen.
Archdeacon Kaio Karipa
The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Photo: 2019 4th Sunday in Advent
Thank you to Chrisco
Change of Parking Zone beside the Church driveway
Merry Christmas from Te Wairua Tapu
Thank you to Miriam, Pat and our amazing wahine that donated Christmas Hampers for our Kaumatua & Kuia. Sorry our photographer was so busy delivering her hampers she forgot to take photos of everyone
Congratulations
Archdeacon Karipa celebrated his 20th year as priest in charge of the Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Maori based at Te Wairua Tapu on the 17th of December. Due to restrictions on gatherings, thank you to the ministry team for organising this lunch. We shared a marvellous meal and heard stories of shared experiences. Thank you to Archdeacon for his honest and humorous sharing, as he quoted “It’s been my privilege to be your priest these last 20 years”.
