Kia ora, All Saints. 

This week, as we walk into week 5 of Lent, I am acutely aware of disappointment, grief, comfort and community. This week's reading invites us into the story of Jesus and Lazarus and Lazarus' family. Luke 11:1-45

Those in House churches please read John 9:1-41 as we dive deeper from last week.

There is death, grief, comfort, hope, and all of this happens amidst community and family. 

We experience these things all the time, some more powerful and impactful than others. Do we try to do it alone? are we trying to gain, clutch, or grab anything we can from it? 

In case anyone thinks otherwise, my family and I are not immune to suffering; in fact, I often find myself asking the Lord for a bit less. But what I notice is that when I/We can lean into the suffering with Christ at the centre, and wholly seeking to lift each other up, that suffering does disappear, but there is much to be found in it. A closer relationship with Christ, small moments of what are arguably spiritual disciplines, joy (yes, joy in the middle of pain and suffering), laughter, learning, discipline, challenge, and eternal hope that the things of this world will one day be healed and restored. 

I found myself today (Friday), in a bible study with our Mainly Music team, thinking in all of this let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. And may I be lucky enough to participate. 

As we walk towards the cross at Easter, let us walk alongside each other in community and family as we push and pull each other closer to Christ. 

There are a lot of things to take note of in our Newsletter this week. 

Please take note of the Chrism Service coming up at 7 pm on Monday, 30th March at St. Peter's on Willis Street. 

Also, the Move on Vigil on 29th March outside the cathedral. 

If you have any questions about things, please do not hesitate to reach out to either Nickie or me. 

Much love, 

Kia ora, All Saints. 

This week, I have been reflecting on times in my life when there has been pressure to explain my faith or when people have questioned it. Have you had this happen to you? I reflect on this because this week's reading really brings into sharp focus that decision and or choice of whether you will side with Jesus or not. 

This weeks Lenten reading picks up Jesus and the Blind man, and his parents, where there is a real confrontation and the squeeze comes on about who Jesus really is and the validity of his actions. 

The reading is John 9:1-41 and you might like to have a read prior to coming on Sunday in preparation for the teaching. 

I think this comes back to a wider conversation that we are having in our Parish about our journey of spiritual formation and what our foundations and experiences in Christ are. When the rubber meets the road, are we going to side with Jesus or not? 

As we have been talking about during Lent, what are these conversations Jesus is having, revealing to us? What are we listening for? 

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday for 9 am and 10:30 am Central Gatherings, where we will worship, pray, open the word of God and gather around God's Holy Table for communion. 

A few notices to look out for. A reminder to get Easter services in your calendar. We have our Financial AGM on 29th March, where we will approve this year's budget.

If you are not in a House Church already and are interested in being in one, please fill out this form. 

Much love, 

Kia ora All Saints. 

This week, as a Diocese, we have our annual Ministry Leaders Family Camp. Where, as a Diocese, many of our ministry leaders and teams, plus their families, gather for worship, teaching, prayer and time together. It really is a powerful and wonderful time of the year. 

I have been praying for not only those of us going to All Saints but from around the Wellington Diocese and have felt a real burden to be praying for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit, particularly for those who are weary, or maybe a bit cynical. Praying for the word of God to come alive and present afresh and new. The main speaker, Kevin Denholm, Chaplain to the film industry, will be speaking on disappointment and how we respond to that in Christ without trying to shunt over it. Our passage for the weekend is Luke 24:13-35 the road to Emmaus, where those who thought all had fallen apart are met along the way by Jesus. 

My question to us is, what's our angle and what do we go to when life is hard, or the "joy" has run out, or we are feeling cynical? Or we feel a sense of shame for maybe not getting it, or wanting to ask a question? The answer is, back to the source, back to the one who paid it all for us, back to the one who, across the arc of history, has never stopped telling us how good we are. 

As we journey through Lent and these conversations Jesus is having with people, keep an eye on the way their situation is presented with an opportunity to find freedom and liberation, not to have the suffering or trial removed, but to find the true hope and joy amongst it. As we walk towards Easter, when we sometimes wonder if the bottom of the basket has fallen out, remember that it is Jesus who meets us on the road, and our hearts come alive. 

A reminder that there is a 9 am service this week. NO house churches meeting in the centre, and please check with your house church leader if it's on if you meet in a home. 

Check out any other news in our e-news this week. 

Much love, 

Kia ora All Saints. 

Choices are everywhere, from the minute you wake up in the morning to when you lay down at night. What to eat? Where to go? Who to talk to, which thought to follow, which thought not to follow, what to give your attention to, etc., etc. 

This week in our Lent season, we are again presented with a conversation Jesus is having, this time with Nicodemus. This is a powerful interaction with all the things we discussed in it, it's packed with Agenda, Discussion, confrontation, forks in the road that require choices and decisions to be made that will have consequences for the future. - John 3:1-17 - Have a read of the passage prior to Rebekah preaching from the scriptures on Sunday. 

This same interaction is powerful for us today. Put ourselves in the place of Nicodemus, don't think of the Nicodemus you know, what are you hearing? What choices is Jesus asking you to make? What decision will you make? 

This Lent and many Lents before this one, ask us to take a good look at what we are choosing to give our attention to. Where are we placing our worth? Is it in the true source? Or have we had a false start in life, and rather than choosing to start again, are we carrying on down the same road? 

A reminder that we have both our gatherings in the centre this week. 9 am and 10:30 am mark the beginning of our rhythms for the year. 

Next Sunday we have 9 am and House Churches, if you are in a House Church, check in with your leaders as it is also Ministry Leaders Family Camp, which means that a significant number of our parish are away at this camp together. Pray for us all as we join together during this time. 

If you are not yet in a Lent group and you would like to be, please let me know, and we will place you in one asap. 

Much love, 

Kia ora All Saints. 

Welcome to Lent 2026. 

It is always such a gift to start the Lenten season with an evening together, sharing pancakes, on what I have called arguably one of the best days in the church calendar: Shrove Tuesday. It was a wonderful evening of sharing pancakes with not only our church community but also those from around our wider Hataitai community. There was a great group of Kilbirnie Primary families that stopped by after floor-ball for food and fun together. 
We then promptly stepped into Ash Wednesday at 10 am, and for some of you, 7 pm at St Aidan's, again setting ourselves into the wider story of our own brokenness and preparing to walk towards Easter Sunday by not skipping past or sidestepping the sombre journey towards Jerusalem together. 

This brings us to six weeks of Lent, which I think not only holds a sombre tone but is also a really exciting opportunity. Two reasons for this. Once we are well underway with organising and starting Lent Groups, which are meeting during the week for discipleship around our Lent Study called "Apprenticing to Jesus" - crafted by the team at Practising the Way. Six weeks together looking deeply at Spiritual Disciples that draw us individually and corporately closer to Christ, reflecting the kingdom to those around us. 

Lent group leaders we have hard-copy study guides in the office for you.

Secondly, as we gather together on Sundays, over the course of Lent, our readings are centred around some key conversations Jesus has with several key characters. This week, we have Jesus sparing with the Devil in the Wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11. I encourage you to read ahead and meditate on this scripture. What is standing out to you? What grabs your attention? I feel excited to bring this word to you on Sunday as we unpack what it is that Jesus is trying to say amid these conversations. And why is it that he is so able to derail a conversation in the most appropriate way? 

This Lent, my challenge to you is this: When someone asks a question, what are we hearing? What are we bringing to this discussion, and are we prepared to make a tough choice? Or will we take an easy one? 

This week, we have our 9 am and 10:30 am services in the room together. Tell your friends, your house churches, bible studies, prayer groups! Let's get in the room together. 

Much love,