E-News – Friday 12 June 2026
Talofa lava,
Believe it or not, by the time you read this, I will again be in Auckland. This time the occasion is a special one: my older sister, Violet, is being farewelled as she enters retirement after 25 years of service with the Education Review Office, where she served as one of the national managers. It is a significant milestone in her career and a wonderful opportunity for our family to celebrate her contribution and achievements.
As if that were not enough, next weekend my brother Ben and his wife will be celebrating both their Silver Wedding Anniversary and their 60th birthdays. Clearly my siblings have not been talking to one another! Had they coordinated their celebrations, I could have taken annual leave for the whole week and attended both events in one trip. Instead, I find myself making two journeys to Auckland in as many weekends. Very grateful to them for covering my airfares.
In all seriousness, however, family is precious. As many of us find ourselves in what my sister affectionately calls the “go-go years” of life, it is important to celebrate these milestones together. Birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, and achievements are opportunities to pause, give thanks, and honour the people who have shared life’s journey with us. Don’t wait for a funeral to give flowers and say thank you. I will be back in Wellington in time to lead worship this Sunday and the following Sunday as usual.
Staff Changes
This week we welcomed Hannah as our new Centre Assistant, replacing Sara, who has now stepped into Jemma’s role as Parish Office Assistant.
If you have the opportunity to pop into the church during the week, please take a moment to introduce yourself and say hello. We are delighted to have Hannah join the team and grateful that Sara is continuing her new role in the parish office. We wish them both every blessing as they settle into their jobs and become familiar faces in the life of our church community.
Looking Ahead: July Events
Sunday 5 July – Farewell for David and Laura Gehrenbeck
Please mark Sunday 5 July in your diary. This will be David and Laura’s final Sunday with us before they move on to their next chapter.
We would love to give them a warm St Andrew’s farewell and an opportunity for everyone to say goodbye and thank them for their friendship, fellowship, and contribution to our community. I have invited them to give the reflection and serve their last communion with us. Following the service we will gather in the hall for a special celebration lunch. This will be a joint collaboration between David and Laura and our congregation, and we hope many of you will be able to stay and share in the occasion. I was privileged to share in a lovely lunch with them on Wednesday.
Sunday 19 July – Celebrating Inclusion
Parish Council has confirmed that on Sunday 19 July we will mark the 40th anniversary of Homosexual Law Reform in New Zealand. The service will be led by Rev Ross Scott, Tony Pears and Paul Franken who will help us reflect on this significant milestone in our nation’s journey towards greater justice, inclusion, and equality for LGBTQIA+ communities. We look forward to hearing their stories, insights, and reflections, and to celebrating together the progress that has been made while recognising the ongoing work of creating a society where all people are welcomed, valued, and affirmed.
Move-On Orders Bill. We are being encouraged to make submissions on the proposed Move-On Orders legislation and to encourage members of our neighbourhood and wider community to do the same. The last deadline for submissions is 28 July. We will be exploring ways to make a submission, and information will be made available over the coming weeks. This is an opportunity for our voices to be heard on issues of justice, human dignity, and the kind of society we wish to build together.
This Sunday we return once again to the book of Genesis and the story of the three visitors who come to Abraham and Sarah. These mysterious visitors bring an extraordinary message: that Sarah, long past her childbearing years, will become pregnant and give birth to a son. Sarah’s response is understandable; she laughs in disbelief at such a preposterous suggestion.
The theme of this Sunday’s reflection is “When you least expect it, expect it!” Life has a way of surprising us. Sometimes it is the unexpected visitor who arrives unannounced when the house is a mess. Sometimes it is discovering that you forgot to do the weekly shopping before guests appear at the door. Sometimes the surprises are much bigger: a change in circumstances, a new opportunity, an unforeseen challenge, or a possibility we thought was long behind us.
The story of Sarah invites us to consider how we respond when life takes an unexpected turn. Do we laugh in disbelief? Do we resist? Or do we remain open to the possibility that something new may yet emerge, even when it seems impossible? The reflection is still very much a work in progress, and I look forward to exploring these questions with you on Sunday.
It has been wonderful to see a growing number of people joining us online through our Sunday morning livestream. Thank you for tuning in and for your encouraging comments. We are still experimenting with the new microphone system. The sound was not quite as clear as we had hoped last week, so on Sunday I may keep the microphone a little closer when speaking.
Until then, have a wonderful weekend. Travel safely, rest well, and I look forward to seeing you either in person or online on Sunday.
Ka kite anō, Fei
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/01f0f4683beb/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10141120?e=[UNIQID]
