A quick catchup

The more observant among you will have noticed that things have been a little silent here for a while. Life has been busy for both of us, so a little background and summary should bring all up to date, and then, hopefully, slightly more regular blogging can commence.

I'm in the middle of a six week series on Joshua, which I'm preaching at St Stephens church in Shirley, Christchurch. A dear friend, Jay Behan, is vicar there, and it is an absolute joy to go in week after week and hear of his faithful, and see his fruitful, ministry. However, it has been time consuming, and so, if you are a person who regularly writes and preaches two (or more!) sermons each week - I tip my hat to you.

We've also had a number of visitors with us - Geoff and Liz Robson, and presently Emma Poulsom. Geoff is the assistant minister at St Andrew's Wahroonga, and Em is at Naremburn-Cammeray. Both are doing well, and it has been wonderful for both Amanda and I to have friends with us, to be able to talk and laugh about the joys and trials of ministry.

I've also been away - a few days in Sydney with the Ministry Training and Development people (that's the Sydney diocese's post-ordination training). Again, it was a wonderful time of sitting under the word, being provoked to careful and biblical thought about ministry and evangelism, and being encouraged by brothers to keep on preaching the word, loving your people, and seeking the glory of God in the face of Christ. After that there were a few days at the annual synod of the diocese of Christchurch. And it's very good to be back in Methven.

As for the Orrsome one - I presume he's moving into Durham, getting settled, and trying to sort out a publisher for his PhD.

The busy-ness of the past few weeks (and, unfortunately, there is more to come this week) has forced me again and again to rely on God's strength, to seek him constantly in prayer, and to thank him for his sustaining and providential power. I have to say that I have known no greater joy than, even in a state of utter exhaustion, to come to him in prayer, trusting that he is at work in his world, that he is faithful, and that he is pleased to use weak and frail instruments in his service.

Farewell to the Orrs

Today (or thereabouts) the Orrs (Pete, Em and family) head off to Durham for Pete to start work on a PhD. Pete and Em have spent a little over four years in Sydney, and have contributed greatly to everything they have been involved in, predominantly College and church. Living in a different country for the past 6 months their move isn't as significant for us (hence not really being sure of the exact day on which they move!) as it will be for some. But it would be good to take this opportunity to thank the Orrs for all that they have been and done over the past four years.

For those of us in Pete's year, College would have been a very different (and, arguably, much dumber) place without him. While I wasn't at church with him, seeing him and Em with people from church, as well as hearing all that they did, as well as the fact that they asked him to stay on for the past six months, all point to the fact that they were deeply loved and will be greatly missed. There's no doubt in my mind that the next three years in Durham will be hard work for them, but also a wonderful time where Pete is better equipped for the ministry God has in store for him. Go well, brother. We'll miss you, but look forward to seeing how God will use you in academically contending for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints.

Church growth the fun way

Amanda and I are very excited that our family will (or has, depending on how you view these things) grow by one in early January. Prayers of thanks, and prayers for an on-time (and not 3 months early) delivery strongly encouraged.

MiniOrr?

The blogging world (or our little part of it, anyway) waits with baited breath for news of the latest addition to the Orr household. Will it be another Orr Junior, or will Emma have an Orrette (and Pete learn how to braid hair)?

I would like to think that the But Now community can take part in this joyous occasion by suggesting names for the little one.

Factors to consider include:
Irish ancestry
Biblical pedigree
Great Irish sporting namesakes.

Given that there aren't any of the latter, please focus on the first and second.

Moving to Methven

I am excited to announce that next year Amanda and I (and the boys) are going to be going to All Saint’s Anglican church in Methven, in mid-Canterbury.

Methven is located here...

... and
the church looks
(at times!) like this.

Methven is a town of about 1400 people in summer, but doubles in size in winter because of Mt Hutt and other local ski fields.

Unlike a normal curacy (a curacy is similar to an assistant minister), I am going to be on my own in Methven – there is no vicar there. The church is about 40 people, which meets on a Sunday morning, with a small Sunday school. From what I understand (which, to be honest, isn’t a huge amount at this time!) the church is broadly evangelical and keen to have a presence in the community – certainly the people I have met already want to reach out with the good news that the church is entrusted with.

As well as being at Methven, I am also going to be involved in two surrounding parishes which have adopted a form of ministry call ‘local shared ministry’. This means that they don’t have a full time vicar, but rather have a team of parishioners who are ordained to specific roles within each church. My role will be to get involved with these teams, to listen to them, to help them think about their strengths and weaknesses, and to offer them support and training as they need. The split is 60% at Methven, and then 40% with these two other parishes.

We’re very excited about going there, as are a number of friends who are excited about having somewhere to stay so close to the snow! In God's kindness the church comes with a large house, so if you are planning on coming through mid-Canterbury, we’d love to have you stop by.

Please thank God with us for his kind provision, and pray that we would be faithful and fearless in serving Him in Methven.

Dave