John Hebenton's Podcast

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 one of our “saints” Hēni Te Kiri Karamu, to see explore what this life might look like.What I want to happen:How does the life Hēni lived help us live life in these troubled times?You can read the notes for this sermon here

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 some of the story of Georgina Beyer – a woman of great persistenceYou can read the notes for this sermon here

·       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 present for the ordination of Lucy Vincent as a Deaconess in Hong Kong cathedral and there was a call for women to give their lives to Christian Ministry. Minister asked, “Here is an Englishwoman who is offering herself to serve the Church. Might there also be a Chinese woman who feels called by God to serve as a deacon?’ Tim-Oi prayed and asked, 'God would you like to send me?' This was her inspiration.·       Wanted to study for the ministry but her family couldn’t afford it. Others paid for her to do so·       Theological College in Canton, China. 4 year course completed age 31·       Worked 2 yrs in Hong Kong helping refugees from mainland China during 2nd Sino-Japanese War·       Hong Ko

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 children of God, how we forget that, and how we might live that out.But this year ongoing weather events are leaving many people in a wilderness of loss and grief, for themselves and others. What does this story offer us in the face of this?John then talks about Dorothy Day as someone who grew into what it meant to be a beloved child of God, and who offers us an example of living persistently in the face of overwhelming hopelessness and loss.You can read the notes here

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 persistent in the joining God to bring to perfection/completions all God desires – the empire of heaven.In what ways are we persistent in living the Beatitudes?Who inspires us with their persistence?You can read the notes for this sermon here

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 law. It is to create a community where all can thrive, not just the rich and the powerful. Where the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn etc… are able to be all God desires for them. This happens when we see and treat each person as our sister and brother, and when we take responsibility for our reactions to each person.John explores how much we need this in todays world of violence and abuse.The notes for this can be found here

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 inviting his disciples to join him.In an election year in all that has happened what uncomfortable positions might this invite us to consider?You can read the notes for this sermon here

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

Let’s read Matthew on its own terms and not in Luke’s shadowToday 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 Incarnation is caused simply by God's generous and free love, and is not provoked by anything a mere human creature has done [i.e., because of the Fall].”Finish with quick overview of Advent-         Peace – shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness. Shalom more than absence of war, but the overcoming of strife, quarrel, and social tension, the prevention of enmity and war between people, groups of people and nations. -         Hope – Jim Wallis-         Gift of Joy which we nurture-         Love – John Duns ScotusWhat I want to happen:During this week I invite you to take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God with us has both brought love into your day; and thro

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 joyWe are invited to reflect on what joy means this advent.You can listen to this sermon here.

John asks “Why does God send a messiah”How we answer that shapes how we read this story and what we are preparing for in Advent and what we are celebrating at Christmas. We then explore identity and repentance in light of this.Take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God brought peace and hope into your day,  and to reflect on the roots that might help you to live peace.You can read the notes for this sermon here

The Rev Debbie Garret talks about what the season of advent is about and uses the readings set for this Sunday:  Isaiah 2:1-5,  Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44 to explore what this all means for us. What are we preparing for? What do we hope for this Advent?

Where does Christ the King Sunday come from, and in light of that discuss·       What images or words of Christ’s kingship come to mind?·       What is unhelpful about Christ the King?·       Where do we look in the bible for our images of Christ the King?·       What does Christ the King offer us?Christ the King is complicated and contested. It means different things to different people and can be used to justify some appalling things.One of those is the shameful story of the creation of Te Pihopa o Aotearoa. And yet the reign of God prevailed, and we have had our radical constitution for 30 years which involves self determination and co-governance. In the reign of Christ what do we have to offer the discussions around these issues in Aotearoa-New Zealand todayYou can read some rough notes about this here

John begins by reminding ourselves that the questions we ask, what we look for and how we look, determines what we see, even when we read scripture. What questions are being brought to the gospel, and what might Jesus in Luke be inviting us to see?In light of that what does apocalyptic language like Luke 21 invite us to pay attention to. In a world with so much seemingly going wrong what does Isaiah 65 offer.Where are the signs of life?You can read the notes for this here

As part of our service dedicated to remembering those who have died Andrea talks about the history of All Saints/All Souls, and Halloween. The price we pay for love is to grieve. May we love well and grieve well.

Using Amy-Jill Levine's book “Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi”  I want to retell the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus a couple of different ways to open up the option of more than one way of reading a these stories as parable.·         How do we feel when we read this story? ·         Do we read verse 8 in the future tense, as something he will do in response to Jesus wanting to come to dinner, or in the present tense as a defence of against the grumbling. Or both? The Greek goes either way. ·         What echoes of other stories in Luke do we hear? ·         What uncomfortable questions does it ask of us?You can read the notes here

Rev Deborah Garrett preaches about prayer using Luke 18: 9-14.She writes, ""Prayer is a prominent theme in Luke’s Gospel. Today’s Gospel lesson is about two men who go to the temple to pray.  It is easy to work out who is the good guy and who is the bad guy in the story.  Immediately the Pharisee is described as “standing by himself” as he prays, suggesting an aloofness from his unclean companion.  In his prayer he talks about himself, asking God to confirm that he is not like other people.  In contrast the tax collector puts himself in a posture of contrition and remorse.  He stands at a distance and cannot bring himself to look up towards heaven.  He pounds his chest in anguish.  Unlike the Pharisee he is aware of the gap that exists between himself and God, and he throws himself at the mercy of God.  There are three models of people who pray in this chapter from Luke’s Gospel. There is the widow who hounds the unjust judge until she gets justice.  Then there is the Pharisee who goes on about his

Luke 18:1-8  seems straight forward. It even says what it is about. But it turns out not so much. There is a lot going on here.Luke is asking how we encounter God – acting for justice in the world, or slow to act like the judge.  And I wonder what the invitation to pray incessantly for justice really invites us into:  a passive praying, an praying like the Negroes of Southern USA, or pestering active praying like Greta.So how do we pray in this time of peril?What do we pray for?And how is our praying changing us?You can read the notes for this sermon here

John uses Karoline Lewis’s framework from the story of the 10 lepers to talk about living gratitude. He then uses that to show how Francis made room for God and lived gratitude. We finished by listening to “All Creatures Lament” by The Porter's Gate (feat. Fernando Ortega & Molly Parden) reflecting on how we are called to live gratitude.What are we being invited to be attentive to, so that we might turn back and praise God for who God is, that we might grow in gratitude to God and then go on our way living gratitude, continuing to be attentive.You can read the notes to this sermon here

John uses the Lambeth Call on Environment and Sustainable Development to introduce this year’s Season of Creation. He explores the burning bush logo and introduce some thoughts around living simply. What is it we are invited to listen to at this time?To help with listening to the earth, here is a link to the Earth examen https://seasonofcreation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-SOC-Earth-Examen.pdfAnd I used this video made by TSSF made last year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmxnP-kL7cs&authuser=0 You can listen to this sermon here https://colourfuldreamer.blogspot.com/2022/09/living-simply-for-creation.html