Hello everyone,

Since I last wrote shocking news has come through of the disastrous fire in a West London apartment building.

This is all the more shocking because in our seemingly health-and-safety-ridden world we have come to expect better standards of materials, equipment and procedures.    There are Health and Safety procedures with which we here in NZ are bound to comply.  They aim to give people ways to prevent fire and accidents.  They also seek to give clear ways and means and the time to get out.

We are working through Health and Safety requirements for our buildings and meetings.  For instance, we have been discussing how many people might be required to sign into the building.  Like security at airports, these kinds of procedures make people impatient and seem ‘over the top.’  If however, it means, in the kind of fire or disaster we hope will never happen, that we have a clear idea of who needs to be got out, then the momentary inconveniences are worth it.  So we will continue completing the Health and Safety Management Plan.  We will let you know when and how you need to be involved and what you need to know and do.

In the meantime, we yearn for those who are traumatized and bereaved by this disaster.  We notice this London apartment incident because it is in a city we know well.  We also grieve for those for whom disaster by bombing and war is commonplace elsewhere in our world.  As the community around the Grenfell Towers has rallied to help, may those in war zones find the help they need.

This Sunday we are considering Disability and Refugees.  Jenny Simpson and Sonia Groes-Petrie will be bringing their reflection on these topics respectively.  The Christian World Service has partner organisations with whom they work throughout the world including Syria.  Check out their website to see how you can help. https://www.cws.org.nz/what-we-do/emergencies/syria-appeal .  We are a global village now and our fellow villagers need our help.

See you Sunday!   Susan

St Andrew’s Parish News…

THE SEASON OF PENTECOST BEGINS! Susan will be leading the services through the next month until the end of the second school term.  A variety of themes are waiting in line!  These include World Refugee Sunday on June 18, Matariki on June 25 and Communion on July 2.   The Rainbow Room will be operating with volunteer leaders for the rest of the term.  All children are more than welcome, as are all adults!

ST ANDREW’S ASKS YOU – WHAT KIND OF SOCIETY DO WE WANT? On three occasions this election year St Andrew’s presents the issues to the general public. Keep these dates free.  Invite others.  Events held 5.30 and 7pm on Monday July 10 Housing. Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson and others.  Tuesday 15 August Income Inequality in NZ. Paul Barber and Max Rashbrooke and others. Thursday 31 August, 6-7.30pm (note different time)  we host political candidates for the Centre for Theology and Political Issues’ series ‘Keeping Faith in Politics’

CAN YOU HELP? A volunteer opportunity to consider from Ben Gray:  The Wellington Welfare Guardian Trust has been set up to train and support volunteers to act as Welfare Guardians for people who lack capacity and have no Enduring Power of Attorney in place and no one willing to be their Welfare Guardian. The role of the Welfare Guardian is to make decisions in relation to health and welfare (and not property and money) for the subject person. We are seeking people willing to volunteer to be trained to fulfil this function when applications are received from the carers of subject persons. Our system is based on the successfully running Otago Welfare Guardian Trust. More detail can be found at https://welfareguardians.nz/ For further information contact Megan Bibby (administrator) or Ben Gray (Chair) at wwgt@gmail.com

Wider Church and Community News…

LAUNCHING OUR CLIMATE DECLARATION – WELLINGTON Sonia Groes-Petrie writes.  “You are invited to the launch of Our Climate Declaration in Wellington.  The national significance of this Declaration is marked by launches being held simultaneously in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, linked by live-streaming.” Sunday June 18, 2017 at 3pm – 5pm Preservatorium – Cafe and Cannery, 39 Webb St, Wellington 6011 CONTACT Paul Bruce · brucepaul39@gmail.com http://www.ourclimatedeclaration.org.nz/

INEQUALITY IN NZ:  OUR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY? We are living in a society which is becoming increasingly divided.  Where do we stand on the subject of inequality in New Zealand and how does it affect us?  How can we best educate ourselves to understand that we can no longer afford to brush this issue aside?  Speakers from Challenge 2000, The Child Poverty Action Group, Wesley Community Action and more.  Tuesday 20 June, 7-9pm at Petone Baptist Church, 38 Buick St, Petone, Lower Hutt.  Organised by Fiona Roberts Year 13 Raphael House Rudolf Steiner School.  Entry by Koha.

SPECIAL SERMON TO BE ‘RE-PREACHED’ ‘On June 25, 2017 there will be ‘re-preached’ in St Peters Anglican Church Willis Street Wellington, the famous sermon delivered by Rev’d Godfrey Wilson, ( the then Vicar ), 50 years ago in support for the caring of homosexual men.  That event was the beginning of the unofficial campaign for homosexual equality – and it was, surprisingly, broadcast live on National Radio. Please join us at 10.00 am if you can, and you are welcome to forward this email to anyone you feel would be interested.’

TIME TO CELEBRATE For four years unions, faith groups, community organisdations and unions in the Living Wage Movement have campaigned for the Living Wage at Wellington City Council.  We’ve had some big wins and WCC has taken some big steps forward. Now we’re preparing to celebrate. On 28 June Wellington City Council will vote on taking another major step:

• The full NZ Living Wage rate of $20.20 for all directly employed workers and all those employed in CCOs by 1 July.
• The full NZ Living Wage rate for Council’s Spotless cleaners and Recon security workers by 1 July.
• Lifting other contracted workers to the full NZ living Wage rate as the next step.

We are confident this has the support of Council.  Join others from the Living Wage Movement to thank the Mayor and councilors for their support of the Living Wage and celebrate our victory. 12noon – 12.30pm, Thursday 29 June, WCC foyer, 101 Wakefield Street

NUCLEAR BAN TREATY DRAFT TEXT this message is to ask if you have any comments on the text of the draft Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was released on 22 May following the first negotiating session of the UN Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, Leading Towards their Total Elimination, which was held from 27 to 31 March 2017 in New York. The draft Convention text (A/CONF.229/2017/CRP.1) is available on the iCAN Aotearoa New Zealand site, www.icanw.org.nz

ENCOUNTERING AUGUSTINE A public lecture series by Professor Gillian E Clark. In this lecture series, Professor Clark examines Augustine’s central, most influential and contested ideas, exploring their context and origins and assessing their enduring significance.  Each lecture will take place in the Council Chamber, Hunter building, Gate 2 Kelburn Parade.  Tuesday 15 August, 5.30-6.45pm Peace and Empire.  Wednesday 16 August, 5.30-6.45pm Where does evil come from?  Thursday 17 August, 5.30-7pm What happens in a life?