Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Weekender: Christmas luncheon caters for everyone

By Cherie Taylor
Rotorua Daily Post·
16 Dec, 2012 11:19 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

There is no reason for anyone to be lonely or go hungry at Christmas in Rotorua.

Once again, volunteers are busy collecting and preparing food for a community Christmas day luncheon being hosted at St John's Presbyterian Church.

Last year, Rotorua churches combined to host the luncheon at the Fenton Park Bible Church with more than 240 people taking in the luncheon and 50 volunteers helping out on the day, says Harvest Church pastor Dave Moore.

"We were inundated ... it was awesome,'' he says.

This year St John's Presbyterian Church on Ranolf St is hosting the luncheon starting at midday. Co-ordinator Catherine Gettins says the lunch, which is a highlight of the year for many people who struggle to provide a decent meal for their family most days of the week or those who may otherwise be alone, will provide the true spirit of Christmas as well as a lovely meal for those attending. New migrants, students, tourists _ anyone is welcome to attend.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.



"It's going to be an amazing menu. People can sit around and talk with each other. There is always a real family

atmosphere ... there is a real joy in sharing Christmas.''

Many people are finding it hard these days, Catherine says.

"For some people, it is a real struggle for them to provide a meal let alone a Christmas lunch. Many people are lonely and just want company. This is an opportunity to share the spirit of Christmas and a meal together ... we welcome everyone with open arms. We cater for everybody, from tourists to the carnival people. It's a real community thing.''

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Gluten-free or vegetarian _ not an issue.

However, they need food to cook, gifts to give away and more helpers to prepare the food and entertain the multitudes on the day, Catherine says.

People are also needed to help set up the tables on the day.

"It's always a lot of fun. We need people to help us set up on the day, serve the people and help clean up afterwards,'' she says.

They also need drivers to give of their time to pick up and take people home afterwards on Christmas day.

If anyone can help prepare food and vegetables on Sunday December 23, just turn up with your vegetable peeler and a smile at St John's Church on Ranolf St at 2pm.



Catherine says they have been calling on businesses to help but still need lots of things like chicken drum sticks,

pumpkin, frozen vegetables, potatoes, kumara, ice cream, jellies, cream, stuffing ingredients, Christmas cakes,

fruit tarts, tinned fruit and takeaway containers.

Presents for children aged 1 to 16 are also needed along with jumbo chalk, face paints, balloons and cellotape.

People are needed to help entertain the children as well.


"We want to reach as many people as we can. This is an opportunity to share a Christmas meal and feel loved. We don't want anyone excluded,'' she says. "We've had an amazing response in Rotorua. We know it's tough

economic times out there at the moment.''

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Meanwhile, Catherine feels blessed every Christmas lunch she helps organise.



"I feel so humbled and impressed with God and how people respond to him. It's so good when everyone works

together to do something for people in need.''

Everyone who attends leaves with an ice cream cone, a Christmas card and a take home meal.


THE MENU

Ham

Rosemary and lemon chicken

Vegetarian loaf

Roasted potato, kumara and pumpkin

Peas, carrots, corn, buns and stuffing

Steamed pudding and custard

Pavlova, cream and fresh berries

Fruit salad and jelly

Christmas cake Shortbread

Biscuits

Fruit mince pies

Fruit bites

Lollies

Chocolates

Soft Drinks

If you have any donations of food, want to volunteer to help prepare the menu or drive on the day please call Catherine on (07) 349 2460 or email christmascommunitylunch2012@gmail.com.

If you wish to donate money please bank into the Rotorua Ministers Association BNZ bank account number: 11 6100 0017915 11.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

If you want to register for the luncheon also use the same contact details.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

06 Jul 10:51 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Opinion

Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

06 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

Police search for suspect after man shot in leg

06 Jul 10:51 PM

Information sought about man in green coat and gumboots on Pine Drive, Murupara.

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

Kāinga Ora axes housing project, reveals new plans

06 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

Balancing power: What the employment law changes mean for you

06 Jul 05:00 PM
Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

06 Jul 06:00 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP