Reflections

Every so often someone comes to the door of the Rectory. It’s always a whole parish occasion and is something to be celebrated, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time. It’s not just about the priesty guy, it’s about every member of the congregation and community when this happens. Ultimately it is...Continue reading→

We could be heroes When I first read the gospel for today my thoughts zoomed in on this verse. “And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.” There is something healing when we are physically touched by another. It’s one of the...Continue reading→

There are many wonderful things about celebrating a Harvest Festival. We do this each year at St. Peter’s Glenthompson and all are invited. Folk bring their produce and we gather together to celebrate that when so many have so little, we have so much to share and celebrate. The bounty is then auctioned off and...Continue reading→

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: Today’s gospel reading reminded me very much of the reading from Ecclesiastes. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to...Continue reading→

I was reflecting that the world has changed forever and we cannot snap back to exactly how things were a couple of years ago. Masks seem likely to be our everyday fashion accessories. They are tricky and as with most things there is a down side and an upside. The downside is that folk are...Continue reading→

There are a couple of luscious things we are going to do today. First we are going to baptise Amy and her son Clayton. They have always been welcome here but today we formalise that connection and relationship and we look forward to enjoying them as they look forward to enjoying us. The other luscious thing today...Continue reading→

On Sunday January 30th at 10:30am, it will be a pleasure to dedicate and bless a window at Christ Church Hamilton. This is a lovely window of Christ the Good shepherd and if you are ‘COVID comfortable’, you are welcome to this celebration. In the window The Master looks straight out at us as does...Continue reading→

A little known holiday story from our time away in December. Jeanine and I had booked into one of those Air B n B homes at Buninyong. We find the house OK and thanks to a lovely photo we find the keys exactly where they are  supposed to be. We go in, plug in our tired...Continue reading→

An ordinary loving Have you ever wondered about the happy couple in today's gospel reading? Here is one very dodgy, totally unsupported, unsubstantiated, apocryphal but charming story about them. They first met at Passover. He was shy and awkward and so was all the more attractive for his lack of pretension. She had a winning...Continue reading→

Whilst cleaning out the widow found a letter that she had written years before. “Dearest Bryon, I feel as though I have walked a long way to find you and the going has not always been easy. There have been some sunshine moments where the path has been luscious and I have slept soundly, joyously...Continue reading→

So we close the door on 2021. For most of us it was a complex year as we grappled with the swift changes and different faces of people behind the masks. It was a year that stretched us in ways that are not clear to us yet. My guess is that it will take five...Continue reading→

From expectation to realisation to manifestation. The people had obviously heard about John the Baptist. You don’t get excited and filled with expectation over something you have never heard of. They are all up to speed about this kooky guy in the wilderness and what’s more they had spread the message. They had spoken about...Continue reading→

There are in fact two windows in Christchurch Hamilton which depict the visit of the Magi. Fortunately they are at opposite ends of the Church. One is in the Lady Chapel and one is near the font. That’s not the only difference. The one in the Lady chapel is quite bright in its colouring. In...Continue reading→

There was just the two of us warming our hands over a serious mug of tea. Big black tea with just a smidge of sugar and scalding hot. We had put the world to rights; We had sorted out the church of God and found a cure for COVID. We had erased world poverty, ensured...Continue reading→

“Mary wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” The gurus tell me that the word “manger” comes from the Latin word munducare which means “to eat.” A manger or crib is a wooden feeding trough or food box that holds hay for larger farm animals...Continue reading→

You’ve gotta love Youtube and the Crowdies right?! I was watching the song ‘Don’t dream it’s over’ ‘live’ at the Sydney opera house on that Youtube thing. The music was sweet, the crowd were really getting into it and just for a few moments, even now, years later in my study, the world was as...Continue reading→

A colleague and I were  talking about all things ‘clergy’ the other day.  We also spoke of that thing that we all can’t help talking about and would much rather jeer at it. My colleague was stretched and struggling. There were a few extra bits on his plate which he found unpalatable and undesirable. His energy was...Continue reading→

John the Baptist must have been a mean looking hombre and fierce orator. This morning he’s woken up grumpy and he’s just in the mood to tick everyone off. ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves,...Continue reading→

The wise woman from Park-run. I was bemoaning my slower times at Park-run to a wise woman the other day. She listened patiently as I prattled on about the burgeoning time it took me to get around the lake. “Is it my age?” I wailed. “Is it my technique?” I moaned. I pleaded desperately. “Will...Continue reading→

A reflection for Sunday 5th of December Last week I gave a very skimpy overview of some of the themes that occur in Luke's gospel. One of those themes is repentance and forgiveness and I pointed out that only Luke has the story of the prodigal son. In his gospel Luke points to his pet...Continue reading→