Worship
We are an Anglican community of faith in the Diocese of Auckland, part of The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.
We aspire to be an inclusive community that worships in ways that are meaningful, honest and thought-provoking. We want to create a sense of belonging across the generations and foster hopefulness and joy.
We seek to nourish creativity, to strive for justice and to respond to the needs of the community around us.
We hope you find a place of warmth and welcome here!
Please feel free to contact any of the Staff or Wardens if you have any questions or concerns, or just want to chat!
If being part of a church community is a new experience for you, we’d value the opportunity to explain things to you and to explore how best to meet your needs.
If you’ve come from active involvement in another congregation then you’ll know the areas of activity which best suit your interests and skills.
Whatever your situation, we would welcome and value your participation.
Judy Holt, Vicars Warden
Carolyn Wellm, People’s Warden
Services
What to expect
Sermons
All Saints Update / Notices
Our Services
Our worship is within the Anglican tradition.
The Eucharist (Holy Communion) is a central part of our worship.
We value the Anglican practice of common prayer, using liturgies (written forms of worship) that enable the responses and prayers of the whole congregation. These liturgies are drawn from A New Zealand Prayer Book as well as other resources that reflect the particular seasonal emphases of the Church’s Year.
Sunday 7.30am Holy Communion
This is a Eucharistic service without congregational singing. The service is typically 50-60 minutes in length and is more contemplative in nature.
Sunday 9.30am Holy Communion
An intergenerational service, featuring a variety of music styles and liturgical presentation. This service is usually around 75 minutes in duration and is followed by morning tea in The Oak Room on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
This service is live-streamed via YouTube, with a link being provided to parishioners.
Wednesday 10.00am Holy Communion
This is a midweek Eucharistic service without congregational singing. It takes place in the historic Selwyn Church. This service is typically 30-45 minutes in length.
What to expect in worship
Is our worship inclusive?
In 2016 the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland recommitted to “using inclusive language in all areas of its work” and committed to “using inclusive language in liturgy and music, for people and for God”. At All Saints, we try and use a diversity of imagery and language for God in ways that do not impute a single specific gender to God. We do this so as not to constrain our understanding of God, or to perpetuate the harm that many people have experienced when the church has expressed its understanding of God in solely male terms. We believe that all people are made in the image of God and that our diversity reflects something of the glory of God.
What do I wear?
This can be a tricky question at the best of times! Please just come as you are! There is no dress code required or expected (other than generally accepted standards of decency!). Some members of the congregation may dress more formally, others more casually. Whether you wear a ball gown or tuxedo, shorts and jandals, a hat and gloves, or jeans and sneakers, you are welcome!
What happens during worship?
Our regular Sunday and Wednesday services each have a different feel, but all follow a similar shape and structure: we gather as a community, we confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness; we hear readings from the Bible and a reflection on those readings (a sermon); we respond to what we’ve heard with an affirmation of faith and with our prayers for the world and the church and for those in need; we share a sign of God’s peace with one another and we celebrate Communion together. Then we go and have a cup of tea!
All of this (except for the cup of tea, maybe!), involves saying words of praise and prayer, singing hymns/songs, moments of silence, and times when we may stand or sit or kneel together. The words we use come from A New Zealand Prayer Book (the red book) and a variety of other sources, depending on where we are in the church’s year. These words are usually projected on our screens for the Sunday 9.30am service, while at the Sunday 7.30am and Wednesday 10.00am we use either physical copies of the prayer book or printed service booklets.
All Saints Updates / Notices
Weekly updates with regular news and features and weekly church notices.
All Saints Music Team
Come worship with us! The All Saints Music Team welcomes new members, young or not so young, with all ranges of experience. With a balance of traditional hymns and modern music, we try to keep worship inclusive and intergenerational. We meet for a quick rehearsal at 8.45am on Sunday mornings, so if you’re free then, come along! All are welcome.
For more information or to share a musical thought, please contact the office.
Morning Tea
We serve morning tea on every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month following the 9.30am service (11.00am-12.00pm). This is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends, meet new people, and deepen our fellowship.
Monthly Taizé Services
Taizé services have concluded for the year! We hope and pray that these services have been a blessing for you. We are currently seeking feedback for how these services may continue, so if you would like to contribute, please fill out a feedback form from the church office.
New Role for Lucy
Lucy has been sub-contracted by St Johns Theological College for the role of Acting Dean Tikanga Pākehā. Lucy is not leaving us but will be temporarily working for St Johns College for 16 hours per week and continuing to work at All Saints for the remainder of the week. We are loaning Lucy to St Johns because she has the skills that they need (and because we are generous and wonderful!) Our prayers are with Lucy as she takes on this new role!
Children and Young People at All Saints
At All Saints’ we love to have children present at worship. We also realise that at times they can become distracted or upset. Please note that there is a sound-proof creche available, near the church door, which is well supplied with toys and books, and is wired so that the service can be heard.
Garden Produce Swap & Share
You are invited to bring any spring produce from your gardens and trees to swap and share with others in the parish community!
Any produce not taken to a new home will be gifted to our Food Bank.