Thought for the week

Moderator’s Easter message 2026 (redacted for space) Once, I thought humans were basically good and ethically responsible all the time. Some still put the case that human evolution and development will lead us into a new era of enlightenment when that will be true. That view was demolished once and for all for me by…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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,…

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…

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…

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…