Faithful come together for Easter service

Good Friday Easter service in the City Focus church. Photograph by Ben Fraser

Rotorua churches combined to bring messages of hope, love and sacrifice to hundreds of people at the annual Good Friday service at City Focus.

About 500 locals of all ages gathered in the city centre to hear readings, sing hymns and commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

The service, which marks one of the most significant events in the Christian calendar, was co-ordinated by the Rotorua Christian Ministries Association.

SPIRIT OF REMEMBRANCE: Good Friday Easter service in City Focus. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Attendee Ramona Ngarimu went to the service for the first time yesterday and said she loved it. "It's a wonderful way to recognise Jesus and see the community come together at such an important time."

She said Easter was a time to honour Jesus and recognise "what he sacrificed for us to be here today".

"For me, Easter has deeper significance than Christmas because it signifies the moment his whole life led up to."

Harvest Apostolic Church members Kapiolani Kihi-Waikato, 16, and Roimata Forde said they had been going to the service for several years.

"I definitely think there are more people here than last year," Kapiolani said.

"It's so cool to see all the churches join together to give this service. It gives churchgoers the chance to meet each other and share this time together. In years to come I would really like to see more people coming along and taking part in the service," Miss Forde said.

Miss Ngarimu said the street service was a good opportunity to connect with people who do not regularly go to church.

"It offers a door to people who haven't connected with God to see what they can be a part of.

"You see people walking past and stopping when they hear the music and want to know more.

"Having the churches combine to deliver this special service is such a good idea for the city and I hope to see it continue and get bigger and better."

Meanwhile, St Faith's Anglican Church held their annual Good Friday service which Reverend Tom Poata said went well.

"We spread the message of Jesus' death and resurrection as we do every year at this time but we do so in a modern context so people can relate his teachings to their daily lives."