Kia Ora – Welcome

Kia ora, Ngā mihi. Somehow you’ve ended up on the Parklands Baptist Community Church’s website. We gather for Sunday Services at 10:30am at 180 Queenspark Drive.  We’d love for you to check us out. If you can’t make it we live stream our service on facebook on a Parklands Baptist Community Church site. Never as good as being there,  Like anyone who follows Jesus we’re keen to make this world a better place to live in. We run a series of other events, employ some part time youth workers in schools, a part time community worker and are keen to partner with others to make North East Christchurch a great place to live.  Check out the Connect and Community tags…

Are you Sure ?

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT ? Can you remember times when you found yourself thinking “Are you sure about that”. Times you are glad you did ? Times you wish it hadn’t stopped you? (i.e.have you bungy jumped, fallen for a scam etc) Buechner says “Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts, you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving. Doubt is the ants in the pants of faith.” What is he trying to say ? Do you agree ? The story of Thomas and the resurrected Jesus starts in John…

It is finished

24th march “It is finished”  “Kua oti.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.     John 19:29–30 (NIV) Pete’s Ponderings: The bland back and white checks on one side of the door show that the games are finally coming to an end. Colin’s chewings : So much happens in this moment. In Māori there are two words for finishing, “Mutu” which means finished (this bit) and might ahve to come back to it and…

Thirst

17th March, ‘I am thirsty.’ ” “He matewai tōku.”  28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. John 19:28–29 (NIV) Pete’s ponderings : Pete’s ponderings : This door is parched and dry, coming off at the hinges and and not square in it’s frame. “I thirst” is written in coffee- the second largest commodity traded in the world. It’s written faintly, as if spoken in a parched voice. Even though the tap is open, there’s not a drop…

Forsaken

10 March (Colin)“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” E tōku Atua, e tōku Atua, he aha koe i whakarere ai i ahau?  At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).   When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”  Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.  With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The curtain…

Whānau

“Woman, here is your son… Here is your mother”  “E tai, nanā, tāu tama!”…Nā, tōu whaea! 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25–27 (NIV) Pete’s ponderings : Who are we responsible for ? The Intertwined branches and roots say something of the interconnectedness of us all. On the other side of the door is a much bigger picture. Being pushed by God on a…

With Me

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  Luke 23:39-43 Pete’s Ponderings: Everyone’s ideas of paradise are different. I see it in my grandkids,- God is present in a little child. The cross is the key . Kevin’s chewings: When the Hebrew bible was…

Forgive

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are  doing.” “E Pā, houhia te rongo ki a rātou; kāhore hoki rātou e mōhio ki tā rātou e mea nei.” When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. – Luke 23:33–34 (NIV) Pete’s ponderings : The forgiveness door opens to another world. It is opened by God from the other side, not so we can come in, but to call us out. If you find yourself wondering about the…

A silence and Solitude Prayer exercise

If you’re unsettled at the start – maybe go for a walk. Sing a song ? what might help you slow down ? Choose a place that feels comfortable and safe to you, a place that allows you to be open and available to God—a favorite chair at home, your own backyard if it is quiet, or even a nearby chapel if you have access to one.   Settle into a comfortable position in your body and sit quietly for a few moments, breathing deeply,  becoming aware of God’s presence with you and your desire to be present with God. Sit quietly at the base of the tree that is your life and begin to notice what is true about…

A bigger table

When Paul writes about church he emphasises our connection with each other (1 cor 12-14, 1 cor 12:27-31) and talks about the nature of the love that weaves us together. In Romans 1:12 Paul talks of “that you and I maybe mutually encouraged by each others faith”. This is one of the core functions of church.  We explored three aspects of this:   The table of being Loved (being together): (When were you last aware of how much God loves you ?)   A deeper table (Growing together) : Colin suggested that in the West we tend to think this is an individual’s job – a kind of DIY, but that instead it’s God who transforms us, using life, faith…