3 – 7 December 2017
You are invited to join us for a four day walking pilgrimage from Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre, Long Bay, Auckland to Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands, Aotearoa, New Zealand. On Christmas Day, 1814, at the invitation of NgÄpuhi Chief, Ruatara, an English clergyman, the Rev. Samuel Marsden landed at Rangihoua with his pioneering missionary party. With the help of Ruatara, he was able to establish a Christian mission in the area. Our Chapel at Vaughan Park is named in honour of Ruatara. It faces north towards Tai Tokerau, the tÅ«rangawaewae of Ruatara. Pilgrimage is rooted in a combination of ancient roots and contemporary openness.
Participants will discover an understanding of how pilgrimage enables one to understand at a deeper place the journey of life and faith. It offers opportunities for spiritual formation to people as “the spiritual discipline of walking with eyes and ears open, body and soul connected”. It will give time to ‘pause, ponder, plan anew’ for our lives as walking with others is a good antidote to our individualistic ways of society today. The Hikoi will provide a mechanism for people and churches along the way, to offer the gift of hospitality, friendship, kindness to pilgrims. There will be a chance for discussion to occur naturally between different people of different faith traditions and none. The Hikoi will facilitate a further deepening of relationships, respect and understanding between ‘tangata whenua’ and initiate an ongoing conversation about the beginnings of the current place of Christianity (and faith in general) in NZ and furthers historical interest in it.
The Pilgrimage will be led by: the Rev. Dr Allan Davidson,the Rev. Josh Jones, the Rev. Kerry Davis and the Rev. Iain Gow.
Sunday 3rd—Thursday 7th December 2017
6.00pm start, welcome to arrive 5pm
$450 includes accommodation, bus travel and some catering.
To register please email admin@vaughanpark.org.nz
Registration and full payment is required by 31st October 2017 EXTENDED TO 15th November 2017
(Earlier registration would be appreciated)
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