The coming of Lorde

Towards the end of a letterbox drop last week, Hutt City Council’s Dean Grocott had an unexpected encounter with one Eastbourne resident. He began to explain what he was doing: “I am just delivering a message about Lorde coming,” only for the woman to say she had no interest in religion, thank you. When he explained it was about concerts at Williams Park, they ended up having a “good old chuckle”.

Sadly, in spite of the best laid plans – and Mr Grocott reckons this was about to be the best-managed on-site event of the summer, regionally – Lorde’s 21&22 February concerts were re-located to the TSB Stadium on Queen’s Wharf, by the promoter, in time for people to make other plans.

Mr Grocott says when the ground crew first went to inspect the park it was already sodden, and although the following week’s forecast was better, there was more rain due. They would simply not be able to get equipment in and out without damaging the fragile ground.

Two 20-tonne trucks are needed to move in the stage and other gear for such events –and along with planned carparking on Bishop Park, the event would have played havoc with Eastbourne’s playing fields.

“Big, big trucks would destroy the grounds, just to set up,” says Mr Grocott.

Faith in the Community Guidelines..

Most people will have heard of the Ten Commandments, given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai (Egypt), as the Jews fled from slavery. You can find them in the Bible in Exodus 20:2-17.

Maybe equally well known are the Eight Beatitudes, given by Jesus to his Jewish listeners in his Sermon on the Mount, in Galilee (Israel) as he began his public ministry. You can find them in Matthew 5:3-10.

Williams Park was originally chosen by the promoter when looking for a winery type venue in Lower Hutt. After two previous successful Fat Freddy’s Drop concerts in 2019 and 2020, Williams Park at Days Bay was to be the perfect location to kickoff Lorde’s Solar Power Tour. Ticket holders who did not wish to change to the city waterfront venue were offered full refunds.

The Ten Commandments are mostly cast in the negative, beginning “You shall not…” but the Beatitudes are expressed in the positive, beginning “Blessed are you…”. The first tell you mostly how not to livepromising you physical blessings if you obey but the latter tell you how you should live, and who you should be - promising you spiritual blessings. Just over 300 words of prohibition and just over 100 words of hope Both are well worth a read...

St Alban’s + St Ronan’s + San Antionio: Combined Good Friday Service, Fri 7 April.

St Ronan’s: Services Sun 9.30am - informal 1st and 3rd, traditional 2nd and 4th. Ask if you’d like our monthly printed magazine the Record E:office@stronans.org.nz

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St Alban’s: Wellesley College Sun 10am communion with guest vicar. Special activities for children during term time. 1st Thurs only, 10am communion at St Ronan’s with guest vicar. E:office@stalbanschurch.nz

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San Antonio: Vigil Mass, Sat 5.30pm. Sacred Heart, Petone: Mass, Sun 9.30am and 5.30pm. E: holyspiritparish41@gmail.com

Call 04 939 2366 www.jaglegal.co.nz

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