A Message from Bishop Victoria
As I approach my very first kiwi Christmas, I want to share with you my renewed joy in the action of God in Christ on that first Christmas day. The same God who created us in His own image, who called us by name and who invited us into relationship, did not give up on us when we pulled away. A friend of mine has remarked that while the popular saying is "It takes two to fight", the fact is quite the opposite. It takes two to achieve peace and reconciliation. So this Christmas as the bells ring out and the church doors open and invite you to the manager, make time for the God who loves you; who created you for God's own delight; and who now in the Child of Bethlehem, invites you to stillness and worship . It is as if God has erected a large billboard on every corner shouting out,
ALL IS FORGIVEN
PLEASE COME HOME
You don't have to understand and in fact you won't understand, so don't worry about that. Simply in your heart of hearts, say yes to the love of God made manifest in a tiny child, born of an unwed mother, in a back alley, because the proper places were full of all the proper people. And if for any reason you are unable to go to church, then light a candle at home and read again the timeless story that actually happened in time, and pray to the God in Christ. Don't know what to say? That's understandable. Try saying thank you, and opening your heart to the One who is reaching out to you. God is more ready to listen than we are to pray; more ready to forgive than we are prepared to repent. So really it is no more difficult than allowing oneself to be drawn into the embrace of God.
The Christmas Story is ever ancient; ever new. This year, become part of God's living story of love and redemption.
May the peace of the Prince of Peace be yours this Christmas.
+Victoria
Luke 2:1-20
The Birth of Jesus Christ
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God(in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom
he is pleased!"
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
The Diocese of Christchurch is one of the seven dioceses of Tikanga Pakeha in the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. This church is made up of three cultural strands Tikanga Maori, Tikanga Pasifika and Tikanga Pakeha. Bishop Victoria Matthews began her episcopal ministry in this diocese on 30th August 2008.
Pictured below are (left to right) The Revd Andrew McDonald, The Revd Lynnette Lightfoot (both ordained deacons), The Right Revd Victoria Matthews, and The Revd Anne Price (ordained Priest) following the diocesan ordination service held in ChristChurch Cathedral on Saturday 29th November 2008. 
CWS Christmas Appeal
Through these pages we want to keep you up to date with what is happening in this part of the Anglican Communion.
Our diocese embraces the area of the central part of the South Island of New Zealand from the Conway River in the north to the Waitaki River in the south and the areas of Hokitika and South Westland on the West Coast. The diocese also includes the Chatham Islands. You can see this on this map of New Zealand .
In order to get an idea of the breadth of ministry and mission that takes place in the Diocese of Christchurch, take a look at many of our parish web sites. Our parishes, along with our schools and chapaincies and social services, are where much of the mission and ministry takes place.
Anglican Action (pictured below) is a monthly publication which relates some of the stories about ways in which the church is reaching out to others with God's love. You can click on the picture to take you to the web page which has a pdf version of the latest Anglican Action.
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Bishop's Charge to Synod 2008
Synod 08 Resolutions
(Diocesan Handbook has been updated)
Youth
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