An update from Pastor Steven Penley
2020 was a different but blessed year for Aberfoyle Park Baptist Church.
Looking back, 2020 had all the ingredients for a very difficult year, but I am grateful that our church family saw the opportunity to build stronger relationships and care for one another during COVID-19.
Connect and Care phone calls and prayer chains formed quickly and the pastoral care team rose to the occasion.
COVID restrictions meant we were unable to run our community carols in the local park. We rethought our usual approach, and the church put on an amazing display of Christmas lights with the theme; ‘Jesus is the reason for the Season’.
We turned our pre-Christmas service into a family-friendly ‘Cafe Church’. Attendees were served barista coffee, hot chocolate, and snacks as we worshipped cabaret-style. Two visitors were initially nervous but quickly felt at home getting to know others at their table.
As the pastor, it was so special to drive around the local suburbs and pray for guidance about which homes to deliver hampers of Christmas food to.
At one point, a woman turned up at church mid-week stating she was lonely and wanted to check if our church had anything to offer. We did. Two new seniors are now attending regularly and connecting.
Currently, we are searching for a new pastor, but we have come out of 2020 feeling blessed and hopeful for the future.
