Our Kaupapa
Our kaupapa (guiding purpose) is rooted in following Jesus and shaped by values like hospitality, justice and community.
It reflects who we are as a church in Aotearoa, grounding us in a way of being and doing that’s generous, connected and committed to walking with others in love and purposeful grace.
Our Sunday morning worship events are the core of what we do.
Gathering Structure
Mark Pierson is our Lead Pastor and Curator, and he is supported by a range of members of RoG who share both roles.
Services usually start with tea, coffee and conversation.
Soon after 9am we gather to begin the service, which typically runs for about 75 minutes.
We don’t have a worship band, nor do we sing a lot. We do enjoy a lot of recorded music and video and sing a response every week.
Every Sunday, we share communion around our gorgeous table.
We like hearing a range of voices and opinions, and offer an extended stations-based opportunity for reflection at all of our services.
All ages stay in the same space for the whole service, and art materials and activities are available for children (and adults) throughout the service.
Immersive contemplative Tea & Be space during Holy Week 2025
Gathering Themes
Since ROG started gathering in mid-2015, our life has been built around what Jesus said to the people around him in Matthew 11/28-30 (The Message Bible):
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.
Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Thus, our focus is on spiritual formation and everything that leads to our flourishing and wellbeing as humans created in the image of the Trinitarian God.
In our Sunday gatherings, we typically allow space for silence, lament, scripture reading, prayers for others, breathing prayer, presentation of some thoughts on the biblical passage, and time for response by way of engagement with Communion and art-installation-based stations.
Our big themes generally follow the centuries old Church Year or Liturgical Calendar. This cycle of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost seasons mean we cover all the main themes of the Christian story each year.
Gathering around the Table
Communion is offered to anyone who wishes to share it with us. Jesus welcomed all sorts of people to eat and travel with him; why would we do otherwise.
Our liturgy goes something like this…
TABLE GATHERING PRAYER
The table of communion is made ready
for us to gather around.
This is the table, not of the church, but of Jesus.
It is made ready for those who love him,
and for those who want to love him more.
So come,
you who have much faith;
and you who would like to have more.
Come, you who have been here often;
and you who have not been here for a long time.
Come you who have tried to follow Jesus,
and have lost your way;
Come you who have yet to begin;
it is Christ who invites you to meet God here.
JESUS’ INVITATION
And so it was that on the night before he died,
Jesus took what they were eating,
And when he had given God thanks,
he broke it, gave it to his disciples,
and said:
“Take, eat, this is my body
which is given for you;
do this to remember me.”
After supper Jesus took what they were drinking,
and when he had given thanks
he gave it to them and said,
‘This cup represents the new relationship
I’m going to make possible between you and God.
Every time you drink, remember that.
Therefore heavenly Father,
In this sacrament of the suffering
and death of your Son,
we now celebrate the wonder of your grace
and proclaim the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come in glory.
(partly based on some words from various Iona Abbey Worship books)
Palm Sunday cross making
Raranga (weaving) workshop during marae stay 2024
Baggage at the foot of the cross. Holy Week 2025
What's Important When We Gather
You will likely experience elements that are sacred to RoG – they are integral to who we are and how we gather together.
Communion
Because we’re made for connection – with God and each other – woven together in sacred belonging.
Reflection
Because slowing down helps us listen, notice, and live with intention in a noisy world.
Hospitality
Because everyone deserves to be welcomed, seen, and nourished – body, soul and spirit.
Creativity
Because beauty, art and imagination help us express faith, hope and the mystery of God.
“Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee”, Rembrandt van Rijn,1633, oil-on-canvas. 160cm x 127cm.
Thinking allowed. Thinking aloud allowed.
Rhythms of Grace is an eclectic community of all ages and stages of life and faith, we prefer a good question to an easy answer, and thinking aloud is allowed – by preachers as well as punters. Our Sunday liturgy lasts a bit over an hour and always includes gathering around the Communion table. Children and dogs stay in and art activities are available for adults as well. We don’t sing much (we’d sing more if we had more musicians) and our focus is practices that will sustain us in our following of Jesus, and lead to our flourishing and wellbeing as persons created in the image of God.