How long is 100 years?
Well, ask Joy Tarr, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Feilding because on 9th September 2026 she celebrated her 100th Birthday.
Joy lives in her own home, with a little help provided externally, only a short distance from the church. This has been her place of worship for the last 30+ years.
Joy is of quiet disposition; she loves gardening but has had to reduce the amount that she can now do. Until a couple of years ago Joy still had her driver licence and would drive to the supermarket or on other errands.
Local community involvement
Trinity is one of the local churches that supports the Red Cross ‘Meals on Wheels’ service in providing drivers to deliver the meals to the homes of those receiving them in the Feilding region. Joy delivered meals until she was about 80. She continues as the coordinator of this for Trinity.
Another community involvement of Joy’s was working in the Manchester House Op Shop, this she did for 35 years.
Congratulations
Attaining this significant milestone could not pass without appropriate celebration. Many family members and some friends joined together for the occasion, about 80 in total. What a time. And what sort of cake do you have for such an occasion? Well Joy had 4 – one large cake decorated with flowers, then 3 individual cakes, each being one of the numbers of the age she has attained.
As well as greetings from many who were not able to attend the function, there were a letter from King Charles III and from Bishop Richard Schwedes. Included in Bishop Richard’s letter was:
You have seen and experienced many changes in life, many of these a blessing. And throughout this time God has always been with you through the joys, the challenges and the ordinary times as God says to us through Isaiah 46:4
“Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
May reaching a hundred be a day where you and others give thanks to God for all that God has done in your life, and also for the future He has made possible through Jesus.
Congratulations Joy from the Lutheran Church of NZ.
Dennis Mollet
Palmerston North
September 2026
