What does Jesus teaching tell us about the Kingdom of God - and how does this transform us today?

Matthew 5:1-12 - being peacemakers and living the Beatitudes in our daily lives.

Is it possible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle?

What does it mean to be open to the upside down work of the Kingdom of God?

Where do we spend our time, energy, money and mental load?

What do we value?

And how does this enhance and inhibit our spiritual life?

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!