Journey of a Thousand Steps

Does the Church need bishops, priests, deacons? Or, indeed, a pope? This week we considered this question as we interfaced with a significant promise that Jesus made to Peter - that he would be the the rock on whom Jesus would build his Church (Matthew 16.13-20). What did Jesus mean by this and did he have a specific plan or structure in mind for the leadership of His Church? In this story we notice two important themes for our ecclesiology (theology of Church). First, one of the important ways that we experience the love of Jesus is through journeying with imperfect leaders; people who will sometimes annoy us and even disappoint us. If our leaders are humble and repentant, this provides a pathway to experience love in community. Secondly, it is the responsibility of senior leaders to 'lock, bind and loose.' That is, to restrict entry into the church of dangerous, unrepentant people, and to tie up and throw out teachings or behaviours that are harmful. This, also, is an important part of how we experience the love of Jesus in community. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 23 August 2026 

How do you pray when you feel desperate? What words do you use when it feels as though God is ignoring you or not answering your prayers? When you are emotionally drained or discouraged, how do you position yourself before God? This week our student minister, Zoe Donnan, shared a message from her heart and from Matthew 15.21-28. In this passage a Canaanite woman shows profound faith as she approaches Jesus from a place of desperation. We see in her a beautiful blend of humility and confidence. She knows that Jesus is God and he 'owes her' nothing, but she also trusts in character enough to be bold. Did you know that it's okay to call on God to meet his promises and live up to his reputation? try it. 
 
Podcast by Zoe Donnan, 16 August 2026 

Do you ever feel as though the wind is against you? Are you in a workplace, a family dynamic, or a personal health battle that feels unsurmountable, or unfair? This Sunday we asked three questions of Jesus about the times when we find ourselves in physically or emotionally overwhelming experiences. Why would Jesus send me into this? Has he abandoned me? How do I transcend the waves? When Peter and the disciples found themselves in yet another frightening storm, they had a powerful experience of Jesus walking out to them on water, and Peter, in turn, attempting to meet him in the waves. Matthew 14.22-36 shows us that a life of faith involves being sent into storms, meeting Jesus in the middle of it, and learning, step by step, to walk on water. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 9 August 2026

Jesus is a multiplier of loaves and fishes. He grows His Church and increases financial and human resources. This is very different to a perfectly stitched up business plan, where financial capacity is secure whether we are faithful or not. This Sunday we learned that multiplication of resources happens at the intersection of 'not enough' and the decision to serve anyway. On the day the Jesus multiplied food for a crowd, he was deeply grieved about the death of John the Baptist; working from heartbreak. His disciples were tired and hungry after a long day of ministering to thousands of people in need. We saw in Matthew 14.13-22 that the choice to lean into compassion, even from a place of lack, is the intersection where faith exists and miracles happen. 
 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 2 August 2026 

Why does God allow evil to continue in the world and in the church? This is never an abstract question. Every single one of us has experienced corrupt leadership, betrayal by people we once trusted, or the injustice of people continuing in leadership when it is known that they are unrepentant of significant sin. Why does God allow this? In Matthew 13.24-30, Jesus describes the reasons. Understanding the reasons doesn't make our experience of life less painful, but it does help us to avoid believing that God isn't sovereign, doesn't care or won't ever execute justice. In this knowledge, we can persevere, and focus on the wheat. 
Podcast by Zoe Donnan, 19 July 2026

Have you ever been surprised, perplexed or disappointed by watching a Christian you admired leave church or renounce their faith? As hard as this is to grapple with, Jesus told his followers a parable to help them expect and understand it. Sometimes, some people have had hurtful or even harmful experiences of religious people and, for this reason, need space to recover. However, barring this, Matthew 13.1-23 gives those with "ears to hear" a clear picture of what happens to people as they journey in faith. Some never understand the Gospel, and so move on very quickly. Others receive Jesus' love with joy and enthusiasm, but their commitment is shallow. As soon as something very painful happens in life, they struggle to sustain it. Some are keen, but the other commitments in their life overwhelm their relationship with God. Others are in forever, no matter what, forsaking all others. These will bear fruit and that is guaranteed. 
 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 12 July 2026

Arguably, two topics we have most failed to educate young people in schools about are money and sex - how to manage personal finances and how to prepare for, choose and sow into a life partnership. This is also true in the Church! Whilst people have often received condemning (or even controlling) messaging around sex outside of marriage and tithing to the Church, many followers of Jesus feel ill-equipped in making decisions about money and sex. In today's teaching from Matthew 10.40-11.15, we encounter some general principles around stewarding finances for the Kingdom. Whilst some are called to fulltime apostolic ministries, it is only through benefactors who sow time and finances into Kingdom projects that the Church moves forward. Jesus assures us that every gift and risk taken is noticed by the Father and will be rewarded. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 28 June 2026 

What has been your experience of monastic life? Does it extend further than watching The Sound of Music? Perhaps your experience of brothers, nuns or priests in religious schools or communities has been negative? Perhaps very positive? In today's final topic in our 'God is Good For You' series, we considered the gift of monasticism to the Church and world, and its biblical basis. Drawing from Revelation 14.1-5, this week the congregation were invited to meditate on their own experience of three disciplines monasticism reminds us to mimic: missional creativity, putting others before ourselves and practicing daily rhythms of prayer. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 21 June 2026 

One of the greatest human triumphs is the decision to try again after failure, or love again after heartbreak. These decisions are the essence of how we renew after setbacks, both as individuals and as the Church. This Sunday, we continued our 'God is Good for You' series with a focus on how God guides us to rebuild, by turning hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36.24-32). Drawing from the prophet Ezekiel's words to Israel in the 5th century BCE, we considered how God's spirit helps to remedy four unhelpful coping strategies: escapism, denial, self-sufficiency and intellectual pride. First, God calls us to commit to the process of rebuilding the ruins. Second, we rediscover the beauty of repentance and forgiveness. Third, we love again, realising we can't do life alone. Lastly, we embrace the spiritual gifts, and give up relying solely on our own intelligence to solve problems. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 14 June 2026 

Have you ever experienced what it is to rejoice on your worst day, or through your darkest year? If not, you are missing out! This week we practiced what it is to live the defiant, rebellious lifestyle of a disciple of Jesus. As Paul described in Philippians 4.4, we choose to praise and rejoice in all circumstances, because we know that whatever is happening today is not the end of our story. We celebrate, sometimes ahead of schedule, that all will be well, everything will be healed, relationships will be reconciled and God will have the victory over our stories. This Sunday, at the end of our service, we put on our dancing shoes as we welcomed a surprise visit from the Bay Street Brass band and danced in the street to When the Saints Go Marching In. 
Podcast by Heather Cetrangolo, 7 June 2026