It’s good to give thanks for our fathers today. While it’s hard to remember everything our dads did for us when we were children, we were provided for, protected, taught how to walk, ride a bike, work with our hands and use our brains. Some fathers taught us about life, others about faith and many passed on values and wisdom that have significantly shaped our lives and how we relate to others. The list of reasons might vary, but we give thanks for our dads and all we have received from them. 

Last Wednesday we held a day of prayer. Around 52 people attended the morning and evening sessions to come before our Heavenly Father. Jesus taught us to start prayer with the words, ‘our Father’. It’s the most wonderful truth that we can come to God like this. And Jesus also taught what kind of Father God is in the parable of the prodigal son. We are going to immerse in that story in a creative reading this Father’s Day. 

The story teaches that no matter how far his children have wandered from home, our Father is always ready to welcome them back, restore the relationship, and lead in a celebration that his lost child is now found. I am sure he wants everyone to know on Father’s Day, that he always loved you, has been looking for you, and waiting with open arms for you to come home to him. 

One of the reasons I love that story is because I was a prodigal, and have experienced the incredible grace of God that found me after being so lost in life. And now as a pastor of The Grove, one of my greatest desires for our church is that we would always be like the Father who welcomes people home. In fact, I see our church building more like a family home in our neighbourhood, and now the kitchen is almost complete, we can only increase our hospitality to celebrate with all the Lord welcomes home.

At our City on a Hill Day of prayer, Jacque Lippett shared some verses with me from Psalm 46, that God impressed on her heart for The Grove. 

A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed. From the very break of day, God will protect it. (Psalms 46:4-5 NLT)

These words describe the church like a city, where all who come experience the presence of God watching over his city. It’s a safe place to be, and where his love flows like a river bringing refreshment and joy to all who dwell there. 

Last Sunday I had the privilege of praying for people, couples and at one point a whole family of three generations. In each case I could see the river of God flowing, and tears of refreshment and joy revealing that this is a beautiful place for all in our families, friends and neighbourhood to come. 

Let’s reflect Jesus wonderful parable in the season ahead, and invite many more to come 

home. Let’s take every opportunity to share the Fathers welcome with all who arrive at 

The Grove week after week after week.  

Marty

Renovations can be quite time consuming, but they certainly are exciting and it has been wonderful this week to see significant progress happening in the kitchen, with the installation of the stainless steel benches and some cabinetry! I recently came across this quote: “Renovating not only restores the house, but restores the story of the home and the neighbourhood.”  As I read this quote, I pictured God using the kitchen renovation to restore the story of our church home and our neighbourhood. I started to picture the stories that would be told in the future about our Neighbourhood Café and how hospitality, through this kitchen would feature as a blessing to all, as people gathered on the beautiful back deck to enjoy good coffee, good food and good conversation. I pictured an abundance of lives changed, as people experienced the love of Jesus through those showing hospitality in this space. 

In Romans 12:13, Paul says “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Paul talks about what love in action looks like. Christian love shown through hospitality, which naturally took place in the early days, was a special responsibility for the early Christians, and it remains a special responsibility for us also, as we live out our calling to love our neighbour.

Showing hospitality is different to just putting on an event or opening up a cafe. Hospitality is all about the guests. When we are providing hospitality, we are looking to meet the needs of those we’ve invited and those we have welcomed in. Our vision for the kitchen and the Neighbourhood Cafe is hospitality - ensuring people feel welcomed, are comfortable, are heard and accepted and of course are enjoying delicious food and beverages. When we are showing hospitality, we are putting our guests first, because people mattered to Jesus and people matter to us. 

What a blessing it will be to have a fully functioning kitchen during our Christmas outreach event this year. Christmas Lights at The Grove will run over three nights, 11-13 December, from 6pm - 9pm each night, so make sure you save the date, as this event will be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate love in action through hospitality. 

Thank you to all those who have partnered in the gospel financially, so we can provide hospitality for our church family and for our neighbourhood. We praise God that the kitchen fitout is now 96% funded and we pray for continued provision for the remaining 4%. We also continue to pray for an increased provision in our catering team, whose spiritual gifts in hospitality will be instrumental in creating the stories and memories which will 

be shared throughout our neighbourhood for generations to come. 

What a joy it will be to see another part of our spiritual home completed!

Mel

Our Everyday Disciples series finishes this week with an apt title: Finishing Well. We have learned many foundational themes for the life of faith over the series. The importance of being immersed in scripture, serving in community, growing in intimacy and multiplying in mission. These themes teach us how to grow deeper in love and wider in influence as we walk with Jesus everyday. This final week teaches us how we can finish well. 

Sadly, not everyone finishes well. It’s always a little heartbreaking to hear of people dropping out of the race, and losing their love and joy in Christ. It’s also a reminder that it's possible for us all. Something I find strengthens my faith to keep going, is to focus on those who are finishing well. 

I subscribe to the Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, and regularly listen to interviews with Christian leaders. Last week he interviewed Hal Donaldson, the CEO of Convoy of Hope, an incredible not for profit that serves people in disaster and poverty. Hal got to meet Mother Teresa before she died and shared of the experience. Her feet were so damaged towards the end, that she had to slide across the concrete floor to greet him. When Carey asked what Hal learned from her, he surprisingly said, “not that much…all she wanted to do was talk about me and my family.”  

That is a clear indicator of finishing well. Mother Teresa who gave her life to showing kindness and mercy to the poorest of the poor, never ran out of love for others but remained other centred to the end. Hal did, however, get one peice of wisdom from her. In his role he is required everyday to make decisions about what needs to meet, and what needs he can’t. He asked MT how she made that decision with all the needs constantly surrounding her. She told him to just do the next kind thing for someone, that Jesus places before you. Then after that, do the next. The Lord will always show you, and fill your heart with love for them.  

I would have loved to meet Mother Teresa, but I am fortunate to have known many people who finished the race well, and I also know many finishing well. Men and women who aren’t perfect, but seem to be increasingly other centred and more gracious the older they get. I pray I can be like that too. Like the Psalmist says, 'They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, ' (Psalms 92:14). 

I pray that individually and as a church, we would never lose our way, our love, joy or hope. Rather, keeping our eyes on Jesus, we would finish well. That each day we would love our Saviour, and ask him to show us the next kindness we can offer to others. This week people did just that, on Tuesday as a group of volunteers served pancakes to kids at Ferny Grove Primary, and on Thursday another team served our senior citizens with music at Regis, and on Friday at Mainly Music and Grove Youth. Every week, so much kindness flows from so many people in so many ways. It’s all the result of the kindness we received from Jesus, and one day we will meet him face to face, look into those kind eyes and be in his presence forever. What a wonderful future we have to look forward to! 

Marty

The photo on the front cover of the newsletter is being called the shot of the Olympics from photographer Jérôme Brouillet. 3x world-champion surfer Gabriel Medina appears to defy gravity, walking upon clouds, emerging from a barrel wave off the coast of Tahiti. 

To caption this amazing, unedited shot on Instagram for his 12m followers, the Brazilian Christian surfer chose a simple, single Bible verse: “Tudo posso naquele que me fortalece” (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13)

I always love it when Christian athletes use their fame to point to Jesus. Gabriel wasn’t actually walking on clouds, but he was using the illusion to point to something that’s real and available for everyone. God is able to give us strength in all circumstances in life. 

Paul wrote that verse from prison, as the conclusion to a paragraph in which he shared the secret of being content with plenty or with little. Paul was seeking to bring encouragement to his many readers whose circumstances might be difficult, and who are uncertain about the future. They too can find strength in Christ, and contentment in life, even though they feel weak and in great need. It’s a supernatural thing, like walking on clouds or water, to experience the presence of God take over and lift us up to feel strong in all situations. 

Last week in the Everyday Disciple series we studied Ephesians 4:11-16 and considered another supernatural work that God does in us. Jesus gives his followers spiritual gifts to build up the church and serve the world with. Many things can drain us in life and service, but when we use these special gifts, they zap rather than sap energy. 

I have been leading two Alpha courses this term, and I always feel energized discussing the message and hope of Jesus with others who are seeking answers. Others will testify to the same experience when they activate their gifts, whether it’s the gift of mercy, faith, administration, service, giving, craftsmanship, hospitality, teaching…the list goes on. When we use our gifts, the Holy Spirit puts the wind in our sails.

You may or may not know your spiritual gift, but you can take a quick free test by visiting this url. https://giftstest.com We did this together at our staff meeting, then spent time sharing our results with the team and praying for each person. You might like to do that with your connect group, or with some other Christian friends. Our pastoral team are always available for you to make an appointment if you would like to explore your gifts with us, and how you could use them. 

Sometimes we can feel drained by trying to be who we are not, or do what we are not gifted for. Of course we all have things to do that are not as natural for us, and which are part of our calling and responsibilities. But it’s usually the case that God’s calling on us will accompany the gift he placed in us. May we all know the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, as we trust Christ in all circumstances and activate our gifts in service. 

Marty

For the next couple of weeks all eyes will be on the Paris Olympics. It will be wonderful to focus on a global event that promotes unity in a world that seems so full of division. Every day we read about suffering caused by wars that don’t end, and tensions erupting around national elections. People fight each other, relationships fracture, and children grow up witnessing things they never should.  

It’s hard to imagine, but try to think about the world where everyone loves their neighbour as themselves. Where forgiveness is offered quickly, love is freely shared, and where all people feel safe and free. Imagine unspeakable joy and the deepest of peace because there is no fear but only acceptance, belonging and generosity. It’s hard to imagine, but if we try we get a glimpse into the beauty of heaven. 

A few weeks ago I had something like a vision. I was imagining this outpouring of God’s blessing into a vessel that represents The Grove. The vessel had four characteristics that enabled us to catch and distribute God’s grace into the people and neighbourhood around us. I attempted to draw what I imagined which was not awesome! But I managed to create four digital views of a vessel to explain what Jesus impressed on my heart. I shared these at our team and vision night, as biblical values that position us to steward an outpouring of God’s power and love through service.   

(pic of vessels)

A LOW VESSEL - HUMILITY

The word humility means low to the ground. Jesus demonstrated humility through becoming human, serving people, washing feet and being obedient to death on a cross to save us. John Dickson gave this definition. Humility is the noble choice to forgo your status, deploy your resources or use your influence for the good of others before yourself. Let’s follow Jesus example to go low, serve and lift others up. 

A CLEAR VESSEL – INTEGRITY 

Character matters more than ability. When we serve people without hidden agendas, pretence, or self centred motives, we offer them genuine love and safety. Integrity isn’t about perfection but authenticity. Jesus taught that the pure in heart will see God (Matt 5:8). If we are clear vessels, not only will people see and experience Jesus through us, we will see Jesus glory with an unclouded view. 

AN OPEN VESSEL – AVAILABILITY

God is looking to fill the cups of those open to be transformed by his power, shaped by his word and available to make a difference. There is a growing hunger for God in our city, but that hunger needs to be even greater in the church. When our hearts, minds, time and resources are available to Jesus, then we become conduits of his transforming power, healing and provision into a broken and lost world.  

A SOLID VESSEL – UNITY

A cup won’t hold water if there are cracks in it, which is why the devil seeks to cause division in churches. But when we are quick to forgive and seek to be peacemakers, James called it godly wisdom which strengthens unity and produces a harvest (James 3:13-18). When the mission of God really matters to us, we will seal up cracks so that we don’t leak and dry up, but instead fill up and overflow

Leanne and I are so grateful to be part of a church family where humility, integrity, availability and unity are clearly evident. But we also pray with you that God would only increase the quality and size of our vessel that is low to the ground, clear, open and water tight. A greater outpouring is coming, and may we be ready to catch and distribute grace to many, so that God’s Kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Pastor Marty