Rev John Hebenton, the retiring vicar of the Anglican Parish of Gate Pā offers some thoughts on the importance of remembering the battles of Pukehinahina-Gate Pa and Te Ranga as we renegotiate our way through this crossroad in the life of Aotearoa-New Zealand. 

As this year is the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Pukehinahina-Gate Pa, Gate Pa Anglican Parish offered free lectures to help the community understand our city's history and how it shapes our present.

This lecture was in two parts. This is the second, given by Buddy Mikaere. Buddy spoke about the planned New Zealand Wars Museum at Gate Pā, Putake O Te Riri.
Buddy is a former Director of the Waitangi Tribunal and a historian with an extensive list of publications. He is a consultant working largely in the resource consents area and has a national client base. In Tauranga he represents the environmental interests of several local iwi/hapu in their interface with local Councils and developers.

This year is the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Pukehinahina-Gate Pa. This is an important event for our city, especially with some of the other things happening in Aotearoa at the moment. We again offered free lectures to help the community understand our city's history and how it shapes our present.
This lecture was the second lecture, It was in two parts . The first part was on The Battle of Te Ranga- 21 June 1864, as was offered by Dr Cliff Simons. 

Cliff, a retired army officer, has specialised in New Zealand's colonial wars for over 35 years. He has written two books and numerous articles and frequently gives talks about the various battles and campaigns, as well as conducting battle field tours. Cliff will be exploring the story of both these battles within their historical context so that we can understand the ongoing legacy today.

A sermon to say thankyou

-          To explore the process we are all going through – and that it is ok

-          Use the ascension to invite us all to trust God in all this

-          Offer some thoughts about what the future might be

And then invite people to embrace all that the liminal space might offer with thankfulness, hope and trust.

You can read the notes here

The writer of John’s gospel is not a linear Greek thinker. He presents Jesus using older circular ways of teaching – circling around a topic, with each pass going deeper into the abundance of layers of meaning, into the abundance at the heart of the message, How does that help us read John 15:9-17                 ?

How does this help us be open to all the image of Jesus the true vine, we are the branches offers as we continue this season of having our minds blown and letting our imaginations run wild.

• How might we learn about love by supporting each other in this time of grief and loss
• How might that open us up to the possibilities of this moment?

You can read the notes for this sermon here

Easter is a time to have our minds blown by and for our imaginations to run wild with the possibilities of what the reign of God might look like. 

-          What does that mean for us as we commemorate ANZAC Day and offer a place for our city to commemorate the Battle of Pukehinahina Gate Pa.  

-          What does mean for us facing very uncertain future as a parish?

John uses the story from Acts about Phillip and the Ethiopian to explore what that might involve
In face of that Jesus offers very pastoral words in John 15.  John explores what they are about, and then asks - How do we experience these words in our context today?

You can read the notes for this sermon  here

Psalm                                           Psalm 4                                                                                   
First Reading:                          Acts 3:12-21               
Second Reading:                    1 John 3:1-7               
Gospel:                                        Luke 24:36-48 

Easter is a time to hear stories of the resurrection and how those first disciples responded. We hear them not to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection, but to be opened to our own experiences of the resurrection, and to take time to reflect on how we respond.

This week we hear from Luke, with the disciples offering all kinds of responses. Where are we in this mix?

As the parish faces an uncertain time with John going, how do we respond in light of all this? 

John offers some thoughts around our response in terms of the time and financial support for the parish.

You can read the notes here

A sermon exploring what it was like for those male disciples when they heard Jesus had risen – They had abandoned Jesus to his death, denied him, betrayed him. They did not die with him as Thomas promised not so long ago – and now he is back!!

-          How does that help us read about these two appearances?

Thomas teaches us that the Resurrection is not something to be convinced of, but something to be experienced. And when we do it changes everything!

How might we live out our own resurrection appearances?

You can read the notes for this sermon here

                                                                      Gate Pa – Year B  Easter Sunday 2024

Readings:
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9     
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel:John 20:1-18

What I want to say:

Our friend died this week. The resurrection affirms that she is with God now. Swallowed in God’s life. I don’t know what that means or what it looks life. That is ok. I trust God for all that.

This story is bigger than Liz, or me, getting into heaven, if that is what being swallowed by God’s life is. Jesus death is more than Jesus dying on a cross for me and my sins. It is God dying on a cross, showing us where all our greed, selfishness, lust for power. The powers of death thought they had won, but God would not be held in death. When all seemed lost God’s life prevailed. When all seems lost, God’s love and life will prevail. I trust God for that.

Mary watched her friend die, a humiliating horrific degrading death. She watched her hopes for herself and Israel die. She was swallowed in grief, outrage, powerlessness, despair. She went to weep and despair as the night light let go and the dawn emerged. She met Jesus in the messiness of her life. She thought he was the gardener. Nothing changed. Everything changed. The resurrected Jesus met her in her darkest blackest moment and it changed everything. She became the first to prolamin the gospel. She boldly lived resurrected life. The resurrected Jesus invites us into resurrected life now. I trust God for that.

What I want to happen:

What do we trust God for this Easter?


You can read the notes here

A reflection to help people into the story of Palm Sunday, to ask where are they in this story, and what do they see?

Invite them to ask, as Jesus sees everything, what are we invited to see?

We watched Rev Dr Rodney Aist speak in front of Church of the Holy Sepulchre  on St George's College Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness

 Hosanna means both thanksgiving and praise,  or God save us.
What do we see that we give thanks for or that we or others seek deliverance from?  –
Use these palm fronds to write - What do we give thanks for and whose prayers for deliverance are we invited to join today?
 (All were given paper palm fronds as they entered the church.  They were invited to write on the palm leaf path as they go up to communion) 

You can read the reflection here