Throughout Scripture we’re continually reminded of the powerful truth that God is good. His goodness is not dependent on our circumstances, our emotions, or the season we find ourselves in. Whether life feels joyful and full, or challenging and uncertain, the character of God remains the same. He is faithful, present, and good in every season.

One of the ways we’re reminded of God’s goodness is through His Word. The Bible is more than a collection of stories or teachings, it’s the living Word of God that reveals His heart to us. When we read Scripture, we’re reminded of who He is and who we are in Him. It shapes our thinking, strengthens our faith, and helps us see life through the lens of God’s truth rather than our circumstances.

The psalmist invites us in Psalm 34:8, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.”

This is a beautiful invitation. God doesn’t simply ask us to know about His goodness from a distance, He invites us to experience it personally, to trust Him, draw near to Him, and take refuge in Him. Faith was never meant to be something distant or abstract, but something lived and experienced day by day as we walk with Him.

For many of us, the daily habit of opening the Bible is one of the most powerful ways we experience that goodness. Through Scripture we’re reminded that God walks with us in every season, celebrating with us in times of joy and strengthening and comforting us in seasons of difficulty. His presence never leaves us.

Sometimes it’s when we step away from the usual pace of life that we see God’s goodness in particularly clear ways. This weekend, more than 70 of our young people and leaders are heading away for Youth Camp. It’s a special opportunity for them to pause from the busyness of everyday life, build deeper friendships, and spend focused time hearing from God’s Word together. Please keep them in your prayers over the weekend, that this would be a time where they not only hear about God’s goodness, but truly taste and see it for themselves.

It’s always encouraging to see the many ways God is at work among us. Let’s continue to seek Him, spend time in His Word, and encourage one another in faith. No matter the season we’re in, we can be confident that the Lord is good, and His love endures forever.

God bless, Mel

I was reminded this week that every relationship begins with a conversation. It may start with a few hesitant words, a simple greeting, or a small question, though over time, as trust grows, those conversations become deeper, more honest, and more personal. Prayer works in much the same way.

For many people, prayer can feel mysterious or even a little intimidating. We may wonder what to say, or whether we’re doing it the “right way”. But at its heart, prayer is simply a relationship with God expressed through conversation. It’s not about perfect words, it’s about connection.

The beautiful thing about prayer is that we can speak with God anytime, anywhere, about anything that’s on our hearts. We don’t need special words or a special place, God is listening, and he welcomes our honesty, our gratitude, our worries, our questions, and even our silence.

Jesus gave his followers a simple model for prayer in what we now call the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:9-13), and you’ll find it printed on the cover of this week’s newsletter. In those few lines, Jesus shows us that prayer can include praise, trust, asking for daily needs, seeking forgiveness, and asking for guidance.

A little later Jesus adds these encouraging words, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt 7:7)

Jesus encourages us to persist in prayer because the more we talk with God, the more we learn to recognise his voice in our lives. And while prayer is often personal and quiet, it is also something we’re invited to share with others. When we pray together, we encourage one another and listen together for what God might be saying to us corporately.

Jesus gave us the Lord’s Prayer not only as words to repeat, but as a pattern for prayer, something to shape our conversations with God and to pass onto others. So let me encourage you to pray the Lord’s Prayer each day this week. Pray it quietly on your own, pray it together with your family or friends and teach it to your children. Let’s allow the words of Jesus to guide our prayers and conversations with God this week.

Pete Greig, the founder of the 24-7 prayer movements says, “we don’t need to make grand speeches to God or pretend that everything’s ok. All we need to do is, keep it simple, keep it real and keep it up.” 

May you know God’s presence and peace this week as you pray!  God bless, Mel

One of my favourite stories in the bible is the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). In particular, I love how the father is daily scanning the horizon, longing for his son to come home. Then one day, he sees him returning from a distance and can’t contain his compassion, so he runs to his son and embraces him. Then he throws an extravagant party to celebrate that his lost son is now found and home.

If there’s a story that describes the kind of church I’ve always wanted The Grove to be like, its that’s one. Maybe because I was also like that lost son who ran away, but was welcomed home by God and into a local church. My life changed, and pretty quickly I became part of the team that welcomed others to church. One day that same church, Bridgeman Baptist, called me to be a Pastor, and sent Leanne and I to plant The Grove. It’s been 32 years since I was welcomed home, and I believe more than ever that a church must reflect the welcoming heart of the Father, and throw homecoming parties. How do we do that? Celebrating baptisms! 

Last week I was thrilled to meet Calum. A young man in our neighbourhood who emailed me to ask if he could be baptised. Calum came to church last Sunday, was warmly welcomed, and after hearing his story and Jesus call on his life, we are excited to fill up the pool this Sunday for him. In fact, we will be celebrating baptisms over the next three Sundays. Praise God!

Prodigals are coming home, so Grovers, let’s get ready to welcome them. I remember Peter Sweetman, the founding pastor at Bridgeman Baptist once said, that the effectiveness of a churches mission is directly related to their capacity to welcome people. I totally agree. Our welcome is a person’s first impression of what God might be like. May we always reflect the heart of the Father in that most wonderful of all parables. 

While welcoming is something for all of us to be involved in, I am praying we could increase the size of our welcome team. Our team is currently quite small which limits the breadth of our welcome. I would love to see more people on carpark, on the door and ushering in the auditorium. Friendly faces who welcome others as they arrive, and coming soon, in newly designed welcome T-shirts. 

This Sunday at 3pm you are so welcome to come to our welcoming training session here at church. Its for those in the team, and for all who would like to join or explore being on team. Maybe as you are reading this, Jesus is warming your heart to be a welcomer of all who he is calling to come home this year. 

You’re welcome here, Marty

We had some very welcome guests at our Wednesday 

morning prayer meeting. We gathered on the deck, as it 

was such a glorious morning, and just before we began 

with prayers of praise, a pair of King Parrots flew in to join 

us on the railing. What a treat, and it wasn’t hard to launch 

into worshipping our Creator after that!

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim 

the work of his hands. Psalms 19:1
 

Unexpected things happen when we gather to pray. Birds may not always fly in, but the Holy Spirit always comes near, revealing God’s glory and bringing his peace and help. Just as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a Dove at his baptism, so the Holy Spirit rests on each of us as we honour God in baptism, depend on him in prayer, and step into our callings.  

Last Sunday it was a privilege to pray with many people who responded to God’s call through is word. Mel and I were able to anoint people with oil, a symbol of being set apart for God’s wonderful and holy purposes. That opportunity wasn’t isolated, because each Sunday our prayer ministry team are in the front row available to pray with people. Just by coming to receive prayer, is the act of trust needed for God to work powerfully in our lives. 

On Sunday afternoon I am running a short Baptism class in the upper room at 3pm. Baptisms are our favourite celebration in the church. That’s because every person matters to God, and when they outwardly declare their faith in baptism, all of heaven and the church rejoice. Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave. Baptism is for those who have personally trusted in this for forgiveness and have received the sure hope of eternal life beyond the grave.  

Sometimes we might wonder why we don’t experience more of the power of God in our lives. Acts 1:8 makes it clear what the power is for. It’s not something we chase for an experience, even though we certainly experience God’s presence with us. It’s an empowering that arrives whenever we seek to witness to Jesus life and work. We do this in how we serve, and how we testify. 

We are filled with the Spirit in special ways whenever we gather to pray, unashamedly confess our love for Jesus in baptism, and when we step out to serve and point others to the person and work of Christ. Maybe God IS calling you to respond in one of those ways today. Our pastoral team would be honoured to guide you in your next steps.

Marty

This week we had a fire flare up on council land not far from the back of the church. We are so thankful for the firefighters who were equipped and responsive to extinguish it quickly. Plus the fire hydrant we installed as a requirement of building the church came in very handy!

Like the firefighters, we also need to be equipped to respond to a fire that is spreading. Not to put it out though, but to help it spread even further. The good news about Jesus is spreading globally, and igniting hearts to follow him. The message can be summed up in John 3:16, that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. 

In our Ephesians series this week, we will learn how God gives gifts to equip and serve others, so the church is built up and faith grows in people of all ages . As each person plays their part, the church is at its best in every way (Eph 4:7-16). 

We have a simple growth pathway at The Grove. Alpha for those exploring faith, Christian Foundations for those new in faith, and Connect Groups where people gather to study the Bible and support one another in life and faith. I encourage everyone to consider taking a step on this path in your plan to grow this year. 

Even with these things in place, as good as they are, it’s still possible to stall in our growth. This can sometimes be related to faith being learned more than lived. Faith is like a muscle which is strengthened when used. It’s important to plan for growth, but also to know the goal of growth is to help others grow in faith. 

Let me suggest some ways you could exercise your faith this year:

God might be calling you to return to the growth pathway not as a participant, but as a contributor. Be equipped to lead in Alpha, Christian Foundations or a new Connect Group. 

We would love more to be equipped to welcome people, so everyone who comes to The Grove experiences the welcome of God. See inside for upcoming training events for both leading discussion groups and our welcome ministry.   

There are others ways you can serve at The Grove. Maybe a couple has a heart to encourage marriages, so we could introduce you to facilitating the Marriage Course. Perhaps you have a heart for Prayer ministry or to get some barista training to make great coffee in our cafe. Talk to one of us Pastors about these and many other opportunities.  

Wherever we serve, know that it’s part of the church helping people grow in their faith, and a bonus is it grows our faith too like nothing else. When our faith is strengthened through exercising our gifts, it also makes a difference in our daily life as we seek to be a witness to Jesus and a light in the darkness. Let’s grow strong in faith in 2026, Marty.