E-NEWS FRIDAY MAY 2ND 2025
Kia ora tātou
Rev Dr Fei has left the building. She has delegated Enews in her absence so you will be hearing from a variety of contributors for the next three months about life at St Andrew’s on The Terrace. Fei promises to send short reports about her travels and what she is learning and maybe the odd photo.
As I write the wind continues to rage and I know that Fei’s departure from Wellington has been disrupted due to the inclement weather. Fei, Godspeed in safely reaching your first destination even if you will be a little bit behind schedule.
It’s been a busy week or so at St Andrew’s. Fei and others attended the Peace Vigil at the cenotaph on ANZAC evening. It was great to sing Shirley Murray’s ANZAC hymn last Sunday ‘Honour the Dead’ including the third verse honouring the conscientious objectors.
On Monday a group of us got together to make new placards for the climate action vigil that we take part in every Tuesday at Parliament. The challenge we set ourselves was to create signs that would appeal to, and hopefully engage, a wider number of people. Messages of doom and gloom don’t always do that. So, here’s a sample of what we came up with: “Help! No Planet B – climate action now”, “Are you one of the 89% who want climate action now?”, “Small steps matter – climate justice now”, “Climate crisis – what our tīpuna dreamed of?”, “A better cleaner future – climate action now.” How do these work for you? Do they make you feel you want to do something about the climate crisis? If so, we’d love to see you at 12.30 on any Tuesday in front of Parliament.
On Tuesday I attended a gathering to meet Jim and Patty Symons, the benefactors of the Justice-Compassion Trust, which has given us $5,000 for the disability access project. The Trust was set up at the instigation of the Rev Dr James Symons, a retired minister of the Presbyterian Church of the USA, who served as a transition minister in eight New Zealand churches in New Zealand between 2001 and 2012. He funded the trust in gratitude for friendship offered during these years with the purpose of “helping churches and communities move in the missional practice of justice and compassion”. Several beneficiaries attended and we heard about their projects: Island Bay Presbyterian Parish worked to establish pastoral care in a local social housing community; a group from Khandallah Parish visited Ohope Marae to develop a deeper relationship with Te Aka Puaho; Common Grace supporting 100 churches to submit to the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Treaty Principles Bill; Anne Manchester’s biography of Shirley Murray as well as our project also featured. The Trust has also seed-funded community gardens in a range of locations around the motu and helped get a Night Shelter up and running in Masterton.
Finance and Facilities committee met on Wednesday evening. One of the topics we talked about was the need to increase our giving as a Parish. More about this in due course.
On Friday Sue Hirst and I will meet with the office staff in our regular monthly meeting.
Rev Frank Hanson and Anna Smith will lead our worship on Sunday. The theme of the service is “A New Awareness”. Frank will talk about Paul on the road to Damascus and the Resurrection appearance of Jesus when his disciples are fishing by the lake and reflect on what these two New Testament mean for us in the 21st century. Come and join us to hear Frank’s take on these two well known stories.
Lynne Dovey
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/93c4a95a4413/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10134445
