Readings: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11
Growing Up in God.

Let us pray.

God of the wilderness, As we enter the season of Lent, we gather to seek your guidance as we look anew at biblical stories, and think about our responsibilities as stewards of your creation. Amen.

In the 1500s a reformed theology emerged from the Roman Catholic tradition- a movement of change. Perceived doctrinal errors were abandoned and the written word became available to all people.

And in ancient times these were collected and written down for us in the Genesis scripture – then poetic stories of creation from ancient storytellers who embraced and lived with mystery, not fact. Creation as we now know it evolved over billions of years- not the symbolic 6 days. But the biblical creation poetic story touches us in a deep, unique spiritual way,
E.g. – “Adam & Eve heard ‘the sound of the Lord walking in the garden at the cool of the day” – Storytelling is an unrivalled way of conveying a message, a truth. God was there in the beginning of time.

Today’s readings speak to our human longing to understand, to grow, to be in a relationship with God. And they invite us into a different way of understanding what it means to be faithful, mature, and truly human.

Continue reading February 22nd 2026: Tricia Crumpton →

Readings

Isaiah 58:1-9a,

Isaiah’s words are more detailed and have more of a challenge to them than a similar reading from Micah. But Micah wanted us to walk humbly with God, but Isaiah also wants some action, a rethink of our expectations and lives changed.

Maurice Andrew suggests that people want to be given credit for their fasting, but the trouble is they serve their own interest on a fast day, oppressing their workers.  Balanced budgets and increased productivity are not satisfactory in themselves unless bread is shared with the hungry and the oppressed are allowed to go free. ^[1] 

Matthew 5:13-20

Today’s Gospel follows on from Beatitudes which were directed to the disciples.  Those same disciples are now instructed to be the salt of the earth, the light of the world.

Warren Carter points out that ‘as salt of the earth the community of disciples, not the ruling elite or the synagogue, are to live this flavouring, purifying way of life that is committed to the world’s wellbeing and loyal to God’s purpose’.^[2]  The disciples are to live in the world in the midst of the poor in spirit, the mourning, the powerless, and the hungry and thirsty, dominated and exploited by the ruling elite.

To shine as a light, to be salt, and to be a city on a hill is to be living out the attitudes espoused in the Beatitudes.^[3]

Sermon

This is the Sunday nearest Waitangi Day. A time when we celebrate the beginning of our nation with a treaty which, despite what followed, was a genuine effort to humanise colonialism.  Early colonisers who rightly felt cheated by the New Zealand company forced the confiscation of Māori land with unfortunate results. But over recent years we have made huge steps to honour the treaty, restoring mana and lost wealth.  We have tried to bring Māori culture into mainstream Aotearoa and celebrate the uniqueness of who we are becoming.

But in the last two years we have seen a backlash against such progress from people who ought to know better.  Continue reading February 8th 2026: Rev Hugh Perry →

TEXTS:

Matthew 5: 1-12 [NRSV]

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.’

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.’

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.’

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

‘Following God’s rules’

Jesus tells us here that these people should consider themselves blessed; the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and those who are persecuted. Sometimes we think his words mean that if we are meek we will be blessed, that if we are persecuted we will be blessed, and we put up with situations we shouldn’t because of it. Continue reading Sunday 1 February- Rev Stephanie Wells →