E-NEWS 8TH AUGUST 2025
I had to take a funeral this morning out at Harbour City Funeral homes in Kilbirnie and then the interment at Makara Cemetery. Leaving Kilbirnie I followed the Hearst and it drove 20k all the way to Makara avoiding the incident in the Terrace Tunnel so it did take a long time to get to the cemetery I though quite appropriate for a funeral procession but not necessarily for the 14km journey. Cars wove in and out of the procession not realising we were all going to a funeral and then they quickly wove themselves out again.
I was supposed to be in Havelock North for the Gathering of Central Presbytery, today was ministers day and tomorrow full Presbytery meets. If I didn’t have this funeral I would have done the 4 hour drive up to Havelock North early this morning and back again late tomorrow night, so I was saved by Amy Lepou’s funeral.
It was great to see quite a full service on Sunday I counted approximately 73 people including children. It feels so good to be back into the swing of things and getting some routine and normality back into my life. My dog Snoopy no longer snobs me for going away so long and keeps a close eye on me almost like my shadow to make sure I don’t go away again. So you will probably see him on Sunday, so if you wish to share a pew with Snoopy he would love to sit with you.
This Sunday we will be looking at Covenants or Feagaiga in Samoa language. It’s a topic which only a brave person would venture into because if we were to consider and look at the Biblical covenants and the many different interpretations of if then would continue to struggle with the crisis in the Middle East, Israel and Gaza. I might step out in the deep end this Sunday, but with great caution. It is a work in progress.
I’m still pondering over the idea of having an Auction at church as a fundraiser. Think of some of the items you have at home that might be of value that you may like to donate towards our Auction. I won a Moana Pacifica rugby ball signed by all the players and donated by Sir Michael Jones. I am happy to donate that as an item for the auction, it was not cheap. But apparently according to Sir Michael as soon as I put my hand to bid, everyone else stopped because they didn’t want to bid against the minister, that is why I won. What a laugh.
I have a few Pastoral visits to do over the next few weeks with some of our new families who have arrived so if you are needing a visit from me, please email me with possible dates and times.
This Sunday is Young Adults group after coffee. We will meet in one of the conference rooms upstairs at around 11.30am, please bring some lunch to share and bring a friend along. I’m hoping that this group will find its own leadership from amongst themselves. It is also Congregational Conversations in the hall at the same time.
Wishing you all a pleasant weekend.
Ka kite ano. Fei
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/a28b1dfd7609/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10135969?e=[UNIQID]
