From the director

I hope that you will enjoy reading our new magazine named after Ngāpuhi Chief, Ruatara. As a mark of good friendship, Chief Ruatara invited the Rev. Samuel Marsden to Rangihoua, in the Bay of Islands, Aotearoa, New Zealand. That enabled Samuel Marsden to share the Gospel with his people. Theirs was a relationship of reciprocity filled with warmth and hospitality. Consent to use the name of Ruatara as the title of our magazine was sought from Pīhopa Te Kitohi Pikaahu of Te Tai Tokerau who offered us his blessing.

After a very good 2017, both financially and in terms of numbers of people who came, 2018 started fast and furiously with our Anglican Diocese Summer Adventure Camp. It went extremely well in so many ways, and so it’s with excitement, we are able to advertise the next one: Jan 18th-20th, 2019. We hope you will come!

Last November, the Governance Board met, and discussed a new Five- Year Plan. It adopted it as a blue-print for the future development of Vaughan Park. Adding to the very good work that has been done over the years, we wish to add new ministries, so that Vaughan Park continues to be known as a place of ‘Generous Hospitality’, a place of grace where ‘Spacious Conversations’ may be known, all leading we hope, to people who come here, discovering ‘Life in Greater Fullness’.

One of this year’s aims is to develop our gardens. At the heartbeat, will be a labyrinth which can be used reflectively by retreatants and the local community. There is further information in this magazine about The Garden Project, and hopefully, you might feel called to support it.

Another project we have all been working on has been the Hikoi Rangihoua, the pilgrimage that starts at the Cathedral, our mother church for Anglicans, and weaves itself around 300 kilometres via Vaughan Park, to Rangihoua and the Marsden Cross. We are indebted to Bishop Ross and Bishop Kito for their past profound support. We value your prayers as the Board considers its vision and strategy.

Vaughan Park celebrates, its 21st anniversary this year! We are thankful to all of you who have supported us in some way – you are our family. Finally, and something to make you laugh! Be part of a quiz - ‘guess’ how many ‘sleeps’, we provide here each year to guests? A tip: it’s in the thousands! If you email us your answer by the end of July, we will announce the winner in our next issue of Ruatara. And what will you win? A weekend at Vaughan Park!

Blessings,
Iain Gow, director of Vaughan Park Anglican Retreat Centre