The time has come to say goodbye to my Porirua Anglican friends, at least in my role as priest. Thanks for all your love and goodwill as we have journeyed together over these past 6+ years. Some of you have been there throughout this time; others for part of it. It has been a time of significant change and challenge, a bit like it was for the very first Christian disciples who had a rollercoster of a ride! While I would never pretend that we had the challenges they did; in our context there have been times of high elation and periods of deep anguish. In all our faith in God has been stretched and, I hope, matured.

As I move into retirement, I reflect on the following:

• The young people, and the two pool baptisms in particular: the early one at Russell Street School and the later large one outside St Anne's;
• The marriages: particularly of the Manulevu boys to Rita and Abby respectively, plus Robin and Mai Lucy;
• The funerals: especially the three current church members who died during my watch: Bill Donovan, Erin Bidois and Sala Manulevu - may they rest in peace and their close ones be comforted;
• St Anne's Pantry that had earlier been overseen by Diane and Bob with Val, followed by the time during the Covid19 years 2020-2023. We geared up to offer large numbers of food parcels with the help of KCA staff. Porirua donors and volunteers with Sofia, Margaret, Jane and Fiona worked tirelessly;
• The purchase and renovation of 49A Mungavin Ave: the Diocesan vision to support the purchase in 2021, David Parmenter's practical improvements, the Goss bequest availability, and Bishop Ellie's blessing of the premises early 2022 as the Pantry relocated there;
• The final decision to move on from St Anne's to te Whare Karakia on 1 May 2023, as the Pantry closed after 3+ years serving during the pandemic;
• The arrival of Pastor Charles Nikora on our last Sunday at St Anne's and his great encouragement for a year until family commitments and the Lord took him to Sydney;
• The final decision, a little over a year ago, to confirm the relocation of Parish operations to 49A which paved the way for the decommissioning of St Anne's on 15 December 2024.

​What a ride as we have embraced the many challenges along the way maintaining the unity of Christ, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and in all constantly coming back to the God who stretches, forgives, sustains, nurtures, challenges and loves us. To God be the glory, forever, Amen. ​God be with you and your future together as the Body of Christ in eastern Porirua.  And, Margaret joins with me in this farewell as we end by reminding us all of these wonderful words of St Paul to the Ephesians, chapter 4:32, ... and be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.

Arohanui
Terry

St Anne's Pantry has continued operating during Level 3 & 4 phases of the NZ Covid-19 pandemic response. The graphic above vividly illustrates how deliveries have grown especially during April. As an essential service we have delivered grocery parcels most days with many referrals coming via the Porirua Emergency Operations Centre.

​The update report below highlights how need has grown as many  recipients of food parcels have put their hand up in the light of serious income decline through the pandemic. The Pantry has experienced an unprecedented rise in financial and other support which has ensured generous deliveries of groceries to Porirua households.

Along with other Pantries/Foodbanks nationwide, St Anne's Pantry has experienced a record level of emergency food requests during Easter week 2020.

In the midst of the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown, 45 food parcels were delivered during the week beginning Wednesday before Easter to the Tuesday after. St Anne's Pantry is one of the emergency services that the Porirua Emergency Operation Centre (Welfare) is using to meet emergency need requests.

The Pantry has benefited from its ongoing relationship with Kiwi Community Assistance (KCA) who have supplied increased quantities of groceries as other supply sources reduced during the lockdown. A generous grant from the MSD has enabled the Pantry to buy groceries in short supply and ensure that food parcels were generously supplied. In addition, donors new and old have not forgotten that St Anne's Pantry provides a much needed resource in our City at this time.

To all who have supported St Anne's Pantry during this time our heartfelt thanks is offered.

We read in the Gospel of Matthew 25:40 that such support is noticed by God,