Place - Pastor's Pen for 20th Sept 2026

Hera wanted an updated photo for the cover of the AGM reports, so I took one, seeing as the existing one was quite old. It got me thinking that the church is, of course, not about the building, as much as it is the people. Still, as physical beings we need a physical place to be.

As the different workstreams of our Revitalise project go about their mission, it's likely there will be a few changes to the physical site. One of the streams we call 'Impressions.' Do people feel welcome when the enter our church for the first time? What is their first impression? Is there somewhere for their children to safely and happily be, as welcome participants in the community?

I feel we are getting more connected to our place here in Forrest Hill. I'm noticing more and more community building activity as I walk, run and cycle about the place. There's a wee library on a stand just down the road, which I've seen more people using. There's the folk who weed and plant and tend Centennial Park as part of the Campbell's Bay urban sanctuary team. Grow Forrest Hill is just down the road and soon to be expanding the vision into the vacant sections left by the floods. We anticipate the sunflowers and more.

Yes we are a community of the Spirit, but we are a people embodied in a particular place, called to be salt and light in this neighbourhood. Perhaps we will be like Jacob in Genesis 28, awaking from slumber and exclaiming; “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” May we too know the presence and leading of God as we seek to be a people following God in Forrest Hill.