Emmanuel turned 20, Brenda and Theo had been here for 15 years, we've been in our beautiful building for 10 years and Grace congregation were 5 years old...
How do you celebrate when God has been so faithful???
Throw a big fat banquet of course!!
Here's the invitation we sent out:
Dear Emmanuel and Grace Family
We've been advertising our Celebration Dinner for the last couple of
months and now it comes to the inevitable "this-is-your-last-chance"
email! Our Dinner to celebrate God's goodness over the last 5,10,15
& 20 years takes place on Sat 18th Aug and here is your last
chance to book your place and come along.
- What is it? An evening together in the company of our
church family. It is not going to be an evening of long speeches
and presentations. There will be a short devotion at the
beginning, and then we'll tuck in! Our menu is good old
fashioned "boerekos" (farmstyle.) Dress is casual, seating isn't
numbered and the mood for the evening is "family and
thanksgiving."
- What time? We start at 18h00 for 18h30 on Sat 18 Aug.
We should be done by 20h30.
- Cost? R90 for adults, R60 for kids aged 6-13, Kids
under 6 are free.
- We will provide juice and water, but you are welcome to bring
your own drinks and glasses.
Families with children please note:
1. We will not be finishing late - we plan to be done by 20h30.
2. We will have a sleeping area in rm 4 with someone to keep an
eye on the kids. Bring a mattress and blanket for your child if
this is appropriate.
3. We will also have some dvd's and supervision for older kids in
room 5.
There is sponsorship available for folks who cannot afford to
book. Please chat to Craig or myself.
I'm really looking forward to celebrate how far God has brought
us through the years!
God bless!
Theo
Then the day came and our
awesome and spectacular caterers,
Meals of Distinction, came in with the food, our helpers came in to set up and the tables, were laid. Then the guests started arriving and with a slide show of 20 years of photos rolling in the background we offered songs of praise and a prayer of thanksgiving. Then, as God's family together, we sat down to celebrate!
It was an awesome evening and a wonderful celebration!
To God be the Glory - Great Things He has done!!!
Then the day came and our awesome and spectacular caterers, Meals of Distinction, came in with the food, our helpers came in to set up and the tables, were laid. Then the guests started arriving and with a slide show of 20 years of photos rolling in the background we offered songs of praise and a prayer of thanksgiving. Then, as God's family together, we sat down to celebrate!
What an awesome joy and comfort it is to know that we are part of God's Covenant people and that He is at work even before we are born!
We baptise our children in the joyful certainty that it is God who calls us and that we simply respond to His calling. We baptise our children knowing that He loves them and has a plan for them. Their baptism celebrates the fact that our families are included in the Family of God just as baby boys were included in Israel through circumcision.
Parents come to the service with a song of joy and gratitude in their hearts and a firm and fervent resolve to raise their children in the faith and see the Baptism being Confirmed when these children take a public stand in their years of understanding.
What a joy it has been over the years to see these children who were baptised as infants now confirming their faith and realising that even when we are not completely faithful or perfect, God is gracious, good and faithful!
Our building is ten years old... Some things needed maintenance.
We cleaned, tidied, welded, drilled, re-hung, re-inforced and renewed. Many hands made light work and some long-overdue boxes were ticked!
