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November 2016

December 2016 Letter

  • 30 November 2016
  • nanda.groenewald
Follow the Star

Dear Congregations

Our theme for this Christmas season is: Following the Star....

As we journey through life, it's quite easy to lose focus. To forget where we are going.... Therefore we need something we can focus on, something to keep us on track...

That very first Christmas the magi just knew that they had to follow that star - and look where it brought them (Matthew 2)! They got to meet the baby Jesus.

At roughly the same time, somewhere else, the angels told the shepherds that they had to get up and get going, that something amazing had happened, and they started their journey straight away (Luke 2) And look where that brought them!They got to meet the baby Jesus too.

They listened to the angels, they followed the star - and that choice changed their lives forever!

God talks to all of us. He tells us where to go. In different ways, he leads us to extraordinary places.

All we need to do is listen.....

This Christmas season, let's not get side tracked by anything. Let's listen where God wants to send us, let's see what he has in store for us.

Let's follow that star....

If we put aside what the world expects us to do and make it our priority to find Jesus, just as the magi and the shepherds did, we'll never look back.

We'll never be the same again... 

May you all have a blessed Christmas and a fantastic 2017.

Nanda

November 2016 Letter

  • 14 November 2016
  • nanda.groenewald

Dear congregations,

I am taking the opportunity to write Nanda's letter from the manse this month.

She gave me a choice: unpack the boxes or do some admin for me! Not hard to guess which I chose!!

But actually, I wanted to write to all of you to express my sincere thanks for all your support, all your cards and gifts to us as a family during our move to Balerno. It was so heart-warming to see so many of you at my induction - from which I am still recovering. It was a memorable induction service which was made special by the fact that so many of you shared in it with me and my family.

We have now moved into the Manse at Balerno and I am sorry that you will have to memorise our new telephone numbers. But do please come and visit us.

The sermon at my induction was indeed moving and challenging. "Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked.

It is a timely question for us too. We need to ponder and rethink this question in everything we do as followers of Jesus. In fact, our answer needs to be reflected in the way we talk, think and act in the world.

It is here where the real challenge lies, a challenge that we need to take on board. We are missionaries sent by God on a mission to reflect to all people that Jesus is the Redeemer.

May we all become and remain witnesses of His grace, love and endless mercy in our new journey together.

All my best wishes,

Andre