Tēnā Koutou, Noa’ia ‘e Mauri and Warm Greetings!
The Kingsland Trinity Methodist Church has and continues to be the home of the Kingsland Rotuman Methodist Congregation and the original Auckland Rotuman Fellowship for over 30 years.
The congregation has been part of the Auckland Methodist Central Parish since it started in the 1980s, and prior to this, the founding families of the congregation were originally either members of other English or Fijian language speaking congregations within the parish, or from different Methodist or union parishes of the Auckland Synod, including parishes in Waiuku, Papakura, Papatoetoe, Onehunga and Te Atatu.
Even today, families from different corners of the Auckland region are a part of the Kingsland Rotuman Methodist Congregation’s kainaga (family) and come together to attend the weekly worship services and events, as well as the celebrations that happen throughout the year.
Not all those who attend our services or events are Rotuman or have a connection to Rotuma, just like not all those that are a part of our congregation kainaga are Methodist; So it is important for us to be welcoming, bi-lingual (or sometimes even multi-lingual) and always mindful of the inclusive, compassionate and courageous Christ that we hold dear to and aspire to be like today.
Our unique and beautiful Rotuman language and heritage are also treasured dearly. When we come together for services, prayer, the singing of hymns and songs, the sharing of meals, conversations and jokes, and the telling of stories, all of these things keep our connections to our ancestors, our elders, our relatives and our beautiful homeland of Rotuma strong.
This beautiful space at Kingsland is not only used for church services and events, it is also:
•A Celebration Space, where a host of significant cultural, community and family feasts and occasions are observed;
•A Place of Learning, where workshops, taumaka (cultural dance practices and costume making) and pre-school play groups have been hosted;
•A Safe Space where advocacy groups and unions have been able to hold discussions and whānau have been able to hold inquests;
•A Community Hub, where schools of Dance, Craft Markets and local businesses are able to bring people together and offer brilliant services and opportunities for a host of different communities.
•Our weekly Sunday Worship Services are at 11.30am.
•The third Sunday of each month is a Holy Communion Service.
•On the last Sunday of each month, a shared meal and language session is held following the worship service.
Our Bilingual Pre-school Play Group sessions are on hold. But we will re-assess this as soon as we are back at Level 1 and safely able to host these.