It is quite possible that hymns and songs influence our faith more than Bible reading, books, or sermons. We sing hymns again and again, so that their music and their words are firmly planted in our minds and hearts. Music affects us far more deeply than just the written or spoken word alone. Maybe that’s…
The pop song “Hallelujah” written by Leonard Cohen has become very popular, especially as it was covered by successful groups such as “Il Divo” and “Pentatonix” for the more classically inclined, and a whole list of other famous singers. It has become a firm favourite of many.A few years ago I took a funeral where…
It’s probably appropriate to give you an update on some property matters. The proposed development of the tennis court land and vicarage land has been passed to Church Property Trustees (CPT) and the Diocesan Standing Committee. Before those boards consider the proposal for sale and development of the land, they wanted to get some more…
Returning to New Zealand I came early to the airport in Tel Aviv. That was a good move as I found out. Otherwise I might not have made my flight. The security lines stretched through the whole airport. While check-in only took me about five minutes, getting through security took me about three hours. It…
Some of you have asked what I have been doing these past three (actually 2 ½) weeks in Israel. Yes, it had to do with archaeology, but I was not excavating anything. I have spent eight seasons excavating in Israel and now three seasons restoring pottery (a season normally lasts between two and six weeks).…
While you at St Paul’s were celebrating the Church’s birthday and the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, I attended the agricultural festival of Pentecost here in Israel. Before Pentecost had anything to do with the coming of the Spirit or the Church, it was a Jewish festival. Normally known as Shavuot or the…
There are stories behind each of the names and inscriptions on the headstones in our graveyard. Someare known to us; others are not. I have long wondered about those early parishioners who knelt and prayed in that little wooden building that was the first St Paul’s. I have thought, too, of those who sat in…
Birthdays are special, I’m sure you will agree. At the same time, some of us don’t like to be reminded of how long we have been inhabitants of God’s good earth ! But, in the main, it’s nice when we can be made a fuss of.Pentecost Sunday is often described as “The Birthday of the…
Those who have been to Queenstown will be familiar with the venerable TSS (twin-screw steamer) Earnslaw, built in 1912 with a fundamental requirement being that she should ‘last forever’. Analogies with ships have long been built into church designs. The word ‘nave’, for example, is derived from the Latin ‘navis’ or ‘ship’, symbolising how the…
Public and community-run cemeteries around the country are struggling to recruit staff and volunteers. One volunteer at a Christchurch cemetery is holding the fort alone, and he, like many others, are crying out for help. Plans are in the works by the national organisation to prop up a recruitment campaign for burial places managed by…