Baptism
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 28:19
Baptism is more than a sign of profession, it is a real sacrament instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ for regeneration, new birth, the forgiveness of sins, and our adoption to be the sons and daughters of God. Imbuing the baptised with the Holy Spirit. This is a once and for all true sign and seal of our faith, and a beautiful gift offered by Christ to us.
We respond positively to all inquiries for Baptisms. Baptism is offered to people of all ages: infants, children, and adult converts to the faith. Christening is another common name for Baptism.
For any already baptised person seeking a sacramental sign and seal of their faith, Confirmation is also offered by the Church (see below).
Holy Communion
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins."
Matthew 26:26-18
Holy Communion, or the Eucharist, is the pinnacle of Christian fellowship. In this, we are offered the Body and Blood of Christ, which is taken and truly received by us in faith. This heavenly gift strengths us in our faith, unites us together with God, and bestows God's forgiveness for our sins through Christ's eternal sacrifice which we remember while partaking of it.
We welcome any and every Christian who has been baptised in the Trinitarian formula, who lives in faith, thanksgiving, and repentance of their sins to come forward and receive this precious gift.
We offer communion regularly with our Saturday and Sunday services. See more on these below.
Confirmation
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:6-7
Confirmation is a sacramental act offered by the Church for people to confirm their faith. During this, the Bishop lays their hands on the candidate and prays for them to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. The Christian being confirmed will make a mature confession of faith & publicly renew the vows and promises made at their Baptism. The person receiving Confirmation receives grace that further empowers them, being gifted by the Holy Spirit for growth in their faith & every aspect of their life and work.
Prior to confirmation, the candidates will be prepared by the Priest in catechism classes, learning about the fundamentals of the faith in order to help prepare them in understanding deeply the meaning of the vows they will be publicly reaffirming.
Anyone who has been baptised, or (in special cases) is preparing for Baptism, may present themselves for Confirmation. Recent church practice in New Zealand is for candidates for Confirmation to be over the age of 16 years.
Marriage
"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Genesis 2:24
Christian marriage, or Holy Matrimony is a lifelong covenant. It signifies the communion between Christ, the heavenly bridegroom, and the Church, his holy bride. Marriage unites, growing the married couple in love, wisdom, and godliness.
The marriage offered by the church is a sacramental act that recognises this unity and love.
We welcome inquiries from couples seeking a Christian wedding or marriage blessing. Services will usually be taken by the Parish Priest or another Anglican Priest.
Other Sacramental Acts
The Anglican Church offers the Sacraments of the Gospel of Baptism & Communion, and the Sacramental Rites of the Church; namely, Confirmation, Marriage, Confession, Anointing of the Sick, and Ordination. At a parish level, beyond those already covered above, we offer Private Confession and Anointing.
To arrange these, it is best to be in contact with our Vicar.
Funerals
The Priest, as soon as possible after being notified, will contact the bereaved family to offer support and spiritual guidance, and to discuss the format of the service. Ministry is offered to bereaved families irrespective of their church affiliation, and every effort is made to provide a funeral service which is appropriate to the circumstances of the deceased and their family, working alongside the funeral director.
Blessings of Animals
On the Sunday nearest to the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi (3 October), we hold our annual Blessing of the Animals. This is open to all, humans and animals, and you don’t have to be a parishioner to bring along your family companion – all creatures great and small are welcome.