Reflection 13 August – Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus walks on water a reflection by Dan Spragg Each year we make our annual pilgrimage up the south island to the golden sands of Kaiteriteri. The sun shines, it’s warm, it’s relaxing and the beach and the water are beautiful. If you’ve been to...
Reflection 6 August – Peace Sunday
Peace Sunday - Micah 4:1-4 & Matthew 5:1-12 a reflection by Dan Spragg Shane Claiborne is the founder of The Simple Way, an intentional Christian community in Philadelphia which seeks to live simply and follow the ways of Jesus in all of life. Living in New...
Reflection 23 July
Genesis 28:10-22 & Matthew 13:24-35 Reflection by Dan Spragg Recently I was lucky enough to spend a weekend in the mountains on our West Coast. Some friends and I rode our bikes over the Paparoa Track. 55 km and 1400m of elevation over two days. It was amazing....
Reflection 16 July – Matariki
Matariki & Psalm 119: Remembrance, Celebration, Anticipation by Josh Olds These images are all from the Mt John Observatory, which sits above Lake Tekapo. There’s something quite mesmerising about the stars isn’t there? It’s hard to be outside on a clear starry...
Reflection 2 July – Presence and Rewards
Acts 5:27-42 & Matthew 10:40-42 - Presence and Rewards by Dan Spragg You’ll recall from Genesis 1 the claim that we as humans are made in the image of God. Now a lot of the time this has been interpreted, especially by us modern Westerners, that each of us as...
Reflection 25 June – An Ancient and New Thing
Matthew 10:1-14 & 11:28-30 - An Ancient and New Thing A Reflection and an Idea by Dan Spragg Jesus sends his disciples out to go and do what he had been doing. I’ve mentioned the idea of apprenticeships recently. That’s essentially what being a Christian is meant...
Reflection 18 June – God draws near
Genesis 18:1-15 & Matthew 9:35-10:1 - God draws near and things happen… A Reflection by Dan Spragg A number of years ago some friends and I went on a camping trip staying at the Maitai Valley camping ground near Nelson. I think we were away for about a week to...
Reflection 4 June – The call to disciple
Matthew 28:16-20 A reflection on the call to ‘disciple’ by Dan Spragg There are a number of teachers in our midst. I myself was a teacher in a previous life. As a teacher one is always concerned with finding the best way for students to learn. I know that with any...
Reflection 21 May – The Ascension of Jesus
The Ascension of Jesus: Acts 1:1-11 Reflection by Josh Olds When I was 17, my parents left to join the Penguin Police. They were not going to join a task force that investigated crimes committed by penguins, as the name might suggest. The Penguin Police, as they were...
Reflection 7 May – We can know God, now
John 14:1-14 - We can know God, now Reflection by Dan Spragg What are we to think? And, what are we to do in the face of uncertainty, anxiety, worry, and fear…? The disciples in this passage are deep in the midst of these. This conversation is happening at ‘The Last...