Waiapu Academy

Trinity Sunday …Hooray!

admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:11:41 +0000

Don’t you love to preach on the Holy Trinity, or to hear sermons on this topic? It is, after all, all about the heart of our faith in God. Or is it? I think so, after years of deliberation! For my approach to this topic, with comments on the scriptural texts selected for this year’s celebration, follow this trail…
And then let me know what you think, in the comments box below.
Howard Pilgrim

Trinity Sunday in Year C

admin — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:06:38 +0000

The Spirit who comes …

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:49:23 +0000

The Day of Pentecost sits within Christian consciousness not as an ancient Jewish feast but as our annual celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. It comes as the climax of the Easter season, in which the risen Christ, ascended to a place of power in God’s heavenly presence, shares that with presence with his waiting disciples on earth, empowering us in our mission to transform our world. Well that is what we think we are up to. For my podcasts on the Gospel reading and the Lesson from Acts 2, follow this link. … but leave feedback, please!
Howard Pilgrim

Pentecost, YrC

admin — Fri, 17 May 2013 03:34:48 +0000

The Gospel Reading

The Lesson: Acts 2

Mea Culpa!

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:29:44 +0000

After my appeal for feedback before I produce any more not-to-be-viewed videos, and comments from Robert Bruere (onsite) and Jenny Chalmers (in person) that the last two weeks’ videos were inaccessible, two new things have happened…
1. People started accessing the first video (Easter 5), so there was nothing wrong with that one.
2. A consultation with my website-wizzo son Aman this afternoon soon established that the later page (Easter 6) was saved in draft form so that it was inaccessible if you were not logged in – that is, to everyone except me. Dumb mistake! From now on I promise to test drive every video page after logging out.

Meanwhile, I still want more feedback about the content of what I put up. Every post and video page has a comments section at the bottom, so please let me know what you value and how I might up my game.

I expect to back in production next week for Pentecost.

Howard Pilgrim

6th Sunday of Easter in Year C

admin — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:29:44 +0000

Feedback needed please …

admin — Wed, 08 May 2013 05:38:59 +0000

Last week, as I prepared for my brother’s funeral, I also took a day out to produce my weekly video podcast in the Preparing to Preach series on this site. To date, no one has downloaded it. The previous week’s effort met a similar reception.

These events, taken in conjunction, have led me to think it is high time for me to review what I am doing with my time and spiritual gifts. Life is too short, and my desire to make the best use of my gifts in God’s service too pressing, for me to keep churning out stuff that is of no use to anyone. I brought this series back into production a few months ago because people from Waiapu whom I respect expressed their regret that I had stopped. What I need now is further feedback, and I need it right here on this page, in the comments box, from people who leave their names with their comments.

You might help me consider these questions:-
1. Have the podcasts been helpful, in general, to those who preach and/or to those who listen to sermons?
2. Are there specific ways in which I can improve the form or content to make them more accessible?
3. Should I switch to other more topic-focused presentations rather than discussing the weekly lectionary readings? This is my default option if I get no other advice.

So now I shall leave this up here for a few weeks and see if anyone responds ….

Howard Pilgrim

Here at last …

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:28:50 +0000

If you have visited this site earlier because you read my notice in Waiapu’s ENews advertising a video commenting on all four RCL readings for next Sunday, I’m sorry it took so long to produce. Some of you will know that my brother Godfrey Nicholson died on Sunday, so I have been rather preoccupied.
Nevertheless, I am glad to get this week’s video done, as it addresses an issue dear to my heart as a preacher. What are we to do when some aspects of the Gospel reading seem contrary to our fundamental convictions about the good news we are called to proclaim? Just ignore the reading and preach on something else? That is certainly one option. Another is to meet the problem head on. For my take on this Sunday’s readings, go to this page. And yes, I will be preaching on it, at St Andrew’s Taupo.
Howard Pilgrim

5th Sunday in Easter in Year C

admin — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:21:19 +0000

Betrayal and Glory?

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:32:26 +0000

This week’s reading from the Gospel of John is centred on one of the great paradoxes of Jesus’ death and resurrection: the idea that his betrayal by two of his disciples is actually the moment in which he is most honoured by God. How could that work in the ancient world, and how can we experience its power today? For my thoughts on this aspect of the Easter mystery, listen up …
Howard Pilgrim