The Service of Thanksgiving was held at the Auckland Cathedral of The Holy Trinity on Sunday, 21st April.  

The welcome was by The Rt. Rev'd Richard Randerson, Dean, and then we were lead by the Cathedral Choir in the Hymn "Morning Has Broken".  The Rt. Revd Richard Randerson, Dean, then prayed.

God our Creator, you share the beauty of life with each one of us in both our strength and in our vulnerability.  We gather today to express gratitude and hope, we remember organ donors and their families, and the recipients of their gift of life, we celebrate their lives, aware of both the fragility and the resilience of our human life which is so precious in your sight; give us your gracious Spirit to be thankful, caring, loving persons we wish to be, we ask this through Jesus Christ our companion and guide.  Amen.

Mr. Peter Christie, Transplant Surgeon, Auckland Hospital read "The Beatitudes" from the gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 5, verses 1 through 10.

The Mother of a Donor, spoke of her teenage son, his decison when he got his licence to tick the donor box, and then their family's loss and their decision to donate his organs.

The Heaven Bent Choir sang the two selections "I Love the Lord" and "Senzenina".

Dr. John Collins, Renal Physician, Auckland Hospital, spoke about his work with renal patients awaiting transplant, those who have been successfully transplanted, the incredible gift that donor families make, and the impact that this has had on his life personally.

The hymn, "How can we question" written by Jocelyn Marshall (sung to the Crimond tune) was then sung.  After this hymn, all organ transplant recipients were invited to come to the front of the Cathedral to light a candle in memory of their donor.  All the congregation then joined in saying:

"Loving God, we remember with gratitude those who have
given life and hope to others.  We light these candles as a
symbol of this renewal of life and health."

A Kidney Transplant recipient, Diane, spoke movingly about her experience as a recipient of a Donor kidney, after seven years on Dialysis.  She talked about how this transplant changed and reclaimed her life and now something as simple as walking seems like a permanent miracle, as she feels like she glides along.  Prior to the transplant, she could only get upstairs by going up backwards on her bottom.  

The Rev'd Sarah Park, Deacon Assistant, then prayed for the donor families, recipients and their families.

The Rev'd Deborah Leys, Priest-in-Charge, St Paul's, Te Atatu, reflected on life, suffering, death and the giving and receiving of life through organ transplants.  This was followed by the congregation saying a modern version of "The Lord's Prayer".  

The Donor Transplant Co-ordinators Janice Langlands and Dawn Keenan with the assistance of two young organ recipients then presented a Camelia Plant to all Organ Donor families, in memory of their Donor.  This Camelia is called "Donation".  While this occurred, the Heaven Bent Choir sang "Precious Lord."

The service concluded with the choir and congregation singing the hymn "Praise the Lord!  Ye heavens, adore him", an arrangement of Psalm 148.  The Rt. Revd Richard Randerson, Dean, then concluded the service with prayer and a blessing.

We were invited to stay for a luncheon in the Visitor's Centre and Marquee at the Cathedral, which gave all the Donor and Recipient families an opportunity to mingle and talk together.

Our thanks go to Janice Langlands and Dawn Keenan, National Transplant Donor Co-ordinators, and the sponsors Christian Aviation, Janssen Cilag and Novartis, for making this service possible.

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