Latest Chapel News

• The King's Chapel farewells Bishop John Paterson  7 March 2010

  King's College farwelled the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Reverend John Paterson at both our Chapel service and special College Assembly, last Tuesday. The Chapel was full as College staff and students joined with Bishop John in his last service at King',as Bishop. The theme chosen for the service was 'the call of God', so how fitting it was that the service began with the contemporary hymn "I the Lord of Sea and Sky" which contains the line "Here I am, Lord." This was followed by a reading of 1 Samuel 3 where the young Samuel thinking he hears the call of Eli the priest, is urged by the aging priest to listen for the voice of God. Chaplain Reverend Warner Wilder then paid tribute to Bishop John in which he spoke about his huge contribution not only to the Diocese but especially to the ministry of Church Schools, Chaplaincy and the King's Board. Bishop John then stood to thank Reverend Wilder and took a few moments to remember his own experience at King's College in the early fifties. The highlight was hearing how Bishop John heard the call of God which came through the then Headmaster Geoffrey Greenbank. In his last year the Headmaster took him aside, enquired as to what he was planning to do after he left and on the news that he was going to 'do law', was plainly told "No, you're not. God's calling you to be a priest." Bishop John finished by offering the parting thought to the students, "Perhaps, God's calling you." The service closed with preyars of thanksgiving and blessing on Bishop John, for he and his family as they head into the next phase of retirement.

  The Chapel Service was then followed by a whole College Assembly. Headmaster, Mr Bradley Fenner and Chairman of the Board, Mr Peter Ferguson both spoke with gratitude for the fine contribution Bishop John had made to the College, the Diocese of Auckland and the worldwide Communion. Mr Ferguson made special mention of the Bishop's active encouragment of the Christian faith while he was at College as a student, and his founding role of a group that explored how the Christian faith might be applied to daily living. Bishop John again spoke with thanks for his assocaition with the College and the Chaplain then presented to Bishop John a carved replica of a waka on behalf of the College. The service concluded with two impressive items. Firstly, the boys, ably led by our kapa haka group, performed the College haka, which was extremely significant given the Bishop's deep connection with the tangata whenua of Aotearoa. This was then followed by an equally impressive perfomance by our newly-formed pipe band, who played a stirring Scottish anthem as a final farewell to the Bishop. King's College is profoundly indebted to Bishop John for all he has done for King's College and for the wider Diocese. We pray God's abiding blessing on both Bishop John and his entire family for their faithful fulfilment of God's call on their lives.

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• Embracing our weaknesses  6 March 2010

  Sermon 7/3/10
  Reading 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
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• Character - The story of George Jones  9 February 2010

  Orientation Services
  29th January, 2nd February

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• Royal Honours for Chaplain  29 December 2009

  Rev Warner Wilder awarded Queen’s Service Medal in New Year Honours.

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• News from Samoa  6 December 2009

  Final day in Samoa highlights that it is better to give than receive, reports Rev Gareth Walters

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