THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – compassion, service and sacrifice In the readings this week we find the powerful metaphor in Amos of God’s plumb line – the measure of God’s people and their faithfulness to God’s purposes. Then, alongside this, the Gospel places the parable of the Good Samaritan – clearly the plumb line measures...
MESSAGE: Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 3 July 2022 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – The Kingdom of God has come near to you. The nearness is embodied in the hospitable moments of community – in the intimacy of community. Nearness All the readings this week speak of God working in very natural and...
Rev Tania writes: The journey into living the values of God’s Reign continues. In the last few weeks we have recognised our need for forgiveness and God’s resources, and we have confronted the ways that evil works in our world. It is not enough to resist evil. It is not enough to not do what is...
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Christ’s gifts of healing, hope and wholeness God’s Story – God’s design for our lives Our Story – living into God’s design for our lives. Now we are prepared for the second half of the year – Green Season/the “Our Story” part which happens in Ordinary Time in the weeks...
MESSAGE: TRINITY SUNDAY 12 June 2022 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Drawn into relationship with the Triune God We have journeyed with Jesus from Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and Easter as part of the Liturgical Calendar begins to draw to a close—God’s Story”. Now we are prepared for the second half of the year – the...
ADVENT In 2009 a young girl was given a certificate of bravery by the New Zealand government. Her name was Abby Wutzler. She was on holidays with her family in Samoa enjoying themselves on the beach when the water suddenly began to recede back into the ocean. Abby was only 10 – in grade 4 at school – but...
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – God’s invitation God invites us to: To know God To bear God’s justice To enter God’s truth To enter God’s unity The readings this week reveals the simple theme of invitation. In Acts, Paul and Silas are given a unique opportunity to invite a jailer into Christ’s life. In the...
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK An extension of the commandment to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Love is what unites believers with the Lord together with their faith. JOHN 14:23-29: Love is what unites believers with the Lord together with their faith. The Father in his grace comes to dwell in such a believer who in turn keeps...
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – New Commandment – Love What defines a “Christian” for you? What are the most important qualities that reflect true faith in Jesus? Is it believing that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible Word of God? Is it maintaining complete and absolute sexual purity? Is it refraining from using bad language?...
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Amidst all the other voices that evoke fear, make demands, or give advice, the voice of the good shepherd is a voice of promise—a voice that calls us by name and claims us as God’s own. The question of Jesus’ identity arises often in John’s Gospel. While the other Gospels make...
