Knysna Vineyard Notices

Church Notices 27th December 2009

WELCOME: We warmly welcome you to our service on this, the last Sunday of 2009. May the presence of God’s Holy Spirit fill you as we praise, worship and honour our Heavenly Father and bring glory to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We wish all our Visitors a special welcome and thank you for being here.

BIRTHDAYS:  To Helena Bruwer and Melanie Oliver (29^th), Keagan Lamb (30^th), Eleanor Coerecius (1^st). May God bless you all on your “special days”.

TEA DUTY: 3^rd – Olivier/Barnard Cell Group. 10^th – Perring/Vorster Cell Group.

FAREWELL: The Willmot family are leaving Knysna soon to take up residence in the Cape Town area. Ivann, Ross-Lyn, Joshua and Caleb… words cannot express our thanks for all that you have meant to us in the years that you have been a part of our fellowship - your participation in the Worship Team, your establishment and encouragement of the Youth Worship Group, Ivann’s involvement as an Elder, his invaluable input during the extensions and refurbishment of the church, and all the other activities in which you took part. Special thanks to Joshua for his help in bringing down extra chairs and helping people to find seats! Thank you all so very much! We pray that the Lord will go before you, preparing the way… that He will travel with you, protecting you on your journey… and that He will be with you as you settle into your new home. Although we will miss you tremendously, we wish you all the very best for the future. May you be as much of a blessing to those you meet in your new home as you have been to us, and may they be an even greater blessing to you. God bless you all.

THE HIBISCUS FLOWERS: A few weeks ago, I was watering a young Hibiscus plant that I had grown from a slip. It had started to flower – beautiful, big, double yellow blooms – and there were also a number of buds. On closer examination, I noticed that, inside one of the buds was a Lady Bird, whilst inside another was a black stinkbug. I know that Lady Birds are beneficial to plants as they feed off aphids that suck the life out of young green shoots. The stinkbug, on the other hand, would quickly nip off the bud to get to the sweet juices inside the stem, thus destroying the chance of the bud becoming a flower and achieving its full potential. As I thought about these two different insects, both on the same plant, it came to mind that often we, as Christians, are presented with challenges. We may be given the same opportunities – people to speak to or a difficult situation - but what do we do with those opportunities? Do we make a difference by helping to improve the situation, or do we make the situation worse by our words and actions? Do we simply ignore the people or the situation, thinking that someone else can do it?

This coming year is going to be filled with opportunities and I believe that God would like to encourage you to think carefully and prayerfully when opportunities are placed before you. At this, the beginning of 2010, let our New Year’s resolution be to make the very best of the opportunities that we are faced with. Remember, your input and the way that you handle a person or situation could make a major difference in someone’s life. May God bless you all and may you have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR! - Wendy

Church Notices 20th December 2009

WELCOME: A very warm welcome to you all in the wonderful Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May our Heavenly Father be glorified as we praise and worship Him at this time of celebration of the birth of our Lord. If you are visiting, a special welcome and thank you for being here.

BIRTHDAYS: To Marelize Magson and Sophy Nodida for today, Rika de Bruyn and Daan Ludik (23^rd), Jaco Haggard and René Bruwer (24^th) and Lisa Bruwer (26^th).  May God bless you all on your “special days”.

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Our Christmas Day service will be at the normal time of 9.30 a.m.

2. There will be no service next Sunday evening, 27^th December.

TEA DUTY: 27^th – Vercueil’s Home Cell Group. 3^rd – Olivier/Barnard Cell Group.

CHRISTIAN BOOKSHOP… If you are looking for Christmas gifts, the Christian Bookshop may have just what you want! They are presently having a sale and are offering up to 30% off selected stock as well as reduced prices on DVD’s and CD’s. If you simply want something interesting or inspirational to read while you relax on the beach during the holidays, the Bookshop has a selection of second-hand books for you to browse through. It is located in Long Street, just below the High School and next to Ouma’s Pantry.

NIGHT OF ALLELUIAS

(A CHRISTMAS CANTATA)

You are invited to a one-hour musical presentation by Michael and Christiana van der Walt and Ross-Lynne Willmot. This is being held on Wednesday, 23^rd December at 7.00 pm at Cearn Hall, Leisure Isle.  Entrance is free and everyone is very welcome.

REPORT-BACK ON CLOTHES AND KIDS’ KNITTED JERSEYS: Louis and Philip went into the forest on motorbikes and obtained information about children at Buffelsnek Forestry Camp. 21 parcels for the most needy children were put together and delivered to each one in person on Tuesday afternoon… great joy!

Many, many thanks to all who contributed clothes and wool. Also to Barbara and Carol for knitting a whole lot of children’s jerseys. God bless you all.

“GOSPEL IN THE PARK”: What a beautiful evening God provided for the “Gospel in the Park” on Tuesday! Families from various churches brought their picnic baskets, chairs and blankets and enjoyed a wonderful evening of praising and worshipping the Lord in spectacular surroundings under majestic, old Yellowwood trees. Thanks were expressed to the owners of Parkes Manor for providing the venue, to the musicians and singers for leading the worship and to all the organisers of this event, the proceeds of which went to Youth for Christ. In closing the evening, Phillip Schroder gave thanks to the Lord and to everyone for their participation. He said that this was set to become a regular event and he was already looking forward to next year’s “Gospel in the Park!”

Church Notices 13th December 2009

WELCOME: We warmly welcome you to our services in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May God bless you as we praise, worship and honour Him and as we have fellowship together as His Family. If you are visiting, a special welcome and thank you for being here.

BIRTHDAYS: to Esther Harms, Willem Buys and Ian Spies for the 16^th, Keenan Erasmus and Randall Grootboom (17^th), Derek Woolmington and Chanté Wearing (18^th), and Caleb Willmot, Frances Swart and Bruceton Slinger (19^th). May God bless you all on your “special days”.

TEA DUTY: 20^th – du Plessis Home Cell Group. 27^th – Vercueil’s Home Cell Group.

“TO GOD BE THE GLORY”… Last week, thanks were expressed to Johnny and Karen Vorster and their team for the beautiful nativity scene that they have provided. On speaking to Karen, she gave all the glory to the Lord for His provision and inspiration. She encourages everyone to simply make themselves available to the Lord as He provides the inspiration and the talent. Even if you have never had any training in flower arranging or décor, simply open yourself up to Him and he will bless you with gifts and talents that you never imagined you had! Praise His Holy Name and to Him be all glory and honour!!!

DOROTHY BROSTER CHILDREN’S HOME: Neil Hinrichsen would like to thank everyone who has helped with Dorothy Broster this year - lifts to church and sports, presents, crowns and cakes for birthdays, donations (especially all the books and chess sets), games on Fridays, outings, teaching the kids dancing, knitting and card games, working on the grounds, functions for the staff, and many other things - and special thanks to Dumisani and Sharon for the many hours they have spent with the children.  God bless you all!

OPTIONS (YFC.)… Thanks to all who have supported this ministry through prayer, help, donations of all sorts, etc. Your support is greatly appreciated. All at Options wish you a blessed Festive Season.

“GOSPEL IN THE PARK”: Bring a picnic basket and enjoy an evening of Christmas Carols and popular Worship songs this Tuesday from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m. Gates open at 5.00 p.m. at Parkes Manor (west of town – cnr. of the N2 and Azalea Street). Representatives from various churches in Knysna will be taking part and all proceeds will go to Youth for Christ, Knysna. Tickets @ R20.00 per Adult and R10.00 per child available from Y.F.C., Ons Winkel or ph. Iliana 082 536 9433. If you can’t bring food, beverages and snacks will be on sale. More info. on notice board.

GIFTS FOR VERMONT & LOERIEHOF: A reminder that there is a basket in the foyer of the church for those who would like to give a gift of toiletries to an elderly person at Vermont or Loeriehof. To standardise, no more than R20.00 per gift, please.

ADULT EDUCATION & TRAINING – KNYSNA CLC : ABET

The Knysna Community Learning Centre provides free literacy classes for adults who have never been to school, formal adult education training programmes for learners with limited schooling, classes in the morning, afternoons and evenings, central venues in all areas where classes are facilitated and skills classes in fabric painting, needlework, arts and crafts, making of leather products and basic computer training. If you know of anyone who needs any of these services/skills, please provide their names to the centre on 044-382 4327 or contact Bronwyn on 083 953 8310 or Jennifer on 084 649 2174. Although the Centre will be closed from 11 December 2009 until 11 January 2010, you can visit this Friday, 18 December from 10h00 – 12h00 to see how the Centre operates. Cnr. Long St. & Waterfront Dr. (small white building at traffic light – the old Customs building).