E NEWS 8TH NOVEMBER 2024
Talofa lava friends. I’m writing E News early this week Wednesday night as I am on leave Thursday and Friday attending a friends 70th birthday in Auckland. I’m on a 6am flight tomorrow very much looking forward to seeing my family again. I’m back on Saturday morning. Just yesterday the Ministry of Culture and Heritage would like me as minister of SAOTT to be available as chaplain to guide the keynote panel on marking the Dawn Raids period of the 1970’s at Te Papa Museum at 10am to 1pm on Saturday featuring Key note panelists, Tigilau Ness, Oscar Kightley, Nina Nawalowalo, Mere Montgomery and Liana Leaitaua. You are welcome to attend if you are free.
The results of the US Election are slowing coming in as I write. By the time you receive this E News there will definitely be a new leader. At the moment I find it too hard to watch, it’s a bit like watching a losing All Blacks match, unfortunately I walk away and turn the tv off because I do not want to see the outcome. But sometimes, I wake up pleasantly surprised a bit like when Lydia Ko was buckling under pressure during the final round the Golf’s Olympic Gold medal. I turned the tv off and tried to go back to sleep only to wake up and she was putting her way to gold victory on the 18th hole. I’m not holding my breath.
It was nice to be invited to go and bless the home of a resident of Ideal Services formerly known as IHC this afternoon in Miramar after one of its two residents died yesterday. She was 39 year old Cook Island woman with no family. Not sure how St Andrew’s on the Terrace came to be involved but that I’m happy to serve our communities as this is part of our outreach to the community. I could have referred them to neighbouring local churches but was more than happy to do this on our behalf for them.
I am sitting in my office about to attend Part 2 of our workshop on “Belonging to the Land” Tangata o te Tiriti o Waitangi. Looking forward to seeing a different perspective or new point of view. The Very Rev. Jay Ruka is a profound historian and I think everyone should hear what he has to say. His book “Huia come home” is a recommended text. During my time at SAOTT I have shared my position as a Samoan when I first came to SAOTT and have been asked to share this again in this week’s E News.
The Anglican and Methodist churches talk about Tauiwi (Pakeha, settlers, non-Indigenous people, refugees) and I heard tonight a new term “coloured tauiwi” other settlers to Aotearoa NZ. In my relationship with Tangata Whenua throughout my whole life I have always been affirmed as Tangata Te Moana (People of the Pacific) and that as fellow Polynesians we are all kin and that we all began paddling our same canoes from Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki Roa, Hawaiki Pamamao. Some of us just settled earlier on different islands of the Moana whilst others continued on in their waka until they reached Aotearoa. As Tangata Te Moana here in Aotearoa we are “Teina” younger sibling and Tangata Whenua “Tuakana” older sibling. When Tangata Whenua visit other Polynesian Islands then the Tagata Fanua of those islands may determine who is tuakana and who is teina if that is even necessary. So, for the record I am not part of the “tauiwi” I am Tangata o Te Moana. A fellow Polynesian person of the Pasifika.
The Hikoi for the Treaty Principles Bill is on the 19th of November. We here at SAOTT have opened our buildings, the Hall from Sunday evening, the church all day Monday and the Church again from 1pm on Tuesday afternoon following the Hikoi. It will be a place to meet and fellowship, gather/rest. SAOTT will be gathering Tuesday morning (not sure what time, possibly 8am) at church and walking down to join the Hikoi either at Waitangi Park or join the flow at the bottom of Lambton Quay. More details will be known closer to the time.
This Sunday is Pentecost 25. Our lectionary readings are from Mark 12:38-44 featuring the stories of Religious leaders and their flowing robes. Here Jesus warns against the Teachers of the Law “Watch out for the teachers of the Law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. Etc. etc. This chapter then concludes with the story of the widow’s mite, how she put 2 small coins, all she had into the church offertory. This story is one of those anecdotes about Jesus where he is not the hero: the woman is. The scribes exploit and grab in their spiritual poverty; she in her poverty has a wealth of generosity. She is a type of Jesus, a self-giving person. The parading men are upstaged by what most would have seen as a poor woman beggar.
My reflection remains a work in progress at this stage and I look forward to sharing the completed version with you on Sunday. Noho Ora mai ra (Be well/Stay Safe). Fei
You can view the full E-news here: https://mailchi.mp/5cb0792543c2/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-10131412?e=[UNIQID]
