Blog | Minister's blog

Noise - Pastor's Pen for 10th March 2024

Mar 41 min read

Noise - Pastor's Pen for 10th March 2024

Monday: It's been a while since I got called for jury service. It's also novel to commute by bus for the first time in years. The bus...

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Children's Day - Pastor's Pen for 3rd March 2024

Minister

Feb 282 min read

Children's Day - Pastor's Pen for 3rd March 2024

It was very interesting to hear what was described by one journalist as the "new Government’s most important and ambitious speech of its...

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Leadership - Pastor's Pen for 25th February 2024

Minister

Feb 212 min read

Leadership - Pastor's Pen for 25th February 2024

Wairau Stream with channel markers I've been reflecting on leaders this week, leaders of nations and even just ordinary leaders. This...

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Minister

Feb 142 min read

Dust - Pastor's Pen for 18th Feb 2024

Dead tree, Schnapper Rock Rd. I went to an Ash Wednesday service today at St. Peters, Takapuna. I don't think I have ever been to one...

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Remember - Pastor's Pen for 11th February 2024

Minister

Feb 82 min read

Remember - Pastor's Pen for 11th February 2024

Abandoned Cottage, Meeanee, Hawkes Bay Earlier this week, on the occasion of my mother's 80th birthday, I had cause to remember what my...

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Renew - Pastor's Pen for February 4th 2024

Minister

Jan 301 min read

Renew - Pastor's Pen for February 4th 2024

Scandrett's Bay Panorama, Mahurangi This weekend I'll be in Napier celebrating my Mum's 80th with family, and Lorna will be preaching....

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Adapt - Pastor's Pen for 28th January 2024

Minister

Jan 222 min read

Adapt - Pastor's Pen for 28th January 2024

Before sunrise at Martin's Bay, January 2024 I'm glad to live in a temperate climate in which you can exercise outdoors most of the year...

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Stepping into what God has for us - Pastor's Pen for 21st January 2024

Minister

Jan 172 min read

Stepping into what God has for us - Pastor's Pen for 21st January 2024

Three main challenges currently confront the trail runners of the North Shore; storm damage from last summer, Kauri dieback trail...

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Minister

Dec 20, 20231 min read

Summer Combined services 2023-24

Just another reminder of our shared service organisation for this summer. As per our previous arrangements, any named offerings will be...

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Signs of Summer - Pastor's Pen for 24th December 2023

Minister

Dec 20, 20232 min read

Signs of Summer - Pastor's Pen for 24th December 2023

Seine Rd. panorama with Pohutukawa The Pohutukawa seem particularly good this year, blooming as if in sync with Advent. Hopefully they...

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Re-Potting - Pastor's Pen for 17th December 2023

Minister

Dec 11, 20232 min read

Re-Potting - Pastor's Pen for 17th December 2023

Summer is often a time for cultivating tomatoes and various other plants. If summer returns to something resembling normal, I'll have to...

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The Reason for the Season - Pastor's Pen for 10th December 2023

Minister

Dec 6, 20231 min read

The Reason for the Season - Pastor's Pen for 10th December 2023

Advent begins and on a three year cycle just like that we are in year B, which focuses on the Gospel of Mark. You will know by now that...

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Seasons - Pastor's Pen for 3rd December 2023

Minister

Nov 29, 20232 min read

Seasons - Pastor's Pen for 3rd December 2023

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.'...

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Take a break - Pastor's Pen for 26th Nov 2023

Minister

Nov 23, 20232 min read

Take a break - Pastor's Pen for 26th Nov 2023

Lately, when I do a long run on my day off from Forrest Hill to Devonport and back, I stop somewhere in Devonport for a long black...

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Small steps of faith - Pastor's Pen for 19th November 2023

Minister

Nov 15, 20232 min read

Small steps of faith - Pastor's Pen for 19th November 2023

I exited the dentist at noon on Monday with only half my face working, and having been instructed not to eat, drink or rinse for an hour....

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Endings and Beginnings - Pastor's Pen for 12th November 2023

Minister

Nov 10, 20232 min read

Endings and Beginnings - Pastor's Pen for 12th November 2023

This week my bits and pieces of study leave comes to an end. The small matter of finishing the final essay for my supervision course...

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Living with Obstacles and Ambiguity - Pastor's Pen for November 5th 2023

Minister

Nov 1, 20232 min read

Living with Obstacles and Ambiguity - Pastor's Pen for November 5th 2023

I can see the mountain, and I might want to go there, but what obstacles are in my path that I have no knowledge of, and have not...

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Come to the Quiet - Pastor's Pen for 29th October 2023

Minister

Oct 24, 20232 min read

Come to the Quiet - Pastor's Pen for 29th October 2023

Is November really upon us? Soon it will be Christmas with all its busy-ness and chaos. This seat in the bush on a hairpin bend reminds...

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With age, wisdom....Pastor's Pen for 22nd October 2023

Minister

Oct 19, 20232 min read

With age, wisdom....Pastor's Pen for 22nd October 2023

My running club, being one of the oldest in Auckland, has some people who have been around for a while. We are not full of sprightly...

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Shifting focus - Pastor's pen for 15th October 2023

Minister

Oct 11, 20232 min read

Shifting focus - Pastor's pen for 15th October 2023

City from Forrest Hill in evening light Oct 2023 There's a run I often do from home up to Forrest Hill and down into Centennial Park for...

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