Thought for the week

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…

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…

Through Advent, we are focused on a pathway of powerful promises and, eventually, scenes of supernatural happenings in Matthew chapters 1 & 2. Those passages read like fairy tales to many, but in fact convey the mystery of God in the advent of Jesus. In a world of wars and rumours of wars, how about…

PCANZ White Ribbon Sunday – any Sunday 23 November to 14 December 2025  BREAKING THE SILENCE: A Call to Action This Advent What is PCANZ White Ribbon? Rev Hana Popea is the Presbyterian Church Aotearoa New Zealand White Ribbon NZ Ambassador. Hana offers support – including visits to presbyteries, parishes and Presbyterian events – to…

Welcome to our special baptism service today. Today we celebrate the baptism of Jas and her children, Rocco and Zaya. Baptism is a powerful symbol in the Christian faith, rooted in Scripture and tradition. It         represents:   Cleansing – being washed clean from sin. Initiation – entering the family of God and the community of…

Welcome to our service today, led by Lois Shipley. Catherine and I are enjoying a wee break in Christchurch this weekend before things get crazy busy in the build up to Christmas. It is hard to believe we are  nearly at the end of the year! Today our Bucket mission offering will be gathering funds…

Welcome to our service today. We have the wonderful privilege of presenting the Boys Brigade King’s Award to Eamon Carson, who has worked hard over the past five years to meet the requirements of this high honour. Eamon will travel to Wellington in early December for the formal presentation at Government house. Well done to…