Matthew is far more interested in the names Jesus was given, than how his conception and birth actually happened...

One of the many gifts Advent gives to us is an invitation to see God at work.

And especially to see God at work right now, with whatever is happening in our lives, families, parish, communities, country, and world.

Advent is an invitation to take a devotional, as much as a practical, posture as we ask, ‘how do we get through until Christmas?’

As part of the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the First Four Ships in Lyttelton in December 1850, Frieda Looser will speak about Fendalton connections among those who came on the George Seymour. Frieda comments, ‘It is always important to recognise, research and respect the contributions and histories of tangata whenua and earlier migrants.’

Advent Calendars - few of my favourites, and there's not even any chocolate involved!

‘God enters the world’ was the theme of Messy Church yesterday. In the same way we can say ‘God enters our lives’. God is the one ringing the doorbell while we’re distracted by many things. Emmanuel, God-with-us wants to be with us. Advent then is an invitation to us to be ready for God’s arrival, to be hopeful for God’s coming, to say with fresh faith ‘Come Lord Jesus’.

Where do we find Advent hope in a world in self-destruct mode?

This is the king who reigns with the power that is love...

Today’s gospel reading is the only time it is read in the three-year Lectionary Cycle outside of Holy Week. You might be forgiven for thinking that we have rapidly skipped past Advent, Christmas and Lent and gone straight to Easter!

Today is also the end of that three-year cycle, where we work our way through the Bible and, this year especially, through Luke. Next week, the liturgical year starts anew, with Advent, candles and a sense of anticipation for what is to come.

Today is about The Reign of Christ, or Christ the King.

How do we cope with the end of the world?

We could ignore it.

We could magnify it.

We could endure it.

Joy to the World - or is it? Jesus has some challenging words for his disciples, but also some encouragement