8 February 2026
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: GREEN Today is also Transfiguration Sunday, the last Sunday before Lent You may also want to celebrate Waitangi Day this Sunday (Feb 6) |
CollectWe 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 live in a way that encourages change in the lives of others.
Input for LeadersGospel Conversations 2025 (Diocese of Dunedin) - coming soon
Gospel Conversations 2023 (Diocese of Dunedin) Year A Ordinary 5
We start off the Year of Matthew by plunging right into Matthew and a joyful exploration of what it could mean to be Salt and Light to the world. |
Visio Lectio
Free downloadable image by Sarah Lea West. All Rights Reserved, shared and distributed with permission. Download Terms of Use Sarah Lea West Art 
|
Intergenerational Worship
Kids TalksQuestions
|
Activities
Preschool PlayLight 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 (or a large quantity of SALT) on the top, and encourage kids to write messages and draw pictures. You can add some extra WOW factor by adding this rainbow coloured glow art tray to your Light Sensory Tray (The Imagination Tree). |
Media
|
|
|
|
Songs
|
|
|
|
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 WaitangiToday 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. We are looking at the 3 principles of the treaty (simplified here by www.montessorikiwi.com/waitangi). They are:
Discipleship PathwayIf 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 ResourcesScripture Union have a collection of ideas and resources to help your tamariki engage with Waitangi Day, and the Treaty of Waitangi.
|
Media
|
|
|
|
