Evening Community Replant
Looking Ahead Together
Over the past few months, together with some of the team, we’ve been spending time praying, listening and discerning what we sense God is saying to us about this next season for our Evening community. As we’ve done that, we’ve found ourselves increasingly grateful for all that God has done over the years, while also growing in anticipation for what we believe He is inviting us into next.
What We Love About the Evening Community
There is so much we love about our evening community.
We love that it has always been a unique space to worship, encounter God and come as you are. We love its authenticity, flexibility and laid-back feel. We love that it is a place where people can be known, and where relationships matter. These things are precious, and we don’t want to lose them.
Why We Believe It’s Time for a New Season
At the same time, we sense God inviting us into a season of dreaming and reimagining what the evening congregation could become.
We believe there is potential for the evening community to be an even stronger expression of church life—a place where people encounter God deeply, are equipped to partner with Him in His work, welcome newcomers, pray for healing and freedom, and find a community where they can truly belong and be planted for the long term.
As we’ve reflected, we’ve also recognised some challenges. Our weekly gathering has become quite small, serving has been carried by a limited number of people, and we need fresh ideas and fresh energy for how we grow as a congregation and reach others.
Rather than simply continuing as we are, we believe this is the right time to invest intentionally in building the foundations for the next season.
An Invitation to Join the Replanting Team
As we look towards this next season, we’d love to invite everyone who calls the Evening community home to be part of a replanting team. Our hope is to gather a committed community who will pray, dream, discern and help shape what God is leading us into together.
When we talk about a replanting team, we’re not simply looking for people with lots of ideas or people who see themselves as leaders. We’re inviting anyone who loves the Evening community and wants to be part of seeking God for its future. Whether your contribution is praying, encouraging others, serving, sharing ideas or simply faithfully being present, there is a place for you.
What Will Change During This Season?
Instead of our usual Sunday evening service, we’ll meet together each week in a different format as a replanting team. We’ll meet on Sunday afternoons from 3pm-5pm, on the Top Shelf.
During these gatherings we’ll spend time:
- Clarifying our mission and vision, and seeking God.
- Exploring what makes our Evening community unique.
- Listening to one another’s hopes, experiences and ideas.
- Praying into and preparing for the next season of the Evening community.
Creating space for this season of replanting means that, for one school term, we’ll pause our weekly public Evening service. We want to be very clear: the Evening community is not closing or coming to an end. Rather, we’re making room to intentionally strengthen and replant what God has entrusted to us, with the hope of relaunching as a stronger, healthier and more fruitful community.
We genuinely believe this could be a significant season in the life of our Evening community. So if you have a heart for the Evening community and would like to invest in its next season, we’d love you to join us. You don’t need a leadership role, a particular gift set, or a grand vision. You simply need a willingness to pray, participate and journey with us as we seek God’s direction together.
Not sure about joining in with the replanting meetings?
If you feel you don’t have the capacity to be a part of this during this season, that’s completely okay.
You can continue to:
- Participate in a Life Group during the week
- Get along to the Morning service on Sundays
- Look out for the special Sunday Evening events next term – more details to come
Timeline
12th July
Normal service – Sharing Stories
19th July – 2nd August
No evening service – sabbath rest
9th August – Mid-October
Meeting in the new format 3pm-5pm on the Top Shelf
Mid-October
Relaunch the Evening community
Your Next Step
We are genuinely excited about what God might do in this next chapter. Our prayer is that this season will help us become a healthier, stronger and more fruitful community—one that is deeply rooted in Jesus, committed to one another, and ready to join Him in His work.
As we step into this next season together, we’d love everyone to click the link below and let us know how you’d like to stay connected. Whether you’re planning to be part of the replanting team, would like to receive updates while you don’t have capacity to be involved, or would like information about joining a Life Group, we’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for being part of this community. We would love your prayers as we step into this new season together.
Blessings,
Bonnie & Rob
FAQs
No. The Evening Community is not closing—we're entering a new season.
Rather than continuing to do things the way we always have, we're taking this opportunity to intentionally strengthen the foundations of the community so that it can become all that we believe God is calling it to be. During Term 3, instead of public Sunday evening services, we'll gather as a replanting team to pray, dream, learn and build together, with the aim of relaunching our public gatherings in mid-October.
As we've prayed and reflected over the last few months, we've become increasingly aware that while there is so much we love about the Evening Community, there are also some areas that need intentional attention.
Rather than simply continuing with our current pattern, we believe it's worth taking a season to invest in the culture, vision, leadership and community we want to build. We want to create space to hear from God together, develop new leaders, clarify our mission and think creatively about how we can become a thriving, welcoming and Kingdom-focused community for the future.
Our plan is to relaunch public Sunday evening gatherings in mid-October.
During Term 3 we'll meet weekly as a replanting team, before launching back into regular public services with renewed vision, energy and a stronger foundation.
We completely understand that everyone's season and capacity is different.
While we'd love everyone who calls the Evening Community home to prayerfully consider being part of this season, we know that won't be possible for everyone. There is no pressure or expectation. We would simply love your prayers and support, and we'd be delighted to welcome you back when public gatherings relaunch.
Yes.
Life Groups will continue as normal throughout this season. We believe they remain one of the best places to build relationships, grow in faith and stay connected to community while we take this time to replant the Evening Community.
The invitation is open to everyone who calls the Evening Community home.
You don't need to be a leader, have lots of ideas or commit to a particular role. We're looking for people who simply want to seek God together, contribute where they can, and help build the future of this community. Every person has something valuable to bring.
We'll gather each Sunday from 3:00–5:00pm during Term 3.
These afternoons will include worship, prayer, teaching, discussion, vision, and practical conversations about the future of the Evening Community. There will also be opportunities to build community together through shared meals and worship nights throughout the term.
That's completely understandable.
Change can bring excitement for some and uncertainty for others. We'd encourage you to come with an open heart, ask questions and journey with us. We don't have every detail worked out yet, but we're confident God is leading us into something good, and we'd love you to be part of discerning that together.
Because we aren't starting from scratch—we're building on something that already has deep roots.
There is so much about the Evening Community that we love and want to preserve. A replant is about strengthening what already exists, renewing our vision and creating the healthiest possible foundation for the future, rather than abandoning what has been. It honours the past while intentionally preparing for what's next.