E NEWS 3RD MAY 2024
Tena koutou katoa. Today I begin with the sad news of the passing away of our dear Janice Gault on Wednesday night, the 1st of May. We had the privilege of her company at church on Sunday where we sang one of her favourite hymns “Dear Lord and father of mankind” and she cut her 90th birthday cake before giving a speech (see photos). Janice was born and baptised here at St. Andrew’s on the Terrace; she spent her whole life in our church. Her father Bert Orange was the Session Clerk for over 50 years and her husband David Gault an elder who also offered his skills as a lawyer when needed. Janice what a privilege it was to spend your last days with us, you wore a smile from cheek to cheek that whole time you were with us. Haere ra e kuia, haere ra e hoa. Ia manuia lou malaga.
Janice’s’ funeral will be here at St Andrew’s on Thursday 9th May at 1.00pm.
Looking on at Janice’s cake cutting ceremony were three auspicious 92-year-old kaumatua, the sages of SAOTT: Joan Tyler, Valerie and Alan Rhodes. Our church is full of wisdom and lived experience and so we have much to celebrate and be thankful for.
An update on our dear friend Caroline Glass. Caroline has now been moved to the Mary Potter Hospice, her parents from Dunedin are with her and her sister Megan who lives here in Wellington. Thank you to our SAOTT “Y group” for sending her the gift of flowers and special knick- knacks. Also, to SAOTT who have managed to visit her and give cards. I will continue to keep you updated.
A special private tree-planting ceremony will be held at the home of Molly and Lloyd to bury some of his ashes and plant a tree in the back yard on Saturday 11th May. Their daughter Sarah is here from Melbourne and friends and family will be joining them for this time of remembrance.
The month of May is setting out to be a very busy month. Women ministers of the PCANZ have been gifted with a legacy from Rev Sylvia Jenkins which will be used to host a Retreat at El Rancho in Waikane from the 14th to 17th May in a fortnights time for all women ministers both in active service and retired. Prof Joan Taylor is our keynote speaker, and we are all very much looking forward to a reunion of sorts. This retreat does not count as annual leave but is part of “continuing education”. There is no cost except for travel, and it will be time of reflection, teaching, rest, worship and looking to both the past and the future. The following Sunday I will share snippets from this retreat as part of our reflection during worship.
Next Sunday is “significant women’s day or Mother’s Day and/or mothering Sunday”. I have invited Maxine Cunningham to take the service. Maxine trained as a deaconess and underwent theological studies and Knox in Dunedin. I thought it would be a privilege for us to benefit from her wisdom and insight on this special Sunday.
This coming Sunday Easter 6 our theme is “God is Love and Love is vulnerable”. What does it mean to lay down one’s life for our friends?
I look forward to seeing you this coming week either at Sunday worship or at the funeral of Janice Gault. Faafetai ma ia manuia, Fei
You can read the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/49834e4f1cf8/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-9446172
