Good Friday a time for people to come together in Rotorua's Redwoods

Good Friday procession and service at the Redwoods in 2016. Photo/File

Members of the Rotorua community will unite in one of the city's iconic locations to celebrate their core beliefs this Good Friday.

The Combined Church Good Friday Service is back at the Redwoods this year, under the sails, on Friday March 30 at 10am.

Rotorua Association of Christian Churches chairman Reverend Scott Clifford says the service is open for anyone to attend.

He says about eight Rotorua churches are involved in putting the service on and at least 20 Rotorua churches will be in attendance, along with members of the public.

This year's theme is 'There is only one', which is speaking of the unity the church has in Jesus, he says.

The Combined Church Good Friday Service has been going for 12 years and has grown every year, he says.

"Twelve years ago we made a concerted choice to do this as churches and none of us have ever regretted it.

"So often the voice of the church today is fragmented. This is the opportunity to have the corporate expression that is unified and to do that one day a year on Good Friday is probably a pretty good reason to come out."

Scott says the service will be 45 minutes and people need to bring along a chair as there will be a limited number of seats.

They are still working on a rain venue.

"Our desire is to show not only the unity of the church but a snapshot of the unity of our cultures as well."

C3 Church pastor John-Paul Metcalfe says this service is about the unity of church family coming together, in one spirit and one voice.

He says it is a great opportunity for the public to come and see why we have the Easter days off.