Eleven year old Ben made this replica of Christchurch Cathedral in corrugated iron for the Festival of Flowers in Christchurch.  It took him three weeks to complete.

The Festival of Flowers is being held from 17 February to 4 March 2012.

Christ in the carpenter's shop, Georges de la Tour, 1645.  

Hold in your hearts the people of Carterton and those from the wider Wellington Region who have lost family and friends as a result of the balloon accident in Carterton.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

The third Sunday in Advent is also known as Gaudete Sunday. The name Gaudete comes from the Latin introit for the third Sunday in Advent.

Traditionally the Advent candle and vestments for Gaudete Sunday are rose coloured, rather than the violet of Advent.  (You may have noticed Liz was wearing a rose-coloured stole this morning.)  In the photo above the Choristers of Wellington Cathedral light the rose-coloured candle for the third Sunday in Advent.

St Andrew's in the Paddock began the celebration of the Christmas season with the annual retelling of the Jesse tree story, interspersed with carols. Claudia added symbols - all created by Liz - as a visual "commentary" to the readings.

On the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour, Remembrance Day (also known as Armistice Day) remembers members of the Armed Forces who have died in the line of duty since World War I. On 11 November 1918 Germany signed the Armistice, thus ending hostilities.

St Andrew's in the Paddock marks Remembrance Sunday 2011 on 6 November 2011 at the 10 am service.

Community was the focus of Bishop Tom Brown's Charge to the Wellington Diocesan Synod being held in Palmerston North, 17 and 18 September 2011.

After the service the children prepared for the congregation earlier this year, and to which the Bishop came, some of the children wrote cards to him. Here are some of them with Liz’s descriptions and/or explanations the children wanted Bishop Tom to know.

All ideas etc are totally the children's.

Francesca Cocchini sent the following announcement from Rome, Italy:

During this night – at ten after midnight (Tuesday, August 23) Sofia encountered the Good Shepherd face to face.

Sofia Cavalletti, at 94, was a founding mother of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, head of a large family of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechists and children in thirty-seven countries around the world.