There are many things to be thankful for at the moment, and I truly believe we are witnessing something special unfold in the next generation across our church and surrounding suburbs. Recently, I was reflecting on the verse in Revelation 2:4-5 that calls us to “return to your first love”. It was a call to remember the initial, passionate love for Jesus that motivated the early Church in Ephesus. For me personally, it was a reminder to look back at all that God has done, but to remember why we first serve God and give our lives to Him. This is the zeal and fire that I am seeing in the young people of this church. I know we are not about numbers, but I do think it’s important for us to take stock and give thanks for all God has been doing. 

We recently sent 13 leaders (and 20 youth) to SMASH camp over the September holidays and saw God move in incredible ways. Heaps of youth encountered the Holy Spirit, and many walked through the front doors of a church for the first time. Our biggest ever PM service was a few weeks ago, the Sunday after camp, as we gathered with nearly 140 youth and young adults to worship and hear from God’s word. Among our Young Adults we have seen a real growth in numbers, but in particular, spiritual growth. A new hunger is being seen at our PM service with Young Adults coming open to hearing God’s word and hungry to experience the presence of Jesus (there are 10 currently going through Alpha on a Sunday afternoon). Worship has been a real highlight over the past few months, and in particular, our young people are again engaging with worship in a fresh and new way. Across our youth team, we have grown to nearly 20 leaders and over 60 youth on a Friday night. It is honestly such a privilege to serve God alongside a generation who are seeking after Him and placing their trust in God.

As you read this, I pray that you are encouraged but also challenged to return to your first love as well. To be reminded again of the beautiful gift we have been given in Jesus, but also to rekindle a fire and passion for following Jesus as we tell the next generation of the mighty things God has done.

Psalm 78:4

 We will not hide them from their descendants;

    we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,

    his power, and the wonders he has done.

What a joy it was to pray and worship together on Wednesday night! Around 60 people came out, with about 40 of those youth and young adults, some joining for the very first time. It was something special to witness and so encouraging to see so many young hearts open and worshipping God wholeheartedly. This felt like a beautiful continuation of what we saw on Sunday at our PM service, with the auditorium full of young people lifting their voices and hearts in worship. With the extended worship after the service going well into the night, one could have asked the question… “Football… what football?” It was really beautiful to see a group of young people full of joy, with their eyes fixed on Jesus, and hearts open in worship.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 100:1-3, Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

Worship is such a joyful way to respond to God’s love, and when our hearts are full of praise, that love naturally spills over into the lives of others. 

This Sunday we’ll be collecting our Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. Every year, these shoeboxes travel to children across the world, carrying not just gifts, but the love and message of Jesus. It’s such a beautiful way to remind children that they are known, loved, and precious in God’s eyes. We’ll build a wall of shoeboxes and take moment to pause and pray over them, with each one representing a child’s story and showing how God’s hope can reach far beyond our own neighbourhood in a simple and tangible way. Through preparation, prayer, and sending these boxes, we join in the joyful celebration, declaring God’s goodness, worshipping him with gladness, and sharing his love and hope with the world.

Marty will also be kicking off our new series in Ephesians this week, exploring the abundance of blessings we have in Christ. Ephesians is such a rich, encouraging book, reminding us that in Jesus, we already have everything we need. We’re chosen, loved, redeemed, and invited to live in the fullness of his grace.

So, I encourage you to come expectant and open hearted this Sunday, ready to be encouraged and refreshed as we journey through this series together. I truly believe that God has something special for each of us, and that as we step into his story in 

both big and small ways, we can be part of sharing the good news

with a world that so desperately needs it. 

God bless,

Mel

This week the auditorium has been open as a prayer chapel, a quiet space where people have come to spend time with God. What a gift it is to be still and know that God is near.

A verse that has been close to my heart this week is Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near". Paul’s words remind us that gentleness flows from knowing we are held securely by God. Because He is near, we can live with patience, kindness, and compassion, reflecting the love of Christ to those around us.

Prayer is central to this. It softens our hearts, opens our eyes, and reshapes how we see others. When we spend time in prayer, God not only hears us, He changes us. Our Prayer and Worship Night is coming up next week on Wednesday, 8 October. It’s a great opportunity to gather together in worship, reflect on God’s faithfulness and pray over Term 4. May our lives this week be markedby gentleness, words that bring peace, actions that show kindness, and hearts that point to the one who is always near.   

 God bless, Mel

This week has been such a beautiful reminder of the power and importance of prayer. Having the auditorium open as a space for prayer has been deeply encouraging. A quiet space where hearts can slow, minds can rest and we can meet with God in His presence. There is something truly sacred about a space set aside for connecting with our Creator, a gentle reminder that prayer is not just something we do, but an invitation into relationship.

Jesus taught us so much about prayer. He encouraged His followers to pray persistently, humbly, and with faith, as we read in Luke 11:9-10. “So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Prayer is not only about bringing requests before God, it’s the heart of our walk with Him, opening our hearts, sharing our joys and struggles, and allowing His Spirit to guide us each day. 

May we be encouraged this week, as we find time for quiet moments of prayer,

allowing God to guide, strengthen, and fill us with hope.

God bless, Mel

I felt a bit jealous this week talking to a young man who came to see me. He recently encountered Jesus in a profound way that’s completely transformed his life. Before the encounter in July, he had some doubts about Christian faith, but now he can hardly wait to get baptised at our 5.30pm service on the 31st of August. I was so encouraged to see what God has done in his life, but also a little envious of the unspeakable joy and torrential flow of the Holy Spirit through his life. Jesus called this ‘first love’ in Revelation 2:1-7, that is evident in those who experience the incredible freedom and new life from adoption into God’s family. What a moment!

Jesus called the church in Ephesus to return to their first love, so that their light wouldn’t go out but shine even brighter. They had worked hard for the gospel and resisted false teaching, however, they lost the joy and love flowing from the grace that saved them. In our Encounter series, we have been hearing stories of people encountering Jesus, and this week’s theme is grace. For all of us who have known Jesus for a longer time, may we encounter the grace of God in fresh ways as if we are receiving it for the first time. This is what Jesus is calling his church back to. 

I have been listening to several reports of this remarkable new move of the Holy Spirit in our world. God is doing something new in the West, and we are seeing it at The Grove too, as more stories of encounters and awakenings start to stack up. I see this in young men who are returning hungry for God. These and all who are chasing after Jesus need mentors, prayer supporters and encouragers. When we see God moving, we need to respond and invest our lives deeply into it. It’s why we are here. 

On Tuesday I am looking forward to hanging out with fellas at 131 Men, at the special Man on Fire night. While the evening is mostly social, I am keen to share more about what Jesus is doing and how we can respond to it. I know there are many men who have been praying for years to see what’s unfolding. May we rise up to this occasion. Exciting times. 

On Saturday the 30th of August the ladies are gathering for a half day retreat. Pastor Mel is equally looking forward to the morning with expectation of how Jesus will encounter women in a special way. The name flourish is also a vision and promise of all God is going to do through women in The Grove. As we are seeing in men, women young and old are also returning to Jesus thirsty for living water.  

Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit. 

Acts 2:18. God bless, Marty