E NEWS 24TH MAY 2024
What a week I have had. After the closing worship of our Presbyterian women’s retreat I went outside to drive back to Wellington and my car had died outside Kapiti Uniting Church. There was no life whatsoever, so it had to be towed back to Wellington. I was happily sat in the cab of the truck with a colleague when the tow driver received a police call out and we had to turn around and jump in a vehicle that was available just to get us back to Wellington. Unfortunately, no courtesy cars were available at Mazda so I had to rent a car for 4 days.
A group of us from St. Andrew’s Parish Council met with Max Reid and friends from Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled people to look at our mission to people with disabilities as an inclusive church and also to discuss the disability access options etc.
On Sunday at our Y group meeting we welcomed Duane and Ken. We had a nice lunch and conversation.
There was a full church at Caroline Glass’ funeral. It was a lovely send off and some beautiful tributes were shared. She had quite an amazing short life and made quite an impact on the groups and people that knew and worked with her.
On a personal note the highlight of my year was attending the Dawn French is a huge Twat show on Monday at the Michael Fowler Centre. Absolutely hilarious. She is my idol and from my days as a tutor and lecturer at Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham UK I was known as the Vicar of Dibley. My students would pile into my living room once a week to watch the television programme together. Even if I caught the local bus in the afternoon to go to the city the household staff who were going home would shout “morning vicar” from the back of the bus..
On Tuesday Queen Margaret College had an Interfaith Day and I was invited to teach 5 x 30 minute classes on Presbyterianism. Not one of the classes were the same for me as I adapted to the various numbers of girls , their interest or lack of interest in the subject and basically had to keep them focussed on me the speaker. It was quite a big task, but it put St. Andrew’s on the Terrace on the map as a neat inclusive rainbow church to come and visit.
Thursday night I met with the Board of Trustees at Queen Margaret College for dinner. I’ve been nominated to replace Lynne Dovey as the Presbytery representative on the Board at QMC and because we have a very close connection with the school it makes sense to keep SAOTT in the loop.
Tonight I have been invited to do the Blessing of “Saili” Seek an Art Exhibition of Alison Leauanae at the Toi Poneke Gallery at 5.30pm. Alison’s husband Mac, is the CEO for the Ministry of Culture and Heritage and she will be exhibiting her unique intricate handstitched creative artwork influenced by her unique cultural heritage.
I am also attending a Book launch a collection of poetry called “Polynation” on Saturday for Faafetai Taase (deceased) at the Pataka Museum in Porirua. I wrote the Foreword for the book as Faafetai and I used to exchange poetry in our days of youth. His sister Rev Alofa Lale Taase is the part time minister at First Church Dunedin and she has commissioned the book of her brother after she discovered his collection of poems in his flat after he had died.
This Sunday although it is Trinity Sunday we will be acknowledging it as “Living Wage Sunday”. Finn Cordwell Living Wage Organiser Greater Wellington will be in attendance and he will be interviewed by David Douglas on what a difference Living Wage makes in the lives of people and the economic struggles in this day and age. After coffee there will be a Social Justice Education workshop about the Living Wage and Finn will be speaking.
Next week is Samoan language week. Ia manuia le vaiaso o le gagana Samoa.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and please go gently and wrap up warmly. Faafetai, tofa soifua, Fei.
You can read the full E-News by clicking the link here https://mailchi.mp/dd229bbcbe0c/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-9447612
