Walking Together in God’s Creation
Children and families from St Tom’s Anglican Church in Newtown spent the weekend in God’s creation, for its annual Rātapu Children’s Church tramp into the Orongorongo Valley.
River church eucharist service.
On 18–19 April, a group of 12 adults and 21 children, aged between four and 11, tramped together to Turere Hut beside the Orongorongo River. Leaving early on Saturday morning and returning Sunday afternoon, the weekend offered time for adventure, connection and spiritual growth in the outdoors.
The annual tramp has become a much‑loved tradition in the life of St Tom’s, creating intentional space for families to slow down, share life, and build relationships beyond Sunday mornings. Away from busy routines and screens, children and adults alike experienced the gift of walking, eating, praying and resting together.
"A tramp like this is a great opportunity for us to experience God with our whole bodies. We get to enjoy God's creation and hearing him speak through it," said Rev Chris Silvester.
"We learn heaps from the challenging parts of these adventures and have loads of fun too. It's a year's worth of whakawhanaungatanga in a weekend!"
With weather warnings in place ahead of the weekend, organisers carefully assessed conditions before heading out. The group took practical precautions, including ensuring everyone had appropriate gear, staying together as a group, and taking special care at river crossings. These moments also became opportunities to model care, leadership and responsibility for the younger walkers.
Despite the challenges, the tramp offered plenty of joy — from children scrambling over rocks and spotting native birds, to evenings at the hut sharing stories, food, and prayers. The shared experience helped children feel a deeper sense of belonging within their church community.
On Sunday, the group made their way back along the river. They stopped to cook damper on sticks over an open fire. Then Chris led a river church eucharist service with a short homily. Recounting his own story of being lost in the New Zealand bush, he shared the importance of persevering when things are hard.
For Manu Ward, one of the tramp organisers, the weekend captured something essential about how faith is formed in younger generations.
"In the simplicity of wild places, away from modern distractions, adults and kids can see and listen together more deeply," Ward said. "It's about learning faith through experience - discovering God's creation in the river, the bush, and in each other."
Parents also valued the chance to connect more deeply with one another, strengthening friendships that support family life and enrich the wider parish community back in Newtown.
As St Tom’s continues its journey as a church, the Rātapu tramp stands as a reminder that discipleship can happen on the trail as much as in the pews — walking side by side, attentive to God, creation, and one another.
