Pastor’s Page

“While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’”

Matthew 17:5

Last Sunday, we enjoyed a Back to School Blessing, an opportunity to pray for our students, teachers and school staff as a new year gets underway. This Friday we will be resuming Creative Kids, our new youth group for young people in Years 3-8 at school, for 2026, from 6pm-7:30pm in the Hall. As in Term 4 last year, we will be meeting fortnightly in the hall.

While it’s still very much feeling like the beginning of the year for many of us, in reality we’re not too far away from the beginning of Lent. We are coming to the end of this period of Ordinary Time, otherwise known as the season after Epiphany. This part of the liturgical (church) calendar differs in length each year, depending on the date of Easter.

On the final Sunday before the commencement of Lent, we are urged to reflect on the Transfiguration of Jesus. Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-13 and Luke 9:28-36 all depict Jesus praying atop a mountain with the disciples Peter, James and John, during which his body and clothing shine with light and Moses and Elijah (key figures from the Hebrew Bible) appear alongside him.

The Greek Orthodox church refers to this event and phenomenon as metamorphosis, drawing a clear link between transformation and the natural process of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. I can’t help but think that this story prefigures the resurrection, reminding us of Jesus’ divine nature alongside His human nature.

Throughout life we undergo various changes. Some of which will be joyous, like a new relationship or a new baby, others will be important life development which can be a great opportunity but can come with some anxiety, like starting school for the first time. Occasionally we will experience a change, like a sudden illness or bereavement, which we did not see coming and leave us calling out to God in despair.

The words reported to have been spoken from Heaven echo those uttered during Jesus’ baptism. They are a simple but profound profession of Christian faith – that Jesus is no mere ordinary person, but the Son of God. He is pleasing to God and His life and teachings demonstrate the way of God. What a helpful reminder as we go about our days, a reassurance of our hope in Christ!

Blessings, Pastor Abbey Sim