e-Letter

Dear West View family

As I write this, news has just come in of the first two coronavirus deaths in South Africa. We knew this day would come, and it is a reminder that pulling together and honouring the call for a national lockdown is a life and death matter. In this war against the virus, national solidarity is more important than ever.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH DURING THE LOCKDOWN

Fear for the future, together with the isolation of lockdown, can lead to anxiety or depression. One member shared how helpful she found this article in processing her own fear and anxiety: https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief I commend it to you. Here are a few other suggestions for you or someone you know who needs help:

KHULUMA FAMILY COUNSELLING is offering online counselling. Send an email requesting an online counselling session to counsellor1@khulumfamily.org.za indicating what time and date would suit you between 09h00 and 16h00, Monday to Fridays. This email address can be used for email counselling. You can also contact Khuluma via Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/KhulumaFC/.  The Facebook page is monitored Monday – Friday. The Khuluma phone line (012 660 3532) is also open for making appointments or for telephonic counselling.

Clinical Psychologist and West View member JOHAN GREEFF is offering free 10-minute phone-in consultation on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 11h00 and 12h30 on a first-come first-serve basis – 083 377 5028. You can also use this time to consult Johan for ideas and advice on how to deal with the lockdown, or on how to discuss the pandemic with your children. If you would like a more intense video or telephonic consultation (these can be claimed back from your Medical Aid) please book an appointment through Laura 083 265 9056. Johan is offering a 20% discount on these consultations.

WALKING WITH WEST VIEW

Look out for our daily Vlog Walking with West View. This short devotional video will drop Monday to Friday of the lockdown. Today’s vlog is already on Youtube. You can access it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAdr6HzG0uU

HOME GROUP PHONE CHAIN

I encourage all small groups at West View (home groups, W.A.’s, Disciple Groups, worship bands etc.) to establish a phone chain – A phones B, B phones C etc – to show support to each other during this time. WhatsApps are great, but there’s something special about hearing a human voice (or seeing someone’s face on a video call). This is one way that we can care for each other, especially those who are living alone.

PRAYER NEEDS

Prayer needs posted on our WhatsApp Broadcast are only visible to Nicola, who will forward them on to Lael and our prayer team. Please do make use of this Prayer Line for your prayer requests: 072 537 2384

WHATSAPP BROADCAST

290 people have subscribed to our WhatsApp broadcast, and this is fast becoming a key communication channel. If you are on WhatsApp and haven’t joined yet, do so by

1. Saving the number 072 537 2384 on your Contacts
2. Send a WhatsApp with your full name to the number

You will automatically be added to the broadcast, and will receive regular updates, including the “Walk with West View” Vlog and links to our worship services.

DITSHEGO UPDATE

The Pre-School, Drop-In Centre, Open School, and Clinic have all closed for the lockdown. The House of Safety is, like all households, under lockdown. We have addressed the need for children who normally receive meals through our programmes through a very successful “Buckets of Love” campaign. Nearly 200 buckets of non-perishable food were collected in less than a week, and we have been able to send all children home with a bucket, as well as distributing buckets to the elderly in Mooiplaas. Thank you to those who supported this drive.

WORSHIP AT WEST VIEW

We have recorded worship services for the remaining two Sundays of Lent and for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These will air on YouTube at 08h30 on that Sunday/Friday. The link will be sent out the day before ie on Saturday for Sunday worship, on Maundy Thursday for Good Friday. Last Sunday’s service has 1 300 views, and we continue to receive feedback from people who have found the service both worshipful and helpful. I encourage you to share the link with anyone you know whose own congregation is not offering online worship and who might be blessed by worshiping online with us. Some who normally worship at 07h45 and 6pm have asked who the worship leader is. It’s John van de Laar, our recently employed Music Director. What a blessing it is to have John on our team at this time.

Grace and Peace

Ian