AUGUST 2021 | TIM’S NEWLETTER

AUGUST 2021

TIM’S NEWSLETTER

I hope that this Newsletter will find you, and those that you love and care for, safe and well! Wow, since my last Newsletter we certainly have gone through some very turbulent and worrying times as a country, and a community, but we at STMC responded promptly in faith and with positive attitudes and in prayer to meet the challenges that came our way.

40 DAYS

OF PRAYER & FASTING

To begin with, I would like to start by saying a “Big Thank You” on behalf of STMC to everyone who participated in our STMC 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting by preparing our daily scripture verses and prayers. Thank you for the thoughtful and prayerful insights you brought to us and for your willingness to share your faith with us and for leading us in this especially important and profound way. Thank you too, to our Prayer Ministry Team and our Online Creative Team who, together, made it all happen. We hold on to faith in times of prayer as the Bible says,

“²⁰For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (Math. 18:20)

and I am sure that this is even true when the “prayer gathering” is digital and online!

LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS

The ongoing reality of the lockdown restrictions continue to frustrate us in our determination to “open up” our Sunday morning in-person, in-church, services. The Leaders at STMC are committed to getting us back to “in-person, in church” services as soon as possible but obviously this is dependent on the Covid restrictions. In the meantime, our online services will continue.

CHURCH IS OPEN FOR….

Please note however, that we will open our church for the following ministries and groups to meet, in the church, from the 1^st of September (Covid protocols apply):

Sunday morning Children’s Church
Friday Evening Youth
Sunday morning Youth Church
Young Adults Fellowship Group
Connect Groups
W.A.
Mission Groups and Organisations

ALPHA FILM SERIES

Clair a& Richard Ashton

September will also be the preparation month for the Alpha Film Series that we will be launching both online and in-church from the 1^st of October. This is an exciting programme, and you can join either as a Connect Group, or as an individual; and you can join in from home, or as a member of the weekly meeting in the Church building! The aim of the course is to revive, rejuvenate, re-energize your personal faith and to bring unchurched people (for example your friends, family, work colleagues…?) into a non-threatening space – to share the message of Jesus with them – via the online film platform – in an exciting and modernized way. So, who will you bring?

Richard and Claire Ashton have been appointed our voluntary Evangelism and Alpha Champions, and I am anticipating the special ways that the Lord is going to make use of their spiritual gifts, passion, and energy, in this ministry.

Please keep them in your prayers.

Please feel free to contact Richard on 082 825 3331 and via rashton@mweb.co.za ; for more information and check our website www.plettmethodist.co.za for regular updates and info.

CHILDREN’S CHURCH

Peter Nel & Emma van der Westhuizen

I would like to introduce to you Peter Nel and Emma van der Westhuizen who are our new Children’s Ministry Team. They have been undergoing training and mentoring to equip them for the new format of online and in-person children’s ministry and are doing very well. They will be responsible for the preparation, video recording, digital editing, and presentation of the online and in-person Children’s Ministry messages each week. Please pop in to one of their Sunday Messages via our website to see how they are doing. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to develop this particularly key area of ministry.

MISSION & OUTREACH

Peter Fischer

A crucial portfolio in the life of our church is that of Mission and Outreach. The Champion appointed to lead this portfolio is Peter Fischer. Peter has a heart for mission and outreach and for caring for people, in practical ways, who are in need in our Plett and surrounding community. I want to thank him for taking this on in a voluntary capacity for STMC. This is a large and very vital part of our STMC work and Peter will need all our care, support, and prayers as he takes it forward. Please contact Peter via our church office 044 5333430 for more info and if you would like to get involved in his team.

STMC WORSHIP TEAM

Jane Donald

The STMC Worship Team has been “champing at the bit” to get going in leading us in church, in worship again. They will be hard at work during September getting songs ready for recording, and for using “live” in church. Please pray for them too, and if you would like to join the team, or give them some ideas for songs please contact the Worship Team Leader, Jane Donald on 072 3854610 or via email on jaydeesx2@gmail.com .

CRADLE ROLL!

NEW MEMBER!

Some wonderful news – Troy and Tayla Rist are the proud parents of a little baby girl – Piper (born 28 July). They are getting along very well (even if they are at times more than just a little sleep deprived!). Thank you for the love and support shown to Troy and Tayla during the pregnancy, and afterwards, with meals and gifts! They are incredibly grateful and thankful to you all.

WE GIVE THANKS

Thank you for your generous and faithful support to the work of St. Thomas this year. We have gone through a tough time financially speaking this year, as have many churches and businesses, and we truly value your commitment and support. If you are able to reconsider your tithe and gifts, please contact Tracy our Financial Admin on 0445333430, or access our banking details on the STMC website www.plettmethodist.co.za .

A LITTLE R&R

Jaine and I will be taking leave for the month of September. All the Sunday services are prepared, the ministry team is in place and ready to lead you, the admin heart of our church is “humming along” (contact Lesley at 0445333430 if you have any queries); and as you have read above – a lot of revived energy and new focus will be in place from 1^st September. I trust and pray that this will provide STMC with substantial momentum to lead us through the last quarter of 2021.

PLEASE WELCOME

REV DR DEREK OPPENSHAW

You will soon meet the Rev. Dr. Derek Oppenshaw as he leads some of our online Sunday services during September. Derek and Cheryl have retired to Plett, and we are truly blessed to have them join us. I look forward with anticipation to the many ways their experiences over the years in the Methodist ministry, and their spiritual gifts, will feed into and nourish the life of our church! One day you will be able to meet them “in-person” too! Derek and Cheryl – Welcome!

ONE LAST THING!

In closing if you need any assistance or information with regards to STMC, please make sure that you refer to the website www.plettmethodist.co.za or phone our church office 0445333430 (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm). When you call the office you will speak to Lizzy, you might have met her on the telephone already, Lizzy is our recently appointed Reception and Admin member of the STMC team. It is great to have her on board – Welcome Lizzy!

God bless,

Tim.