Colourful Dreamer

Can be listened to hear Gate Pa – 23 August 2015 Pentecost 13  or 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Psalm                              Psalm 84                                                                                 First Reading:            1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43 Second Reading:      Ephesians 6:10-20         ...

For the last five weeks we have been listening to John offering us some pretty heavy theology about Jesus Christ (Christology), and heard Jesus describe himself as “the bread of life”. We have slowly walked from Jesus feeding 5000 men and an unknown number of women and children in an outrageous act of uncalled for generosity. It is important to remember both this beginning and that this whole section is set at Passover – the foundational celebration of the Jews, a celebration of God’s act of liberating these once slaves, and of Moses’ role as their first great prophet, the law giver. In all that follows Jesus is painted as the one who surpasses even Moses. All this culminates with the “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”(vs 35) Now the problems begin. Too many know who Jesus is, a carpenter from Nazareth, and this all seems too much. And then he says “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. I...

I spent all of last week at our clergy school. So I asked someone else to preach for me on Sunday. Her sermon can be heard here. It sounds a little clunky becuase I deleted names in the first part. I might try to find some time to blog about last week later in the week. But for now, here is the sermon.

This week we celebrate the life of our parish here at Gate Pa. We are also given the opportunity to wonder what it means to be named after St. George. Our focus this Sunday will be on learning more about this well-loved and increasingly controversial saint. The question we will keep in mind as how does St. George influence how we exercise our ministry and mission. If I was to ask most people what you know of George I am sure you will tell me something about a dragon, and that he is the patron saint of England. Some people may even think he was English. Tradition tells us that George lived around 300; that he was born in Palestine and was of Greek descent; like his father he was a Tribune in the Emperor’s elite force; and like his parents he was a Christian. He is remembered for dying during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Diocletian in about 303. We are told he died a slow death, in part for telling Diocletian that his command for all Christians to sacrific...

This is in two podcasts The first on My Hearts Desire can be listened to here: Gate Pa – te Wiki o te Reo Māori. 18 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings: Psalm                         Psalm 51:1-12                     First Reading :               2 Samuel 11:26 – 12:13                   Second Reading:          Ephesians 4:1-16                              Gospel:       ...