In early 2023 the parish was contacted by Heritage New Zealand, inviting them to apply for funding from the David Luke Heritage Bequest.
She recalls with a chuckle that, as a seven-year-old, she pictured God like a big blue balloon stretched over the earth. Diana wondered in her young mind if she could scale a ladder sufficient in height to pop him with a fork!
“We acknowledge and take full responsibility for our failures to provide the safe, caring and nurturing environment those who have been in our care had a right to expect and to receive.”
It’s one very human trait that we have the capacity to be stopped in our tracks by beauty and grace, and we get to decide whether or not we want to pay attention.
"I particularly loved coming together as the diocese and just being so encouraged by sharing stories and hearing how we’re all working for the gospel with our ups and downs, our challenges and our persevering and our celebrations."
When Jesus is asked "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?", it's a young child who he places in the midst of the competing disciples. Why? What is it about children and childhood that, for Jesus, is key to knowing God?
In Exodus 34 we come to a moment of hope and redemption after a monumental fall from grace.
We wanted to bring together young adults in Nelson and help them make connections.
One of the gifts Christ gives to the church is evangelists – certain people that just can’t help but proclaim Christ everywhere they go. But we are all called to be witnesses to the good news we have received.
In church tradition, from early days, St Michael was regarded as the angel to lead Christian armies against evil, and as a protector of individual Christians against the devil.
I feel like Jeremiah's words echo down through the ages. The church in New Zealand, perceived by many to be irrelevant and out of touch, has often seized upon exilic imagery.
In the first of the series “We Recommend”, I had a chat with Rev Tim Bustin, vicar of All Saints in Nelson. Tim recommends a book by Peter Scazzero called Emotionally Healthy Discipleship.
Paying attention to the natural world is a form of worship as we read the "book of creation".
If someone is scratching my back, I’ll scratch theirs. As long as we are all scratching each other's backs, we’re all happy. But what about when don’t receive anything back?
Parishes with earthquake prone buildings have to consider whether to fund the strengthening work for the buildings, or re-think and re-imagine what church might look like.
A life with Jesus requires regular pruning, as does any vine. We have seasons of fruit-bearing and seasons of rest and recuperation.
Jay’s talk ignited a spark among many to explore our rich missional heritage and look deeper into the value of a reconciled, bicultural church community.
As a Christian, I knew in theory that God is someone who sits outside of space and time, who can see the beginning from the end. But now I knew it as a reality. God knew what was going to happen in five months time.
When Juliet says goodnight to Romeo she is saying that their parting is sorrowful because she will miss him – but why is it sweet?
I’d never heard of a "human library" until I was contacted by Multicultural Nelson Tasman, asking whether I would be interested in being a part of one during the Multicultural Festival.
I was lost and stuck. It lasted for about 10 years. I didn’t realise there was a term for it at the time, but I was starting to deconstruct my faith.
This winter both Anglican Care and Fifeshire will be partners in providing winter grants, with Anglican Care focussing on the older age group across the diocese.
"It is a huge privilege to be asked to lead in this way," said Archbishop Justin Duckworth, new senior bishop of the New Zealand Dioceses.
Spiritual direction is not a lofty concept reserved for mystics or theologians. It’s a profound person-centered spiritual exploration, a sacred practice rooted in the Christian tradition.
As “believers” we don’t go far down this theological chat about doubt without mentioning good ol’ Thomas – the Thomas with the bad rap. “Doubting Thomas”, said like it’s the biggest sin to doubt.
Fostering unity among the young people, youth leaders and youth groups has been a constant priority for me. It's a crucial part of being a follower of Jesus: to be known for our love for one another.
The singing was wonderful, the prayers very appropriate and moving, the bishop’s sermon very stirring, the faith of the people obvious. God was in the building – Jesus was claiming hearts.
Pentecost isn’t over! The story that started so long ago and continued throughout the history of the early church is still being lived out by Christians today.
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you.
Coming in as a level 5 student, I was very much ready to just learn some fancy words to have under my belt if I needed one day. I wasn't so ready to let God touch my heart with all of those things.
Many of us would love for our churches to be more intergenerational – but we can't achieve this through just a programme, an activity or a resource. So where do we begin?
"I didn't work out until my 30s that I was probably a gifted evangelist," says Julie-anne. "And the image that I'd had of what a gifted evangelist looked like was quite different. I was a bit more 'ordinary'."
About every three years some pundit in the media or politician raises the prospect of taxing the churches or decries their rates exemptions.
Invitation becomes a spiritual practice when we prayerfully invite unchurched people into some form of Christian community.
Jane explains the concept of “permanent agriculture” as a way of life following some important principles.
"We see people meeting with Jesus wherever they are in their ages and stages," say Gary and Phillipa, leaders of Messy Church in Motueka.
I found in preparing for the ordination service that God kept affirming so deeply that this commitment I was preparing to make was what I was made for and every way in which he'd journeyed with me led to this.
For those involved in Christian ministry, our sense of worth can easily become confused with our perceived “success” or output. Living with Chronic Fatigue unmasks this dangerous fallacy.
In the Nelson diocese, we sadly have one of the highest rates of child poverty at 18.5%. So what can we do about it?
There was a level of enthusiasm for worship, prayer, prophecy and fellowship that I’ve never seen before.
We asked a few parishes to tell us about how their Easter celebrations went this year.
Bishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia express their horror at the continuing acts of violence and join international voices in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire by both warring parties to this conflict.
As we journey through the week leading up to Easter, I want to encourage us to think about how Easter opens the door for us in three ways.
Scottie highlighted four markers in society we should be watching for as common pre-cursors to other renewal movements, and wondered if we were on the cusp of something here in New Zealand.
As I’ve had the opportunity to hear the stories of our rangatahi who went on the trip it’s become clear that the Fiji Ministry Exchange was a transformative experience for all involved.
"Every now and again God places in your life someone who inspires you and encourages you through the practical outworking of their faith."
In the early church, Christians simply focused on living quiet Christian lives. Attendance at church services was tightly controlled with only those baptised admitted. So how did the church grow?
If people stop praying, the downstream implications are enormous on every single level – when it comes to mission, the kingdom of God, future leaders, serving the poor. It begins with a life of prayer.
Nearly 170 years after the first ship in the series was launched, Reverend David Hastings and Reverend John Sherlock conducted the blessing ceremony for Southern Cross 10.
If you've been part of the diocese for a while (especially the northern end), you've probably heard of a place called Mamaku Grove – but what actually is it?
“You’re not going to be beaten by a grandma are you?” works well when persuading them to do something a bit difficult for them – jumping over the side or climbing up the rigging.
I’m more and more convinced that the heart of any Christian gathering is reflecting on the scriptures and breaking bread together. It's that simple.
In a culture of consumption, consumerism and immediate gratification, fasting serves as an antidote.
I’ve been drawn to the post-exilic books in the Old Testament for insight into the journey of revitalisation.
"I wrestled for years about how art and craft could be spiritual, but I know now for sure that it is by the opportunities it provides."
The blurring of boundaries between the virtual and the real increases the danger of substituting digital interaction for real participation in community.
Clear waters, golden beaches, hot days... Convergence didn’t have any coconuts with mini umbrellas to drink from, but it had everything else, as well as family and collective worship of our good God.
The deliberate use of colour in Anglican liturgy is a way of participating through beauty and art in the seasons and celebrations of our faith.
What if God is not just concerned about what we do with our spare time, but what we do most of the time?
God, in his love and mercy, is continuing to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
How good and pleasant a thing it is when God’s people live together in unity.
Jesus is bringing the kingdom and calling people to respond and he will not be distracted from that mission, even as people fail to comprehend what he is saying.
For Joe, a minister accustomed to being on the giving end of ministry, being on the receiving end has been a humbling and enlightening experience.
From here peace is found, emanating from stone, reflected in rose glass.
A friend said she was amazed that no one she had given a Biblical Christmas story quiz had achieved 100%. My pride immediately set me up for a fall and I said I would do the quiz, thinking I would get 100% for sure! I know my Bible.
From church news and interviews with local legends to theological analyses and personal devotions, we read over 100 articles and heard from more than 40 different voices from Marlborough, Waimea, Māwhera and Nelson.
So many people are looking for hope, for a reason to rejoice, for a way to overcome the weariness. You don’t often associate the words “weariness” and “rejoicing”. It feels strange for weary people to rejoice.
Last Sunday marked a significant moment in Rai Valley as St Mark's opened its doors for the first time in nearly ten years.
Christmas at Nelson Cathedral got underway on with the Switch on Service for the Christmas Tree Festival and since then close to 7,000 people have come in to look at the trees.
John the Baptist identifies himself as the “voice”. But where we put the colon makes all the difference.
After three decades of hard work, Pip and Paul Etherington celebrate the publication of the first New Testament ever written in Nggem.
Behind all the myths and legends about Santa Claus lies a kernel of truth – a real person of faith and courage who believed in Jesus.
I’m starting to believe that Christian community is a hugely influential – and perhaps underestimated – factor in how we do mission and disciple-making.
"For me, food and kids are two things that I enjoy, so it was a natural space for me to move into," says Becky.
Our Christmas party was a beautiful way to extend an open invitation to the wider community, introducing them to the love and joy found within the church community.
Kākano is a key strategic initiative to raise mission-minded leaders who are hungry to impact their local communities with the Good News but aren’t sure exactly how to go about it.
As I watched my team walk through the departure gate at Nelson Airport, I realised that they were not my team anymore.
Not everyone can lay claim to six decades of serving the Lord, especially within the bounds of one parish! We celebrated Caroline Gibbs on Sunday.
The story of the wise men visiting young Jesus is one that many of us will be very familiar with, but do we understand just how significant this event actually was?
Ben Truman began life on the West Coast at Holy Trinity in Greymouth and attended The Shed youth group. Last night he became the youngest Dean in the history of Christ Church Cathedral.
Our tradition is rich in sacraments, each one representing a beautiful part of God’s character and work in us.
Are we part of a multiverse? And is it a matter of choosing between believing in God and believing in the multiverse?
As a young leader, Suter Formational Hui was a game-changer for me this year.
As somebody new to the Golden Bay region, what stood out for me was the overwhelming sense of community that still surrounds St Cuthbert’s after so many years.
On November 16, the Mission to Seafarers celebrated the opening of their new centre in Nelson, sure to be a comforting sight for those arriving after lengthy periods at sea.
When we share our stories, we're not just recounting events – we're testifying to God's active presence in our lives.
I've had a few occasions recently to think about a Bible verse that says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth..."
Today’s youth live in a culture dominated by alcohol, drugs, social media and other pressures that can lead to dangerous and life-altering behaviours. This is where Red Frogs comes in.
In the coming decades the Aotearoa Church is going to undergo a seismic change which will be far bigger than any one conference or convention.
"If we're doing a radio show on Sunday morning," Petra thought, "why can't it be a sacred, safe place, a spiritual place? Could it not be church on the radio?"
The situation in Israel and Gaza is devastating. It’s difficult to process the immensity of the situation or contemplate the solution. So what can we do about it?
There is a catastrophic humanitarian crisis going on right now following the escalation of violence in Israel and Gaza. Thousands of people have been killed and over a million people displaced.
There were many things going on, but this we know for sure – God is powerfully at work in the young people of the Nelson Diocese, and our young people are intensely hungry for more of him.
Some of us have been receiving odd emails from people claiming to be friends or colleagues...
"Our faith has a profound impact on our work," says Nick, "both in our service to those we host, but also in the way we steward the business and care for our staff and their families."
Sit down with Evan Hunt to hear about how he survived a near miss with a train, rescued a sheep from the meat works and overcame the troubles of life with the help of God.
While leading any kind of change is challenging, churches are arguably the most difficult of all organisations to change. What makes this the case?
"We should not rush headlong," Saint Augustine says, "and so firmly take our stand on one side that, if further progress in the search for truth justly undermines this position, we too fall with it."
I often say that we should wear a shirt that reads, "Be patient with me, God isn't finished with me yet".
“I’m doing what songwriters and poets and artists are supposed to do,” Cory says about his new album, “which is to give language for the things that we all feel.”