NZ Day 9 – Sunday 25th September

Church this morning at Knox Presbyterian Church, Lower Hutt.  First service at 9.00am so I was picked up at 8.00am and the clocks went forward an hour last night!  First service was traditional organ led followed by a 10.30 contemporary service. There is also an evening service aimed at youth and young adults.  I was being interviewed at both services about my role in sports chaplaincy and in particular my role out here in New Zealand with the Rugby World Cup.  I enjoyed both services, but it was strange singing out of CH3 in New Zealand (1^st service only)!  For the third time in my visit here I have had to remind myself, “Thou shalt not envy thy brother’s facilities!”  A wooden church building and hall dating from 1890 is backed up by a large games hall with a cafe/meeting area extension to the front.  They do food well here in NZ.  The very professional looking cafe area serves coffees and a variety of cakes between the services.  After the 10.30 service they serve a light lunch to which a good number of folk stay.  I was also envious of the staff. As well as the senior minister there is an associate who looks after a sister church, a youth pastor, a children and family pastor, and two administrators.  These are all paid for out of church income.  That said Knox Presbyterian is unusual within the Presbyterian Church.  The more usual model is one Church one minister.  In some areas they are facing the same issue as the Church of Scotland at home – too many buildings and insufficient income.

Game tonight, wet and blustery and I can’t get used to these late kick offs. Good atmosphere in the ground with probably an equal mix of Scots and Argentineans. “The Cake Tin” certainly echoes the noise around.  Nail biting watching with Scotland just staying ahead for most of the game until a defensive lapse let in a relatively soft try.  From there the Scots couldn’t turn pressure into points. Final score 12-13 in the favour of Argentina. It was a must win game for the lads and you can tell they were hugely disappointed.  Qualification for the quarter finals is still possible but mathematically difficult.  Still I am sure the squad will still want to win against England next week come what may.