Colourful Dreamer

Listen to the sermon here   G ate Pa – Year B   5 th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 Readings Psalm                             Psalm 147:1-11,20                                                       First Reading              Isaiah 40:21-31 Second Reading            Luke 2:22-40                      Gospel                         Mark 1:29-39                          What I want to say: -         What is Candlemas? -         What is revealed of Jesus in story from Mark 1 – that we might see and live in the reign of God today? -         What has this to do with Waitangi Day? What I want to happen: -         How are we a restored community of justice, generosity and aroha this Waitangi weekend? The Sermon       1.     Candlemas Friday (February 2) many churches around world celebrated the Presentation of Jesus in the temple which we heard about as our second reading. -         marks the end of the 40 days of the Christmas-Epiphany season. -         our churc

Mark’s gospel starts with a bang. After just 39 verses we already have had John the Baptiser preaching and baptising, Jesus baptised and tested in the wilderness, Jesus preaching and calling his first followers, Jesus casting out a demon on the Sabbath in the meeting place (synagogue) in Capernaum. “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!” (Mark 1:15) And now we have this intimate story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law – still on the sabbath. Her response can be understood in many ways. She joins the angels in serving Jesus and becomes a model of what discipleship looks like – serving Jesus in our service to others. And this is just the beginning. We are also observing the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple ; which falls on 2 February, 40 days after Christmas, marking the end of Christmas-Epiphany season. As the law required of a first son, Jesus is presented at the Temple. And we hear Simeon (The Song of Simeon or Nunc Dimittis) and Anna.   The name Candlemas comes from

You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa –  4 th Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year A – 2023 Readings: Psalm -                        Psalm: 84                            First Reading -             Malachi 3:1-4               Second Reading -        Luke 2: 22-40 Gospel -                       Matthew 5: 1-12   What I want to say: As we end Epiphany-Christmas with its focus on light and revelation, we are given the beatitudes. Jesus gives words to what he is already and will continue doing. He is living the empire of Heaven and inviting his disciples to join him. What I want to happen: What invitation is in this? The Sermon 1.      Introduction: This Sunday often offers us some options around themes and readings. It is the fourth Sunday after Epiphany. We have mostly listened to the readings for that Sunday. This coming Thursday (February 2) when we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple which we heard about as our second reading. This day is more commonly known as C

There is a lot to squeeze into this week’s theme. Firstly, we are observing the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple -  which falls on 2 February, 40 days after Christmas, marking the end of Christmas-Epiphany season. Jesus was presented at the Temple as the law required of a first son, and we hear the response of Simeon (The Song of Simeon or Nunc Dimittis) and Anna.  The name Candlemas comes from the tradition of blessing the candles that were to be used in the church during the coming year. Candles were the main means of providing light – in every way we can understand that. Over these 40 days when we have been invited to wrap our minds around the light of God revealed in Christ. God is with us; God is with all.  The presentation story is one more revelation of who Jesus the Christ is, and through that who God is and the nature of God’s ongoing work in the world today. Confusingly for those of you who follow the lectionary this week we are using the gospel reading for the fourth S

This sermon can be listened to here   Gate Pa – Year C 4 th Sunday of Epiphany 2021, Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 71:1-6 First Reading:             Jeremiah 1:4-10 Second Reading:        1 Cor 13:1-13                           Gospel:                        Luke 4:21-30 What I want to say: For some who follow the C of E calendar, Wednesday marks the end of the 40 days of the Christmas-Epiphany season –> what is this season about? -          revelation who Jesus is -          response to that? why I stuck with readings for 4 th Sunday rather than presentation readings -          really like Jeremiah – got smacked in mouth by coal and became prophet to kind of like how we have been smacked in the mouth by Covid -> like Jeremiah we are called -          response of people who knew him to what Jesus has taught last week -          famous passage from 1 Cor 13 – about hard crunchy love – not a feeling but way to act What does all thi