Blog | Minister's blog

In my Father's House - Pastor's Pen for 7th May 2023

May 1, 20232 min read

In my Father's House - Pastor's Pen for 7th May 2023

Orewa campground in dawn light Warm light has a way of inviting further investigation, speaks of hospitality and comfort as it cuts...

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Dawn Service - Pastor's Pen for 30th April 2023

Minister

Apr 28, 20231 min read

Dawn Service - Pastor's Pen for 30th April 2023

I suppose I questioned my life choices having to get up for the Brown's Bay ANZAC dawn service I agreed to officiate at on Tuesday 25th....

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"What things?" - pastor's pen for 23rd April 2023

Minister

Apr 17, 20231 min read

"What things?" - pastor's pen for 23rd April 2023

Road at Ngataringa fields In the post-Easter season, the church revisits the resurrected appearances of Jesus, as recorded in scripture....

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Minister

Apr 14, 20232 min read

Belonging - Pastor's pen for 16th April

Mostly humans do better when they belong to something. There is something healthy about being in relation to other people, although some...

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For there is nothing hidden - Pastor's Pen for Easter Sunday 9th April 2023

Minister

Apr 4, 20232 min read

For there is nothing hidden - Pastor's Pen for Easter Sunday 9th April 2023

Historic lino uncovered by renovations at Hillsborough manse 2016 The above photo popped up in my memories. Peel back the old lino to...

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Gethsemane - Pastor's Pen for 2nd April 2023

Minister

Mar 28, 20232 min read

Gethsemane - Pastor's Pen for 2nd April 2023

They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took with him Peter and James and...

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Returning, restoring - Pastor's Pen for 26th March 2023

Minister

Mar 23, 20232 min read

Returning, restoring - Pastor's Pen for 26th March 2023

Granny's Bay, Long Bay Regional Park, March 2023 A major slip closed the track out to the end of Long Bay Regional Park during the...

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A Man Born Blind - Pastor's Pen for 19th March 2023

Minister

Mar 15, 20232 min read

A Man Born Blind - Pastor's Pen for 19th March 2023

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" So asked Jesus' disciples as they passed a blind man in the street....

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"How can these things be?" Pastor's Pen for 12th March 2023

Minister

Mar 8, 20232 min read

"How can these things be?" Pastor's Pen for 12th March 2023

Rainbow and Cabbage Tree, Forrest Hill John 3 introduces us to Nicodemus, a teacher in the Jewish community, a Pharisee, who comes to...

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Wilderness - Pastor's Pen for 5th March 2023

Minister

Feb 27, 20232 min read

Wilderness - Pastor's Pen for 5th March 2023

Peaceful skies looking North from Narrow Neck, Feb 27th 2023 I'm enjoying engaging with Lent this year, especially meeting together for...

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Déjà vu - Pastor's Pen for 26th February 2023

Minister

Feb 20, 20232 min read

Déjà vu - Pastor's Pen for 26th February 2023

Rangitoto in a summery mood from Forrest Hill Thankfully the talkback chatter moaning that we had all gone soft for closing schools last...

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Anchor - Pastor's Pen for Sunday 19th Feb 2023

Minister

Feb 13, 20232 min read

Anchor - Pastor's Pen for Sunday 19th Feb 2023

Peaceful skies in Forrest Hill before the weather craps out again 10/02/23 I write this on Monday afternoon, as Cyclone Gabrielle lurks...

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After the flood - Pastor's Pen for 12th Feb 2023

Minister

Feb 9, 20232 min read

After the flood - Pastor's Pen for 12th Feb 2023

Evening clear skies from Forrest Hill towards the city I write this after the massive earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria which has...

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Rooted - Pastor's Pen for 5th February 2023

Minister

Feb 2, 20232 min read

Rooted - Pastor's Pen for 5th February 2023

I'm thankful that on Friday night at the manse a small wet patch in the garage due to poor exterior drainage was the sum total of water...

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'Guide her in the nation's van' - Pastor's Pen for 29th January 2023

Minister

Jan 23, 20232 min read

'Guide her in the nation's van' - Pastor's Pen for 29th January 2023

Yesterday at our final combined service for January at Glenfield Community Church, we sang the National Anthem as part of our worship,...

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Pastor's Pen for 15th January 2023 - 'a small but stubborn fire'

Minister

Jan 9, 20232 min read

Pastor's Pen for 15th January 2023 - 'a small but stubborn fire'

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the musical movie version of Roald Dahl's Matilda which has recently come to Netflix. As with a...

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January 2023 Combined services with hosting shared around the local churches

Minister

Dec 20, 20221 min read

January 2023 Combined services with hosting shared around the local churches

Combined Services January 2023: 1st January at 10am: Mairangi & Castor Bays Presbyterian Church 10 Penzance Road, Mairangi Bay 0630 8th...

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Redeeming the time - Pastor's Pen for 25th December 2022

Minister

Dec 20, 20222 min read

Redeeming the time - Pastor's Pen for 25th December 2022

Torpedo Bay, Devonport, from the clock Apostle Paul urges the Ephesians; 'Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,...

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'Go through, go through the gates' - Pastor's Pen for 18th December

Minister

Dec 15, 20222 min read

'Go through, go through the gates' - Pastor's Pen for 18th December

photo © Tim Hill The weekend before this one I completed the Westcoaster half marathon at Bethell's Beach (Te Henga). While there was no...

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Watching and Waiting - Pastor's Pen for 11th December 2022

Minister

Dec 7, 20222 min read

Watching and Waiting - Pastor's Pen for 11th December 2022

Isaiah 35: 1-10 is one of the readings for the 3rd week of Advent. We find here that the coming of God's kingdom and ways are not simply...

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