.

I am loving people’s responses to the Fifth Gospel Living book – the collection of 90 people sharing an experience of God.

As I reflect in my introduction to the book:

The Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John rightly have the most honoured place among all Christian texts. However we also appreciate that those who wrote these texts and others who three centuries later discerned that these four (from among others) would be the canonical Gospels of the Church, shared their own experiences of God in Jesus Christ so that readers might also come to believe – and that by believing may have life in his name of Jesus Christ who is THE Word of God. (John 20:31)

It is only right therefore that two thousand years later we also share our present experience of God in the same way and with the same purpose. For this reason and with this confidence I have no hesitation in naming this collection of reflections Fifth Gospel Living.

We often take a passage of scripture and reflect on it, mull it over, ask Jesus to speak to us through this historical account, and apply it to our lives.

When we do this we are using a Bible passage as a starting point for encountering Jesus.

This method will hopefully increase our desire to meet Jesus ourselves, not at a Cana wedding feast or up a Jericho sycamore but in the events, the people and the circumstances of our lives in 2025.

And that’s where I need to meet Jesus, not in the then and there but in the here and now.

Yesterday my here and now was a return to the Hurunui for a funeral in the beautiful Amberley Church of the Holy Passion of the Lord. I was surrounded by many who were the parishioners during my six years (2012 – 2018) as Parish Priest.

It was an inspiring gathering, both for Brian’s funeral which was rich with faith-filled and faith-fuelled Christian hope, and for the many conversations with so many people who were such an important part of my life for those six years.

Now it is early Thursday evening as I write, in a little kebab store in Geraldine where I have stopped for a quick bite before driving over the hill to Fairlie for the night and a retreat session for the parish leadership group in the morning.

It has been a good day.

Thank you to all the people I chatted with today.

And take a moment to offer a prayer for Brian who features in the crowd-pic above taken in 2018 at the Amberley Church. Pray that he is now sharing the fullness of the life for which he was created. And offer a prayer too for his wife and family in these days of grief.

Four hours later. It is not bedtime after arriving in Fairlie and long and inspiring conversation over a glass or two with Tien the parish priest.

To bed – with gratitude.

CAFE GATHERINGS

Send your date and time to add to the list, and just turn up at at one of the advertised gatherings, just one hour, focussing on where we are encountering Christ.

CHRISTCHURCH
Monday 17 March 10.00am (wear Green for St. Patrick)
Invitation from Trish
Cafe Moko
Bush Inn Centre, Waimairi Rd.

TRENTHAM
Tuesday 18th March 1pm
Invitation from Kat
Cafe Equinox
458 Fergusson Drive, Trentham,

NEW PLYMOUTH
Wednesday 19 March 10.00am
Invitation from Joan
Stumble Inn
200 Mangorei Road New Plymouth

AUCKLAND NORTH SHORE
Thursday 20 March 10.30am
Invitation from Catherine
Columbus Coffee
219 Don McKinnon Drive (outside Westfield overlooking the lake) Albany