AN OPEN LETTER

West Footscray Presbyterian Church is in a stage of new beginnings. Although as a church community we had a long history of service and ministry in the heart of West Footscray, in more recent years (with no pastor to feed, lead or shepherd us) it was a struggle to balance the mission of the church with available resources. Following much prayer and wide consultation, the congregation carried through with their intentional decision to appoint a full-time Pastor from 2020.  In response to our invitation, Martin de Pyle and his wife Sabine moved from Canberra. Since their arrival, they have proactively engaged with the West Footscray community in a range of ways and Martin has prioritised his time teaching from the Bible, training people to use their gifts, as well as supporting families. By the grace of God, we have experienced significant congregational growth. 

We write this open letter because we want everyone to be aware that we do not exist to be a “holy huddle”. Rather, as a community of God’s people we acknowledge we are loved by Him (1 John 4: 19) and understand that He desires us to reach out into our community with the message that “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Given this, we warmly invite you and your family to meet and worship with us on a Sunday and to feel most welcome to join our church life.

To explain more about who we are, we would like to stress that we are not a group of people who are united by cultural practices, consumer preferences, or political parties. Rather, we are united by a common faith in the triune God who has made himself known in His creation and through the pages of the Bible. We are committed to confessional, Reformed Christianity. We are passionate about the gospel, we take worship seriously, and we seek to live our lives to the glory of God alone.

A priority for us is to gather together every Sunday to hear Christ proclaimed from all the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit meets us through the Bible and the sacraments, in order to announce God’s promises and renew His covenant with us. As we meet to give glory to God, we have our faith strengthened, our minds renewed, and our lives sanctified. Further to this, because the gospel is making us Christ's new society in the world, we seek to love each other as a spiritual family and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

What does this mean to you? If you are weary, lacking in assurance, long to hear some good news, or burnt out on shallow preaching and worship that is more about you than Christ and his glory, West Footscray Presbyterian Church may just be the people and place you are looking for. Come and be a part of what we are doing and see for yourself. Until then, have a look around our website and learn a little more about our church. If you can join with us at any time, you will always be most welcome. 

The Elders of West Footscray Presbyterian Church.