John Hebenton's Podcast

John uses the recent controversy around the Maori Santa (Hana Koko) appearing in a Santa Parade in Nelson to explore how advent helps us remember that Christmas is important, but it is not the point. Advent points to Christ in history, Christ in mystery and Christ in majesty. What does hope look like in all that? He then uses the stories of Robben Island and Hanukkah to explore Jim Wallis’s description of how to live in hope.

John uses Elie Wiesel’s “Night” to explore our reading from Jeremiah as voice hope in time when even God is dying. Are we in such a time? Luke warns us to not be distracted by what goes on around us to the stand up and raise our heads. Again Elie Wiesel warns us what happens when we do not heed this warning. How do we stand up and raise our heads as we go through this time of madness to Christmas. Remember, Christmas is important but it is not the point! What then is the point?

John uses Archbishop Welby's comments that God is neither male nor female to explore both the story of the first Bishop of Aotearoa and what the reign of Christ might look not like. He goes on to invite people to ask for themselves what the reign of Christ might look like. Where is it and how do we recognise it?

John explores how are faith gets colonised by large stones – large stone like making our churches great again, or keeping Britain great, or making Germany or America great again. In light of that he asks "what captures our imagination?"He wonders what Mark’s Jesus is inviting us to let go of, and what might shape our imagination as we enter into another advent?

Graham Cameron uses the story of Ruth to help us explore real tribalism and how death reshapes whole communities. It is this that we commemorate on this All Saints - All Souls. We pause to remember those who have died, and what that has meant for their whanau/families, and for their communities.

Lieutenant Colonel Cliff Simons offers some reflections on how to approach the commemoration of the end of WWI. As we mark this important date in our nations history, what exactly are we marking and how do we look to the future in light of the commemorations over the last four years?

John explores how our images of God blind us to God and to each other. How did Job end up with that happy ending, and is it that happy really? Why did Job's friends not join him praying TO God, rather than trying to convince him ABOUT God? How does Bartemaeus act as an icon to the disciples blindness both to him and to what Jesus was teaching them about God?Because October 28th is also the Day of Remembrance, when we remember the New Zealand Land Wars, John wonders how the British image of God allowed them to act as they did around their empire, and how that is still at work today.

John explores the invitation from Job (Job 38:1-7, 34-41) to pray Meister Ekhart’s prayer – “God free me of god” and asks what ideas about God do we need to be freed of?

John tells the story of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio to introduce St. Francis and his invitation for us to see all of creation and all who live in creation as our brothers and sisters. How might this help us address climate change and how might this help our appreciation for the work of the SPCA

John uses the questions Jesus asked of his disciples to have a conversation exploring our responses, and what those responses reveal about who God is for us and what it means for us to be followers or disciples of this God

John explores the story of the Syrophonecian woman as a story about Jesus coming face to face with the ramifications of what he had been teaching; that the reign of God plays by nobody’s rules but God’s, not even Jesus’ rules. He then asks who might be acting as the Syrophonecian woman today?

John tries to build on last week’s sermon by Bonnie Hebenton about the line by using Mark 7 to explore the themes of the place of law and how to read law and scripture. Introduce the daily examen as a way of responding to Jesus invitation to pay attention to our hearts rather than just our actions.

Bonnie Hebenton explores the 5th and last reading from John 6; this time verses 56-71. In this reading John invites us into a space of confidence and doubt, faith and abandonment, of living out our faith and failing to live out our faith. Bonnie explores this real place, and God's ongoing response of welcome every time we return. She finishes with a song from John Michael Talbot

Gillian, Barbara and Mihi talk about Cursillo and their own expereince of going on a weekend event.Cursillo is - An opportunity to grow in faith and in spirituality - A deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus and how we can serve Him. - An experience of living and sharing with others in a loving and caring Christian community and realizing that this can be extended into our own environment - A continuing community that gives support and encouragement to help Christians carry out their Baptismal Vows. The key elements of the Anglican Cursillo Ministry are relationship, evangelism, and reconciliation in the home, the parish, the community, and the world. For more information on Cursillo and upcoming events, go to http://cursillo.org.nz/waiapu/

John explores how this series of readings on Jesus being the Bread of Life help us into the Eucharist

Chancy Rattanong from CAP, Christians Against Poverty, talks about why they are passionate about working with local churches to release Kiwis from a life sentence of debt, poverty and its causes – into a life filled with hope and freedom.For more information go to http://www.capnz.org/

Mark 6:14-29 is such a yuk story if we read it on its own. This story has echoes with previous stories and reminds us of the ongoing stories, including the stories in Tauranga Moana over the last week. They remind us of the story of St. George and the battles that happened here and Te Ranga in 1864. They remind me of the experiences I had with the rainbow members of TSSF in Australia and here in Aotearoa.But this is not a story on its own. It immediately contrasts with the stories of the feeding of the 5000+ and 4000+, stories of ridiculous generosity and hospitality, of deep compassion and welcome. Stories that lie at the heart of Eucharist.

John explores how the ways of God are not what is expected, and in light of that offers some of his reflections on things noticed while away; particularly the gift of our prayer book.

Graham Cameron invites us to consider leaving the doors of our church open all the time

John looks at what we think sufficient success on earth is and compare that to what it might have looked like for Jesus. In his story it meant being accused of being possessed by the evil one, described as out of his mind by his family, people leaving him because if got too hard, and then crucifixion. So what is sufficient success on earth for us?