11 Bishopdale College students graduated on Friday – including someone you might not have expected…

Some wrestle with physical emptiness – food prices soaring, fuel budgets stretched. Others bear emotional or mental emptiness – the sting of loss, the feeling of powerless to change the slippery slope of power politics.

This past Easter Sunday, while we walked across the back beach towards the sea, l kept thinking of those lines from that great hymn by Isaac Watts, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

St Peter’s in Atawhai flowed with bargain-hunters and brainstormers on Saturday as a diocesan team opened the building up to offer a garage sale, give out free sausages, and invite locals to dream up ideas for the future of North Nelson.

I was fascinated with how touched the people of Nelson were by this small gesture of joy and goodwill.

The Uniting Church building is now being sold, but before it begins its new season, Hills Community Church wanted a fitting send off for the building and the land upon which it sits.

“I'm not going to go join a monastery. But how much easier would it be to commit to spiritual rhythms if you got a bunch of people together in a house where you all agree to do those rhythms?”

Dancing to the Can Can and the inception of one 98-year-old's "youth group" – Nicola tells me about the antics that go on in older persons ministry.

I conducted a survey last year to hear from women across the diocese. Many expressed a desire for intentional spaces where they could connect with other women in ministry and grow as leaders. This cohort is a response to that feedback.

"Faith shapes the way I think about people and leadership," says Alex, leadership and coaching business owner. "The Christian story places enormous value on the dignity of every person and calls us to serve rather than dominate."

It's AGM season, and the beginning of a new three-year synod cycle is upon us – time to elect our lay synod representatives! So what do they do?

Sure, most people schedule a few holidays over the year, but few of us schedule in a time to get away from the hustle to be with God. We’d love to see that change, so more people can experience the joys that come from this rhythm of retreat.

"I firmly believe the mission of this parish is a continuum. It’s not about which vicar you’ve got or which one leaves."

John Wesley is best known for founding the Methodist movement in the 18th century, but he began as an Anglican minister who was rejected by the Church of England for his radical teaching, including his perspective on wealth.

Every parish has a "people's warden", a member of vestry tasked with keeping an eye on the wellbeing of the parish – but what does that actually look like?

Learn how the word for wardrobe became the name for a parish's governing group, why "every vestry needs a Nancy" and how you could get involved in shaping the future of your church.

Miranda and the team from Hikitia! are helping Christians explore the online landscape that young people are growing up in.

The three tikanga constitution is a commitment to honouring diverse groups of people who make up the body of Christ.

Convergence Camp saw a fantastic turnout with over 200 members of our diocese gathering at Bethany Park in Kaiteriteri over the weekend for fun and fellowship.

The idea of God’s kingdom coming and his will being done in the normal stuff of life has always inspired me.

Somewhere over the summer – somewhere between the road trips, the beach, and the DIY, I had a small realisation: I spend a remarkable amount of time on my phone.

It is hard to believe that we are about to be in the season of Lent – our 40-day journey towards Easter.

There are some small but not-so-insignificant details in Ruth that provide really interesting depth to the story – and yet we don’t always notice them. 

I’ve come back from sabbatical deeply grateful, and with a renewed sense that God has important work for the diocese to do together in the years ahead.

As bittersweet as it is to leave, I take with me many learnings and memories of beautiful conversations and input from many trusted people in this region.