This year we are looking at three Christmas promises which centre on prophecies in Isaiah and how Jesus fulfils them. 

Today we consider the wonderful promise of a perfect king in Isiah 9:1-7.

As Isaiah prophesies, he reminds Judah they have received God’s perfect promise to save, and so they have 
i) a true hope v.1-2, 

ii) a new situation to anticipate v.3-5,

 iii) and the coming of a perfect king vv.6-7.

Today we start a new three part series called 'Christmas Promises.'

This series covers three prophecies, thee promises in the book of Isaiah concerning the birth of the ultimate king from the line of David.
 He is the one who will rescue, restore and rule over God's people for all eternity.
His birth is hinted at in chapter 7 and confirmed in chapter 9 where his nature and character are also described.
The third promise in chapter 11 describes him as the Spirit-anointed king who is qualified and equipped to establish the perfect kingdom in which God's people will live in God's presence
Today we open Isaiah 7:1-11, and Matthew 1:18-24, as we see two different reposes to the promise of God to save and rescue his people. 

This morning we’ll join Ahaz and spend time considering  i)the threat and his response of faithlessness, in light of God’s promise, before we visit Jospeh and ii) the response of faithfulness.

In a season of indulgence, we are thinking about temptation, and how despite what the advertising gurus want us to think, it isn't a trivial matter. We'll see Jesus tempted in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1-11 where Zane Elliott will walk us through the three trials, Jesus' responses to them, and three truths Christians can hold on to as they face temptation.

As we come to the end of the series in Habakkuk: From Fear to Faith, Zane Elliott shows us Habakkuk's astounding response to certain judgement and calamity: He sings! 

Confident God will keep His promises, Habakkuk’s song rises and falls like a symphony of three movements, each with its own emotion, all telling one great story.  In this sermon we’ll see a:
 i) A movement of trust v.2
ii) A movement of God’s power vv.3-16
iii) A movement of delight vv.17-19

In chapter two of Habakkuk God reassures him that evil will not last forever. Jesse Behan opens this passage and helps us see how good and trustworthy God's Word is.

Today Zane Elliott is leading our service, and Oliver Preston is continuing our four-part teaching series in Habakkuk chapter 1:12- 2:1 with the theme ' From fear to faith."

This morning we start a four part series in the book of Habakkuk. Zane Elliott opens chapter 1:1-11 under the theme: Fearing God doesn't see, as we meet the prophet Habakkuk who is trying to make sense of the injustice he sees before him. We'll be thinking about how a righteous person responds to injustice. Faithful people should
i) be disturbed - God’s people should be rocked by injustice. 

ii) Be honest - bring those fears to God himself and

 iii) Be astounded - God does act to bring justice, sometimes in unbelievable ways.

Today we are back in our annual teaching series about money, called Money matters.
It's also our Giving Day, where parishioners can make a one-off gift for special purposes in the life of our church.

To help us think about Using what we’ve got, we’ll open 1 Timothy 6:17–19, where Paul gives Timothy guidance as he shepherds the church in Ephesus. He urges the wealthy not to fix their eyes on earthly riches, but to seek true wealth in God’s economy, treasure that lasts into eternity,  we’ll be encouraged to do two things:
i) Write off false assets (v.17), thinking our wealth gives us value, or security, 
and ii) Invest for real returns (vv.18–19), being rich in good deeds, generous, and willing to share, laying up true treasure for the coming age.

This week we start an annual series where we think about money, how we use it, and why it causes us so much anxiety and stress. Over the next two weeks we'll think about 'Money Matters' and we begin that series today in Matthew 6:25-34, and Deuteronomy 8:2-10 as Zane Elliott helps us think about The God who Supplies. We'll hear i) a call not to worry, and ii) a call to remember so that we can be freed to seek God's kingdom, and run after righteousness

Today we have Jesse Behan leading the service and Dave Clancey preaching on Mark 3:20-35 and Isaiah 49:1-26.

Our labour in Christ: Cor 15:50-58 by Simon Martin 28th September 2025

Today we are walking into Jerusalem with Jesus in Matthew 21:1-11, Zane Elliott helps us ask the question which was on the lips of the crowd 'Who is this?'

As we come to the final sermon in the Series in Colossians, Zane Elliott walks us through Colossians 4:2-19, and shows how as Paul takes on the role of encourager, he wants these Christians who are feeling unsettled under the weight of their role and responsibility to proclaim the gospel, under the confusion of false teaching, and at odds with their culture, to be confident that in Jesus {slide 4} they have all they need to i) join in the mission of God vv.2-6, because, ii) they are part of the team vv.7-19.

This morning Jean Palmer is leading the Morning Prayer Common Worship service and Zane Elliott is continuing on in his teaching in Colossians 3:12 - 4:1 as we explore the necessity of Christ-Centered Relationships.

This morning we're gathering from different ages and stages for a whānau service, a time when we learn together and enjoy discussion and reflection. 

As we explore Colossians 3:1-11 the big theme is 'The Christ-Centered Life.' 
To help the Colossians keep Jesus at the Centre of their lives Paul does two things. He describes their present reality in vv.2-4, by reminding them of what Jesus has done for them; and then he shows them how to live it out in vv.5-11.

We'll be reflecting on how we can keep Jesus at the Centre of lives in light of this teaching.

As we continue our teaching series in Colossians Jean Palmer will be building on what we heard last week in Colossians 2:16-23. As we walk through this passage we'll be encouraged to Look to Christ, the solid reality, and all we have in Him.  Not to be lured away by what is shadowy, insubstantial, ephemeral and temporal as we keep growing in our faith, deepening our experience of being filled with all the fullness of Christ, and keep looking to Christ the solid reality.

Today is a special service at Holy Trinity Richmond. The whole parish is gathering to give thanks to God for the long legacy of choral music, which is drawing to a close in the service today. 

Unfortunately, the first part of the service, including the welcome didn't have sound, so the video will begin during the first hymn.

Zane Elliott will be opening Colossians 2:6-15 and reminding us that that Christians are i) fully connected to Jesus, and that Christians are ii) fully forgiven in Jesus and then think about how those truths helps continue to live our lives in him as iii) hollow and deceptive philosophies seek to wrench us from our Lord.

Oli Preston is leading today's service and Jesse Behan today will be preaching on 3 John.   Following from Jesse's sermon on John 2 (Letters written from St John to his Christian friends).

Due to illness, we are taking a break from Colossians today.

In Colossians 1:24 - 2:1-5 we are going to be thinking about gospel labour. As Zane Elliot opens this passage, we are going to see the thing that helps us labour for the gospel (which is hard work!) under the headings.

 i) The motivation for gospel labour, before we spend some time looking at the example of Paul and consider

 ii) The manner of gospel labour.

Today Oliver Preston a Student minister at Richmond Anglican continues our series in Colossians by helping us see who Jesus really is.
We face the very real danger of misunderstanding Jesus, but in Colossians 1:15-26 the Apostle Paul leaves us in no doubt that Jesus Christ is supreme over all. Oliver will help us think about the ways we sometimes subtract from who Jesus is making him less that he really is.

This morning we begin a new series in the book of Colossians. 
The church at Colossae was really struggling with false teachers offering something more than Jesus so that they would experience spiritual growth. In this opening sermon Zane Elliott explore Paul's two prayers for the Colossians: firstly i) a prayer of thanks looking back at the past in vv.3-8, and ii) a prayer of hope looking to the future in vv.9-14. These prayers show us Paul’s heart for the church at Colossae to know true spiritual growth - not through quick fixes, but through the gospel of the Lord Jesus.

For the past couple of weeks we have been in a break with our teaching series so each preacher has been choosing there own passage. Today we have Jesse Behan preaching on 2 John.

Next week we will be jumping into a new teaching series in the book of Colossians which Zane Elliott our Senior Minister will be starting for us.

Today we have Eric Geiger preaching on John 6.

For the next two weeks we'll have a special focus on Creation Care.
Today Jean Palmer will open Psalm 104 and Romans 8:19-25 as she helps us think about God, Creation and Us. 
We'll be challenged to see God's creation, and our responsibilities towards it as part of working out our faith in the Lord Jesus.

On Trinity Sunday our four congregations are all gathering for a day of celebration as we welcome Wendy to be baptized, and William to be confirmed.

Steve Maina, the Bishop of Nelson will be preaching on Luke 18:31-43, and leading us through the Lord's Supper.