The moving service was attended by over 130 worshipers, with some people being moved to tears witnessing the candidates publicly affirm their faith.

In an age where few had access to the written word, the Nicene Creed was an easily memorised summary of Christian belief.

I don’t believe in ecclesial superiority – but in the process of taking holy orders within the Anglican church, I have had to seriously wrestle with choosing a particular denomination.

Bishop Steve is delighted to announce the appointment of Rev Mark Johnson as the new vicar at Golden Bay Parish.

“Loaves & Fishes is more than just a place where people come. It's a place where people get to connect and share their lives.”

Congregational leaders successfully bring about church change when they lead with determination, flexibility, and empathy.

Friends, church members and colleagues spoke of Watiri’s gentle, warm and peaceful presence, and her consistent integrity both in public and private life.

There's no one-stop-cookie-cutter worship session that you could plug and play in all differing church contexts. Yet there are some intergenerational principles that could help support a community of faith that believes we’re better together.

“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.”

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!

In early 2023 the parish was contacted by Heritage New Zealand, inviting them to apply for funding from the David Luke Heritage Bequest.

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?

"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."

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.

We wanted to bring together young adults in Nelson and help them make connections.

In Exodus 34 we come to a moment of hope and redemption after a monumental fall from grace.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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. 

A life with Jesus requires regular pruning, as does any vine. We have seasons of fruit-bearing and seasons of rest and recuperation.