An interview with Rev. Gordon Taylor from St John’s Church in Hira
Earlier this month, the team at St John’s in Hira hosted a Mad Hatters Tea Party—a joyful, family-friendly outreach event held as part of the Haere Mai initiative. Brad caught up with Rev. Gordon Taylor to hear more about the event, how it came together, and what it might inspire in others.
The Mad Hatters Tea Party was our launch into intentional outreach. We wanted to connect our church with the local community in a fun and accessible way. We’re lucky to have the space at St John’s, so we thought—why not use it? This event was the brain-child of Christina Naseri, who really drove it forward. The idea was to create a space where people could gather, laugh, and experience a bit of joy on the church grounds.
It was a proper tea party! We had loads of cakes, sweets, and all the treats kids love (even the terribly sugary ones!). We set up a long table outdoors, had a hat competition with prizes for the daftest hats, and enjoyed music from a local ukulele group called The Plinkers. There was also a lolly scramble, balloon animals with Flossie the Balloon Lady, and plenty of bunting and sunshine to go around. A great group of volunteers from the church helped bring it all together.
It felt like a carefree summer’s day—children running around, surrounded by colourful balloons and friendly adults. It was safe, relaxed, and cheerful, like a big family party. The atmosphere was laid-back, and everyone just seemed to be enjoying themselves.
For me, it was seeing people simply feel at home. While we didn’t have as many families as we hoped, it still proved that we could pull off something like this. It was our first attempt, and we learnt a lot. We saw both our strengths and weaknesses—but the important thing is we tried. And now that we know we can do it, we’re already thinking about what’s next.
It gave us the chance to step outside our normal rhythm and offer something different. Even the planning drew people together—folks with different gifts contributed in all kinds of ways. While we’re still building connections with the wider community, events like this let people know the church is a place where they’re welcome, no strings attached.
Do things joyfully! Don’t be afraid to be a bit silly. Have fun with it, and don’t worry about being perfect. Get the word out however you can—word of mouth really is the best way. I’d certainly encourage other churches to do something a bit different. These kinds of events appeal to families, and they show that the church can be a place of celebration and welcome. The Mad Hatters Tea Party is a reminder that mission doesn’t always need to be serious—it can be playful, colourful, and full of laughter. Sometimes, just going for it is the best way to begin.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
An interview with Rev. Gordon Taylor from St John’s Church in Hira
Earlier this month, the team at St John’s in Hira hosted a Mad Hatters Tea Party—a joyful, family-friendly outreach event held as part of the Haere Mai initiative. Brad caught up with Rev. Gordon Taylor to hear more about the event, how it came together, and what it might inspire in others.
The Mad Hatters Tea Party was our launch into intentional outreach. We wanted to connect our church with the local community in a fun and accessible way. We’re lucky to have the space at St John’s, so we thought—why not use it? This event was the brain-child of Christina Naseri, who really drove it forward. The idea was to create a space where people could gather, laugh, and experience a bit of joy on the church grounds.
It was a proper tea party! We had loads of cakes, sweets, and all the treats kids love (even the terribly sugary ones!). We set up a long table outdoors, had a hat competition with prizes for the daftest hats, and enjoyed music from a local ukulele group called The Plinkers. There was also a lolly scramble, balloon animals with Flossie the Balloon Lady, and plenty of bunting and sunshine to go around. A great group of volunteers from the church helped bring it all together.
It felt like a carefree summer’s day—children running around, surrounded by colourful balloons and friendly adults. It was safe, relaxed, and cheerful, like a big family party. The atmosphere was laid-back, and everyone just seemed to be enjoying themselves.
For me, it was seeing people simply feel at home. While we didn’t have as many families as we hoped, it still proved that we could pull off something like this. It was our first attempt, and we learnt a lot. We saw both our strengths and weaknesses—but the important thing is we tried. And now that we know we can do it, we’re already thinking about what’s next.
It gave us the chance to step outside our normal rhythm and offer something different. Even the planning drew people together—folks with different gifts contributed in all kinds of ways. While we’re still building connections with the wider community, events like this let people know the church is a place where they’re welcome, no strings attached.
Do things joyfully! Don’t be afraid to be a bit silly. Have fun with it, and don’t worry about being perfect. Get the word out however you can—word of mouth really is the best way. I’d certainly encourage other churches to do something a bit different. These kinds of events appeal to families, and they show that the church can be a place of celebration and welcome. The Mad Hatters Tea Party is a reminder that mission doesn’t always need to be serious—it can be playful, colourful, and full of laughter. Sometimes, just going for it is the best way to begin.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
.jpg)
