Tena koutou, and greetings church family. Over the [...]

How was your Waitangi Day yesterday? Did you join in with one of the many ceremonies or have a relaxing day with family and friends.

I hope you all enjoyed the Anniversary Weekend holiday on Monday. Felicity and I took advantage of the beautiful weather, going for a bike ride along the Marine Parade pathway, followed by a refreshing swim. It was wonderful to see so many families making the most of the beach and all the activities along the foreshore.

Welcome to our first pastoral message of 2025. I hope you’re all enjoying the summer break. Felicity and I had a lovely time in Auckland visiting our children and grandchildren. We came back last week feeling refreshed. Thank you for your prayers—they mean a lot to us.

The fourth Sunday of Advent is all about Aroha – Love, symbolized by the Angel Candle. Of the four candles (Hope, Peace, Joy, Love), this one reminds us of the heart of the  Christmas story—God’s incredible love for the world.

The third Sunday of Advent is Joy. I invite us to reflect on the joy we have access to because of our faith in Jesus. The bible says the “the joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Here Nehemiah exhorts the people of Israel to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord, for it is through His joy that they find strength.