e-Letter
January 13, 2022
This Sunday is for many the opening worship service of the new year. Schools are back and parents breathe a collective sigh of relief! Read our Presiding Bishop’s back-to-school greeting here
ROOTED YOUTH AND CHILDREN’S CHURCH
Rooted Youth and Children’s Church kick off this Sunday @10am, whilst Godly Play will be on offer @ 8h00. I urge parents and grandparents to prioritise bringing their kids and teens to church on Sunday mornings during 2022. Our children have largely missed out on 2 whole years of spiritual formation and church life, which is a massive chunk of their young lives. We need to give as much priority to the spiritual formation of our children as we do to their mental, social, and physical formation. Let us remember the promises that we make at baptism and work together so that our kids and teens can grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus our Lord and Saviour.
Please note that from this Sunday, in-person worship times are 8h00 and 10h00. James will attend Rooted Youth @ 10h00 to introduce the youth to our new Youth Pastor Charl Venter.
NEW PARENTS GROUP
If you’ve recently welcomed a new member to the family, we invite you to join us for a picnic on Saturday, the 29th of January, at 10:00. We will gather outside in the lawn so dust off those picnic chairs, unpack those blankets for a time of fellowship. We’ll also brainstorm ideas for a young mums and young dads ministry at West View. For details and to RSVP, email manti@westview.org.za
CHRISTMAS DAY COLLECTION
Thank you for your Christmas Eve and Day offering towards the work of Ditshego. Offerings totalled R9000.
THANKS FROM THE MWA
The Morning WA wish to thank the congregation for all their support during 2021, which was a difficult year for us all. However, we were able to meet our commitments and our regular charities were helped by your generosity. Thank you.
COVID AND GATHERINGS AT WEST VIEW
Notwithstanding the unpredictability of the COVID-19 virus, it seems that we are shifting out of the pandemic phase into the endemic phase of the COVID-19 virus. Sero-surveys have shown that 72% of people living in Gauteng were infected with COVID-19 in the first three waves. This figure will be much higher after the fourth wave. Thankfully death rates have plummeted in this fourth wave. The focus now shifts away from preventing the spread of the virus to preventing hospitalisations and deaths. The most effective way of doing this is to get as many people as possible fully vaccinated.
At West View we will continue to worship with masks on in well-ventilated venues with chairs placed 1.5 metres apart. We will be serving refreshments after worship services and we anticipate that church gatherings will in many ways resemble gatherings before the pandemic. We are still struggling with a shortage of musicians to lead worship at our in-person worship services, but we are on track to have all our services led by live musicians by February.
KHULUMA FAMILY COUNSELLING
Khuluma Family Counselling moved into its new premises at the Ditshego plot in Raslouw over December. However, counselling still takes place on the church campus by appointment. Contact Lael lael@westview.org.za to book a counselling appointment.
IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR CAMPUS
West View College has just finished upgrading the toilet and classroom space in the Tortelduif and Willem Botha houses and will shortly begin alterations to Khuluma House to create 2 larger classrooms to accommodate growing classes. The school has vacated the Luke Hall and will vacate the Mark Hall by Easter. The Ruth Hall remains a venue for church meetings.
Grace and Peace
Ian