The day had finally arrived. On Sunday 7th October 2001 the newly refurbished Grove Baptist Church was reopened. It had seemed like a long process, through the many stages of renovation. We had moved from the early days in June when the builders seemed to have wreaked unimaginable havoc, and the church interior was hardly recognisable, to a freshly decorated, bright building, smelling of 'newness' everywhere!

Under the watchful eye of Mr Billy Moore, the project coordinator, the refurbishments came together to result in a facility which we can all enjoy. Billy ended up spending most of the summer in the church! There was much sorting, moving, brushing, dusting (and re-dusting many times!) by the Grove folk over the weeks. While the bonus of the project was the wonderful fellowship we experienced in our services in the Jardine Hall over the summer, many weary backs longed for the newly upholstered pews promised!

So, instead of skips and builders' vans, the neighbourhood that Sunday witnessed the congregation gathered outside, wanting to thank the Lord for His goodness and provision. Our Pastor and Elders read from Scripture and led us in prayer, and our oldest member, Mrs Ewing, now a grand old 96, cut the ribbon.

Beginning our service, the male voice choir sang 'I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart', and as we then praised the Lord as a congregation, there was a special sense of a new beginning. Pastor Wilson spoke to us from the prayer which Solomon had prayed on the opening of the Jerusalem temple in 2 Chronicles 6. We were challenged by the question - 'Are we ready to pray effectively?'. We looked at other kings who had the proper attitude to prayer, such as Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah, the principles and particulars of Solomon's prayer, and the priceless blessings God could bestow on that waiting people. As the great King Solomon gave himself last mention, our hearts were challenged to put our own wants last in the assembly of believers.

As the Grove moves into this new era, we must not only be ready to pray effectively, but (as we heard on the following Sunday) be ready for the effects of prayer. We are thankful to a gracious God who has blessed us with a newly equipped building, whose doors are open to a needy neighbourhood. May we be spiritually equipped to serve Him with hearts open to His voice and to the needs of a dying world around us.

2 Chronicles 6v14: ".....O Lord God of Israel, there is no God like Thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto Thy servants, that walk before Thee with all of their hearts."

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