Cook Islands Celebration heralds new direction for First Church
First Church is going to be a place that celebrates Dunedin's cultural diversity and colour, says newly arrived Senior Minister Rev Martin Baker.
Starting the trend is a special celebration on Saturday 9 August where the Cook Island's congregation invites the public to join them for music and dance exhibitions starting at 1pm in Burns Hall, followed by dinner. On Sunday 10 August at 5pm there will be special service to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the signing of the Cook Island constitution.
For more than 150 years First Church has been the icon of Scottish settlement and Presbyterian worship in Dunedin, Mr Baker said. " But for a quarter of a century the church has also been the home of Cook Island and Samoan worship in the city.
'We are a South Pacific nation and we are becoming more diverse as a culture. We need to offer our church as a meeting place where people can come from their different backgrounds and know that they will be welcomed"
"As we witness on the world stage and in our own country some of the tension and conflict that come through fear and misunderstanding between different peoples, we need to take a strong stance on the values, ideals and visions which unite us.
"In Dunedin, First Church is ideally situated to help recognise this shared vision. We plan to be a vital part of the heart of the city," he said.
The celebrations of the signing of the Cook Island Constitution next Saturday and Sunday, 'Kirking of the Tartan ' service later in August and a planned celebration of a Samoan White Sunday service in October are all events to which First Church welcomes the people of Dunedin.
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