Dean's Message

A Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Christchurch Transitional Cathedral, the broad tent with a wide-open door. This is where the Cathedral community is gathering while project to reinstate the Cathedral in the Square is underway. Whether you are a pilgrim, or needing a place to pray, or if you simply want to drop in and see the building, you are welcome.

The Transitional Cathedral is a house of prayer for all. Drop in and take time to clear your mind of all the rush and fuss. You may wish to contemplate and pray or stay for a moment of peace and quiet. You may also wish to visit the Christmas tree and leave your gifts to be shared through the Christchurch City Mission to those who might otherwise go without. You are very welcome to come to one of the services to draw close to God.

The Church calls this period that leads up to Christmas the season of Advent, which is a special time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. The Cathedral Choir will be singing the beautiful music composed especially for this season. The Cathedral shop has Advent calendars, Advent candles, and a range of Christmas nativity scenes on offer.

Advent is a gift given by the Church to help us open our hearts to receive Christ when at last he comes. It is a season of hope, and of joyful expectation. In this season the Church prays with special intensity that the blind will see again, the lame walk, the sick be healed, and injustice be put to right. We pray that all who come here will taste the hope, joy, and anticipation of God’s coming to us, so that our hearts may be lifted, and our sadness removed, that in hearing the voice of God our hearts may be opened to receive all the hope and love that God longs for us to know.

May Christ the sun of righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path, and may you know God’s blessing.