Thought for the week
Thought for the Week 29 March 2026
Welcome to our Palm Sunday service today. The scene of Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey is very evocative and rich in symbolism and meaning. It’s also enigmatic. All four gospels record this event but with subtle differences. Today we are reflecting on Matthew’s account which, strangely, has Jesus riding two animals! How is […]
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Thought for the Week 22 March 2026
Kia Ora E Te Whanau This Sunday, in the fifth week of Lent, we hear three remarkable readings that draw us toward Holy Week: Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones, Paul’s promise of the Spirit’s life-giving power, and Jesus calling Lazarus from the tomb. Each passage asks the same searching question: “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel […]
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Thought for the Week 15 March 2026
Welcome to our service today. We will be reflecting on an alternative lectionary reading from Luke 20 about the wicked tenants in God’s vineyard. It’s a provocative parable aimed at the leaders of Israel in Jesus day, and it got him into a lot of trouble. The main criticism is that the tenants acted as […]
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Thought for the Week 8 March 2026
Welcome to our service today on the third Sunday in Lent. Today we dive into the encounter Jesus has with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. Like the depth of that well, this story has much to explore and much to teach us about Jesus and what he offers us. It’s a fascinating and often […]
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Thought For the Week 1 March 2026
The Pharisees get a bad rap in the gospels. Often criticised by Jesus for their hypocrisy holding to tight standards in religious matters but ignoring the weightier things of the law like justice. They were strict Sabbatarians who were offended when remarkable healings were performed by Jesus on the Sabbath. But one Pharisee stands out, […]
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Thought For The Week 22 February 2026
Moderator’s Lent message 2026: 40 Days & 40 Nights For the first third of my 36 years in parish ministry ‘I didn’t do Lent’. I had my preaching plan; I didn’t use the lectionary either. I always took into account that Easter was a significant weekend with Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. But looking back, […]
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Thought For The Week 15 February 2026
Welcome to our service today focussing on the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. No matter how often I study the texts there is always something new to learn it seems. For example, I’ve always understood the main point of the transfiguration was to stress that Jesus and his teaching is more important than that […]
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Thought For The Week 8 February 2026
Thought For The Week: – Te Tiriti o Waitangi no Māngere Maunga On Auckland Anniversary Day just past, I went for a walk from where I was staying to the top of Māngere Maunga. I sat for about two hours on the highest point to chill out, think about some things and pray. The pre-colonial […]
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Thought For The Week 1 February 2026
Welcome to our service today. After a wonderful three weeks off, it is nice to get back into some familiar routines! I want to especially thank Lois Shipley for her diligent coverage of pastoral needs and services in my absence. Last week’s service with St David’s was a lovely occasion, although not the sunny picnic weather we were hoping […]
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Thought For The Week 7 December 2025
Welcome to our service today in the second week of Advent, which focusses on the theme of peace. This is a very timely theme as diplomatic efforts are ramped up around trying to secure peace between Russia and Ukraine. But even with these diplomatic efforts it doesn’t seem likely this dreadful war will end anytime […]
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