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    Important: Our next steps toward the Mernda church plant
    Church family,

    Over the next several weeks we’re entering a really important season together as we prepare to launch the Mernda church plant. First off, let me say how grateful I am for the way many of you have already been praying, asking questions, and offering help. It is great to see that the church has embraced this as a “whole church” thing. We at Wonga Park (originally established as a church plant) now get to be part of a new church plant. Isn’t God great! 
    As we enter this next season together as a church, it is very important that we be very clear about the joys and the costs of what this will entail. We are and remain one church, on a mission to see the lost reached for Christ and take their next or first steps toward Jesus.

    Our preaching focus: “One Church, Sent People”

    From this Sunday (1 February) through to the end of March (with a couple of special Sundays and guest preachers in the middle), we’ll be working through a focused teaching series which I called “One Church, Sent People”. My hope with this series is to help us as a church be spiritually shaped for this exciting season of church planting so that we can remain worship-centred, grow in prayerfulness, stay united, and to be ready to serve and share Jesus with others.

    This is the plan: 
    • Sunday 1 February — Sent from Worship
    • Sunday 8 February — Prayerful Dependence
    • Selah Evening (8 February): a night of praise and prayer as we keep our eyes on God together and pray specifically for the Mernda plant.
    • Sunday 15 February (Lord’s Supper) — Costly Love + church plant training after the service
    • Sunday 22 February — Unity in Planting + church plant training after the service
    • Sunday 1 March — We Go Together + Mernda Church Plant launch Sunday at Wonga Park, with lunch
    • Sunday 8 March (Labour Weekend) — Guest preacher
    • Sunday 15 March (Lord’s Supper) — The Table Joins People
    • Sunday 22 March — Pulpit swap: Lukas Edwards
    • Sunday 29 March — Every Member a Minister
    Please notice the Church training on the 15th and 22nd of February!

    On 15 February and 22 February, we’ll run church plant training straight after the service. These sessions are designed to help those who are considering being part of the Mernda plant understand what it means in practice, and to help us build a healthy team culture from the beginning.

    We’ll talk about things like:
    • what it means to be part of a church plant team (and what it doesn’t mean)
    • how we’ll serve together in a sustainable way
    • how we’ll communicate and handle tension well (because unity doesn’t happen by accident)
    • how we welcome new people, care for one another, and keep our focus on Jesus
    • how those who are staying connected at Wonga Park can actively support and strengthen the plant
    If you’re still wondering whether and to what extent you should be involved in the actual church plant in Mernda, I strongly encourage you to come along. And if you’re not sure yet, you’re still very welcome these weeks are a great time to listen, pray, and seek the Lord’s leading.

    A word for everyone — whether you’re going or staying

    Some of you will be called to be part of the Mernda launch team. Others will be called to remain at Wonga Park and be faithful senders praying, encouraging, giving, helping practically, and keeping the whole church strong. We need both!! This is not a “some people’s project”, it is something we believe God is calling all of us into. 

    Please keep Selah on 8 February and the training sessions on 15 and 22 February in your diary, and be praying now about how God might be calling you to participate in this next season.

    Looking forward to walking through this together. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I look forward to hearing from you!

    Blessings
    Chris P

    Published On: January 28th, 2026

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