Sadly, we weren’t able to attend church on Sunday. Rob always tries to make sure that can happen, but our train ride did not allow it this time.
We listened online to an Anglican service from the world famous Cardboard Cathedral.
The beautiful Christchurch Cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake in 2012. It is being repaired and will be completed by 2027… God willing or until another earthquake happens.
In the meantime, God’s people want to meet together for fellowship and worship. Disaster or emergency architect Shigeru Ban from Japan had designed a cardboard church after a church was destroyed after the Kobe earthquake.
Any time there is a gathering of people, we are instructed what to do in case of emergency, where to assemble, etc. Kiwis are constantly aware that disaster can strike without warning. No photos are allowed during the service. Be still (and quiet) in the presence of God. That is refreshing.
Often there are bilingual readings in English and Māori. Also, when the Bible is read in English, it sounds so authoritative.
Deuteronomy 8:1-10 “All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, so that you may live and increase, and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. So you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of streams of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without shortage, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
Reader: Hear what the spirit is saying to the church.
Response: Thanks be to God.
The ancient land of Israel was not in the land yet, but they are given great prosperity. Apply this to New Zealand in our time. How are we to respond to our great prosperity? Hear from God through Scripture on how to live in our beautiful world today. Māori and others have an honored place in this land.
Matthew 6:25-34. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This passage is related but very different. Do not worry about friends, preparations, decisions, choices and challenges. Worry doesn’t solve problems. It doesn’t change anything. Think about the kingdom of God and righteousness.
What’s in your heart?? To be just and fair, kind and loving, and thankful for all things.
The Cardboard Cathedral is affiliated with the Cathedral Grammar School. Today starts their school year as they have a long Christmas break as it is their summer. They said prayers of dedication for the school year, the school community, instructors and gave unique prayers for each grade as they stood from preschool, junior school, and prep school. They had a school prayer and said it in unison in English and Māori.
Benediction Song: All Things Bright and Beautiful
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.
Each little flow’r that opens,
each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings.
The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky.
The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden:
He made them every one.
He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well.
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