At our Gate - Pastor's Pen for 30th November 2025

As I was doing about thirty laps of the AstroTurf sports field at Forrest Hill on Monday morning, I began by listening to an online devotional based on Luke 16: 19-31 about the rich man and Lazarus. Lazarus was a beggar languishing at the gates of the rich man who generally ignored him. It made me think.

As we enter the Advent season, we do well to pause and meditate on what scripture has to say about the sharing of resources with those who have little, by those who have more than enough. Christmas becomes a very stressful time for those in poverty, as there is always an expectation to do more, spend more, and entertain.

Auckland Council reports rough sleeping in Auckland has increased by 90% from 426 people recorded in September 2024, to 809 in May 2025. So in a year when homelessness has skyrocketed on the North Shore, it's heartening to see what has come out of a symposium instigated by some Presbyterians at Onewa Community Church, between church leaders, council officers and social service providers. A drop-in centre for homeless is now operating from Glenfield Salvation Army Tuesdays 10am - 1pm, with free showers, laundry, printing and photocopying provided by Orange Sky Aotearoa; You know, those little things that are hard to do if you are sleeping rough or living in your car.

At a time when we are generally thinking about Christmas, summer holidays and family, take a moment to ask; Who might be at our gates? Who needs help? What can I do or contribute to, even in a small way? Shalom