John Hebenton's Podcast John Hebenton

Psalm                                           Psalm 4                                                                                   
First Reading:                          Acts 3:12-21               
Second Reading:                    1 John 3:1-7               
Gospel:                                        Luke 24:36-48 
Easter is a time to hear stories of the resurrection and how those first disciples responded. We hear them not to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection, but to be opened to our own experiences of the resurrection, and to take time to reflect on how we respond.
This week we hear from Luke, with the disciples offering all kinds of responses. Where are we in this mix?
As the parish faces an uncertain time with John going, how do we respond in light of all this? 
John offers some thoughts around our response in terms of the time and financial support for the parish.

You can read the notes here

A sermon exploring what it was like for those male disciples when they heard Jesus had risen – They had abandoned Jesus to his death, denied him, betrayed him. They did not die with him as Thomas promised not so long ago – and now he is back!!
-          How does that help us read about these two appearances?
Thomas teaches us that the Resurrection is not something to be convinced of, but something to be experienced. And when we do it changes everything!

How might we live out our own resurrection appearances?

You can read the notes for this sermon here

                                                                      Gate Pa – Year B  Easter Sunday 2024
Readings:
First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-9     
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel:John 20:1-18

What I want to say:
Our friend died this week. The resurrection affirms that she is with God now. Swallowed in God’s life. I don’t know what that means or what it looks life. That is ok. I trust God for all that.
This story is bigger than Liz, or me, getting into heaven, if that is what being swallowed by God’s life is. Jesus death is more than Jesus dying on a cross for me and my sins. It is God dying on a cross, showing us where all our greed, selfishness, lust for power. The powers of death thought they had won, but God would not be held in death. When all seemed lost God’s life prevailed. When all seems lost, God’s love and life will prevail. I trust God for that.
Mary watched her friend die, a humiliating horrific degrading death. She watched her hopes for herself and Israel die. She was swallowed in grief, outrage, powerlessness, despair. She went to weep and despair as the night light let go and the dawn emerged. She met Jesus in the messiness of her life. She thought he was the gardener. Nothing changed. Everything changed. The resurrected Jesus met her in her darkest blackest moment and it changed everything. She became the first to prolamin the gospel. She boldly lived resurrected life. The resurrected Jesus invites us into resurrected life now. I trust God for that.
What I want to happen:
What do we trust God for this Easter?


You can read the notes here

A reflection to help people into the story of Palm Sunday, to ask where are they in this story, and what do they see?
Invite them to ask, as Jesus sees everything, what are we invited to see?

We watched Rev Dr Rodney Aist speak in front of Church of the Holy Sepulchre  on St George's College Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness
 Hosanna means both thanksgiving and praise,  or God save us.
What do we see that we give thanks for or that we or others seek deliverance from?  –
Use these palm fronds to write - What do we give thanks for and whose prayers for deliverance are we invited to join today?
 (All were given paper palm fronds as they entered the church.  They were invited to write on the palm leaf path as they go up to communion) 

You can read the reflection here

John talks about the writer of John's gospel and Jeremiah both reframe what is going on to find hope in the midst of despair.
As we approach an interregnum and gather for our AGM how might we reframe the story of Anglican Parish of Gate Pa?
What might the parable of the seed dying to bear fruit offer us in these fragile times?
What I want to happen:
How does John help us reflect on:
What do we need to reframe as Anglican Parish of Gate PaAs we come to our AGMAs we come to uncertain future with my retirementHow does this morning’s reading from John help us be that seedHelp us be vehicle for new lifefind hope.You can rad the notes for this here

Readings:
Hebrew Scripture:      Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm:                         107:1-3,17-22
Epistle:                        Ephesians 2: 1-10
Gospel:                        John 3:14-21
What I want to say:
We began by watching part of the video -  St George's College Jerusalem: Ways in the Wilderness, looking particularly at the Hermitage, Solitude and Community.

How do these themes help us this Lent?
Then John uses the Jerusalem Bible version of Ephesians “We are God’s works of art,”, and asks, do we see ourselves and others as works of art?
He uses this to reflect on John 3 – second half of the conversation with Nicodemus – which is all about identity as well.
Belief as Trust – what does it mean to trust God
-          For our identity – quote Mary MacLeod Bethune (1875–1955)
-          For all we need
Were does the cross fit with all this?
What I want to happen:
Reflect on how "Hermitage, Solitude and Community" help us grow into being God’s works of art, to trust this image and receive the grace to see this in others.

You can read the notes to this sermon here