Talks

Matt picked up after VISION Sunday with a new series called PLANTED.
He referred back to the three passages in the Bible that inform our vision for the year. Jeremiah 17:7-8, Psalm 92:12-14 and Psalm 1:3. They each describe a healthy, flourishing tree. The tree is an analogy for people. People who are godly, prioritise God’s word, trust in God and put their hope and confidence in Him.
The outcome of living this way is that these people: (trees) Flourish, Grow strong, Withstand heat and drought, produce much fruit in every season and stay green and healthy.
But for this to happen, they need to be PLANTED!
God is the planter who plants people in church. (Matt talked more about this.)
Finally Matt gave us 10 reasons why Jesus Followers need to be planted in Church:
1. God designed growth to happen in community
2. Christians need spiritual covering and shepherding
3. The Church is Christ’s body - you can’t flourish detached
4. Discipleship requires rhythms of teaching and formation
5. Worship is a corporate calling, not only a personal one
6. We need accountability to stay spiritually healthy
7. God uses community to reveal and refine our character
8. Spiritual gifts are meant to operate in the body
9. Belonging to a Church community aligns us with God’s mission
10. God promises fruitfulness

After looking back on 2025 and praising God for all the good things we heard and experienced together in a year when “Simply Jesus” was our theme, Matt introduced us to our vision for 2026.
He explained that during November as the core team prayed together, they considered the health of our church. They came to the conclusion that Ashwood is a healthy church!  Praise God!  What could it look like to become even more healthy?  Matt shared 3 different passages from the bible – all of which described healthy trees! He asked us to close our eyes and imagine the scene….
“Like a tree that is planted near the riverbank that bears fruit all year long….” .What does it look like for us to be PLANTED in God’s house, ROOTED in Christ and FRUITFUL in every season?
Let’s come before God for ourselves and for our church and invite Jesus to come and help us become the Spiritually Healthy Growing Church for all ages that He wants us to be!

We love Baptism Sunday!
Bob spoke about how Jesus “cleans” us spiritually from our sin – the things that make us feel shame and unclean.
Through His death on the cross he made it possible for us to be transformed and made clean again.
Available to everyone. And Baptism points to this.
It was wonderful to hear the stories and testimonies of Melissa, Clare, Mark and Tanya as they explained why they had decided to be baptised.
All of them explained so honest and clear.

We were treated to a different format of service this Sunday: A Question and Answer panel with our Ashwood Church Core leaders. We learned how other people would describe their character, what they are passionate about, how they have seen God move lately, how they keep connected with God and many more things.

For our second Sunday of the year (and in the middle of our season of prayer) Claire’s message was titled: Entering the year Anchored in God!
Claire used the words from Psalm 118 - A song written on the other side of the struggle. The writer doesn’t pretend there was no pressure, no rejection, no fear — but still declared that through it all, God was still good and still faithful.

The psalm reminds us that when we are hard pressed, God makes space; when we are rejected, God is still building; and when we step into a new day, we can do so with thanksgiving, not fear.

As we enter this year, Psalm 118 calls us to anchor our lives not in what we can control, but in who God is — because His love still endures forever.

Here’s the prayer Claire invited us to pray at the end – why not pray again today:

God, as we begin this new year, we don’t pretend to have it all figured out.
We bring You our hopes, our questions, and the things that feel uncertain right now.
But today we choose trust.
We choose to believe that You are good — even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
We choose to believe that You are faithful — even when the pressure is real.
We place this year in Your hands.
Not asking for control, but for confidence in who You are.
Anchor our hearts in Your love.
Lead us day by day. And help us walk forward with gratitude and courage.
We trust You, Lord Jesus.  Amen.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE!
Matt started 2026 by looking at what changes and what doesn’t change! (He even sang a song from Frozen 2!) In a world that’s constantly changing it’s re-assuring to know that God does not change.  (“I am the Lord and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6)
As Anna says in Frozen: “That’s why I rely on certain certainties”.

Here’s 5 certainties we can rely on in 2026:
1) The World Changes - God does not!
“Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens (skies) with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them. But you are always the same; you will live forever.” Psalm 102:25-27.
2) God’s Love does not change
“The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
3) God’s Promises do not change
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘YES’ in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:20
What are God’s promises for 2026?
- His Presence (Hebrews 13:5)
- His Peace (John 14:27)
- His Strength (Philippians 4:13)
- His Forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
- His Guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6)
- His Faithful Work in Us (Philippians 1:6)
- Eternal Life (1 John 2:25)
4) God’s Purposes do not change
They are:
- To redeem
- To restore
- To heal
- To renew
5) Simply Jesus - He does not change
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8

What does this mean for a new year?
1. Rest in His Stability
2. Build your Identity in Jesus
3. Live with Courage and Hope

Matt ended the service with a blessing for 2026: receive this blessing today!
May the God who called you keep you.
May the oil on your life never run dry.
May your homes be places of rest and laughter.
May your hearts remain soft, even when the road is hard.
May wisdom guard you, joy strengthen you, and grace surround you.
May you start this year grateful and enter it with expectancy.
Amen

Christmas Day Service 2025

Christmas Carol Service 2025

Family Nativity Service

Our “Earthshakers” took us back to the first Christmas and acted out beautifully!  (We especially loved the grumpy inn-keeper!)

Thank you to Rich and all the Earthshaker leaders not just for Sunday but throughout the year for investing into the lives of all our amazing children!

We focused on the star that led the wise men to Bethlehem. Abby shared five meaningful points we can remember when looking at the five-pointed star that was given out as a gift by the children:

Guidance: The wise men followed the star and found Jesus. In the same way, Jesus is our light who guides us through every difficulty.
Illuminate: The star illuminates the darkness, just as Jesus reveals our sins so that we can turn from them and live in a way that honours God.
Hope: The star encourages us to look up to the light. Jesus is that light who shines into the darkness of this world, giving us hope and the assurance of a brighter future.
Promise: The coming of Jesus was promised long ago, and on that first Christmas, He arrived. God always keeps His promises.
Shine: The star shines for Jesus. When we give Him all the glory, we can shine for Him too.

Bec spoke on the last part in our series “The Real Jesus,” exploring Jesus’ true character beyond religious assumptions and focusing on Intimate Jesus—a Saviour who desires deep, personal closeness with His followers. She highlighted how Jesus serves intimately, Jesus calls us friends, Jesus walks with us in our struggles, as seen on the road to Emmaus and continually invites us to truly know Him rather than just know about Him. She urged us to move beyond “religious fog” into genuine relationship, to let Jesus be Himself with us, to practice loving Him daily, and to allow His life to fill ours.