Colourful Dreamer

Gate Pa – Pentecost Sunday 2016 Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 104:24-34,35                                                   First Reading:                          Acts 2:1-21 Second Reading:                    Romans 8:14-17  Gospel:                          ...

Over the last week, in our lectionary, we have remembered Maori who recognised Christ in their culture and took the gospel around Aotearoa, and particularly around our Diocese. [1] It began on Monday 13 th when we commemorated Ihaia Te Ahu of Nga Puhi. We continued with a series of commemorations chosen from many Maori Christians as representative of the outstanding Maori witness that caused the gospel to be sown and to take root in Aotearoa. Ihaia was one of the earliest Maori clergy. He went with Thomas Chapman of the Church Missionary Society to Rotorua and then to Maketu. On Chapman’s retirement in 1861 Ihaia was ordained, serving first in Maketu and then in 1882 becoming the first vicar of the Ohinemutu Pastorate. Ihaia’s godly, patient ministry in complex and challenging circumstances was very influential. On Tuesday 14 th we remembered Ngakuku, father of Tarore, and a Ngati Haua chief of the Waikato. He accompanied Archdeacon A.N. Brown on missionary journeys an...

Easter comes to an end with this dramatic reading from Acts. While the timetable is different in other parts of the New Testament, the components are the same - the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and the coming of the Spirit. Luke's version is a grand Hollywood telling of the story. Full of big effects, rich on symbolism and cultural icebergs, with meek men bursting with courage and proclaiming powerful speeches. It is easy to get hung up on the details and miss the point. Luke is painting a picture to inspire us. Jesus had lived the presence of God in ways that defied much of their understanding of how that should be. That same presence is found still in our community today. When it happens, when we let it happen, the ancient curses that separate us and turn us against each other are undone, and we connect with God and each other in new and life giving ways. In all this, like those first drawn into the life of the Spirit, we are given new identities. The story g...