This Sunday is our Missions Sunday. During the service, the congregation listened to videos from all the missionaries we support across the world (audio of this omitted here). Ps Steu then spoke about why we do what we do and why this is important to us all.

The only true complete and lasting answer to the needs of humanity is found in Christ Jesus. There is nothing and nobody else that can be bring true hope, true healing and restoration outside of Salvation found in Jesus Christ. God's desire is that every human being on the face of this planet would find salvation in Jesus. Ps Steu refers to the well known verse John 3:16....(NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life".

Salvation is something every person can receive. All we have to do is put our faith in Jesus, repent of our sins and come to Jesus. Ps Steu explains at great length with many other scripture references how this is the plan of God for all humanity, to have the opportunity to be saved. This was revealed to Peter in Acts chapters 10 and 11. We have all been given an incredible message by God to share with the people around our lives.

We are Christ's ambassadors. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news!

Last week Ps Carla began a news series looking at 'Life is a Garden'. Following this, Ps Sean this week takes a look specifically at what we can sow with a focus on our finances.

Amongst many scripture references, Sean looks at Luke 6:38 (NIV) "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” The law of sowing and reaping is as relevant today as it was thousands of years back when the scripture was written. He follows this with Matthew 6:19..."“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".

Ps Sean points out that there are two fields we can sow into - the immediate field in front of us and the eternal field beyond our temporal lifespan. Which is worth more to sow into? The Bible tells us to set our minds on Heavenly things, not earthy things. Gaining the whole world but losing our soul is not wise..

Ps Sean goes on to speak about the love of money and our love for the Lord. 1 Timothy 6:10 (NIV) says "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Money helps us achieve many things, the key here is our heart attitude. Are we doing something because of our love of a monetary reward (perhaps), or our love for our Lord?

This is a challenging message!

Ps Carla begins a new series of messages entitled 'Life is a Garden'. The first message is subtitled 'Wilderness to Promised Land'. All through scripture from Genesis to the New Testament we find numerous references to gardens, agriculture, seed time and harvest (we reap what we sow).

Today Carla speaks about how in Genesis 2:8, Our Father God planted a garden. NIV verses..."Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed". In verse 15, God told Adam to work the garden and care for it "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it".

The Bible says God planted and Ps Carla envisages God crouching down putting seeds into the ground, perhaps with dirty hands. So the Bible is full of imagery around gardening, all this relating to our relationship with God, who is the planter & cultivator of both creation and of our hearts.

Ps Carla explains how the story of the Israelites who eventually feed not from manna & quail, but planted crops is similar. No longer was God going to rain down provision but to do something different. He was saying now you need to work the land and care for it. The Israelites had come into a place where the principle of seed time and harvest were put in motion.

Ps Carla leaves us with thoughts on three key seeds we have the ability to sow daily

• Speech - how we speak really matters. Proverbs 19:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat of its fruits.
• Tears - Psalm 126:5 (NIV) says "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy". We may be moved to tears in our prayers of closeness to our Lord...
• Energy or money or capabilities - God loves a cheerful giver, all that we have is His anyway!

Ps Andy rounds off the series on a "Growing Church" by speaking about Communion and Prayer. During the service he then led the whole church into taking communion together.

Acts 2:42 (NIV) says "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer". This has been the central theme for the series on growing the church. Every time we touch the bread, whether it's a cracker, a wafer or sourdough, whatever bread we're using, let it remind us that a body was broken for our freedom. When we take the cup, that Jesus Christ paid the price of his blood, so that we could be set free from religious experience and obligation and brought into a relationship with Him and His Father.

Ps Andy explains the deeper spiritual meaning behind the taking of communion before speaking about prayer and the importance of prayer in our lives. He speaks about us being a house of prayer, not entertainment and how prayer should be ta the heart of our lives.

Prayer and communion go hand in hand, together they are a crucial part of the fellowship of believers as described in Acts 2:42.

Within the context of our series on a Growing Church, today Pastors Andy & Gina Elmes made a significant announcement to all of Family Church held dear to their hearts. The following words accompany the message today from Pastors Andy & Gina.....

After 28 years of pioneering and leading Family Church, on Sunday, 1st February 2026, we will be handing over the leadership of Family Church to Steuart & Carla Payne, who will step into the role of Senior Pastors. This transition comes after much prayer, preparation, and a clear sense that the assignment God gave us nearly three decades ago is now complete. We are confident that this next chapter will be filled with fresh vision, strength, and fruitfulness under Steuart & Carla’s leadership. They are trusted, tested, and called by God to lead Family Church into its next chapter. We are excited about what God will continue to do in and through the church under Steuart & Carla's leadership. Please know that this transition is not an end, but a continuation of the faith journey God has us all on. Thank you for standing with us, for loving us, and for continuing to build God’s house with faith and unity. With love and blessings, Andy & Gina.

Ps Andy further explained how this indeed fits with the biblical pattern of change and transition seen in the New Testament church. Paul raised people, trusted them, pastored them, taught them, established churches and also moved on to new things as God called him. Whilst the news today does seem a huge change, it is a reflection of Ps Andy's willingness to be obedient to God's calling even when the future is uncertain. God is a God of movement, we all need to become open and able to hear His call upon our own lives.

Following in the series about a Growing Church, today Ps Connie speaks about being devoted to one another and walking in shared fellowship with God (as well as with each other).

This is a deep spiritual connection. It is about us having a shared life, walking together in unity and in love with a community of people who love God. We must purpose to walk together in all seasons of life, be it in joy or in sorrow.

At the end of this message Ps Sean speaks briefly about the vision the church has for provision of Connect Groups across our postal area, providing a means of outworking the building of relationships together and discipling individuals in their Christian walk.

Last Week, Ps Andy gave an introduction to the new series "A Growing Church", and explained how this also fits within our overall theme of Magnify and Multiply.

This week, Ps Paula begins the series in earnest by speaking about being 'Devoted to the Word'. The key scripture here is Acts 2:42 (NLT) "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer".

In Acts 2, we read that Peter, a disciple, had just preached the gospel to a crowd. In verse 41, it lets us know that the ones who devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching were those who received Jesus' words, were baptised and added to the church - 3000 souls! Those who gave their lives to Jesus became devoted to His words. What we see in the book of Acts is the word of God come alive to people who were willing to be devoted and were willing to change their lives.

The whole of Paula's message is about how our lives become shaped by reading and being devoted to the word of God. Without this, our lives drift, according to our feelings at times and certainly not in alignment with God's plans for us. We must read and apply Gods word if we want to grow.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) says "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right". We need the bible and Christian friends to feed us truths not pander to our emotions!

This year, Family Church has had a them of Magnify & Multiply in its messages. Ps Andy recaps on these and moves to look at how this theme also applies to the church at large, providing an introduction to a new series entitled "A Growing Church".

After defining what 'church' really is, Ps Andy looks at the cardinal way a church might grow, seeking always to base his thoughts on Biblical principles and patterns.

The early church managed to grow exponentially without social media, internet etc but purely as described in Acts 2, verses 42 onwards (NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved".

Ps Andy dwelt on the key tenets of these verses, serving as an introduction to the forthcoming messages in the next few weeks.