All Nations Sunday 30th July 2023
Both the vertical (reaching up to God) and horizontal (reaching out to each other) aspects of worship and fellowship came together at an All Nations Celebration at St Christopher’s in Blenheim on Sunday.
The four congregations combined for a service that incorporated aspects for all age groups with a theme around baptism and Jesus being the cornerstone of our multicultural church family. The McGrath family presented their two boys for baptism while their daughter assisted by pouring the water into the baptism font.
Reverend Deo gave a children's talk that had adults of all ages attentive too! Following an injury two days earlier, the crutches and moonboot impeded him a little but he managed with help from his wife Guan and other people during the service.
At the conclusion of worship everyone was invited to lunch in the hall. So great was the attendance that extra tables and seats had to be found.
People had been asked to wear cultural clothes from their countries of origin and many did. Children brightened the occasion by wearing beautiful, colourful outfits and accessories. Some kiwis wore the more casual clothes of a New Zealand lifestyle!
Then came the meal, a tempting variety of food from many places in the world. A wonderful opportunity to taste and enjoy food we may not have tried before. Plus, of course, the kiwi basics. The team of people who worked in the kitchen were greatly appreciated and thanks go to them.
In keeping with the theme of “All Nations” the entertainment also reflected the cultures of some of the people who attend St Christopher’s. The performers ranged in age from two years old to in their nineties.
We enjoyed a Chinese drum show and dance, a Filipino bamboo dance, an Indonesian song, a classic Fred Dagg rendition of The Gumboot Song, two poets reading their writings and a Cantonese song. The programme was ably held together by the MC who wore an All Blacks rugby outfit!
A reading during the service was from Ephesians 2, where we are told that we are the family of God, held together by Jesus. May this be a comfort to the growing number of people who have left their home countries and now live in Blenheim. The St Christopher's church family is multicultural and may we develop friendships as we worship together.
Colleen Bevans