John Hebenton's Podcast

John talks about how theology was for the first 1,000 or more years done by people immersed in the life and struggles of the people of the church. Theology was a pastoral response to the big issues they were facing. In the face of persecution for example, who is the God met in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The doctrine of the Trinity should also be read from a pastoral perspective. Ho...

The story of the giving of the Spirit in John is different from Acts. In this time of relaxing pandemic, what does the story of the gifting of the Spirit in John offer us? As Jesus breathes on his terrified disciples offering them peace and a mission, how do we experience The Spirit breathed over and into us? When have been the moments of peace breath, forgiveness, and rejoicing? You can find the...

John reflects on  the Ascension and Jesus final prayer while we continue to not meet in church and live our lives under level 2 restrictions, where do we see God at work? At the end of the sermon is a little bit about when we might return to having services in church. The notes for this sermon can be found here 

John explores John 14:15-21 and what Jesus says about the Spirit of Truth, the Companion. The gift of the Spirit is that the love of God resides in each one of us, that all may be drawn into the way of God – the way of compassion, generosity, justice and love. And the task of the Spirit is to invite us ever more deeply into love, so that we too might abide in divine love.  While we might be physic...

John explores how putting John 14 back into the context of John's version of the last supper turns what Jesus says from hard to understand theology to words of comfort and hope in the midst of their terror and confusion. And in doing so they become words of comfort and hope in the midst  in the midst of pandemic lock-downs. Like those disciples we are invited into the image we saw last week o...

This week we follow up on the 4th Sunday in Lent this year, when we also read the 23rd Psalm, and heard the first part of the story we are finishing today – the healing of the man born blind. That Sunday was our last Sunday in our church. We are unsure when we will able to return. What does God being both our protector and provider mean for us at this time? The notes for sermon can be read here

We are in a new normal – getting used to being church in some different and creative ways. Today’s gospel invites us to think about how we recognise the risen Jesus in the ordinary acts of gathering for meals and living in our bubbles.  Hearing the story of the disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus has a number of invitations -           What are your hopes in all this? -           How are...

Bonnie Hebenton preaches this week. She writes about the theme The gospel readings this week and for today are all about Jesus' encounters with his disciples after his resurrection. Jesus is constantly reassuring everyone and helping them put aside their fear and anxiety. He keeps saying, "Peace be with you." This is an important reassurance for all of us in the midst of a pandemic,...

A reflection mirroring the the events around holy week and Easter with our own experience of covid-19 and lock-down, and how the two stories might speak to each other. Quietly in the dawn a single word has changed our world We are freed What does that mean for us this year? What changes for us in this moment? You can find the text of this here

Palm Sunday (Branch Monday in Matthew) is time to join the disciples on their journey of recognising Jesus as the King who comes in peace, saving all from all that oppresses, offering God’s healing and life. We join them and Jesus as we walk though this holy week to Golgotha, where Jesus accepts his crown hung on a cross. This week in lock-down offers a unique opportunity to enter this week more f...

Our lives have been turned upside down. We are having to rethink how we live our lives. We are in a strange new land for the next few weeks at least. How are we feeling after a few days of lockdown? How are we feeling with Covid-19 around us?  Ezekiel was given a vision for those whose lives had been turned upside down, who were having to rethink how they lived their lives. They were in a strange...

In this uncertain time what does this the story of the Blind Man being healed offer. What light is being planted in our eyes? Who are we invited to see at this time? In what ways are we being invited to hear and see, to deepen our relationship with Jesus. We also explore some of the issues around translations, and how if we can the meaning of a couple of words to other equally acceptable meanings,...

How does this story add to the story we explored last week, a story that begins with greed, violence, and division; finds Abram and Sarai being invited into the impossible dream of being the first ancestor of a new people – unlike any other – through whom God will renew creation and restore humanity; an impossible dream tenuously held in the Israelite people; and fulfilled in Jesus. How does this...

This is a reflection more than a sermon. It is based on Abram and Sarai being called away from everything they know, everything that shaped who they are, everything that gives safety and security to be the means through which God might restore the human and non-human creation and be able to live in harmony with God’s original intention for the world. John (like Paul) presents Jesus as the means by...

Jesus time in the wilderness ( Matthew 4: 1-11) was less about being tempted to act in certain ways, and more about being tested in his sense of who he was and how he might live that out. Lent too is about who we are as beloved children of God, how we forget that, and how we might live that out. I want to suggest that our collective issue might be “climate change” Invite people to reflect on what...

We continue our journey into the sermon on the Mount, holding the beatitudes as our map and key, exploring how Jesus explicated the intention of the law and the prophets. That intention is the creation of a community which mirrors the love of God, in which all flourish, that gathers around all, where the common good is held as paramount, all are treated with honour and respect, and all are given w...

On Thursday 6th February we in Aotearao-New Zealand commemorated the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Events were held at Waitangi and around Aotearoa-New Zealand.  So what are we commemorating: A piece of legal history of no consequence today? A tool for the British to steal Maori land? A device that allowed Maori to enjoy the benefits of being part of the British Empire and access to European...

What does it mean for Jesus to fulfil the law? This week we are given examples of how Jesus reads the law. It is to create a community where all can thrive, not just the rich and the powerful. Where the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn etc… are able to be all God desires for them. This happens when we see and treat each person as our sister and brother, and when we take responsibility for...

Using Matthew  5:13-20 John explores What does it mean for Jesus to fulfill the law?  What does it mean for how I am salt and light?  Last week we were given a list of kinds of people who we might aspire to be in the beatitudes. They are salt and light. Who is salt and light for me? The notes for this sermon can be found here

St. Georges Anglican Church, Gate Pa, sits on the site of the Battle of Gate Pā-Pukehinahina. Each year we offer free lectures to help people understand our history and how it shapes our present. This year we are offering two lectures on the evenings of February 2nd and February 9th at 7pm. Each talk will last about 2 hours.  The first talk will be given by Archbishop Sir David Moxon on The Anglic...

John explores this week’s gospel readings, of both the presentation of Jesus in the temple (Luke 2: 22-40 ) and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12 ). What do these stories reveal about Christ, and what do they reveal about how we are to live our response. The theme can be read here , and the sermon notes can be found here

Adrienne Malcomson, an assistant priest in the parish, writes of her theme: " We make choices everyday – God chooses us. Through God`s grace and love we are chosen just as we are. What are we chosen to do? These answers, maybe, are in today`s sermon.   

What is Epiphany and what does it offer us? This is a  sermon using Matthew 4:12-25 to explore Epiphany as time of intentionally seeing the world differently (repentance) and living that out (call).

John explores the story of Ahaz who acted out of fear and refused the sign of a young woman giving birth to a son named Emmanuel. He could not see the sign of this child being less than two when all he feared was eradicated. But others remembered and retold that story, in exile, on their return, and then at the birth of a new baby named Jesus. God with us invites us to not act out of fear, despair...

What brings me joy? What bring God joy? What is joy and how do we pay attention to it and nurture it? Where do we find joy in our gospel reading this morning? What does joy mean this advent? We finish by looking at the promotional video for the CWS Christmas appeal Notes for this sermon can be found here