On Sunday afternoon, 35 or so members of the congregation at St David's with St George's, Dinsdale welcomed 300 members of the City Link church community during a pōwhiri in the main worship space at St David's.  This marked a new chapter in the life of that church community.  Nearly two years ago, there was a very different picture: the congregation split over Motion 30, and the majority left the Anglican Church and ventured into pastures new.  The small group that remained were left with debt, and a legacy of deferred maintenance, not to mention great uncertainty about their future.  Courage, commitment and determination have turned that around, and the result was revealed on Sunday.  Debt has been turned into increased giving and income, along with creative opportunities for community engagement, and a new partnership with City Link church, a partnership that had come about through a series of remarkable conversations and God-inspired coincidences.  Matua Pinē Campbell spoke on behalf of tangata whenua in welcoming the City Link community; the two communities shared the hongi together, and then joined in worship and in food and fellowship.  It was a remarkable occasion.  Bishop Helen-Ann spoke to those gathered saying that it was significant that this was happening during the season of Lent.  'So often we think of our salvation beginning and ending in the Cross; but really the story of the Cross begins in the journey of discipleship.  This new partnership is a journey of discipleship, and we give thanks for all that God is doing in our midst.'  Ministry Educator, the Rev'd Stephen Black, together with the Rev'd Phil Wilson (who has done a magnificent job of caring for the community at St. David's during this challening time) welcomed the new partnership, which was described by the leadership team at City Link as very much a weaving together of two communities, to find new ways of engaging in God's mission in the city and in the suburb of Dinsdale in particular.  The City Link community prioritise bi-culturalism, and seek to uphold Te Ao Māori in all their work and ministry.  Given that Anglicanism in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia started in partnership, this new expression of our identity is firmly rooted in the whakapapa of our faith journey in these islands.

We look forward to all that lies ahead, and give thanks to God for courage, resilience and commitment to our Anglican identity, rooted in our journey of discipleship.

Kororia ki te Atua!