Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Easter Day saw Archbishop Philip in Waverley, South Taranaki for the mid morning service. A combined churches service gathered over 40 people of all ages together to celebrate the resurrection. An historic split in the Waverley congregation 25 years ago led to the establishment of the Waverley Baptist Church. So it was profoundly moving to be joined by significant numbers of the Baptist congregation for the Easter Eucharist. An ongoing commitment to quarterly joint services gives witness to the wider community of the priority of mission over historical divisions.

Then it was on to the tiny community of St Hilda in the Wood, Ngamatapouri, an hours drive land. The small congregation represented a high proportion of the population of these isolated valleys. They are resilient and resourceful people who are still in recovery mode following the devastating floods of several years ago. The land shows the marks of this devastation and it is even harder to eke out a living from this demanding land. The people of the valleys do so with hard work, humour and hope.

The day was imbued with lots of laughter and joy. The service concluded with an Easter egg hunt around the Church. A wonderful community afternoon tea at the Larsen farm rounded off a special Easter Day in this, the most isolated corner of our widespread diocese.