Vicars Letter 20th February 2026

Rev Guy Benton

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,