Tuesday 25 November 2025
It’s an absolute privilege to write this last Chapel E-news for 2025, in the year we celebrated our Memorial Chapel Centenary.
What a year it has been as we have taken time, as a College to celebrate truly our ‘heart of the College’ – the precious and lifegiving Memorial Chapel. Who will ever forget, as Head Girl – Phoebe Driscoll (Year 13, Middlemore) described in her Prize-giving speech last week, forming the students into a large cross for the celebration of the Chapel’s Consecration – to be photographed on the Number 1 field - perhaps, that’s why we won the 1 A Rugby competition! Or the amazing centenary Anzac Day service led by Bishop Ross Bay, where we had the privilege of listening to young Old Collegian Lieutenant Oliver Cook (School, 2013-17) from the Royal New Zealand Navy provide his poignant Anzac Day address on the inter-related themes of ‘Remembrance, Celebration, Service.’
This coming Sunday, at our Advent Carol Services, 5.30pm for Year 9 students and 7.15pm for Year 10 students and their families, we’ll have the opportunity to close out this magnificent year with an Advent Carol service message that I’m honoured to be bringing, along with a pertinent array of readings and singing of beautiful carols.
On another note, we also wish to express our gratitude. To Mr Simon Lamb and his wife Catherine, we are so grateful for your ten years of service to the College. We pray every blessing upon the Lamb family, as our Headmaster concludes his time with us. We look forward to hearing from Mr Lamb as he brings our Bidding Prayer for the last time at the Advent Carol service this weekend and thank him wholeheartedly for his support of the Chapel and Chaplaincy during his time at King’s.
Thank you, also to all our Year 13 students and their families who leave the College to begin their new season in 2026. May you know the Lord’s blessing, protection and guidance as you head into all that lies before you and remember that we are always here for you as you graduate to join the KCOCA.
Thank you particularly to our Sacristan team and to our Assistant Chaplains, Mr Antony Horacek-Glading and Mr Max Masters - for your faithfulness, hard-work and commitment during this special year which has been an encouragement to us all. And to you, our College families, may Christmas be a time of refreshment and renewal as you take time for yourselves and your whānau, and remember the true meaning of Christmas.
A reminder that should you wish to take part in any of the charitable opportunities to give this year, you can do so by taking part in one of two opportunities. Please see below.
Monte Cecilia Housing Trust
One of the great needs in transitional housing is to help families in need be able to give their children a gift at Christmas. In partnership with the Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, Te Karaiti Te Pou Herenga Waka Mangere, and Dilworth School we are pleased to give families the opportunity to select a gift of approximately $20 to go to a boy or girl of a certain age.
The good news is that we have filled our allocated family list, however, should you wish to add a gift you can simply select to buy for a child of your own choosing and simply wrap it, placing a label that indicates the age and gender of the child to whom it is intended.
Simply bring the wrapped gift along to either the Year 9 or Year 10 Advent Carol services on Sunday 30 November - where it will be placed underneath our Christmas tree.
The Anglican Trust for Women and Children
The second charitable initiative supports the work of The Anglican Trust for Women and Children. Here we get the opportunity to donate towards a Christmas hamper – of differing values, which will be given to a family in the wider community.
By giving a Christmas Kindness Case Goody Bag, you are giving more than a gift, but also giving aroha, dignity and choice to families. For $30, $60 or $90 you can make a difference to a family's Christmas Day this year. Buy a Kindness Case Goody Bag here.
Upcoming Services for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Each year we offer opportunity to advertise upcoming services being held at Christmas time:
Central: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell – Dean Anne Mills
- Sunday 21 December – 7.30pm, Nine Lessons and Carols
- Wednesday 24 December - Christmas Eve – 11.30pm, Midnight Mass
- Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day – Festal Choral Eucharist
King’s School, Remuera - Reverend Onosai Auva’a
- Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day – 9am – Holy Communion
South: St Paul’s-in-the-Park, Ormiston – Rev’d Warner Wilder
- Sunday 14 December – Community Carols in the Park
- Wednesday 24 December - Christmas Eve – 6pm Family Carol Service
- Wednesday 24 December – Christmas Eve – 11pm Holy Communion
- Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day – 9am Holy Communion
Have a blessed Christmas and a refreshing New Year!
Peace and grace,
Reverend Gareth Walters, Mr Antony Horacek-Glading and Mr Max Masters