Tea and contentment

Emmanuel hosted a mother’s Day tea on Saturday, 11 may, and there was a wonderful turn-out of about 200 ladies from Emmanuel Church, Brackenfell Community Church, Christ Church Somerset West, Tygerberg Community Church, Durbanville Community Church, The Tygerberg Stads Mssion and Monte Vista Presbyterian and Reformed Church.

Sophie de Witt was a most gifted speaker on the subject of “compared to Her – How to experience True contentment”, which is also the title of a book she has written (a must-read for every woman). She was so vibrant and easy to listen to – on a topic that spoke to the heart of every woman present as it revealed how we all, to one extent or another, are guilty of comparing ourselves to others and measuring ourselves by that comparison. Sophie calls this Compulsive Comparison Syndrome, or CCS, and it was almost shocking to be made aware of how much we either look up to or down on other women in order to find our worth or significance. In two sessions (with a delicious tea in between) Sophie talked us through what CCS is, its symptoms, triggers, effects, the root cause and –most importantly – the cure or healing that we need. This left us in no doubt that our significance, security and satisfaction are to be found in our Lord Jesus Christ, and when we make that paradigm shift we will be free of what is a most debilitating and destructive syndrome. It was a morning that spoke to us in a very real way, and it was a great privilege to listen to Sophie.

Baptism

On 14 April, at a joyful family service, eight little ones between the ages of 5 months and 10 years were baptized at Emmanuel, with Rev Dave Brown officiating. He gave such an interesting and realistic illustration of what child baptism is – and therefore what it is not – and, as always, the children won everyone’s hearts with their reactions to having water poured over their heads. Dave completed the morning with a message from God’s Word

Ordination

LOUIS Claassen, the Youth Pastor of Emmanuel, was made a deacon on 28 April. Rev Alan Gray prayed for Louis and his family and Bishop Des Inglesby challenged us to be deeply moved and filled with compassion for the people around us who have a great need for Jesus and to respond with prayer for the Lord to send workers into His harvest field.