Second Sunday in Advent

Luke sets John's word context. As John was firmly placed in his context, the readings situate us in our world. The Good News came when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Tiberius Caesar had been Emperor fifteen years, Herod was tetrarch/ruler of a fourth of Galilee, and Caiaphas was high priest. And the Good News comes when world leaders met playing political roles in Glasgow for COP 26. In the past it was always thought that to know where God is in the world, we need to look to those in power and have power.

COP26 is now over and we all want to know what was achieved and where to from here for our beautiful Pacific region. Facilitated by ERC Director Phil Glendenning, this webinar was an opportunity to hear directly from a number of Pacific Islander COP26 delegates, including Mr Maina Talia (Tuvalu Climate Action Network), Ms Iemaima Vaai (Pacific Conference of Churches) and Mr Lavetanalagi Seru (Pacific Islands Climate Action Network), as well as lead Fiji COP26 Negotiator on loss and damage Ms Siobhan McDonnell.

First Sunday of Advent

It is strange to begin the new church year with images of sudden change and dramatic reversals. As Jesus participated in a disruptive march into Jerusalem with crowds waving palms and the ritual cleansing of the temple, he was warning that even things that seem permanent can disappear in an instance. Nothing withstands the ravages of time or upheavals in history - not power structures, environments, roles, grand structures and not even God’s temple. Change can appear like a disaster but can reveal how God draws near to us.