Brits Methodist Church

Friday, September 28, 2007

New members for Brits Methodist

After an enjoyable dinner at the church on 18 September, Jannie officially welcomed our newest members to the congregation during the Sunday service on 23 September.

As followers of Christ we are called to serve and we encourage all members - old and new - to use their gifts and talents in service to God.

We are blessed to have you and hope that you will enjoy being part of this very special family.

Lay Witness Banner team

In order to advertise the Lay Witness GIFT weekend, some very creative congregation members used their talents to design and make the banner, currently on the fence in front of the church.

The banner was designed by Julie Hammond, and our artists - Wilna and Charlene Otto & Amy Ashby - reproduced the design on calico and painted it.

Pic courtesy Charmaine Ashby.

Sunday School

Our young congregation members show their enthusiasm for Sunday School by attending during school holidays as well as term time.

These pics were taken during the July school holidays

Pics courtesy Charmaine Ashby

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Growing In Faith Together - 5 - 7 october 2007

We are looking forward to the Faith and Fellowship weekend with great enthusiasm and have finalised the programme for the weekend. For your easy reference, please find the details below.

All members of the congregation, your friends and family are welcome to join in any or all of the events (in fact the more you can participate, the better!!). While RSVP's do assist with catering, replies are not essential and you aer welcome to attend whether you have indicated your intentions or not.

FRIDAY 5 OCTOBER
6.30 pm congregational supper and fellowship at the Church
7.30 pm Worship, team introductions and testimonies followed by tea/coffee

SATURDAY 6 OCTOBER
10.00 am Coffee, tea and coke groups in homes
3.00 pm Coffee, tea and coke groups in homes
6.30 pm Congregational supper at the Church

SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER
9.00 am Worship service at the church followed by fellowship over tea
6-7 pm Celebration and evaluation service at the church

For more information, please contact Rev Jannie Hofmeyr on 012 244 3217 or Priscilla Oosthuizen on 012 252 0493

We hope to see you there!!!

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Lay Witness weekend - Faith and Fellowship

We, at Brits Methodist Church, are blessed to be hosting a lay witness weekend on 5, 6 and 7 October.

Although the church hosted a Lay Witness Mission a few years ago, there are many members who were not here at that time and who have not experienced such a weekend before. To tell us more about how the weekend works and how each member of the Church can get involved, a coordinator from Lay Witness will be speaking at the service on Sunday 19 August.

From our church, Priscilla Oosthuizen is handling the coordination - a mighty task - and she would appreciate any help from members of our church. Particular areas of need include people for the prayer group, publicity, accommodation, catering, transport, tea and coffee groups, youth, music and flowers. Please contact her on 072 779 9744 if you are able to help in any way.

Fellowship groups our way...

The new Wednesday night bible study / fellowship group has recently completed Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. The group really enjoyed the video course and are all raring to go and

ready to do GREAT things for God.

To celebrate the end of the current course, the group enjoyed a braai this Sunday and we were blessed with magnificent weather and fantastic company. Unfortunately Julie and the Konopi family were ill and could not make it, & Dave was overseas on a business trip. We did, however, enjoy the company of the teenagers of both the Ashby and Otto families.

Beginning this Wednesday, we are starting the Prayer of Jabez - a 4 week video course by Bruce Wilkinson which we are all looking forward to. Frieda has also motivated us to start a bit of a sing-a-long to get the evening going so we are really excited about that.

If anyone would like to join, we really would love to have you with us. Simply talk to the Kerrs, Ashbys, Ottos, Konopis or Hammonds for more info.

We really do have a great time!

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Helping Hands - our HIV / AIDS programme

The “Helping Hands” programme, aimed at HIV/AIDS patients at the Brits hospital, remains our primary outreach program. The number of patients supported with refreshments, Spiritual counseling, prayers and Bible continues to grow and now averages at around 65 to 70 patients per day (of which 10 are children below the age of 6 years).

In the first six months of this year, more than 300 Bibles have been distributed to patients.

As the program has matured, we have gained the confidence of the hospital care workers, many of whom are HIV patients themselves. We are now receiving requests for spiritual support for all areas of the hospital staff, not just the AIDS area. Each morning we commence with a hymn, a Bible reading, a short devotional talk and close with a prayer.

In conjunction with the Brits branch of the Rotary Club of SA, the hospital was presented with 3 new wheelchairs. Additionally, items such as chairs and benches have also been donated to the hospital for the patients use.

Toys and playground equipment for the children have are being donated on an ongoing basis. This is a huge treat for the children who spend hours at the hospital and your donations are greatly appreciated.

In conjunction with the Brits branch of Hospice, we will start distributing food parcels to AIDS affected families from September 1, 2007. Anyone able to donate food and/or assist in any way should contact Selwyn or Wanita

Pics and article courtesy Selwyn Kerr

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Congratulations Jason!!!

Not only did Jason du Plessis win 5 medals for his Irish dancing during the recent school holidays, this talented young man has also been invited to Washington DC to participate in the World Leadership Forum in 2008.

The World Leadership Forum is arranged by People to People International founded by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 with the premise that peace can be achieved through understanding. Jason was nominated by his school as an outstanding student with high academic standing and promising leadership potential.

We are so proud to have this very talented young man in our congregation.

Pic courtesy Charmaine Ashby.

Bibles for All

Toward the end of last year, we started selling Bibles at slightly cheaper rates than available at most book stores. The small profits made on these sales go toward the purchase of Bibles for people who have no other access to the Word

Bibles are sold after Communion services (ie every third Sunday) but are available from Wanita after any service.

More information on the Bible Society is available from their web page (see link on the right hand side of your screen) or from Wanita.

Monday, July 9, 2007

Brits Emmaus Reunion Group

Our monthly reunion meeting for July is being postponed (new date to be advised) as it coincides with the boys Chyrsalis flight and that fact that there are a couple of people away that weekend. We will notify all reunion group members when we have a new date.

Pics of the reunion group's last meeting show that a great time is had by all!!

Pics courtesy Charmaine Ashby.

Friday, July 6, 2007

Chrysalis girls flight - June / July 2007

The Brits Emmaus Reunion group is thrilled to welcome Amy Ashby and Elbé du Preez who recently completed their Chrysalis flight.

The boys, John Ashby and Timothy Coutlakis, are doing their flight on the weekend of 13 July.

Post and pic courtesy Charmaine Ashby

Worship Group

Every Thursday evening the worship group has their practice session. We are so blessed
with the many talents in the group. We boast with the Coutlakis family - Jandy (not present) Timothy, Michael and Amy on violins. The du Preez family - Louize on drums, Moira vocal & Elbe’. The Ashby family - John electric guitar, Amy classic or organ &amp; Charmaine vocal, then Frieda with her angelic voice, Elizabeth tenor & Kelvin. Taking the lead is Rev. Jannie Hofmeyr.