WHAT'S ON @ ANGCHAP ~ TE PUNA KARAITI?
WORSHIP & PRAYER:
Worship and prayer, breaking open of the word and bread, are at the core of all that we
do – the ‘open secret’ of Chaplaincy work.
Our a href="#Transfiguration">Chapel of the Transfiguration
is named after the Smither painting commissioned especially to reflect the distinctive
spirituality of Te Puna Karaiti.
A short prayer service is held in the chapel on Wednesdays at 12pm, but the chapel is
also open every weekday for anyone to come and pray. On Tuesday mornings at 8am we meet
for prayer over breakfast.
Substance – Kai Hei Oranga – is our Sunday night church,
and is part of neighbouring St Michael’s
parish. We meet at Saint Michael’s (Upland Road – by the shops, just above the
university, in Kelburn. View a map), at 7pm every Sunday.
• We gather
• We praise
• We confess
• We listen to God through Word and Spirit
• We pray
• We remember Jesus’ death and resurrection
• We go in hope in the name of Christ
Substance is a small worshipping community committed to karakia whaka tipu
/ formational worship among the future generation leadership of our society. It is also committed
to mission within the university. Merging tradition and innovation we seek worship that reflects an
“ancient–future” faith — both valuing our heritage and taking our context
seriously. Core to this is proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ - the Gospel of Justice and
Love. Though geared to the needs of tertiary students and staff, everyone is welcome.
Call or email the Chaplain for more details. Ka kite!
The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration was painted especially for the Ramsey House Chapel by Michael Smither, circa 1965-67. Richly textured, vivid in colour yet translucent, it hangs as a focal point beside the Lord's table, blazing its light across it. The central figure is of course Christ; he is flanked by Moses and Elijah; the three lower figures are the disciples James, Peter (shrinking away), and John (the one contemplating the transfigured Christ).
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Michael camped out at the Chaplaincy for weeks to do the work. "I was young and unknown as a painter and had things to say. I was trying to express the passion and struggle of the disciples' experience compared to the very careful and domesticated way we often see them", he says. Michael sees The Transfiguration as a sister piece to his depiction of Jesus driving money lenders from the temple, which he painted at the same time and now hangs in the Adam gallery at Victoria.
Yet, along with its energy and strength, The Transfiguration also captures the very human vulnerability of Jesus and his followers. Viewers often comment on the 'holocaust victim' likeness of the figures - a likeness Michael never intended. "Yes they were Jewish and I wanted to capture that. But it was their humanness that I was after. They were scared - a loud voice from heaven, blinding light, clouds, frightening, terrifying visions, the strange transfiguration of Jesus. Revelations in your spiritual life can be terrifying when it means standing for your faith. These characters (the disciples) were under tremendous strain in their society. They had to be tough characters... The painting attempts to express that sort of tough spirituality which retains its vulnerability."
Painting The Transfiguration was not without its own struggles. Michael was forced to start again when, after three weeks toil, his original painting on glass shattered while drying off. Finding Shadbolt’s Among the Cinders on a nearby shelf, he read it and took courage to start again. His subsequent second try, using epoxy resin and dye on sanded Perspex, has proved more durable.
The painting's difficult birth and 'frightening struggle' theme has continued over its years in the Chapel. Debate has centred on whether prayer should be a challenging or comforting experience. "I painted it as a challenge, it's meant to disturb", concludes Michael. |
