Celebrating 75 years

On the 3rd June 2011, we held a fun evening. We were entertained by our musicians who played beautiful quartets on strings accompanied by the organ. Well done "Coots" and Frederick! Sarah Coutlakis danced for us and we sang fun, silly songs. Our small groups had us in stitches with "skits" and we saw our minister in a new light!
Delicious eats ended the evening off.
On Sunday the 5th June the church was packed as Bishop Gavin Taylor gave us a message on being living stones. Jannie and Angela sang that beautiful song "The Holy City" accompanied by Jandy and Wanita and Charmaine unveiled the new banner - a gift from Harties Methodist church for our birthday.
Beautiful flower arrangements made the church look so special and lovely bookmarks with beads on were handed out to the congregation.A superb lunch was served at noon under the marquee and "tin temple" outside on the nicest sunny day!

Brits Church turns 75 years

After checking the archives in Pretoria last year Jannie discovered that the first time services were held by Methodists in Brits was 75 years ago. Ministers came from Pretoria to preach and this congregation group grew over the years. They met in various places until eventually purchasing a house in Kerk St.
It was dedicated in 1983.
After lots of prayer and hard work, this was renovated in 2003 into the beautiful sanctuary of today.
Then in 2006 the first resident minister was appointed - the Rev Jannie Hofmeyr and his wife Angela. He had a mandate to build up this congregation in order to plant another congregation at Harties. The new congregation - an offshoot of the Brits congregation began in November 2007.
Praise to God for His faithfulness and well done to all the members for vision, prayers and hard work.

World Aids Day

Some of our members took part in the World Aids Day service held at the Brits Library on Tuesday 1st December. The library staff had put up a wonderful display and co- ordinated the service.
Hymns were sung and Mr Selwyn Kerr from Harties Methodist church gave a power point presentation on Aids and the work of "Helping Hands" that he heads up.
(This is an outreach programme of Harties and Brits Methodist church which runs at the Brits hospital.Patients are given refreshments and a devotional service. Bibles are handed out and they can receive prayer from the team.)

Rev Jannie Hofmeyr gave a sermon based on the Prodigal Son - and showed how the attitude of the Father was to the wayward son. This was compared to the older brother who rejected his brother - "your son..." In order to help in the fight against Aids we need to reach out in help. They are our brothers and sisters.

The AIDS candles were lit as the hymn "I need Thee every hour" was sung. How true for a country caught in the ravages of this disease.

Rev Jannie and is wife, Angela, led the singing of "Plea for Africa". As the lyrics say: "God bless Africa and her sons and daughters."

Valuable to Jesus

These little dolls are going to children who have been abused or are at risk of abuse (as a result of family / social situations) and are filled with meaning. They convey the messages:

You are lovingly handmade by the Almighty God of the Universe (the little dolls are handmade, with love)

There is no-one like you (each doll is unique; not one is the same as another)

You are extremely valuable – no money can pay for you (the dolls are not for sale)

God wants to keep you safe in the palm of His hand (the dolls fit in the palm of your hand)

Sonop Surprise

About 50 children from Sonop gathered excitedly to climb on board a bus to take them to a party organised just for them in Brits. Just look at their beautiful Jesus T-shirts and smiling faces.






They enjoyed food and treats, a jumping castle, stories with magnificent puppets and even horse riding.
They have a "Sunday school" on Friday afternoons in Sonop where they learn about our Saviour Jesus.

Holy Week

What a special and moving season in our church calendar as once again we journeyed together to Gethsemane, Calvary and the empty tomb.
Ladies from the group "Freedom of the heart" presented a powerful dance to the song "Thank You for the cross" by Graham Kendrick.

Other musical items were very deep songs of the death of our Lord Jesus. The Tennebrae service held at the Harties church included hand washing. Candles were extinguished as we heard readings of all the events of Jesus journey to the cross.





After the darkness and pain of Good Friday we waited with bated breath for the sun to rise over the dam to greet the best day of the year - Resurrection Sunday. We celebrated again in church later with powerful music and we filled the church with white and yellow flowers.

LENT

As we journey to Holy Week and Resurrection Sunday, we focus on what Jesus has done for us. We began with a pancake evening at the Hofmeyrs home and shared in an Ash ceremony. Some have given up favorite beverages or treats to be reminded of the sacrifice that our Lord made.
On Palm Sunday(5th April) each person will receive a palm cross to celebrate when Jesus came humbly into Jerusalem on a donkey, but as King of the Jews.
See our Holy Week programme below.

Easter Programme
Music and Mime – Wed 8th April
7.00 pm at Brits
Tenebrae Service – Thursday 9th April
7.00 pm at Harties
Good Friday – Fri 10th April
8 am Harties and 9.30 Brits
Easter Sunrise Service – 6.00 am
Caribbean Beach Club
Resurrection Sunday 12th April
8 am Harties 9.30 am Brits

Sermon Bible Study Series

For the next few weeks Rev Jannie will be leading us in a series based on the theme from the book: "The Jesus I never knew" by Philip Yancey. The sermons and two Fellowship/Bible Study groups will focus on this.

A perfect evening for Carols by candlelight at the waterfront

The glorious sunset itself made the evening perfect as folk had a picnic on the lush green lawns of the Caribbean Beach Club.
As the sun dipped down behind the mountains the violins and guitars tuned up and the special Scripture readings were shared and carols sung as candles flickered happily in the evening air.

Carol singing at Sonop Home

In previous years we have sung carols to those residents of the home able to join us in the hall. This year we decided to visit each ward and room. The corridors rang with carols and the faces lit up as we visited.
A huge box of presents was pushed on a trolley taking something for each person.
Tired feet, fingers and voices we may have had but we will never forget the joy on the faces of these precious people.
We say thanks to Elsje for organising it all.

Christmas party at Sonop Feeding Scheme

So many children and adults gathered in Sonop for a very special party.Colourful flags waved to the music as Anatasia taught the children about lifting up the name of Jesus and then Marianne told them a story. There were a couple of items sung to Meisie as she was thanked for starting the Feeding Scheme. The children lined up in age groups to receive their packet of goodies while guitars and a violin accompanied some Christmas carols.
Later on every enjoyed a boerewors roll.
The miracle of this feeding scheme is that it started as Meisie's dream nad starting with a large pot and her own food parcel it has grown into the feeding of 200 daily with donations coming from all over as hearts are touched.

Plans for Christmas 2008

Sat 6th Dec 11 am Christmas Party at the Sonop Feeding Scheme

Tuesday 9th Dec 10 am - Visiting the rooms at Sonop Old Age Home with gifts and singing carols

Wednesday 10th Dec 6pm Picnic and Carols by Candlelight at Caribbean Beach Club- bring your own picnic, chair/blanket and candle

Thursday 25th December CHRISTMAS DAY - Worship at the church at 9.30 am

Concert at Sonop Old Age Home

To our delight and the residents of Sonop Old Age Home, the children from the Sonop school danced and sang. The rain did not deter them and their young, fresh faces brought joy to us all. They received cake and juice and so did the residents. It was a lovely morning where the old could be blessed by the young.

Sonop Feeding Scheme

When some ladies in Sonop decided to try and feed the children and poor people from their meagre and small pensions, Elsje came to their rescue and with donations from our church and Rotary has helped to get this new feeding scheme on its feet.
There are now over 200 children and grown ups being fed daily just in the garden and car port of Meisie's home in Sonop.
Our church is supplying the bread for each day. All donations are welcome and a basket is in the church foyer for any contributions that people would like to make.
On the 6th December there will be a party for these folk and we will be going along to support them and to sing carols.
Watch this space.....

Baptism Font

Brits church has received a baptism font - from our own Rev Jannie's family. After the sad passing of Jannie's father, the furniture was shared between the 3 children. Jannie asked for the baptism font which his mother had bought from her church which had been replaced by a new one. As a keen flower arranger Jannie's mom had used the font for her beautiful arrangements at home.
This font was used at Brits church for the first time when baby Seth Griessel was baptised on the 9th of November.

Rev Jannie- a significant year

Our Rev Jannie studied under Professor Malan and got his honours degree. Jannie was ordained 20 years ago and has been in the ministry 25 years.

Father's day

Quotes for Fathers’ Day

Worship is the way we honour our heavenly Father and thank Him that we are one of His beloved children.
(Stormie Omartian.)

There are only two things we should give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.”
(Hodding Carter)

In bringing up children, spend on them half as much money and twice as much time.”
(unknown)

“Many of us have inherited great riches from our parents – the bank account of PERSONAL FAITH and Family PRAYERS. (Nels Ferre)

Each day we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. (Charles Swindoll)

“when you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.
(The Talmud)

A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
(Unknown)

Children seldom misquote you. In fact they repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said. (unknown)

I love to play hide and seek with my child, but some days my goal is to find a hiding place where he can‘t find me until after high school.) (Unknown)

Baby Boom

Recently about 7 babies have been baptised in our little church. Some were happy to be held by Rev Jannie and others not so happy. We pray God's blessing on these little ones and as a church we commit ourselves to help bring them up to know and follow the Lord Jesus. One of the little one's English names was even "Bless"!!

Building up the local church

With the expert help of Professor Malan Nel from Tukkies we have engaged in a process to build up the local church. On the 12th April we spent the day with Prof and he guided us through questionnaires to establish what we saw as our weaknesses and strengths. We formed a sub- committee who has been looking at these and we have put out response forms to the congregation. There have been further meetings with Prof Nel to help inplement these ideas. We are now putting all this together and setting objectives and a mission statement. There is to be further discussion with the congregation.

Palm Sunday

This is a special day when we remember Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a colt and all the people shouting and singing, waving palm branches and putting cloaks on the ground. When Jesus stopped at one stage the Bible says He wept over Jerusalem. We realize that He weeps today over the tragedies in our world. But the good news is that He faced the cross to bring hope and new life.