Kia ora, All Saints

This week is an exciting week! Sunday, we have our 10am Combined service where we will be joining together to celebrate and confirm 6 people from All Saints. 

This Sunday, for the first time in 12 years here at All Saints, Sean, Rebekah, Christine, Adam, Fiona and Matthew will be confirmed as they stand and affirm and take on the baptismal vows that were made for them when they were children. 

We believe that there is no "second baptism"; the first one was God-ordained, but what we do do is say those vows and commitments that were made on our behalf by our families and faith communities, YES! We want to commit and declare that as our own, and so we have people come for Confirmation! Another beautiful piece of tradition is that when you come for Confirmation, you are prayed for with the laying on of hands by the Bishop. This connects you to the apostolic succession. Click here for more details on that. 

Bishop Ana will be preaching from Mark 4, where Jesus calms the storm! Come along to join in with our faith community as we support and declare God's truths to and with our Confirmation Candidates. 

Following the service, we will have a shared lunch together, so please bring something to share. 

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints

If you are a sports nut like me, you will be aware of the current All Blacks tour of South Africa, labelled the Greatest Rivalry tour! I grew up in a sports-mad household! Tears were spilled at last-minute penalties that robbed us of trophies, heartbreaking losses by small margins, attempts at school to resemble one of the greatest sportsmen of our time, pretending that I, like Jonah, could become a great All Black! But something beyond that has always grappled with me! Who sits behind these players and teams? 

Over the last week or so, I've been enthralled by two new documentaries about two high-profile football (soccer) managers of our generation: José Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. Both are known for their ruthless strategy, outspoken words and their humble, gentle love for their players. One thing that stands out to me is that they give all of themselves to these roles! Even at the cost of their own relationships and families, which I don't advise is wise, but they demand commitment and passion along the way! 

If you are still with me, you might be asking why this matters. Who cares? I hate sport! 

If we dig in and around our Deuteronomy reading from last week and this week, I wonder if you notice something?! 

Moses is a little bit like a sports manager in this moment! "Hey, listen up, everyone. Here we are. Look back at the last team and realize they made some bad decisions; they got close at times, but in the end they bottled it! They lost their way; their eyes were fixed on other things. Don't be like them! It's your time, Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can't Lose!" You can hear him now! "Remember the agreement, we are Gods; he is ours! Remember the promise! The land, the families, the prosperity, the safety! Do you remember?" Then the hammer drops: "All you have to do is choose: if we make this play XYZ (follow the Lord), we win! We get it! It's yours. If we run this play ABC (rebel and walk away), we lose! It's gone!" and here is that tough part! In my opinion, it would sink any locker room! Moses knows which one they pick! 

Grace has been given to us! A way to live is set before us as we respond to that gift of Grace! What are we going to pick? 

I look forward to worshiping with 9 am this Sunday, and for the rest of us in House Churches, I pray that wherever you are, you dig deep with one another and unpack Study 6 together! 

Check out the rest of the notices to keep up to date with all that is going on. 

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints

What a joy it is to be back in the Parish after a week away with the family. Our family spent a week in the South Island skiing together as we do each year. 

I must say this every year but its funny how we forget a little until its right out in front of us, but there is nothing like standing in the vastness of Gods creation amongst some grand mountains where I couldn't help but realise how small and insignificant I am in the course of history, but at the same time realise how significant I am to God and how personal and intimate he is with me amidst the grandness. One minute you are at the top of a mountain and the next minute you are traveling past a small trickling creek followed closely by a garden full of beautiful flowers! Phenomenal! Reigniting that understanding of the call to begin our prayers with Praise and Adoration to God and all his goodness! I found myself over and over again telling God what a wonderful job he has done, how creative he is, how intricate.. I hardly had any time for anything I wanted haha. 

I couldn't help but also think of Moses and his people as God revealed himself to them at Mt Sinai in a cloud of smoke and thunder. WOW! next level. Having been on the mountain when the clouds roll in, and the visibility is low, and the wind is swirling! It's a terrifying atmosphere! Then I remembered he is the one who calms the wind and the waves! 

We are into Study 6 of our Big Picture series this Sunday. I am excited to unpack the word of God with you all. Over the weekend, please read Exodus 19, Deuteronomy 28, and Jeremiah 11 (we won't have all these on Sunday, but they will all connect). 

One thing I'm excited to share is that we have firmed up that our Confirmation Service on August 30th will be a 10 am Combined Service with a shared lunch following. So put that in your diaries for 10am, and please bring some food to share. We are excited for our Confirmation Candidates as they come forward to profess their faith publicly alongside the community. This is an ownership and profession of a commitment that was made for them as children. 

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday; we have both our 9am and 10:30am gatherings. I will be available after the 10:30am gathering for Q&A, so if you have any burning questions about faith, Christianity, the sermon, or our church, come along and ask away. 

Much love,