Sunday 18 January 2026

Happy New Year and welcome back, church family!

I hope you have all had a refreshing break over the holidays and found some time to rest, reset, and enjoy moments with family and friends.

Over the Christmas period, my daughter Latafale and her family came over from Perth and stayed with us for a few weeks. What a joy it was to have them home. Gosh, the children had grown so much! Especially little Iosefa. We hadn’t seen them for a whole year, and when we last saw him, he was only one week old. Now he is walking, eating solid food, and trying very hard to talk. Time really does fly.

Their daughter Heaven has also grown so much. She’s now speaking in big sentences, exploring God’s beautiful world, and asking so many thoughtful questions. Watching them grow was a wonderful reminder of how God designed us to develop physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

It brought to mind the words from Hebrews 5:12–14, where Scripture reminds us that there comes a time when we should move beyond milk and grow into solid food, becoming mature in our understanding and faith. We are also reminded in 1 Peter 2:2 that like newborn infants, we are to crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it we may grow up in our salvation.

Growth is part of God’s plan for every one of us. But we are not meant to stay as babies. Whether we are 1 or 91, God calls us to keep growing in Him, to deepen our faith, strengthen our walk, and mature in love, wisdom, and obedience.

As we step into this new year, my prayer is that we would keep pressing into the spiritual things of God. Let us hunger for His Word, remain sensitive to His Spirit, and be willing to grow, stretch, and be transformed.

May this year be one of renewed faith, spiritual growth, and joyful obedience. God is not finished with us yet, He is still working, still shaping, and still calling us forward.

Just as families grow, let us grow together in the Lord, here at St Peters.