John Hebenton's Podcast

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 the resurrection, and to take time to reflect on how we respond.This week we hear from Luke, with the disciples offering all kinds of responses. Where are we in this mix?As the parish faces an uncertain time with John going, how do we respond in light of all this? John offers some thoughts around our response in terms of the time and financial support for the parish.You can read the notes here

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 appearances?Thomas teaches us that the Resurrection is not something to be convinced of, but something to be experienced. And when we do it changes everything!How might we live out our own resurrection appearances?You can read the notes for this sermon here

                                                                      Gate Pa – Year B  Easter Sunday 2024Readings:First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9     Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43Gospel:John 20:1-18What 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 life. That is ok. I trust God for all that.This story is bigger than Liz, or me, getting into heaven, if that is what being swallowed by God’s life is. Jesus death is more than Jesus dying on a cross for me and my sins. It is God dying on a cross, showing us where all our greed, selfishness, lust for power. The powers of death thought they had won, but God would not be held in death. When all seemed lost God’s life prevailed. When all seems lost, God’s love and life will prevail. I trust God for that.Mary watched her friend die, a humiliating horrific degrading death. She watched her hopes for herself and Israel die. She was swallowed in grief, outrage, powerlessness, despair. She went to weep and despair as the night light let go and the dawn emerged. She met Jesus in the messiness of her life. She thought he was the gardener. Nothing changed. Everything changed. The resurrected Jesus met her in her darkest blackest moment and it changed everything. She became the first to prolamin the gospel. She boldly lived resurrected life. The resurrected Jesus invites us into resurrected life now. I trust God for that.What I want to happen:What do we trust God for this Easter? You can read the notes here

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 Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness Hosanna means both thanksgiving and praise,  or God save us.What do we see that we give thanks for or that we or others seek deliverance from?  – Use these palm fronds to write - What do we give thanks for and whose prayers for deliverance are we invited to join today?  (All were given paper palm fronds as they entered the church.  They were invited to write on the palm leaf path as they go up to communion)  You can read the reflection here

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 offer us in these fragile times?What I want to happen:How does John help us reflect on:What do we need to reframe as Anglican Parish of Gate PaAs we come to our AGMAs we come to uncertain future with my retirementHow does this morning’s reading from John help us be that seedHelp us be vehicle for new lifefind hope.You can rad the notes for this here

Readings:Hebrew Scripture:      Numbers 21:4-9Psalm:                         107:1-3,17-22Epistle:                        Ephesians 2: 1-10Gospel:                        John 3:14-21What 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 these themes help us this Lent?Then John uses the Jerusalem Bible version of Ephesians “We are God’s works of art,”, and asks, do we see ourselves and others as works of art?He uses this to reflect on John 3 – second half of the conversation with Nicodemus – which is all about identity as well.Belief as Trust – what does it mean to trust God-          For our identity – quote Mary MacLeod Bethune (1875–1955)-          For all we needWere does the cross fit with all this?What I want to happen:Reflect on how "Hermitage, Solitude and Community" help us grow into being God’s works of art, to trust this image and receive the grace to see this in others.You can read the notes to this sermon here

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 be as simple as this.In light of that explore Exodus 20 – 10 Words – not as something to be done to earn God’s approval, but given to people already brought out o slavery with God’s presence in their midst – in clouds and tent of meeting.10 Words taught them to live as people marked by God’s compassion and generosity – displaying that justice, mercy, aroha for all – Blessed to be a blessingJohn portrays Jesus as one step further – not marked by God’s compassion and generosity, but God’s compassion and generosity enfleshed! He is God’s compassion and generosity.Read John 2 and John’s “Temple Incident” in light of that, remembering that when John is written there is no temple! Jesus is not superseding  the temple – the temple is already goneThrough the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, we are God’s compassion and generosity in our placeWhat I want to happen:How do we embody God’s compassion and generosity in our lives.We finished by watching some of Rev Dr. Rodney Aist's reflections on the desert in the Youtube video "St George's College Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness". You can read the notes for this sermon here

We began by watching Dean Richard talk abut the wilderness, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTZ5cuEz1kk&t=98s>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 blessing is so that the people of God will be a blessing for all people and all creation – so that humanity is restored, and creation renewed. Jesus reaffirms this when he says “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Let that blow your minds and change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” What does that look like?John explores how Caesarea Philippi shapes Peters hopes for this kingdom, and how Jesus rejects this way of violence and power over, as he did in the wilderness. His way is love, replicating the service he received from the angels offering God’s healing mission particularly to the poor, marginalised, rejected. This way can only lead to rejection and death. And Jesus invites us into this way – to follow him, because in this way is life - resurrected life.Briefly offer Archbishop Janani Luwum as an example of living this way.What I want to happen:How does this help us reflect on whose we are, who we are and what is ours to do at this time of change.You can read the notes to this sermon here

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 work in the worldWhat I want to happen:People to take the time to both give up things that hinder living as beloved children of God, and take up new practicesYou can read the notes to this sermon here

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 Kingdom of God?How might I live this?What I want to happen:How does all this help us be open to invitation in Lent to We finished by thinking about leprosy today and the work of the Leprosy Mission. We watch this video <https://leprosymission.org.nz/shanne>You can read the notes for this sermon here

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 this Waitangi weekend?You can read the notes here

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 speaks through and works through the unexpected.Part of call is being found by God through othersWhen might we say we were foundWho were we revealed to beHow have we and do we continue to live that outHow do we help other people, especially young people, be found?You can read the notes for this sermon here

John talks about how we have two principal feasts and should not be displaced by any other celebration:  Epiphany and the Baptism of the LordOriginally they were on the same day, and still are for many Eastern Orthodox Churches.Both stories are unsettling, intense, almost violent. They rupture the lives of those involvedHe finishes by askingWho is the God revealed in JesusHow do we live that revelationWe then watched "Rich" by Rob Bell, part of the Nooma series.The notes for this sermon can be found here

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 faithAnd he invites us to reflect on who helps us be disciples and who we help.You can read the notes here

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 protest) to think about where that light is found today, both within us and in our world.Using John as our model, how do we bear witness to this light?Advent is time to take time to nurture that light within, that we might see light of Christ in our world and give witness to itYou can read the notes to this sermon here 

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 messageDo we feel the urgency as we stand on our threshold.What thresholds do we stand on?In our wilderness what does it mean to wake up and live peace this AdventYou can read the notes here

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.

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 notes to this sermon here

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 one we to read this that the Parable of the Talents invites us into the utterly outrageous gift of God’s mercy, love, life; and urgently requires us to live riskily and extravagantly that beatitudes might come to be. But maybe it also offers us the third servant as the "hero" of the story?What do the talents represent for us, and how might we live them? You can read the notes to this sermon here

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 Acknowledge the important place they hold in our livesCelebrate the deep bond we share with themPray for God’s health and life for each of themAnd for their relationship with their human partnersAnd we pray that through them we might glimpse some of Francis came to live and know so well, and that we might live in ways that all creation and all who live in it might thrive.