2008

 Did Simeon stand there in the temple forecourt gazing at the infant Jesus with streaming tears on his cheek, like Jesse Jackson on the night of Barak Obama’s victory? Or did he stand more»

 “My soul delights in the greatness of the people summoned by angels, and my spirit embraces each puzzled face that peers through the lamplight at the warm-bundled gift of our song-filled more»

 Well, here we are again, you and me, on Christmas Eve as midnight approaches. For many of us it is again, in this place; for some of you it might be the first time in this place but again more»

 “Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” (John 1: 26b-27)   more»

In an article entitled “Tribes for Uncertain Times” published earlier this year, Scottish theologian and commentator on contemporary church life John Drane writes of the world in which we more»

 “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down…” (Isaiah 64).   “Then they will see the ‘Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and more»

 It does not, I think, detract from the parable of the Last Judgement to say that the wisdom embodied in the story is found in all the great religions of the world – a kindness done for more»

 Today’s gospel reading, ‘the Parable of the Talents’ is for many of us one of those really familiar passages.   Maybe for older ones of us, it brings back memories of more»

 Twice this week – in the United States and in New Zealand – the people of each country have voted to change their country’s leadership, heeding a call for change.   It is more»

On the coasts of Scotland and Ireland there are certain sites that are known by the locals as "thin places." Thin places are not so named because the altitude there is any higher or the air more»

Four vignettes.             Number one.   An article in The Herald some years back told of the shifting sands of the Sahara having revealed more»

 “I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations….”   more»

One of the more embarrassing moments in my life took place during my last year at theological college in Dunedin .   It was on a day when we had had speech tuition. The speech tutor was a more»

During my twenty years (so far) at St Lukes, I have been privileged to have a number of periods of study leave.   Two of these have been in England , both of them at institutions called more»

I was told in Theological College that my central tasks were to proclaim the good news of God’s love embodied in Jesus and to assist the church to embody that same good news. I soon found that more»

In today’s passage from Romans, Paul almost sounds like a post-modernist.   Paul recognises and affirms the diverse forms of practice within the emerging Christian community in Rome . more»

Anyone I know who has been to Gallipoli speaks about the experience in a quiet voice – that is the effect it has on one.   I went to Gallipoli in June as part of my study leave tour of more»

 At a recent funeral we were singing a hymn.   At the end of the first verse I was sure I heard my name being called – “David!”   I looked at the congregation, and no more»

 I imagine that long before it was written down, the Hebrew people had great fun telling and retelling the story of the birth of Moses.   The story lends itself to some drawn-out telling, more»

A few years ago I was having lunch with a number of you one Sunday.   Some of you might remember the occasion.   We were talking around the meal table and somehow the conversation got onto more»

In my experience, one of the greatest challenges we face as liberal / progressive Christians is getting across the message that Christianity is not primarily about morality and being good – in more»

While it is true that we human beings are created to be in relationship with others, and that mostly our highest and deepest moments are experienced with or through other people, it is also true that more»

Those of us aged over, say, 55, grew up with a particular view of the world.   I refer in particular to maps where, in those days, something like a quarter of the landmass of the world was more»

Sermon Sunday 20 July 2008 In the name of God, Creator, Redeemer and Giver of Life. Amen. A few months ago I was struck by a church’s notice board that read, Answering The Big Questions.   more»

I’ve been in a delivery suite twice.   Once at St Mary’s, Dunedin , when our first son was born, and once in the local hospital in Feilding when our daughter was born.   The more»