St Barnabas, Fendalton

How does Jesus respond to a woman he sees as a foreigner? She persists in asking for help for her daughter who needs healing.

The Canaanite woman showed great perseverance in staying engaged with Jesus in spite of push backs. She also displayed great insight in wanting the blessings of Israel to spill over toward her – a gentile. Nothing is gained by disengaging – hang in there with your questions and frustrations and you will grow through them.

Elijah was running for his life thinking that the whole of God’s purposes relied on him and he’d failed. However God spoke to him in ‘the sound of sheer silence’, renewed his calling and helped him realise there were many others who had not compromised their faith. What is your ‘Why?’ in life? Discovering it will keep you motivated and humble!

Elijah and Peter both find it's okay to be real before God.

God gives in abundance but as Jacob found, sometimes that involves letting go.

Jacob wrestled with God on the night before he met with Esau. Until then Jacob had tried to carry forward God’s plans through his own cunning but in wrestling with God his strength is fully expended. However he continued to cling to God and asked for a blessing. We must not rely on our own human capacities but on the power of God to bless us and our church.

Visiting preacher Rev Dr Graham O'Brien addresses the issue of human life in the context of the caring ministry of the church. Currently Graham is the Ministry Educator in the Anglican Diocese of Nelson, Co-Chair of the InterChurch Bioethics Council and a committee member for the national "VoteNo campaign".

Opening the Bible is what we are called to do as Christians but just as important is letting the Bible read you.

How do we grapple with Abraham sensing God call him to sacrifice his son Isaac?

In spite of our mistakes and broken relationships, God continues to carry his purposes forward and offer hope for reconciliation and healing. Sarah tried to get rid of Hagar and Ishmael but in God’s mercy there was still hope and a future for them.

Barnabas was a very influential leader in the early Church – he responded whole heartedly to the gospel, recognized the guidance of the Holy Spirit and was a source of reassurance and encouragement to all he met.

Each & every life matters to God - how the Trinity calls us all into communion with God.

On the day of Pentecost we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church transforming slow, timid and weak disciples into a group who turned the world upside down. With a new openess to prayer and faith post lockdown let’s confidently express our faith to others as well.

What symbol of the Holy Spirit resonates with you? Dove, Flame, Comforter, Rainbow Parakeet...?

Why Jesus is in a class of his own and has a unique claim to be the 'way the truth and the life.'

Sheep Rustler or Good Shepherd  - it's the gate that makes all the difference.

On the road to Emmaus Jesus reveals himself to two disciples through the scriptures and the breaking of bread. They are transformed by this encounter and return to the others eager to share their new faith.

Thomas tries to get things back to normal, but finds the resurrected Jesus starts off a whole 'new normal'.

There is no resurrection without the cross or the despair and emptiness of Holy Saturday. We may feel in a state of sadness or despair but Christ is with us and his resurrection has changed everything.

One year on from the anniversary of the March 15 mosque attacks, guest preacher Rev. Dr Bob Robertson joins us this morning. Some people hate Muslims - but what would Jesus feel and say? What should we feel and say?

The wind of the Spirit draws us to Jesus and then propels us out on a new journey.

Abraham received God’s call and promise and set out from Haran to obey without seeing any evidence. God’s call was from barrenness to blessing and from polytheism to an alternative community gathered around the one true God. God calls us today to a new, fruitful community of faith.

Jesus was led into the wilderness by the same Spirit who affirmed his identity at his baptism. Jesus was faced with temptations that are common to us all – hedonism, egoism and materialism. Ask God for the grace to overcome and be strengthened for ministry.

Jesus shows us a different way when relationships break down and people hate us – he asks us to love those who hate and despise us. We don’t ignore bad behavior but we engage creatively with love.

God is as concerned about our relationships with others as about our relationship with God.