West View Response to National Lock Down

If nothing else, the Coronavirus pandemic is a reminder that we human beings are interconnected and our individual choices can have ripples into the lives of others both for good and bad. We respond to President Ramaphosa’s call for a shut-down by showing Christian love for our fellow human beings, and therefore doing all we can to slow the spread of the virus. In these days of preparing for Thursday’s national shutdown, here’s a preview of what life with West View will look like over the next three weeks:

WORSHIP

Sunday’s online worship service was watched from 177 devices when it went live at 8h30, and by the end of Sunday had nearly 600 views. It was fantastic to have people in the West View family commenting from a res room in Stellenbosch and a home in New Zealand. Online worship presents a wonderful opportunity to worship with people who have links to West View but who live elsewhere. I forwarded the link to family and friends in Dubai, New Zealand and Durban, and all found their participation in our online worship to be a moving and hope-filled experience. Instead of inviting your friends to come with you to church, why not invite them to worship with us online?

Online worship will continue for at least the next three Sundays (the last of these being Easter Sunday). We will also worship online on Good Friday. All these services will go live at 08:30 am. We will also be holding shorter online services for each day of Holy Week and will give you more details of these closer to the time. In order to prepare for these services, please note the following:

1. If you are on WhatsApp, join the West View WhatsApp group by sending your name and surname on a WhatsApp to 072 537 2384. The link to the services will be sent out on this platform. If you aren’t on WhatsApp, look out for the link via email, Facebook, Instagram and on our website.
2. If you’re doing last-minute shopping before shut-down, add 7 T-lights to your shopping list. This will enable you and your family to participate in the Tenebrae Service on Maundy Thursday in a meaningful way.
3. Tithes and Offerings: Many of you have requested a SnapScan PR Code to be added to the online worship. We will do this going forward to make it easier for you to make your offering during the worship service.

PRAYER LINE

If you have a prayer request, please send it to the West View WhatsApp 072 537 2384. Your request will only be visible to the Administrator, who will forward it via Lael to the members of our prayer team

PASTORAL CARE

A team of volunteers will be caring for the congregation through phonecalls and social media. If you have a pastoral need, please email lael@westview.org.za

CHURCH OFFICE

The church office is moving off-site tomorrow. All office and pastoral staff will be working from home, and are contactable via email and their cell numbers. We’ll hold a staff meeting daily on Zoom and where necessary, other meetings will take place on Zoom. Please use staff emails and cell numbers to get hold of individual staff members.

WALKING WITH WEST VIEW

Look out for our new daily Vlog Walking with West View. It will be uploaded Monday to Friday for the duration of the shut-down. We’ll offer a short video reflection to help you respond to the Covid 19 pandemic with faith, hope, and love.

PRAYER

I appeal for you to join me in pausing each day at midday to pray for victory in the war against the pandemic. 

Know that you as a congregation are in my prayers each day. As we journey through a season of uncertainty, let us allow the knowledge of God’s presence and care to banish all anxiety