going to church

while here in New Zealand i made sure to experience going to church a couple of times. it's an amazing feeling to worship God with the Body of Christ in different congregations in other countries. Gateway church in Hamilton.

i went to a Sunday night service at Gateway church in Hamilton...rockin worship, great teaching from a missionary to South Africa, freeing ministry & prayer time, and some really cool friends made! this church (about a thousand members) made me think of my home church Boise Vineyard...and then i found out that it was actually modeled after Vineyard USA. i also had the opportunity to talk with the worship/arts pastor about art ministry. www.gatewaychurch.org.nz

St. Peters Anglican church in Raglan.

today i went to a midweek Holy Communion service at St. Peter's Anglican church in Raglan...beautiful stained glass windows, familiar liturgy, friendly people. i enjoyed celebrating the Eucharist with this little band of Anglicans (Episcopal). they were very welcoming to me. this church service (because of it being so small...only 5 older ladies were there) made me feel like i was at a midweek service at St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral in Boise where i like to attend. the church here is small (at most 30 people) but they have huge caring hearts! we prayed for the people in Christchurch who were devastated by the earthquake yesterday.

i'm so glad that i was able to worship with both churches while here in New Zealand...it was really good.