E-NEWS 22ND AUGUST 2025
Welcome to Tongan language week, Malo lelei is hello in Tongan, fefeake is how are you? Saipe is I am well. Ofa atu is with love.
On Monday we farewelled our dear friend, Andrew Matthews. It was heartening to see so many from St Andrew’s on The Terrace gather to celebrate his life and to honour his contribution to our community. A special thank you to everyone who helped with and contributed towards the cup of tea afterwards—it was a time of warmth, memory, and fellowship.
A Busy Week of Meetings
It has certainly been a full week. On Wednesday night, we held our Finance Management meeting, followed on Thursday by the Queen Margaret College Board meeting. One of the lovely traditions of the board gatherings is sharing a meal together at 5.30pm, prepared by the College chef, before we move into our meeting. These shared meals give us a chance to get to know one another better, and I really enjoy that time of fellowship.
Queen Margaret College Founders’ Day
On Sunday we celebrated Queen Margaret College Founders’ Day. I had the privilege of preaching at the service and shared some stories from The Happy Wanderer. I spoke about moments from my childhood, and I’ve since heard that many of the girls are still talking about some of my escapades! It is always encouraging to receive positive feedback—it lets me know that the message has landed well.
Ministers’ Gatherings
This week also included time with colleagues. On Thursday, I attended the inner-city ministers’ gathering. Although it was a smaller group this time, it was good to reconnect with others after being away for some time.
I also received an email from Ellen letting me know that the Te Tiriti Action Group will be putting up posters re the Maori Wards etc. in the area currently blocked off for construction work on the disability access. So, when you arrive on Sunday, you might be pleasantly surprised to see some powerful social justice posters displayed for everyone on the street to view. Thank you, Ellen, for being so proactive on this.
And following our service this Sunday, after coffee, we will be holding a workshop on the Māori wards, led by Paul Barber. This is a very important discussion for us as a community, so please do make yourselves available to attend. There will be soup and rolls available for us during the workshop, so we can enjoy a warm meal while engaging in this conversation together.
This Sunday’s Service
This Sunday’s Gospel reading comes from Luke 13, the story of Jesus healing the crippled (or bent-over) woman on the Sabbath. In that story, Jesus challenges the idea of waiting until another day to show compassion. He reminds us that when we see someone in need, we do not ask, “Is this the right day?”—we simply respond. Like the Samaritan who crossed the road to help, we are called to act in love and mercy whenever we encounter someone who is struggling.
Keep warm and enjoy those moments when the sun bursts through the clouds. Ofa atu, Fei.
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/fec53a11ebe3/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10136101
