Rev. Clay Nelson
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For starters here is Monty Python asking the question of The Meaning of Life.
Continue reading The Meaning of Life
Sunday Talks / Random Musings
Being non-anxious in an age of anxiety
Rev. Clay Nelson
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Rev. clay Nelson © 11 June 2017
Last week I spoke of my vision for us to become, individually and as a congregation, servant leaders.
As a reminder, Robert Greenleaf, who coined the term servant leadership, describes it as “The servant-leader is servant first… It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions… Continue reading Being non-anxious in an age of anxiety
A Vision of Our Future
Rev. Clay Nelson
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Rev. clay Nelson © 4 June 2017
I am not a fan of turning nouns into verbs. So, I have an internal resistance to using the word visioning, but I know it describes a distinct reality. Before beginning a test I’m sure the All Blacks spend some time visioning on how they will make their winning tries. Continue reading A Vision of Our Future
Appreciating Ramadan: A time of renewal
Rev. Clay Nelson
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This morning marks the second day in Islam’s holy month of Ramadan. During these thirty days, Muslims around the world seek purification, forgiveness, guidance and a renewed devotion to Allah.
Bending the Arc of History
Rev. Clay Nelson
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No text this week, watch or listen to find out why.
Also includes update from our Social Justice Team.
Rev. clay Nelson © 21 May 2017
Swimming in a White Supreme-a-sea
Cassie Withey-Riley
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Cassie Withey-Riley © 14 May 2017
Hello, I am honoured and terrified to be here. My name is Cassie and I benefit from White Supremacy. I have been given the honour of guiding us on this small step of a very uncomfortable journey. Continue reading Swimming in a White Supreme-a-sea
ChristoPaganism
A Fishy Love
Rev. Clay Nelson
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Rev. clay Nelson © 30 April 2017
When I was six we got our first television. I think that was about five years before television made it to New Zealand. It was love at first sight. It was beautiful in its large wooden cabinet with its much smaller tube. The black and white images were magical. It changed my daily routine. After school I watched the Mickey Mouse Club, followed by Superman. On Friday night there was Flash Gordon. Saturday morning there were cartoons and all my western heroes. I loved TV everyday of the week, except Sunday mornings. There were only three channels. Two had interviews of people in the news. I was not yet a political junkie, so that left the third station, which had religious programming. Continue reading A Fishy Love
ANZAC Day…A time to imagine peace
Rev. Clay Nelson
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Opening words are THE PEACE NOT PAST UNDERSTANDING by Gary Kowalski.
Video of Eric Bogle singing ‘And the band played ‘Waltzing Matilda” and John Lennon singing ‘Imagine’ can be seen at the bottom of this page.
Rev. clay Nelson © 23 April 2017
This coming Tuesday New Zealand “celebrates” ANZAC Day for the 101st time since the battle of Gallipoli where 7447 young Kiwis died or were wounded for “King and Country”. Forty young men from our congregation were in their number. Six, or 15%, did not return. Continue reading ANZAC Day…A time to imagine peace
Ignore Easter? So tempting.
Rev. Clay Nelson
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Rev. clay Nelson © 16 Apil 2017
When I was in seminary, every seminarian was assigned a parish to do field work in for two years. My second Easter, I was given the opportunity to preach on Easter Sunday. A few months later a couple in the congregation came to see me. They brought me a novel the wife had written. In a former life they had been Idaho sheep farmers. The book is about the lonely life of a shepherd who cares for his flock. Continue reading Ignore Easter? So tempting.