iGod St Matthew-in-the-City

Looking for the Messiah? Maybe you are looking in all the wrong places? Text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=584&id=1346

Clay wonders why the champion of the poor would be okay with Mary's bizarre extravagance. What don't we understand about Jesus? What do we need to understand? Why does it matter? Text available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=585&id=1343

Glynn's looks at the shameful aspects of the Prodigal Son, his father and brother. Text available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=584&id=1342

Progressives prefer not to discuss evil and sin but this week's Gospel doesn't let Clay off the hook. Text and video links available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=585&id=1339

Glynn looks at what is prayer? How is it done? What does it accomplish? Video and text links at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=584&id=1338

Linda Murphy suggests that Lent is an opportunity to redirect our lives allowing us to be more centred. The Living Wage Campaign in NZ is an opportunity to redirect our approach to the working poor for the benefit of us all. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=586&id=1336

Nervously, Clay decides it is time to come out to the congregation... Text available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=585&id=1334

Stephen Donald, Chaplain to Eastlands in the Diocese of Waiapu, shared his experience as an out ordained gay person who the church has spent an inordinate amount of time and resources trying to fix. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=586&id=1332

Geno Sisneros explores the appropriateness of Paul's metaphor of the Body of Christ for the church. Paul sees unity, defined as common agreement, as essential. But since the much smaller church in his day could not find that, is it surprising that a much larger church can't now? Perhaps unity can be found elsewhere. Text and video available http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=586&id=1330.

Alison Morgan, member of the congregation, reflects on her journey to connect with the divine within, between and beyond her. Like Jesus at the wedding at Cana, when do we know it is hour? What are we called to do? Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=586&id=1328

The problem with epiphanies is they are often subtle and easy to ignore especially if they are going to change your life. What kind of epiphany did Jesus have on the banks of the Jordan and why does it matter? Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=585&id=1326

In his Christmas Day sermon Clay points out that the Emperor Constantine set the date for Christmas as part of his plan to sanitise Jesus' subversive message during his ministry. Constantine wanted to use Christianity to unify his empire not to undermine it. If we are not transformed by Christmas, he succeeded. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=573&id=1321

In a Christmas Eve sermon at St Matthew's Bishop Jim White reflected on the difference between Christmas presents and Christmas presence. Both are gifts but only one is incarnational. Video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=517&id=1322

In his Advent 4 sermon Glynn looks at the three ways to look at Christmas: the popular, the biblical and the theological and the challenges of putting up a billboard about the first two. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=572&id=1319

Glynn looks at the fragility of hope and how Advent waiting is different at the mall or Gaza or at the employment office. Fragile like a baby born in stable. Text and video at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=572&id=1316

On the first Sunday of Advent, guest preacher, Rosemary Neave shares her journey of faith from her early days of certainty about God as a Sydney Anglican Evangelical to her more mystical understanding of faith as "not knowing." Full text and video at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=574&id=1314

On this Sunday when St Matthew's celebrates the spirituality of Aotearoa (New Zealand), there is a most unlikely preacher. Clay, as an American, does his best to capture the Spirit of Aotearoa. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=573&id=1312

Clay decides not to dwell on Mark's "Little Apocalypse" that has never happened. Instead he looks at what a catastrophe for all of us, but especially women, patriarchy is. Text and video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=573&id=1309

On Remembrance Day Glynn speaks of courage and faith and creates some new Beatitudes. Text available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=572&id=1306

Ian Douglas, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut, and a representative of the Episcopal Church on the Anglican Consultative Council that was meeting in New Zealand was the guest speaker spoke to what is at the heart of our faith. Video available at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=517&id=1308