Change Point Church is hoping to share light and love with the community for this year's Christmas.

The church is hosting host their contemplative interactive journey ‘When Love Came Down' from December 17-23 at their facility 135 Poike Rd.

The event is family-friendly with stocking decorating for children, storytelling, music, a magnificent Christmas tree to admire and hot drinks and food.

Inside the interactive area there will also be a wall for people to write on. 'We're just asking people to ponder and think about what love means to them because we're very aware that the world is getting very busy and quite stressful especially in the last couple of years,” says event organiser Ruth Tuiraviravi.

Ruth is looking forward to people having personal interactions while enjoying the space and escaping life's busyness. 'It's just having that space to slow down and listen to a Christmas story, listen to some music, hang around in our cafe…and just enjoy the relationships and one another – like literally be whanau.”

The church has been doing Christmas journey events for about 20 years, says Ruth, and has often hosted productions and shows. This year is different.

'It's far more around people because post-Covid we just want a bit more emphasis on relationships and people, and providing a place of peace in the crazy…and for people just to know that they're loved and seen.”

Children can take away their decorated stocking at the end of journey with a candy cane, and each family will be gifted a little wooden heart. 'We'll be giving hearts away just as a symbolic way to take love home with you.”

‘When Love Came Down' is at Changepoint Church, 135 Poike Rd, from December 17-23.

Taryn Angus. Photo: John Borren.