Hub Community Meal
Most Thursdays during school terms we hold a community dinner at the church at 6pm. We call it Hub!
A wonderful team of volunteers does the cooking, and anywhere from 30 to 50 people from the church and the neighbourhood come along to share a hearty meal and a chat. Hub is a lovely time of meeting, eating and catching up on life, suitable for everyone from ages 0 to 100.
Everyone is welcome at Hub. We suggest a donation of $8 per person or $20 for a family to cover costs, but if money is tight, just come anyway.
Walking Group
The Walking Group provides an opportunity to explore the beauty of the world around us while walking and chatting with others from the community.
We aim to have an outing 2–3 times per year on a Saturday and we usually have between 10 and 25 people in the group. The walks are planned to be at a level that is comfortable for most people. They are usually 9–12km in length and steep climbs are avoided.
We usually have lunch on the track and stop for a coffee somewhere on the way home.
Caring for the Garden
A church's garden is more than mere landscaping; it's a living extension of the congregation's values and commitment to stewardship. By nurturing the surrounding green space, the church community demonstrates respect for God's creation and provides a tangible way for members to put their faith into action.
A well-tended garden creates a welcoming atmosphere, inviting people to find moments of peace and reflection amidst natural beauty. Our gardens serve as an outdoor sanctuary for prayer, meditation, and small gatherings, fostering a deeper connection to the divine.
In caring for the garden, the congregation cultivates not just plants, but also a sense of shared purpose, environmental awareness, and spiritual growth.
All are welcome to experience this themselves by getting involved with our gardening team.
Weekly Coffee Groups
Secret Men's Business
'Secret Men's Business', otherwise known as Men's Coffee and Chat, is on every Friday morning at 10am in E'Latté cafe, 204 High Street, Ashburton.
Numbers vary week by week but typically about 10–15 men gather to solve the world's problems. You are very welcome to join us.
Women’s Coffee Group
A group of women regularly gather at ‘Thymes Five’ Cafe on Hight Street Ashburton on a Monday.
[+]Faith
The [+]Faith group at ABC seeks to maintain, develop and promote LGBTIQ+ inclusion, understanding and acceptance within ABC, externally to our wider community through the following actions:
• SUPPORT – creating a team with lived experience and their allies to support individuals and their families.
• EDUCATE – providing access to affirmative resources, forums and stories.
• ADVOCATE – promoting inclusion in ABC and other communities.
From an initial conversation in March 2022, the group has met regularly and put together a range of events and resources around LGBTQ+ issues.