Vicars Letter - 2nd August 2024

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora All Saints Whānau

Guy here this week. 

Growing up, I had a small book of Aesop fables. I have no idea where it came from, but I remember each fable being well-illustrated and straight to the point at my reading level. The one I remember the most is the hare and the tortoise; a message of slow and steady wins the race. Each fable brought about a new idea to think about: what was the hidden meaning behind the hare and the tortoise, the fox and the hedgehog? Always rooting for the underdog in the story. 

I think about this as our new series focuses on some of the Parables that Jesus shared with his followers and his disciples. If you have been around church long enough, you might have had the experience of a parable or parables being used to draw out a theme of do better, be better. But I love the way Jesus uses these stories to help us dig a little deeper into experiencing the tension between the old and the new as he brought about God's Kingdom here on earth as in heaven but also how these stories help us to understand the character of God and the lengths God went to to restore relationship with us. 

So, I encourage us, as we go through this series, to look and scratch the surface a little deeper to see how this is revealing to us a way to interact with and experience God coming into our world. Can we take off our lens that turns Jesus' words into a do better, try harder message and look through a lens of how this is opening our eyes to the lengths Christ went to for us? 

There is real power in the scriptures when we allow God to speak to us with vibrancy and truth. It can be revealing and challenging to us. One of the most powerful things is that the words of Jesus always bring about freedom, liberation, healing and unity with Christ. Let us dive deep together and hear the words of Jesus to us as an authentic community of Jesus followers who desire to see God's Kingdom here on earth as in heaven. 

Please remember to check out the notices this week to keep up to date with what is happening. 

We have house churches this Sunday, 4th August; If you are not in a house church please email me here and I can connect you with a House Church.

Each Wednesday in August we have a wonderful series titled Belonging In This Land - Treaty Basics from a Christian Perspective. An opportunity for our faith community to explore the story of the Treaty of Waitangi over four sessions in August. Whether you know a lot or a little, let’s journey together. 
Brought to us by Common Grace Aotearoa in partnership with Karuwhā Trust and Te Manu Hononga - the Sir Paul Reeves Centre, we will hear from expert presenters, including Dean of Taranaki Cathedral Jay Ruka and former Anglican Archbishop David Moxon, to help you refresh or expand your knowledge.

Please continue to pray for Andy and Emily as they prepare to transition towards the Peninsula Parish and all that God has in store for them; a reminder that their final Sunday is 1st Sept which will be a combined service with a lunch following as a way of celebrating and sending them out. Information about their installation at Mirimar is also in the newsletter. 


Yours in Christ,