Wednesday 15 October 2025
Last week marked the first week back after term-break. During the week we begun a series looking in this final term of the year at ‘The Parables of Jesus: Windows on The Ways of God’. I use the word ‘windows’ deliberately here, since the designer of the Chapel Windows, Arthur Lucien Ward, specifically included eight windows in the Chapel nave that illustrate the Parables of Jesus. You can see one of these windows here. These ‘parables’ are short, relatable stories that are designed to carry transcendent, eternal truths about the nature of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. In short, to help audiences understand more about the character of God and what God’s purposes are for the whole of society.
This past week I’ve been sharing with the students one of Jesus’ parables – The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-35) and remarking on how the way of our superhero comic books and films provide a startling contrast to the Way of Jesus. Referencing the most recent offering of Superman who is “faster than a speeding bullet” and “can leap the tallest building in a single bound”, the Way of Jesus conversely works imperceptibly – like the smallest of all seeds – the mustard seed. The size of a pin-head, the mustard seed though tiny, has the capacity to grow to the size of a giant six-feet tall shrub, that offers a place for birds to roost and others to shelter. This is often the Way of Jesus, and the way of the Kingdom of Heaven – people with a mustard-size seed of faith quietly going about their daily lives, sharing what they have with others, engaging in unseen acts of service, and in the process building without fanfare, a corner of ‘the Kingdom of Heaven’ where they are. The words of the Lord’s Prayer remind us of this call to enact this mustard seed approach to change…‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven’.
Someone who understood this to be true was Old Collegian and previous Bishop of Auckland, Bishop Bruce Gilberd (School, 1951-55). In my conversations during the celebration of our foundation year in 2022, at the School House Centenary he spoke about what it meant for him to listen to messages from their Headmaster Geoffrey Greenbank about graduates who went out to serve their family, their neighbours, their society.
One lasting legacy we have of Bishop Bruce’s legacy is the book ‘One Thought for Today’, which is a collection of writings that Bishop Bruce penned himself, based on a daily Scriptures reading, that addresses a variety of Bible-related themes that speak into daily life. If you would like a copy please feel free to contact me on g.walters@kingscollege.school.nz as I have a number of books that I can put in your hands for $25 per copy.
Also, a reminder that you can also purchase an unframed sketch of the Chapel for this our centenary year, for the reduced price of $20 each. These sketches were completed by the late Simon Dennistoun-Wood (Averill, 1963-66), Old Collegian and artist, and were the final sketches to be done by him. The proceeds of these, will go towards our Chapel Preservation Fund which helps provide for the long-term sustainability of our Chapel.
You can see the different options here. Again, you can contact me directly should you wish to purchase one or more, on g.walters@kingscollege.school.nz A framed copy can also be purchased for the cost of $110 – which includes a white mat, and either a black or white frame.
And finally, lifting our sights to the end of the year, a reminder that all families are welcome to our annual King’s Chapel Advent Carol Services, being held in the Chapel. These services are compulsory for our Year 9 and 10 students to attend, and are as follows:
Sunday 30 November
- Year 9 – 5.30pm - Advent Carol Service
- Year 10 – 7.15pm – Advent Carol Service
In the meantime, have a blessed start to your term.
Peace and grace, Rev Walters