Pastoral Note - Church at 845am and 11am this Sunday

July and August Services at 845am and 11am Only

Hi Table View Methodist Family,

We continue to read Paul’s letter to the Colossians this Sunday; every sentence means so much. This Sunday the reading is from Colossians 2:6-19; I encourage you to read the letter to the Colossians before you come to church this Sunday.  Here are a few verses to meditate on:

Colossians 2:9-10:

9 For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity, 10 and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

The Colossian church seems to have been dealing with teachers who had made faith complicated - insisting on extra beliefs; different to the faith that Paul had taught - simple faith in the basic gospel; Christ died for our sins and in him we have redemption.

We are inclined to let ourselves in for so many forms of spiritual abuse and manipulation; in this passage Paul reminds us to hold on to Christ and only to Christ - to live in personal relationship and not to let others ‘mediate’ for us.

This Saturday

Ready.Set.CAREER!! Come join us this Saturday, 27 July, as we prepare our high schoolers on what they need to know when looking/deciding on a career path to choose in our first ever Career Expo. The event is free of charge and please come support in numbers. Start time is Mid-day.

Stained Glass Windows

I have been given an idea of what it will cost to make the stained glass windows for our sanctuary; about R28,000 for the whole job; about R2,500 per window.  We already have sponsors for four of the windows:

So we look forward to seeing them installed.

God bless,  Gus

Services at 845am and 11am this Sunday

Dear Table View Methodist Family,

For the Sundays in August our services will be at 8:45am and 11am only.  The 8:45am timeslot is exactly halfway between 8 & 930; so I hope that those who lose 45 minutes of sleep and those who lose 45 minutes of sleep will see it as gaining 45 minutes of daylight in which to enjoy your Sunday and gaining 45 minutes of rest and relaxation to begin your Sunday :)

In surveying the congregation online we received 62 responses and the results are as follows:

A compromise was suggested in that in July and August we will continue with the current format and from September revert to having and early and a later service.  Those in favour of an 845 service were about 60% and those who wanted to keep two English services in the morning about 40%.  We've made sure there will be enough chairs this Sunday; and look forward to enjoying a packed church.

For those who are nervous about the busy children at the 845 service; don't worry - it won't be the same as the holiday time services when there was no Sunday School.  Our services begin with the whole family in the church so we can sing and pray together; after this they go to their classes. 

So I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday at 845am and 11am.

God bless,

Gus

Minister's Blog for 2019-07-07

Minister’s Blog

Hi Table View Methodist Family,

During the winter holidays we’ve experimented with a new time for the 8am and 930am services; having them combined at 845am.  We’ve received a lot of positive feedback with many asking that we would keep it this way.

The greatest benefit of this arrangement has been the gift of time after the 845 service to have fellowship and also for folks from the early and later services to meet to co-ordinate our mission.  I’ve sent out an internet survey to get feedback on what we should do going forward;

Of the 20 people surveyed so far
5 say stick with 8, 930 and 11. 
12 say stick with 845 and 11 and
3 suggest we change to a 745, 9 and 11am service.  

The 745 service would be a 45 minute service with two hymns and probably no ‘worship team’.  My vision for the 745 is that it would cater for the more traditional ‘hymn singers’ and finish by 830am.

The question for all of us is not ‘What is most convenient?”  But “Where does the Spirit lead us?”  What will be best for growing the Kingdom of God?

Please add your voice to the online survey by clicking through to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5MKM23R.  We will also give you the opportunity to record your opinion in church on Sunday.  (Please fill in the survey once per-person.)  

Telephones

Our telephones are back online!!!  You can call us on 021 557 1143.  Our new system also allows the office to put you through to my cell phone if I am available.  Also, if you phone and leave a message your voice message will reach the secretary by e-mail.  

Unfortunately with the Telkom system we were missing our voice messages, and missing some calls.  If you phone on the office number after the office is closed you will now get automatically put through to me if I am available.

This new system should save us about R700 per month and should work more efficiently.

Electrical Maintenance

The church would like to thank Jacques Kellerman and his team from ‘Power and Lighting Solutions’ for coming through this week to rewire the church sanctuary and install new LED floodlights around the outside of our building.  

The spotlights that were mounted on the sides of the sanctuary are now mounted on the roof illuminating the communion table, pulpit and cross.  And lights that had previously been removed to accommodate the projector screen have now been re-installed to give light to the worship team and coffee area.

They specialize in commercial work (factories / office blocks / hotels etc.) and can be reached  at 021 531 0913 / http://www.powerlightingsolutionssa.co.za/

Thank you very much to Jacques and your team!

Stained Glass Window Project...

www.readthinkpray.org

Monday - Read Psalm 66:1-9

The Psalmist gives us some instructions:  "Praise God with shouts of joy!"  When last did you try that? - Say to God, “How wonderful are the things you do!"  We are invited to worship 'out loud' to God.

Pray

Help me to praise you with shouts of joy; to remember the wonderful things you have done.

Tuesday - Read Isaiah 66:10-14

Return to Jerusalem will be the result of obedience to God.  Isaiah foresees what is also foreseen in the book of Revelation - a time when people live in the presence of God in a new city - For Isaiah the city is Jerusalem - in Revelation, the city is a heavenly city come down to Earth.

Pray

Lord we long for the day on which you will judge all the Earth and all people will live by Your justice.  

Wednesday - Read Galatians 6:1-16

I think the first 5 verses are so important for our life in Christian community.  If you think you are a 'somebody' you better check yourself (Verse 3).  We need to learn to be humble as we work out how to follow Jesus together.

Pray

Lord I pray these verses: "So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest. 10 So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith."

Thursday - Luke 10:1-11 & 16-20

Jesus sends his disciples out to minister.  He reminds them to go where they are sent - and stay where they are invited.  But if people do not receive them; they shouldn't be too pushy.  As they work they work for the Kingdom of God - evil is defeated.  But Jesus remindst them - the most important thing is that hteir names are written - they belong to God... not the impressiveness of what they do.

Pray

Lord help me to know that my name is written in heaven and I belong to you.

Friday - Read Luke 10:25-37

Think 

Eternal life depends on doing the loving thing at every opportunity.

Pray

Teach me to live in love.