Hello everyone,
This Sunday is the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in the Wellington Harbour. 29th of April is Wellington’s ‘Waitangi Day’. Since this year it is a Sunday, we have guests coming. The whole congregation of Te Kakano o te Aroha is coming with the minister Rev Heather Mamaatua. Te Kakano is an urban Maori pastorate developed in the 1980s. Here is its recent history:
“1986 the Rev Ministers Eric & Meri Caton were seconded to the Pastorate… A seed was sown that a new church Marae was to be built to offer a base for its new congregation and fellowship … a Trust was setup and organized to begin its transformation. Led by people such as the Reverend John Murray, the late Sir John Marshall, the project was soon supported by the community, the Governor General Sir Paul Reeves and the many hands that made it happen.
Totara stored at Te Maungarongo Marae in Ohope was transported down to Wellington and carved at the New Zealand Railways workshops by Master carver and Tohunga Barnie Rangitauia, the tukutuku panels in particular the large tukutuku mural depicting the last supper in the sanctuary with our lord Jesus Christ was skillfully crafted by Erana Manihera …
Continuing under the ever-watchful eye of Reverend Eric Caton, the Marae was ready to play its part in the 150th anniversary celebrations of the first Presbyterian church service on New Zealand soil. The Marae although not quite completed, the celebrations were held and very much appreciated by the church. Over time Te Kakano O Te Aroha Marae has enjoyed a complete cycle serving its people under the Takarangi banner of love, peace and joy every day.” http://www.tekakanomarae.com/
Heather and her congregation are looking forward to making contact again with St Andrew’s. Also, Honiana Love and her son Tuaparahuia Pita are joining us to make the connection with the 29 April signing by their ancestors. Honiana will tell us about Wellington in 1840 including what was happening then where St Andrew’s now sits.
After church we will be sharing in a community lunch. This fits well on a fifth Sunday and since there is no community lunch in May (being an ‘odd’ month). Please bring a generous amount of food as our guests have been told to simply bring themselves. It is a good day to celebrate roots of all sorts – the Love’s roots as tangata whenua, all our roots in the Treaty, St Andrew’s roots in Wellington and the planting of the Maori pastorate in Moera in Lower Hutt.
Rooted and grounded in the Spirit, we are like “a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”. Psalm 1.
See you Sunday!
Susan
P.S. Thank you for your generous donations, $217, to Presbyterian Women, April 15th.
To view the full e-news click on the following link : https://mailchi.mp/6b427d334c7d/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-1386673
