8 February 2026

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Bible readings for today

• Isaiah 58:1-9a (9b-12) 
• Psalm 112:1-9 (10) 
• 1 Corinthians 2:1-12 (13-16) 
• Matthew 5:13-20

Liturgical Colour: GREEN

Today is also Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday before Lent

Collect

We praise you, God, 
that the light of Christ shines in our darkness 
and is never overcome; 
show us the way we must go to eternal day; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord 
Amen. 

E te Atua, ka whakamoemiti mātou ki a koe, e tīaho nei te māramatanga o te Karaiti i roto i ō mātou pōuritanga, ā e kore hoki e taea te tinei; whakaaturia mai te huarahi e tae atu ai mātou ki te rā mutungakore; 
Ko Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Ariki. 
Āmine.

Back to School 

With some school students and teaching staff preparing to head back to school this week and the next, consider how you can pray for your tamariki or your local school this Sunday. You can find a *new* Back to School Blessing on our Strandz website. 

Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16)

This gospel reading is given as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and challenges us to bring about change in the lives of others. 

Activities

• Light of the World Playdough Mat (Flame Creative Kids)
• Lantern Craft (Flame Creative Kids)
• Paper and Oil Suncatchers (Flame Creative Kids)
• Night Light (Nothing but Country)
• Glow Art (Play at Home Mom)
• Salt Dough Tea Lights (Emma Owl)
• Glow Jar (Pastor on Brooks)

Light Sensory Box

You will need a plastic container with a clear smooth opaque lid (clear lids don't work as well), and with fairy lights inside. Pour some play sand on the top, and encourage kids to write messages and draw pictures

Intergenerational resource

An intergenerational resource looking at how the character of Jesus can be reflected in our own lives. Free download from https://intergen.org.au/

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Salt and light questions

• I wonder, what might we use salt for? 
• If salt is for seasoning, flavouring, zest, purifying, cleansing, cooking, what does it mean for christians to be 'salt in the world?'
• What is the role of light in the world? Why do we need it? 
• I wonder why Jesus wanted to talk about light? 

• Jesus says that we are the light of the world (we often remember that Jesus is the light of the world). We are the ones who reflect and shine Jesus in the world. 
  
• What does Jesus mean when he asks us to shine our light before others? 

Visio Lectio

Thanks to Rev Sarah West from Visio Lectio for this beautiful illustration
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Gospel Conversations

Thanks to the Diocese of Dunedin for another great conversation about this gospel passage! We start off the Year of Matthew by plunging right into Jesus' central block of teaching in Matthew's Gospel: the Sermon on the Mount. Kelvin gives us the sort of introduction to Matthew which will make you look at every gospel reading this year differently, and then he, Lisa and John joyfully explore what it could mean to be Salt and Light to the world.

Jesus reminds us that we're ready to make a difference and join in with what God is doing in the world. But how are we going to do this well? 

Justice

To 'shine' in the world, God's people must be on the side of justice and practice kindness and generosity.

Media

Waitangi Day

Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi is remembered in New Zealand on the 6th February, the date on which the treaty was first signed in the Bay of Islands between the Crown and Māori. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi /Treaty of Waitangi

Today we are thinking about the Treaty of Waitangi – ask if anyone knows what that means. 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi is not a single large sheet of paper but a group of nine documents: seven on paper and two on parchment. Together they represent an agreement drawn up between representatives of the British Crown on the one hand and representatives of Māori iwi and hapū on the other. Named after the place in the Bay of Islands where it was first signed on 6 February 1840, the Treaty was also signed at locations around the country over a seven-month period.
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We are looking at the 3 principles of the treaty (simplified here by www.montessorikiwi.com/waitangi). They are: 

• Partnership: working alongside together and valuing the Taonga each other brings. 
• Protection: the Treaty states it’s very important to look after Maori language, knowledge and values; 
• Participation: we need to ensure both Maori and Pakeha have the same opportunities in New Zealand. 

You can find out more about the Te Tiriti here

Discipleship Pathway

If you're interested in finding out more about Te Tiriti o Waitangi / Treaty of Waitangi, and would like to dig into what this means for us today, then you might like this Discipleship Pathway class, lead by Caleb Haurua. 

Caleb unpacks our rich and complicated history gently, encouraging a deeper, undiluted understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi without inferring guilt. He weaves in Biblical truths and suggests a Christian way of thinking about the Church's relationship with Māori culture. This class can even be interesting and helpful for those outside of youth ministry, who are just seeking to understand their place in the Treaty covenant today.

You can sign up and watch these videos for free on the Discipleship Pathway website

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Book

Te Tiriti O Waitangi / The Treaty fo Waitangi - By Ross Calman, Mark Derby, Piripi Walker, Toby Morris. This is a reorua (bilingual) graphic novel that takes a fresh and innovative look at our founding treaty. Te Tiriti o Waitangi - written by Ross Calman and Mark Derby, and illustrated by Toby Morris - is now in all New Zealand schools with Year 7 and 8 pupils.
It reforms the current syllabus with simpler language and illustrations aimed at helping 10- and 12-year-olds with a Year 6 reading level.

Other Resources

Scripture Union have a collection of ideas and resources to help your tamariki engage with Waitangi Day, and the Treaty of Waitangi. 

Media