PODCAST · religion
John Hebenton's Podcast
by John Hebenton
Sunday sermons preached at St. George's Anglican Church, Gate Pa, Tauranga. These are mostly based on the RCL Lectionary readings for that Sunday, with a few variations for our own lectionary in this Province, and special events here at Gate Pa.
Episodes
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Some Reflections After 9 Years Offering the Remembering The Battle Service every April 29
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.
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Putake o te Riri
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…
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The Battle of Te Ranga 21 June 1864
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...
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What a Ride! - Johns says Thanks and Goodbye.
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...
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Whirlpools into Abiding
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…
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Jesus Being Pastoral
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...
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Living in the Resurrection
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...
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Following Thomas!
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...
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I Trust God for That
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…
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And So It Begins
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...
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Reframing the Picture
John talks about the writer of John's gospel and Jeremiah both reframe what is going on to find hope in the midst of despair. As we approach an interregnum and gather for our AGM how might we reframe the story of Anglican Parish of Gate Pa? What might the parable of the seed dying to bear fruit...
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Being God’s Works of Art
Readings: Hebrew Scripture: Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm: 107:1-3,17-22 Epistle: Ephesians 2: 1-10 Gospel: John 3:14-21 What I want to say: We began by watching part of the video - St George's College Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness, looking particularly at the Hermitage, Solitude and Community. How do...
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Somebodyness
Last week we talked about “carrying our cross with some examples of “martyrs”. When John got home he read about MLK Jr, and some of his experiences with his father in Jim Crow South – living the truth that he was created a man in the image of God. God made him "Somebody!" Carrying our cross can…
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Lenten Following
We began by watching Dean Richard talk abut the wilderness, John then offers some thoughts on how Genesis 17 and Mark 8 help us in this Lenten time. The Abrahamic Covenant offered in Genesis 12 and 15, and affirmed in Genesis 17 remind us that the...
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Lent – A Testing Time
It is Lent – traditionally a time to give something up, to pray and read the bible more, and to support charities. John explores the point of all that using his three questions – whose are we, who are we, what is ours to do? He suggests that it is a time to begin again joining in God’s disruptive...
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What is the Point?
John uses Mark 1:40-45 to explore some ideas around the point of the healing stories in Mark, using David Loses’ “4 words about Jesus”. (https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/four-words) What do these teach me/us about God and the divine presence? What might they say about the...
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Candlemas Lighting Waitangi Sunday
John starts by exploring what Candlemas is. He then wonders what is revealed of Jesus in story from Mark 1 – that we might see and live in the reign of God today, and what has this to do with Waitangi Day? What I want to happen: - How are we a restored community of justice, generosity and aroha...
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Being Found on the Edge
John talks about Epiphany and what that is all about, and how we are to read our readings in light of the themes of Epiphany. He uses the 1 Samuel story to explore place of others in call, especially with young people. Then use this story to talk about call. Part of call is being knowing God…
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Repentance, Rupture and Revelation
John talks about how we have two principal feasts and should not be displaced by any other celebration: Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord Originally they were on the same day, and still are for many Eastern Orthodox Churches. Both stories are unsettling, intense, almost violent. They rupture…
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Mary Our Model
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, using the story of the Annunciation from Luke's Gospel, John explores who is Mary, and how she might inspire us in our life of faith And he invites us to reflect on who helps us be disciples and who we help. You can read the notes here
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Witnessing to Joy?
Last week we were invited to “Wake up!”- John asks what does that mean for us? He then uses John 1, particularly John 1: 26+7, and Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, to offer a response - waking up to God’s presence in the light of Christ in our midst He uses Isaiah and Luke 1: 46-55 (Mary’s song of praise and...
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Wake Up
John wonders if we hear the call to wake up – In Isaiah, in John the Baptiser, in how Mark introduces his telling of the good news of God found in Jesus. He explores each as they stand on their threshold and the urgency of each's message Do we feel the urgency as we stand on our threshold. What...
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Watching and Waiting in Advent and Beyond
Rev Debbie Garrett explores the themes of Advent using the gospel passage set for the day -Mark 13:24-37. In all that is happening in this land and around the world today, we are reminded that God is our source of hope and the provider of joy and peace.
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Waiting Faithfully in the Reign of Christ
John explores the Reign of Christ from Matthew’s perspective using the Sermon on the Mount in particular, and applying that to the parable of the sheep and the goats. What warnings do we need to heed as we leave Matthew and enter a new year. How might we live the reign of Christ? You can read the...
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An Abundance of Talents?
John invites us to think about the Parable of Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 from several perspectives, reminding us that when we can hold those perspectives rather than looking for the one right way of reading it, we will gain a deeper understanding of all Jesus in inviting us to. He suggests that...
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Living Gratitude with Francis
John talks about how St Francis offers us important ways of living for our world today. He gives thanks for the SPCA and their work inviting us treat all animals with care and respect and working so that all animals thrive. In this service we give thanks for the animals we share our lives with...
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Difficult, Challenging, Inviting
John uses those three responses to explore the readings for Ordinary Sunday 32, especially Joshua 24:1-3, 14-25 and Matthew 25:1-13 . . In reading Matthew, and Jesus' story of the 10 bridesmaids John reflects on the 3 audiences that are involved in listening to this story, and how that helps us...
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How we became St Georges
Cliff Simons talks about our early years as a church and when we became St George's
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George and the Serpent
For our St George's Day celebration I wrote this little play about St George, the Serpent (no dragons in this play thank-you!) and the Empress Alexandra (no damsels in this play either - enough of that nonsense.) Here it is all acted out. You can find the script here
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Intertwined in Life
St Georges Anglican Church - Hori Tapu, has been doing the Season of Creation early. This week is also Matariki - the Māori New Year. John talks a little about the themes of the Season of Creation and how Matariki helps us engage with these. All this was by way of introduction to watching the...
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Matariki and Harvest Festival
Bonnie Hebenton preaches about how Matariki and Harvest Festvial support each other. In the pew sheet she writes "As we come to this Harvest Festival Sunday, the opening line from Philippians 4 is perhaps what should be foremost in our minds: "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice."...
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The Northern War 1845 to 46
St. Georges Anglican Church, Gate Pa, sits on the site of the Battle of Gate Pā-Pukehinahina. Each year we try to offer free lectures to help people understand our history and how it shapes our present. The first talk was given by Dr Cliff Simons on The Northern War 1845 – 46, a well-known...
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Simply Sent
John talks about some of the themes from his time at the Franciscan Convocation in Phoenix. He then talks about Matthew 9:35-10:8 as a pivotal moment in the story, when 12 of his followers suddenly became "sent ones - apostles" no longer observing what Jesus was doing but taking part in…
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Treaty of Waitangi: He Tatau Pounamu viewing the Treaty through a reconciliatory lens with Dr. Alistair Reese
The second lecture will be given by Dr. Alistair Reese on the Treaty of Waitangi: He Tatau Pounamu. Alistair is a well-known farmer, historian, public theologian and author who specializes in reconciliation work. He will be exploring the Te Tiriti o Waitangi through a reconciliatory lens. St....
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Breathe on Us, Spirit of Peace
Rev Debbie Garrett writes "Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter. In the Book of Joel, the author foretells of a time when God will pour out his Spirit on all people. The name Pentecost comes from the number 50 in Greek and occurs 50 days from Easter....
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Making God’s Presence Known?
What difference does the Ascension make in our lives? John has a conversation about that, and suggests that one way to see the ascension is that it completes the Incarnation, and through it Christ becomes the Christ of all times and places. In light of that, we contemplate on the Ascension and...
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Being the Dream and Hope of God
Happy mothers day - John wonders what mothers day offers us? It has been a tough last three years – for many it is still tough with inflation. For churches like ours and many others covid has really hit many parishes – we are much more vulnerable than we were. This was a theme of parish planning...
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It is The Way
John puts John 14: 1-14 back into its context. He reads it in its holy week context as Jesus offering words of hope to his disciples as words of hope and promise - that there is always a place in the heart of God, in the midst of our uncertainty and fear. And he reads it for the Easter season we...
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Wiremu Tamihana - Living Resurrection in his time
Cliff Simons uses his experience of visiting his sister in PNG while she was a missionary there to look at the work of Alfred and Charlotte Brown, and one of their key converts - Wiremu Tamihana Tarapipipi Te Waharoa. You can read more about Tamihana here
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They Were Not There at the Beginning
A reflection/sermon inviting us to bring our own trauma from recent times and to join the two Marys’ at the tomb. And we are invite with them to have our world rocked and to know that God’s life cannot be contained. Jesus’ resurrection changes everything for them and us. We too are invited into…
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Finding Life with Hēni
How we are at the moment? - How many of us feeling like field of dry bones in Ezekiel – in need of breath of God? We are reminded by our gospel reading (John 11:1-45) that with Mary, Martha and Lazarus we are invited to know Jesus as the “resurrection and the life.” We will then use the life of…
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The Samaritan Woman and Georgina Beyer
John continues the Lenten theme of looking at people who lived the Beatitudes with persistence. This week he uses the story from John 4:5-42 – the story of an unnamed and mostly invisible Samaritan woman who is made visible though her persistence in conversing with Jesus. From that John explores...
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A Persistent Faith - Florence Li Tim-Oi - First Woman Priest In The Anglican Communion
· Born 1907 in Hong Kong, an ethnic Chinese named Li Tim Oi, which means ‘Much Beloved’. Father chose this name because he valued her as a daughter even when other Chinese preferred sons · When she became an Anglican and was baptised as a student she took the name Florence · 1931 aged 24 she was...
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A Testing Time with Dorothy Day
Jesus invites us both into the wilderness, and to know he is with us in our wilderness. Being in the wilderness tested Jesus in his sense of who he was as beloved Son of God, and how he might live that out. Normally Lent is a time for us to reflect on those same questions - who we are as beloved...
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Persistent Resistance
We continue our journey into the sermon on the Mount, holding the beatitudes as our map and key. We listen as Jesus continues to reinterpret the law for the new time he lives in, applying the law to new circumstances and requirements. He does do in ways that invite people to be subversive and...
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Struggling to Live the Gospel
A sermon looking at Matthew 5: 21-37 in the context of the whole of the Sermon on the Mount, and as Jesus teasing our what the Empire of Heaven as described in the Beatitudes are really about. What does it mean for Jesus to fulfil the law? This week we are given examples of how Jesus reads the…
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Giving Words
As we end Epiphany-Christmas with its focus on light and revelation, we are given the Beatitudes from Matthew's sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 1-12). John explores how Jesus gives words to what he is already doing, and what he will continue doing. Jesus is living the empire of Heaven and…
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Called To Have Our Minds Blown
John explores Epiphany as time of intentionally seeing the world differently (repentance) and living that out (call). What are they wrapping their minds about at the moment? You can read the notes for this sermon here
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Taking time to reflect on God with us
Let’s read Matthew on its own terms and not in Luke’s shadow Today we read the stories of two men, one faithless and untrusting (Ahaz in Isaiah) and one faithful and trusting (Joseph in Matthew). When I read this, I am reminded of John Dun Scotus – Francisan theologian of high middle ages - "The...
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Joining John in Mind Blowing Joy
Joy reminds us that for many, Christmas is not a time of joy. For many reasons it is very hard. John was finding life hard too. Explore some different ways of reading John’s questions. And then reflect on joy, and where we see God’s joy in the world, and what we might need to hear and see to know...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Sunday sermons preached at St. George's Anglican Church, Gate Pa, Tauranga. These are mostly based on the RCL Lectionary readings for that Sunday, with a few variations for our own lectionary in this Province, and special events here at Gate Pa.
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John Hebenton
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Sunday sermons preached at St. George's Anglican Church, Gate Pa, Tauranga. These are mostly based on the RCL Lectionary readings for that Sunday, with a few variations for our own lectionary in this Province, and special events here at Gate Pa.
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