I was always eager to use my creative skills in some Christ-serving capacity, but I’m learning more and more about how much room there is for people like me in the Church.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of any community, and the Church is no exception. From vestry members to tea and coffee brewers, each contributes their skills and time to serve our God.

I’m finding that being comfortable back home is uncomfortable, because I’ve seen over there. Their God is the same God that we have here… So why did theirs seem so much bigger?

What do we need to do today to ensure that the Gospel is still being proclaimed loudly in all corners of the Nelson Diocese in 2030 and beyond? The plan for the rest of this year is to answer this question.

By walking the same ground as Jesus walked, Christians are reminded that God is not just a distant figure from history, but a living and active God who is still working in the world today.

'Convergence' means a junction, a merging, different things joining and flowing together as a new whole - and that’s pretty much what happened.

"I’ve been in some great services and felt the presence of God, but never like that," he said, between tears. "It wasn’t really emotional or hyped, it was just a tangible presence."

When people are colonised – whether we’re talking about the Israelites, tangata whenua here in Aotearoa, or countless people groups throughout history – their minds are often colonised as well, creating a hostility towards their own culture.

I wonder how the Department of Conservation might describe the number of kids in our churches. Perhaps they’d say that our kids have become an endangered species: rare sightings, dwindling numbers, vulnerable and in need of recovery.

When we hear the story of Zacchaeus, how often do we pay attention to the tree he climbed? In Jesus’ day, the sycamore fig tree was considered a “sin-spreading tree” because of its wide canopy.

Did you know that there are different stages in the journey of faith? What works for us at one stage of life, often doesn’t work at a later stage.

We’re approaching the end of the Season of Creation. Many churches around the world celebrate Francis of Assisi day with a Blessing of the Animals service. At St. Peter’s in Kaikoura, it’s a highlight of the year.

This weekend felt like a journey into the attic of the Anglican Church, exploring the hidden treasures of silence, solitude, and contemplative prayer - which have been a part of our culture since its inception.

In the story of Babel, we often conclude that the scattering of people that results from the confusion of tongues is divine punishment. But is there a better way to read that passage?

Our expressions of worship only largely represent the dominant pakeha kiwi middle class culture. Does this sound like your church? Our churches can enjoy glorious worship enriched by different cultural expressions.