Kia ora o te Whānau
The first E-news of the year is early this week because the news couldn’t wait! Our Call to Rev Dr Feiloaiga Taule’ale’ausumai Davis to be Minister at St Andrew’s on The Terrace has been agreed by both Presbytery Central and Northern Presbytery.
This has been a long journey for us as a Parish and also for Fei, including managing through a long vacancy and a long call process. The Ministry Settlement Board first interviewed Fei in June 2021, with a follow up interview in July. In August MSB made its recommendation to Parish Council to invite Fei to preach for a Call and the Council agreed to take this proposal to the congregation. However, the process of discussion and agreement to proceed with a Call was disrupted by the COVID lockdown that began in mid-August. Finally Fei was able to travel to Wellington four months later on 19 December. It is cause for celebration that we have reached the end of that extended process with a great outcome!
Our thanks are due to Rev Reg Weeks, Convenor, and the members of the Ministry Settlement Board for their leadership and perseverance. Members were Pat Booth, Rev Dr Jim Cunningham, Lynne Dovey, Sandra Kirby, Ellen Murray, Margaret Rushbrook, and Presbytery Representatives Linda Van Milligan (St John’s in the City) and Kathryn Sutherland (Wadestown Presbyterian Church).
Fei is planning to arrive in Wellington towards the end of March. Her induction service will likely take place on Thursday evening 7 April 2022. Her first service, when we will welcome her as a congregation, will be 10 April, Palm Sunday. Presbytery will take the lead on planning the induction. The service on 10 April will be lead by Fei with input from St Andrew’s. Please mark those dates on your calendar. We send our prayers to Fei as she says goodbye to her congregation at Point Chevalier and packs up her house. We very much look forward to having her with us.
Rev Diane Gilliam-Weeks will lead worship on Waitangi Day, Sunday 6 February. As I write the plan is to serve communion in your seats. Diane’s theme is ‘Equality and Empire in Light of Te Tiriti’. Many of you will know Diane, possibly through her role as leader of Centering Prayer during the last two years. She has been a good friend to St Andrew’s for a long time but especially during this period. We look forward to welcoming her on Sunday.
Arohanui
Lynne, Parish Council Convenor
To view the full e-news click here: https://mailchi.mp/53081e7c0997/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-8832545
