Author: saintchadshuapai

Sunday 14 December 10am Christmas Play ‘Gabriel’s Story’ – a refreshing take on the nativity story from the angels’ points of view!

Sunday 21 December 10am Aotearoa Upside-down Family Christmas Service with New Zealand-written carols, dotted with a few familiar carols and of course, a great story woven with them, the greatest story ever told. Followed by morning tea.

Christmas morning 25 December at 10am all are welcome to come to a short Family Communion service.

OPEN DAY Sat 27 September 2025 10am – 4pm

CELEBRATION COMMUNION SERVICE Sun 28 September 10am

Following on from the visit in November 2024 of the Bishop of Lichfield Rt Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave and his wife Julia, a Friendship Link between Saint Chad’s Church Lichfield and Saint Chad’s Huapai was formally inaugurated on Pentecost Sunday – 25th June 2025. Certificates marking the event were exchanged during services in both churches. (See photos added to the Gallery)

We were somewhat taken aback to have a notification from our new friends in Lichfield that they would like to send a gift to be given to us for our Centenary at the end of September. A beautiful Icon has been purchased and was formally blessed in a Chrismation held during Evensong in Lichfield Cathedral on 5th September prior to its’ despatch to Huapai. To view the Evensong Service please click on this link https://www.youtube.com/live/0vQ_8CegNfE If you would like to view the introduction from Bishop Michael this can be found from 1min24secs to 4min08secs and the Chrismation service is between 32.00min to 37.00min.

The Three Mezzos Vocal Trio has been performing in and around Auckland for over 25 years, with concerts in churches, halls,  historic houses and museums. Their programmes range widely from sacred repertoire through folksongs to arrangements of popular songs and musical theatre items. At the Saint Chad’s concert they will premiere a piece written for them last year by Auckland composer David Hamilton.

Music-lovers are invited to enjoy an afternoon of wonderful music-making, and benefit a charity at the same time. All profits after expenses will be donated to Parkinson’s New Zealand.

During our family service which praised God for the gift of God’s son, Jesus, children made Christingles. Most children made more than one each. The orange representing the world God made, the red ribbon representing God’s love which goes all around the world, cloves representing the fragrant gifts brought to Jesus, four toothpicks representing north, south, east and west each with organic goodies on them representing the fruits of the nature and the lit candle on the top representing Jesus, the Light of the world.

Photo of visiting grandchildren with their Christingles (minus the consumed goodies on toothpicks!).

Season of Creation Part 4 – MOUNTAINS

Within different cultures and religions we have a sense of the holy in terms of our mountains, sacred mountains that are sites of revelation, inspiration and much more. Examples include Mt Sinai with Moses, Mt Tabor where Jesus was revealed as the Son of God, Mt Noor where the prophet Mohammed received his first revelation and, of course, we have the Temple Mount in Jerusalem – a very famous and contested area where Islam, Judaism and Christianity seek to find room to be and to worship.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121 vs 1 & 2

Season of Creation Part 3 – SKY

Sunday 15 September 2024 we focused on God’s glory in the skies. The glory of God is all around us, as evidenced by these photos Revd Helen has taken. The heavens declare the glory of God – and so can we! Let’s praise Him along with all of creation … even with, and for, our very breath.

The 2nd week of our Seasons of Creation was on the topic of humanity and our interaction with our world and our calling to be responsible, humble stewards of the earth, and to be servants of one another. Our prayer: “Creating God, Your name is written on every leaf, every bird, every river, every stone, every living thing. We praise and worship You for the magnificance of Your creation. Make us attentive to the wounds of the earth and willing to work for the healing of the whole creation, through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord.” Amen

We have started on a 5 week journey to consider aspects of creation and our care of it. To start the journey off we have considered our personal connection and response to our natural world, the times when we have stopped to consider our own role in our use of resources, and where God might be in it all. And a baptism crowned it all off – a beautiful reminder of one special use of water…