Churches have all sorts of bits of tradition and culture that no one else has. So, what’s Advent? Let's look at Isaiah – a book that we often read during Advent.
I’m excited to say I can see our diocese has plenty of people who are hungry for the nurture and challenge of deep discipleship. But they usually need to be given the opportunity and a good nudge.
10-year-old Barney Hossain is proof that you don’t have to be a grown up to make a difference, having raised thousands of dollars to go towards sepsis awareness.
I popped into Nelson Cathedral on Tuesday to witness the assembly of some of the Christmas trees and chat to a few of the organisations.
During my recent sabbatical, I had the opportunity to undertake the 30-day Spiritual Exercises developed by St Ignatius of Loyola back in the sixteenth century. I chose St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in north Wales.
We started Whānau Church in the hopes that it will help demystify Christianity and make it more accessible to people who want to explore what it all means.
Being the "newbie" in unfamiliar territory made me realise how it must feel when someone decides to turn up to one of our services for the first time. Let me share three things I’ve learnt on how we can receive first-timers on a Sunday.
With Christmas coming up, many are starting to prepare for family gatherings: the food, the presents – but what about the conversation?
Four years in an intentional flat turned prayer, kai, and mission into daily habits. Suter House stretched our comfort and sanded rough edges, forming Jesus-loving leaders. Shared rhythms, unity under pressure, and real service reshaped us.
Two church-led op shops turned Nelson into a treasure hunt. All Saints raised funds for a Fiji ministry trip, while St Stephen’s car boot sale drew neighbours and vendors. Donations poured in, conversations flowed, and the community showed up.
Runanga Healing Rooms opened for ministry in July this year. As well as praying for those who come to the rooms, we intercede for each other and for the whole community.
God doesn’t want creation to be his work alone – God wants to partner with his created people, the ones who bear his image, in the work of creation.
The Rest Home Volunteer Chaplains are an interdenominational group, trained by the Nelson Diocese to serve the entire rest home community. Eight new rest home chaplains graduated yesterday afternoon.
For me, internships are one of the best formational vehicles we have in the Church. I know this firsthand.
What began as a few friends jamming has become Home Sweet Homies, a six-piece band based in Nelson. I had the honour of asking the band a few questions about their music, faith and future.
Torrential rain, power cuts and road closures threatened to derail this year’s Spring Camp, but the weather broke just in time.
I grew up in a loving Christian home where service was greatly encouraged. I loved being able to serve and help those around me. It drew me close to my servant saviour. However, it also led to an unhealthy desire to be needed.
We are to be a people bound to particular communities, to bear one another’s burdens. Our lives are meant to support and be supported, to be intertwined – that kind of mahi is both beautiful and hard.
Three things stood out to me in particular from examining the Patmos World Attitudes Bible Survey – what can we learn from them?
"Often it’s hard to find the right language for mental health and wellbeing. But this is the language of art, which is universal."
A team from All Saints in Nelson showed "what a community can achieve when it gets behind something" in the highlands of Papua New Guinea to support Mission Aviation Fellowship workers gathering for a staff conference.
The impact this one little girl and her small Māori translation of the Gospel of Luke had on New Zealand is great and will not be soon forgotten.
I want to create spaces where women – regardless of theological persuasion – can find support, training, and companions to walk alongside them through the seasons of leadership.
Something remarkable has been happening in the Awatere: groups of RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer) workers gathering around the Bible – in two languages.
William Tyndale’s work provided millions of people across the world with the Bible in their own language. It also cost him his life.
