Dear West View Family From all of the West View staff, we hope and pray that you have had a very blessed start to the new year, and that you are still on track to achieving any goals and objectives that you had set for yourself and your family for the year ahead. If this Lenten season has taught us anything, it is that following Jesus can be uncomfortable and challenging, especially as we take an audit of those parts of our lives that need the freeing and transforming touch of God’s grace. And yet, Lent also reminds us that Easter is fast approaching, when the pain and sacrifice of following God’s will gives way to the unexplainable joy and unspeakable peace that Christ injects into our lives through His resurrection and His indwelling Holy Spirit. The same is true of life, we give up and sacrifice so much to meet our targets and achieve our goals, and when we finally arrive at our “destination”, there’s a sense of contentment and fulfillment that is hard to put into words. However, Easter poses the following question of us: “What’s next?” Now that we have the assurance and conviction that we have been crucified and risen with Christ, what’s next? Now that you’ve cultivated new habits and patterns throughout Lent, what’s next? Once you’ve achieved your goals and met your objectives, what’s next? At West View, we are earnestly praying for you to be led by the Holy Spirit, so that you can discern and decide what God has in store for you next.
May God bless you, as we look at what West View has in store ahead:
NEW SERMON SERIES FOR MAY “GENEROSITY AND STEWARDSHIP” MONTH: ‘DEFYING GRAVITY – BREAK FREE FROM THE CULTURE OF MORE’
May is stewardship, tithe and generosity month at West View! So often our possessions and our desire for more can create unbearable weight and affect our ability to serve and thrive as God intends. How do we defy gravity and find freedom in our relationship to our possessions and finances?
In our upcoming 4 – week sermon series, entitled “Defying Gravity: Break Free from the Culture of More”, we explore what is required to sustain a vibrant life, we unpack the difference between what we need versus what we want, and what we can do to avoid being pulled into the orbit of materialism. Our Bible study groups and home groups will also be running a weekly discussion on each theme and topic of the sermon series each week. Our “Defying Gravity” sermon series will run from the 4th to the 25th of May 2025. Invite a family member or friend to come along and join us!
AN UPDATE ON WEST VIEW’S FINANCES FOR 2024 AND THE YEAR TO DATE FOR 2025
Here are the final and total financial figures for the entire year of 2024: We received a total of R4 643 390.71 in tithes, offerings and donations for last year. This meant that we were R636 609.29 BELOW our budgeted income for the entirety of 2024. In addition to this, the giving for our Christmas services was R13 935.14. All the money collected during the Christmas services goes towards supporting and sustaining the vital work that is done through Ditshego, which is one of the missions and organisations that fall under West View’s care and leadership.
Please take note of the latest financial update for West View for the months of January, February, and March 2025: The total giving for January was R361 833.51, which was R78 166.49 BELOW budget for the month. The total giving for February was R375 027.13, which was R64 972.87 BELOW budget for the month. The total giving for March was R464 350.12, which was R24 350.12 ABOVE budget for the month.
This is where our overall finances currently stand at the end of March 2025: So far, we have received a total of R1 201 210.76 in pledges, offerings and tithes. This leaves us with a total shortfall of R118 789.24 by the end of March 2025.
During these difficult and uncertain financial times, we would like to thank everyone for their immense generosity and sacrificial giving, Your financial contribution makes God’s work at West View possible!
AN INVITATION TO ATTEND HOLY WEEK AT WEST VIEW
We would like to invite you, your family members and your friends to join us for a very special Holy Week at West View this year. Our Holy Week services will start on Monday the 14th of April. Services on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will all be at 19h00 in the sanctuary at West View. This year’s Holy Week services will be different and will NOT be in the format of a usual order of service. Instead, as we take a closer look at Christ’s final words from the cross, we will be breaking into small groups in the sanctuary, with the ministers facilitating discussions and conversations that challenge us to reflect on Christ’s words to us and for us on calvary. Please take note that you do NOT have to belong to a Bible study group to join us for these gatherings as you will be divided into a group.
We will have our special Tenebrae service on Thursday the 17th of April at 19h00 as we re–enact the shadows of the cross and the darkness that engulfed Jesus as he moved closer to his crucifixion.
Our Good Friday services on the 18th of April, will take place at 08h00 and 09h30. Please take note of the time changes for Good Friday mornings’ services. Our Easter Sunday services, on the 20th of April, will be at 08h00 and at 10h00. Online services will be available from 08h30 for both Good Friday and Easter Sunday respectively on the West View Methodist Church YouTube channel. Join us for Holy Week this year, as we reflect on the cross of Christ, and celebrate the resurrection of Christ. We hope to see you there!
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE ON GOOD FRIDAY
During Holy Week here at West View, there will also be a very special Service of Remembrance for all people who would like to remember their loved ones who have passed on. The service of remembrance will take place on Good Friday the 18th of April, at 17h00 (NOT 19h00) at West View. If you are coming to commemorate and remember your loved ones, please bring some white flowers, as well as photos of your loved ones to the service. All donations and proceeds from this service will go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Garden of Remembrance. This service is open to all people, so please invite anyone whom you feel this service might be relevant to, so that they can join us!
AN OPPORUNITY TO FEED THE HUNGRY THROUGH OUR SERVE SATURDAY MINISTRY
Our next opportunity to join the Soup Kitchen through our ‘Serve Saturday’ ministry will take place this Saturday the 12th of April 2025. We would like to invite the entire West View community to come and be a part of making a visible difference within our community through feeding the poor. We will meet at West View Methodist Church at 07h00 on the 12th of April, before heading to the informal settlement close to Wierdabrug Police Station.
What is currently needed is soup (Vegetable soup) and some bread (About 15 to 20 loaves). Should you be interested in attending the outreach and / or providing soup for the day; please RSVP to our youth pastor (Elvis Mliswa) via email at youthpastor@westview.org.za.
THE UPCOMING “MEN AT WORK” GATHERING AND FELLOWSHIP
The Men @ Work ministry will be hosting a men’s fellowship and morning coffee at the church this Saturday 12th April 2025, from 07h00 until 09h00. There is no cost involved. So, if you are a man who might be interested in attending, feel free to join for a cup of tea or coffee and some rusks.
Time will be spent in worship as well as creating opportunities to connect and fellowship, where everyone will also get to know each other better. Please RSVP to Adrian Gant via email at Adrian.John.Gant@gmail.com or via his cell phone number on 082 902 9376. We hope to see you there!
DITSHEGO BLANKET DRIVE
As the colder months approach, we’re collecting blankets to support those in need at Ditshego. You can contribute in two ways:
- Drop off blankets at the church or the church office.
- Make a donation via the church bank account – please use “Blanket Drive” as your reference.
While we’d love to receive donations by Monday the 28th of April 2025, contributions after this date are still welcome and greatly appreciated. Every blanket and every donation helps make a difference!
The West View banking details are as follows:
First National Bank (FNB) Savings Account
Account Number: 620 343 07670
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH WEST VIEW
Do you have a business or home industry that you would like to advertise and grow? Then this new venture and opportunity being launched by West View is just for you. For a small donation of only R100 per month you will be able to place an advertisement in our monthly newsletter as well as on site. This will allow your business or home industry to be exposed to as many people as possible at our West View campus as well as through our online presence. Don’t hesitate; book your spot today! All funds will go to the church. For more details please email info@westview.org.za or contact our society steward, Lindsey Burns, at 062 259 9186.
MARRIAGE COURSE
All marriages need to be worked on in order for the relationship to grow and thrive, just as God designed and desired it to. Therefore, whether you’ve been married for six months or forty years, whether your marriage is healthy or struggling; we have a course just for you at West View.
From the 22nd of April to the 10th of June, we’ll be hosting a seven – week Marriage Course every Tuesday evening from 19h00 to 21h00 in the Infant Chapel at West View. The cost will be R300 per couple.
Based on Christian principles, this course is designed to help couples strengthen their relationship, build strong foundations, learn to communicate and resolve differences. Couples will also have opportunities to have private discussions on the topics presented. Please note that all sessions and conversations that are facilitated are completely confidential between husband and wife. It is important to note that no personal or intimate conversations are had with the facilitators themselves. This is to ensure that each participant is as comfortable as possible to share what they want with their spouse.
For more information about the course and to sign up, you can contact Nick Snyman at 082 333 9820. Alternatively, please get in touch with our church receptionist, Lesley, via email at reception@westview.org.za to sign up.
BAPTISM CLASS
Baptism marks an important moment of receiving God’s grace and of being claimed as God’s own. We also remember that baptism is a communal moment, when the church promises to care for and be present to those who are being received into God’s family. At West View, we believe that baptism is a sacred moment that symbolizes and communicates God’s ability to save, sanctify and sustain us in our ongoing journey with Christ.
We baptize both infants and adults, so should you like to be baptized or have your child baptized, we would like to invite you to our next Baptism Class. The purpose of the class is to educate and inform those going through the process of baptism about its meaning and significance. The class will take place on Saturday the 31st of May 2025, at West View in the Infant Chapel. The next baptism service will take place Sunday the 15th of June 2025. Should you be interested in having your child baptized or having yourself baptized, please contact Manti, our children’s pastor, at manti@westview.org.za.
WE WELCOME A DUKE DIVINITY STUDENT TO WEST VIEW
Throughout the years, West View has maintained a healthy and fruitful relationship with Duke Divinity School. Every year West View hosts one student from Duke Divinity School who is in the process of journeying towards full ordination into the ministry. This year, we will once again be having a student who will be joining us at West View from the 13th of May to the 22nd of July 2025. One aspect of the student’s stay with us will be for her to be exposed to different contexts within our country, including the lived experience of various South Africans. We are therefore asking the West View community to assist us in hosting the Duke Divinity student. Should you be able to host our assigned student at your home this year for any length of time, please let Lael know via email at lael@westview.org.za, and feel free to indicate the duration for which you can assisting with hosting. Thank you so much for your assistance!
JOIN A BIBLE STUDY GROUP AT WEST VIEW
At West View, we provide all of our members with the opportunity to journey with one another through Bible study groups and to grow in their walk with God together. We offer both in – person and online options. Should you be interested in taking your relationship with Christ to a deeper level in 2025 by joining a Bible study group at West View, please contact Rev. O’Grady via email at damian@westview.org.za, and indicate your preference between either an online or in – person group so that we can get you plugged into a small group as soon as possible.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Do you have a passion for working with children? Have you ever had the desire to be a part of the spiritual growth and formation of the next generation? If so, then you can play a pivotal role in the lives of the children who attend West View. We are currently looking for classroom monitors, whose primary role is to assist the Children’s Church teachers to keep an eye on the movement of the children, as well as any needs that arise during a lesson. This is an extremely important role, because it allows the teachers to do their lesson without having to worry about any other aspects of classroom management. Alternatively, if you sense a strong desire or call to be a Children’s Church teacher, you are more than welcome to volunteer in that capacity as well. Should you like to get involved with the Children’s Church ministry, please contact our children’s pastor, Manti, via email at manti@westview.org.za.
COUNSELLING AVAILABLE THROUGH WEST VIEW
Are you in need of counselling? Do you know a family member, friend or loved one who is looking to be counselled? As part of West View’s pastoral care ministry this year, we have a fully qualified psychologist (Heidi) on site at our church campus every Wednesday from 08h00 until 16h00. Please note that this service is being offered COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE. Should you wish to make an appointment, please email lael@westview.org.za and indicate which Wednesday and at what time you would like to book your appointment. You are welcome to forward this invitation as far and as wide as you’d like, as we seek to be as present as possible for the community.
PASTORAL VISITATION AND HOLY COMMUNION SERVED AT HOME
West View seeks to be a caring and compassionate community and congregation to people in their time of need. The primary way in which we seek to do this is through pastoral care, home and hospital visitation and serving Holy Communion to anyone who would like to receive the sacrament at home. Therefore, if you or someone that you might know is in need of pastoral care, whether it simply be a home or hospital visitation or receiving Holy Communion at home, please do not hesitate to inform us of your need. The ministers, as well as the members of our very capable pastoral care team, are here for you. Should you like to make an appointment for any of the above pastoral care options that West View offers, then please inform Lael via email at lael@westview.org.za.
CONSIDER YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO WEST VIEW FOR 2025
We would like to invite all West View congregation members to consider their financial contribution to West View for 2025. There are pledge forms available in the church foyer. Please take one, fill it in and then hand it in at the church office or to the society steward on duty. Alternatively, please email your pledge form to Lianda at lianda@westview.org.za. Your privacy is our highest priority and all your details will be kept completely confidential. Your financial support makes ministry at West View possible; thank you for your generosity!
JOIN THE WEST VIEW FAMILY
West View Methodist Church seeks to be a community and congregation where life – change happens. A part of making life – change happen is that we seek to be a community where all people from different walks of life feel comfortable to connect with one another and find freedom in their relationship with Christ. As we seek to grow our church, we extend the invitation to everyone to get connected to our church family. If you are new to West View, and you are interested in joining this congregation, or if you know of anyone who is looking to be a part of a congregation that will encourage them whilst also challenging them to grow in Christ, then please contact our receptionist, Lesley, via email at reception@westview.org.za. Once you have indicated your intention to belong to West View, we will inform you of our new members orientation, known as The Foundation Course. This is a 4 – week online course which explains what it means to be a contributing member at West View. We look forward to having you join this church community and congregation!
IMPORTANT DATES TO DIARISE:
Serve Saturday Soup Kitchen: Saturday, the 12th of April 2025, at 07h00
Men at Work Fellowship Gathering: Saturday, the 12th of April 2025, at 07h00
Service for Monday of Holy Week: Monday, the 14th of April 2025, at 19h00
Service for Tuesday of Holy Week: Tuesday, the 15th of April 2025, at 19h00
Service for Wednesday of Holy Week: Wednesday, the 16th of April 2025, at 19h00
Tenebrae Service for Thursday of Holy Week: Thursday, the 17th of April 2025, at 19h00
Good Friday Services: Friday, the 18th of April 2025, at 08h00 and 09h30 (Online service at 08h30)
Service of Remembrance on Good Friday: Friday, the 18th of April 2025, at 17h00
Easter Sunday Services: Friday, the 20th of April 2025, at 08h00 and 10h00 (Online service at 08h30)
The Marriage Course: Starting on Tuesday, the 22nd of April 2025, at 19h00
Blanket Drive for Ditshego: Donations to be given by Monday, the 28th of April 2025
Start of new ‘DEFYING GRAVITY’ sermon series: Starts on Sunday, the 4th of May 2025
Baptism Class: Saturday, the 31st of May 2025
Baptism Sunday: Sunday, the 15th of June 2025
Arrival of Duke Divinity School Student: Tuesday, the 13th of May 2025
Free counselling provided through West View: EVERY Wednesday of the month
Your Servant for Christ’ sake,
Siphiwe