Report on the Work of God at Sea Point Methodist Church November 2010
It doesn’t seem possible that nearly the whole of my first year in ministry at SPMC has already flown by! It feels as if it was just the other day that I donned my ‘Annie’ wig to do my first children’s address, but as I consider all the work that we have accomplished since then, I can see just how much time has indeed passed.
It all began with so many of you graciously taking part in a series of surveys that helped me to understand what you saw as the strengths and needs of this congregation, as well as what you considered to priorities for ministry here at SPMC. The surveys showed that we are proud of being so multi-cultural, and we are proud of our committed leaders and people who have helped this to be a place we call ‘home’. We recognised that we need to have a greater commitment to young people and children, while never losing our care for elderly, sick and struggling. We recognised that we need to have a greater focus on justice issues, especially the poor. In the course of this year, we have addressed each of these issues in turn.
The next step was to develop a vision statement, and so it was an exciting day for me when, as a leadership team, wereturned from a day’s retreat to share with you our vision simply summarised in the phrase: ‘Offering Christ’s Love’. In keeping withour location on the Atlantic Sea Board, we thought that a lighthouse might visually express our calling, and so John incorporated that into the logo he designed for us. We fleshed this vision statement out a little with three supporting phrases: ‘Loving God in Vibrant Worship’, ‘Loving Each Other in Care’, and ‘Loving Our Neighbour in Service’.
Without our extremely dedicated stewards, very little at SPMC would have been accomplished, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. Each of them has a portfolio for which they are responsible. As I report on each portfolio, you will see how much work has been done to make our vision a reality.
The first portfolio, headed by John van de Laar, is ‘Worship’,where we answer the question from our vision:‘are we, at SPMC, loving God in vibrant worship?' Worship is the power house of the church, the sacred ground where each of us develops our personal and corporate experience of intimacy with God. Many thanks must go to Charmianand Bryce, who lead our music and together head up the choir, to MikeLouwwho always makes sure there are beautiful flowers in church, as well as to our musician Anthony, the teams ofnewly trained multi-media operators, (Kakra, Petrofski, Douglas, Robyn, and Panyin) , sound desk operators (Kieron, Sue, Mark, and Lauren)and communion stewards (Hazel, Averiland Elsie) who work together to make our services flow so beautifully. It seems that our decision to install a new sound and multi-media system has borne much fruit, as our attendances have risen slowly but steadily. The festivals: Holy Week and Easter, the Combined Multi-lingual Women’s Day Service, and our magnificent Harvest Festival and our Harvest Festival picnic were very special this year. Who knew we could eat that much fruit?!Next Year: It makes me so sad each time I hear of a mom who has left the church because our very beautiful building is so ‘un-childfriendly’. As most people come to faith before they are 18 years old, it is imperative that we reach every child and young person we can. This means that getting a cry room must be an absolutely top priority for 2011. Watch this space!
The second portfolio, headed by Gaynor Fisher, is‘ Pastoral Care’, where weanswer the question from our vision: ‘are we, here at SPMC, loving each other in care?’ One of the many busy and caring groups in our little church is the Women’s Auxiliary, a group of 25 women who meet every second Tuesday morning at the manse to ‘Know Christ and Make Him Known’. They have been ably headed by Elsie Coventry, and her WA executive, of whom Gaynor is a member.Gaynor also helps me with another very happy group: our monthly communion service group at Sea Point Place. This year Gaynor has also hosted two very successful ‘Welcoming Dinners’, for the 26 new members who have joined our church this year. Gaynor, Colin and Alyce have undertaken a number of home visits, and our prayer chain, which is a part of this portfolio,has been well used too. Gaynor and Len’s Emmaus connections brought us much joy this year, as we had three women and two men pilgrims attend a walk in September. This is just the beginning of much more Emmaus! Len’s ministry of home meals has been a tremendous gift to a number of folk, and many thanks must also go to our faithfuldoor stewards, Hannah, Railien, Nico, Averil and Denelleand our generous tea stewards Gina, Hannah, Alyce, Marge, Beryl and Lynn who serve us so ably each week.
Another portfolio that answers the question from our vision of: ‘are we, here at SPMC, loving each other in care?’is Verna’s one of ‘Educational Care’. I am delighted that our little Sunday School has been so faithfully attended this year, and must offer a warm word of thanks to our Sunday School teachers: Verna, Melony, Jacqui and Nico. The gift of tables and chairs and CD player has been a big boost to the children. We do love having the children in church with us once a month for our family services, and look forward to their participation in performing in the Christmas Eve Crib Service.Next yearA group of teenagers have already ‘signed up’ to be confirmed. On the adult side of educational care, we have had a good response to a number of courses that have been run: Navigating Change, and Bridging the Generation Gap, as well as Manna and Mercy. Both Verna and Debbie’s bible studies, which run on a Wednesday night, have grown, and are a wonderful source of support for all concerned. Next year:While both Bible Studies will continue, in addition Gaynor and Len will run an in depth 34 week course called ‘Disciple’. In addition Debbie will run a course on Relationships and Sexuality, and an in-depth study on the book of Revelation. The MCSA has mandated that all ministers conduct an in depth study of Christians in same-sex relationships, using material John and I helped to prepare, and we look forward to that too.
The last portfolio that answers the question from our vision of: ‘‘are we, here at SPMC, loving each other in care?’ is VickiHargreave’s one of administration. I cannot tell you all what a joy employing our secretary, Hannah has been to me! Our efficient and gorgeous secretary has lifted a load off my shoulders, and makes sure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. As always, Vicki, together with the Vestry Stewards and Hannah, has quietly and efficiently made sure that all monies have been recorded and banked, all the books are properly audited and bills paid, and this is no small job. Thanks, Vicki! And then another tremendous joy has been the formation of a Properties Team, who have worked very, very hard. They have scrubbed and polished, and planted and watered, researched and fixed and painted and plastered and consulted, and have managed to make sure that every single one of the ministries, not just of the 9:30 congregation, but of the 16:00 congregation too, is adequately, safely and beautifully ‘housed’: Les, Rika, Colin and Annette – you are stars! Their two big tasks for 2011 is enclosing the balcony at La Bonne to create a study for me, and finding a way of creating a cry room. We look forward to the results of our 4th December ‘Christmas Gift Market’ which will be the culmination of our SPMC’s Got Talent fund-raising project.Next Year: We are looking at getting a whole new look web page.
Our fifth portfolio, which is headed byPanyinBlanson is entitled ‘Justice and Service’. It challenges us to answer this question from our vision: ‘are we, at SPMC, loving our neighbour in service?Because I am new to Cape Town, this portfolio required a lot of exploration, and so Panyin and I began the year doing an audit of the services offered by government and welfare groups particularly in the City Bowl, but also throughout Cape Town. We discovered the Night Haven passports, which we have made available to the whole church, and which we give to people coming to church hoping for hand outs. We connected with Intyatyambo and Colin Doyle takes out enough epap each month for feed these 70 children their breakfast every morning. The WA is hosting the Intyatyambo Christmas party this year, for which they have been knitting furiously. We are sourcing and packing R4500 worth of toiletriesfor the runaway girls at OnsPlek,which we will give to them at their Christmas Party.Sadly, it was time for the Garage Sale to come to an end, and we must take this opportunity to thank Mike and Verna Louw and their team for the many, many hours they put into this church fundraiser! However, Mike and Verna do still run our Loaves and Fishes ministry, which continues to help many of our congregation to put food on the table. Lastly, we have also helped many members of our congregation through difficult times through our ‘Congregational Assist’ programme. Next Year:In addition to all the other project, we are planning a ‘Stop Hunger Now’ packing day early next year, so that we can provide R600 meals a month to elderly people for the full duration of the year.
Please remember too, that Sea Point Society consists of two congregations: our 9:30 English congregation and our 16:00 Xhosa congregation. This afternoon congregation is a very busy and active congregation, with a six different organisations represented: Manyano, YMG, Young Women’s Manyano, Wesley Guild, Local Preachers and Sunday school. Next year, they also boast twonew local preacher’s on trial whom I will be assisting with their studies. So they keep me out of mischief too!
We must never forget that as Methodists we are also part of a Circuit. I would like to take this opportunity to thank first Jacques du Plessis, and then Gaynor Fisher for their sterling work as Circuit Steward. Next Year: Of course, with our Table Bay Circuit hosting Synod 2011, this is going to be a huge job for Gaynor (and for the rest of us too!), but she has the very able support of Rika de Ruiter and PanyinBlanksonto support her, and so I have no doubt that the first Synod of our new Bishop, Rev Michel Hansrod, will be a roaring success.
I close with the words of Paul from Philippians 1:4 ‘Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ… And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns’.
In Christ’s service
Rev Debbie van de Laar