Thought for the week
Thought for the Week 19 July 2026
We have certainly had some days this week that have made it quite clear it is winter. In winter our focus changes, away from the beach, outdoor picnics and long sunny days in the garden. We spend more time at home sitting around the fire or basking in the warmth of the heatpump, chatting, reading […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 12 July 2026
Thought For The Week: Welcome to our service today. It has certainly been a wet and wild week of weather but happily there has been no flooding in the Trinity Centre basement. It has a low-lying corner sump that has blocked in the past causing water to go through the doors but happily it has […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 5 July 2026
At our recent prayer retreat we were given a simple exercise; choose a coloured disc and reflect on the words printed on the underside (the choosing was done without knowing what was printed on the disc). I got the words ‘pay attention’. This led me to think about a rest home service I had recently […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 28 June 2026
I was in Christchurch on Thursday for our regular Presbytery Council meeting which included an afternoon session with Alan Hirsch. Alan is a globally recognised thought leader in mission, especially to post Christian societies like ours. He is in Christchurch to be the keynote speaker at the Little Revolutions conference. He also heads up Forge […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 21 June 2026
We welcome to our service today Barbara and Kingsley Sampson from Christchurch. Barbara is a Spiritual Director who led a very good prayer retreat yesterday attended by around 15 people. She will speak on the “hidden life”, reflecting on Luke 18:9-14. Have you noticed that the world is awash with sport at the moment? There’s […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 14 June 2026
Welcome to our service today. We will be reflecting on Luke’s Sermon on the Plain, which is a shortened version of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount. Both these sermons outline a new vision for the people of God and how they should live and turn upside down a worldview that insisted that wealth equalled blessing […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 7 June 2026
Welcome to our service today. It is a joy to be ordaining our newest elder, Catherine Richardson. Catherine has a very pastoral and caring heart and through her career as a counsellor, spiritual director and professional supervisor brings many skills to this role. For a long time, she has desired to serve our church both […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 31 May 2026
Welcome to our service today. As I write this, I have just finished taking a funeral service for Karunairjan Jeevaratnam, known to most simply as Jeeves (Indi’s husband). Indi and Jeeves came to Timaru in 1974 from Sri Lanka to escape the ethnic and political tensions of the time. He worked as an anaesthetist at Timaru […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week
I sit and remember. In the middle of the night, I remember. I remember when I go for a walk. The journey of learning and submitting to the Holy Spirit is never static or confined to theological or academic terms. When I recently asked a group of primary school children who the Holy Spirit is, one of […]
Continue ReadingThought for the Week 17 May 2026
Welcome to our service today. We have the joy of hearing from Rev Martin Stewart, Alpine Presbytery Executive Officer, speaking on the topic: ‘We can’t do church in Timaru without our neighbours’. Martin is a wonderfully creative thinker, and I am sure he will give you much to ponder! I will be in Auckland attending […]
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