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