Weekly Prayer Letter

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! - 2 Peter 3:18

From  May 11 – June 22  we begin our journey through the letter to the Ephesians. You can participate by:

a.      Attending both Sunday services for this period. Each week will focus on a different chapter.
b.      Take a work book (they are free!) and work through a chapter of Ephesians every week on your own. These will be available from this Sunday. (4th May)
c.       Attend a weekly cell group for this period. Please place your name on the list on the table in the foyer and the cell group you presently attend. If you don’t usually attend a cell group join us for this 6 week commitment.
d.      Learning the weekly memory verse and meditating on it during the day.

My prayer is that you will grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ as you study his word, fellowship with His people, serve Him and pray.

On Sunday the 4th of May the study guide will be available for you to begin your personal journey. The next Sunday will begin the preaching series through Ephesians and Wednesday the 14th will be the first cell group on Ephesians. By getting the Study guide this Sunday you will have 10 days to work through chapter one so that you will be ready to be part of the discussion at the cell group.

Missions

• Ben Smith arrived back from Rooiwal yesterday having spent a week in the Northern Cape. He reports that some of the church members have to work 7 days a week through the planting season so church attendance is down. (But at least there is work!) He asks that we still pray for him and the Heideveld Church as they look for a successor for Ben as the Pastor.
• Sydney Davis is thankful to those who contributed to her missions trip to Ireland. She managed to raise the deposit needed by 1 May and now requires a further $1000 for the actual airfare.

CBC Family

When you pray for our church family, why not contact them – either phone call, sms, email etc – and let them know that they have been in your thoughts and prayers. This will be a great encouragement to all.

• Peter Lord had an accident on his bicycle and broke 2 vertebra in his neck. He is home and very grateful that he is not paralysed.  Please pray for him and Ardri and their family.
• Mrs Staples still not well and Elaine asks that we continue to pray for her.
• The Erickson family will be leaving for a years furlough in the USA at the end of May. They are looking for a family to take care of their toy fox terrier,  a rabbit and Madi’s hamster. The mission also wants to rent out the house for the year and so please pray for this as well.
• Elaine Holmes is much better and hopes to be back at school on Monday. She is very thankful for all the support she has received during her illness. Praise the Lord.
• James Davis graduates May 10th. Please also continue to pray that the final cut-off date of May 15th will bring a position at the Medical College of Virginia for him.
• Pray for CBC family who are overseas – Rachael Beukes (N Zealand); Peter and Barbie Anderson (cruise).

CBC Ministries

• The ladies praise the Lord for a super week end in Hermanus last week. They arrived back inspired by the DVDs of Beth Moore's sermons and strengthened by the fellowship and companionship (and not a little exhausted from all kinds of antics)
• Pray for our up coming “40 Days of Growth” series. This begins on 11 May.
• There is another Men's Hike this Saturday (3rd May). We will be going up Tranquillity Cracks along the 12 Apostles. A great walk. To join please let Pete S or Mike Cameron know. This will be a guided hike so there will be lots of interesting information given along the way.

Denominational

Pray for this new ministry starting in the Western Province Baptist Association:

WPBA/Uthando LeNkosi Orphan and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) Programme.

The WPBA and Uthando LeNkosi have entered into an agreement to work towards addressing some of the child vulnerability issues in our communities in the Western Province. We do believe that there are families within the body that God is raising up to become involved with vulnerable and orphaned children. However, it is important that it should become a ministry of the church and not simply a family who decides to become involved. The Comprehensive Care Plan that will soon be launched in the Western Province will afford the local church an opportunity to engage with the process on various levels.  

When a child is orphaned and needs a home the local church works to find an extended family who can foster or adopt the child. This is done with the ongoing support of the church helping to provide food and assistance with school fees. If a family isn’t available then a church-based home in the community or on the church property provides safety.

Our Community

Do pray for up coming elections that they will be free and fair. Here is a link to an excellent article by Michael Cassidy (a well known South African Christian leader) that gives an excellent set of questions that we should be asking about the party we vote for.  Should you want information on what the different parties are proposing, news24.com offered this article which gives a brief summary of the different parties.

There will be a few copies of both these articles on the table in the foyer of the church this Sunday.

Sunday 4 May

• 9.30 am. “But Grow..." This is the theme as we introduce the 40 Days of Growth. This message will be from 2 Peter 3:18. Preacher is Peter Smallbones.
• 6.00pm. “But Grow ..." We continue with the same theme in the evening but the message will be from 2 Peter 2:5-9.