Festival of New Life
On Sunday 23rd June, members of Christ the Redeemer Roman Catholic Parish in North Christchurch joined us at St Pauls to celebrate the joint statement on baptism between the Roman Catholic Church in New Zealand and the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, in a Festival of New Life. The joint statement – He Tāngata Iriiri Ngātahi i Roto i te Karaiti – Baptised Together in Christ – was the first work completed by the Dialogue Commission formed between our two churches during the 2017 Reformation Commemoration year. The Dialogue Commission encouraged every congregation in the LCNZ to reach out to their Roman Catholic sisters and brothers with a view to celebrating the Festival of New Life together. However, COVID got in the way and stalled these plans. When Pastor Jim Pietsch concluded his ministry at St Paul’s Wellington, he also left the Dialogue Commission, and I replaced him. One of the first things I suggested was that we reinstate the Festival of New Life celebration. The Dialogue Commission would love to see this become an annual opportunity for us to share the things we have in common as the baptised people into and of Christ.
Pastor Mark Whitfield
Christchurch St Paul’s
August 2024
