THE YEAR 2011

TO ALL MEMBERS (and non-members)

2011 is about to be wrapped up. Yet another year - another candle on the cake. Soon we will be tearing off another page of the month that has gone by. This time round we will be throwing away the calander (the WHOLE year) away. The old diaries will be replaced with the new ones. Can you pause a little - as you throw the 'old calander' and think what the month of December 2011 and in fact the whole year has brought you. As you throw away the 'old' what do you remain with? What have you achieved that you can say 2011 brought you? As we celebrate the end of the year do we celebrate the achievements that have come with the out-going-year? What are those achievements? Which of the new year resolutions that you made have you achieved? Which have you not? and why?

As a church, can you think of what God has brought us? Can you think of what YOU have taken to the Lord? What have you done for God and the church? What have done for your fellow comgregant? Have you met all what you set up to achieve? Has it been business as usual or has there been a new revelation for you?

These are some of the questions that will help us, in reflecting the events of the past year. But something to reflect on is bear what the God says to King Solomon about his achievement as reflected in 1 Kings 9: 1 - 3. God hears our pleas and blesses our achievements.

We have observed minor achievements as the church this year. Couldnt we have done better? Yes we could have. As we close off the year we can pride ourselves for the new enegrised evangelistism group. Every Sunday morning the group visit homes of those who are sick and those who are no longer coming to church. This has proved to be a force to be reckoned with. Siyabonga maPercy Webber. I dont want to single out any individuals but to thank you as a collective.

Sunday School is up and running in our Dobsonville branch. We encourage the other two - Mofolo and Orange Farm to do

We close the year with celebration of the appointment of some of our members who holds office in Regional structures. Messrs X Ntondo and S Manganye who are the Soldiers of Christ Vice President and Chaplain respectively. Please do us proud. Mrs K Nxumalo and Mrs P Nguza whose term in office of Isililo Manyano Bomme's Regional president and additional member respectively. Ningayeki ukuwusekela umsebenzi enikhethelwe wona.

We are mindful of our sick members. We need to think of them prayerfully this Christmas period. Visit them - call them, spoil them. Amongst others are:

Mrs V Matyila (Mofolo North)

Ms V Ngqolozana (Mofolo North)

Mrs V Mothibi (Dobsonville)

Mrs S Tshabalala (Dobsonville)

Mrs Moyakhe (Dobsonville)

Mrs Siyobi (Mofolo North)

Mrs Zwane (Dobsonville)

Plans for next year:

What are yours?

We will be starting our building construction in both our branches in Soweto

To all those who will be going away for Christmas - go well. May the Almighty guide and protect you. May go and refresh and come back rejuvenate for 2012 will be THE YEAR OF ACTION. Ponder on what YOU want to do differently next year - for the betterment of your life and your spirituality. Next year is not another year, it is ACTION time.

Blessings

DJ Nxumalo (Rev)

Rev DJ Nxumalo's sermon 4 December 2011

                                              

Date:    4^thDecember 2011
Texts :  Mark 9: 30 – 37
Theme: Being a servant                                                                                  

³⁰ They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³² But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. ³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” ³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me”

INTRODUCTION

a)     World AIDS Day
b)    16 Days of activism for no violence against women and children
c)     COP 17  
d)    Second Sunday of Advent
 
THEME EXPLANATION
Being a servant simply means getting off our high horses and serving the people of God.  We cannot begin to claim to serve God if we look past our own responsibilities as human beings and as children of God.  Christ set us a perfect example of what it means to be a servant.  He forsook His kingdom and wealth so that he can share it with us – sinners and those people not deserving of His mercy. 

So being a servant means availing oneself to be used for the betterment of other people and God’s Church. “God is calling us: participating and struggle and suffering.”  This may sound as an easy thing to do but one needs to be humble in order to serve.  As a servant you are exposed to all sorts of difficult situations and people yet we are challenged to remain focussed on our mission and purpose of rendering service.  One of the criteria of being a good servant of God is knowing your Master.  It is having a relationship with God.  It is not good enough to know church without knowing the owner AND without having a relationship with God.  You cannot call yourself Mrs Cynthia Sijemlana if you don’t have a relationship with Mr Sijemlane.  In the same way I think,  we cannot call ourselves Christians if we don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ. 

TEXT

Umbhali   
The text of the Gospel According to Mark does not specifically identify anyone as the author. Not even “Mark” is identified as the author — in theory, “Mark” could have simply related a series of events and stories to someone else who collected them, edited them, and set them down in the gospel form. It wasn't until the second century that the title “According to Mark” or “The Gospel According to Mark” was affixed to this document.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark

Marks’s gospel is the second book of the New Testament.  Like the other gospels it gives the account of the life of Jesus.  But unlike other gospels, Mark goes straight away to narrate the ministry of Jesus as opposed to giving his genealogy (Matthew) his history and oral tradition as investigated and studied (Luke) nor his divinity (John).  This gospel concentrates his ministry and particularly on the last week of his life (chapters 11–16, the trip to Jerusalem).   An important theme of Mark is the Messianic secrets concealed at exorcism, healing, teaching in parables, 

Text

V34- 5  ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”   

This is Christ talking.   In other Bibles – everything that is said by Christ himself is highlighted.  The disciples were worried about earthly position.  They were so position-focussed.  V34 tells us that they were quiet – perhaps scared and embarrassed that they were busy urging about position – something Christ never addressed with them.   Jesus as I have already mentioned in my introduction about the uniqueness of the gospel according to Mark – He was very emphatic in Messianic secret – in other words he did not want to reveal his true identity of divinity especially after He had performed any divine act.   We see Jesus in several instances when he heals people, he instructs them to keep quiet and not tell anyone.  In v30, he says the same thing. He actually didn’t even want them to know where they were.  He didn’t want publicity – “ngiboneni - mponeng!” 

Some people function better when they are in positions.  They want to be given top positions – when their term ends, they stop working. It is a sickness that is hurting the nation and especially the church.  We are not worshipping God because of a position but because of your faith.  Election time in the church is the most unsettling time for me.  People go around canvassing for positions.  Votes are rigged (at times) just to ensure that people get the position and recognition that they want.  Some people get big-headed and manipulate others.  They relegate God’s agenda to be their own.  We sometimes think that will not happen in church if so and so has not spoken or approved a certain idea or recommendation. 

So the disciples are seen falling into that mode – who is the greatest?  If that question was directed at Christ perhaps he could have answered it by saying “I AM” but he refused to stoop down to their level.  He knew what they sought. They were asking each other this question when He was away but the divinity in Christ brought Him to the knowledge of their discussion. 

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Christ’s answer is clear and unambiguous.  If you want to be the greatest – do so by being a servant. Christ wanted the disciples to serve.    This verse teaches us to be humble – to always seek to be the last and to be servants not lords.  It is even more sad when some people in positions even don’t function at all – yet they appreciate being in position. 

God calls us to be humble – “humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up” Jam 4:10.  Be the last - God wants you and me to be the last.  How can we be the last when we are supposed to be head and not the tail? For me this is calling us to be humble and ‘down-to-earth.’  God will never reach us if we are too far up there. Perhaps we need to come down like Zaccheuws.    

Restaurant example. (Waiter and restaurant patron). The patron puts his/her handkerchief covering their chest so that no food spillage should drop on their clothes –leaving stains.  The waiter/waitress puts their handkerchief or napkin on their waist or arm to show that they can be ready to serve.  We are called not to be on the receiving end but on the giving end.  We are called to be waiters / waitresses to be able to serve.

We serve God by serving people around us – people that we live with and see everyday.   Romans 8 à I was hungry you did not feed me – I was naked you did not clothe me, was roofless you did not care for me, I was HIV positive and you called me names and avoided me.  

Two of the five (T’s) marks of mission of the UCCSA talk about

1. Tend – give to others what they need to be able to value life.  Bereaved, hurt, divorcing, rejected, separated, living with the virus and those who are affected with AIDS, cancer and other terminal diseases.  If I can help somebody as I pass along then my living shall not be in vain.  Be a servant and do it well. 

2. Transform – your mind so that Christ can transform you life.   Once both things happen, you will be in a position to serve so that you can be Christ’s own servant by serving other people. The world needs transformation – only if we play our parts, minor as we may think they are, will transform our church and nation. There are people who refuse to transform and justify that by claiming to be born like that (being stubborn).  Don’t resist change – when Christ touches you, you should never remain the same.   IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN AS YOU ARE, IT MEANS YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF JESUS.  You are rendering His power useless.  His transforming power is stronger than the strongest dirt – You are not like OMO – se monyolane

Let each and every one of us strive for humility in His service.

We also gather to remember those who have passed on because of AIDS and those who are affected.  I want to say to all of us today that HIV is not a killer – your attitude towards it is.  If you keep telling yourself that you will die – you will die before your actual death.  Living with a virus in your body is not being dead.  Imagine the many people who are diabetic, hypertensive etc. Some people live for a very long time with the disease because they take care of their bodies.  You need to eat properly, exercise – walk and do physical chores - and refrain from stressing yourself about the virus.  Tell that virus that your God is bigger than it. 

As a church we need to stop stigmatising people who are living with the virus. Never judge but accept.  Christ accepts us as we are, and expects us to be part of the solution that brings healing – to create an environment where people are welcomed.  “The Church needs to repent of the self-righteous attitude of Pharisee, in order to become a community of healing and acceptance” MP Dibeela’s article “Repentance” – AfricaPraying (Dube W. Musa ed. 112:2004).

If you know your status
-          Don’t spread the virus if you are it
-          If you are have the virus,  it is not the end of life for you
-          If you don’t have the virus - Keep it safe and protect yourself from getting it

If you don’t know your status

-          Get tested
-          Keep safe and protect yourself

We all need to support each other

-          Let us be servant to those who are affected and infected by this disease
-          Talk to counsellors when you need help or when we are feeling down

Count your blessings one by one.   You may not be educated, you may not be rich, you nay not have the best relationship, you may not have good health right, you may not have all you want in life , but hey, look at what you have and thank God for it.  Treasure your gift, nurture it and USE to God glory
 
To God, be the glory forever!
Amen

AIDS Day and Thanksgiving Day

Hello once again.

As most of us know the 1st December has been set aside as World AIDS day.  A day that is meant to bring awareness and to acknowldege the destruction the disease has caused.   But it is also a day when we embrace our brothers and sister who are affected and those infected by this killer disease. 

At Percy Webber Congregational - we will be having our annual thanksgiving service.  Come join us.  The minister is busy finalising arrangements to have guests - one a person living with the disease and also a guest preacher.  Come join us at Mofolo branch branch at 567 Usuthu Street Mofolo North (Sgodiphola) on the 4th December 2011 at 10h00. 

Blessings to all

Hope to see you on Sunday

Rev DJ Nxumalo

Percy Webber Congregational Church

Date: 8^th October 2011 – announcements

Warm welcome to all our visitors

1. Bereavements
• Thank you to all those who supported us through messages, phone calls and to those who manage to accompany us to Kuruman to bury MaMfundisi’s brother (Oupa Molete) last Saturday.
• The Mnweba family is inthe Eastern Cape to burytheir beloved one this weekend.  We are that you uplift this family with your prayers.
2. We want to thank the Soldiers of Christ who in their mission to visit members who are in various difficult situations and those whom we have been missing from the church.
3. Umfundisi would like to meet the youth after the service for a very short meeting.  
4. As the UCCSA celebrate it 44^th year!!! We are all invited to attend a combined service at Soweto United – Orlando East next week Sunday (16th October) at 10h00. 
5. New UCCSA structure will be displayed at your branches – members are asked to familiarise themselves with it.  The structure was inducted at the UCCSA assembely in Mozambique.
6. Our church is now on internet.  A new website/ blog has been developed for the church.  It is accessible – the address will be given http://percywebber.blogspot.com At the moment Rev is running with it but needs someone who can work-with him in putting together short stories with pictures.  Sermons will also be posted 
7. Somalia has been hit by famine.  Thousands of people are dying and at times parents watch their kids die of hunger.  We have donated R1 000 to assist the Somalia.  Showing our faith by what we do!
8. The Church Council is planning a Family outing where we are ALL asked to bring our family members to a fun filled day.  Three people are asked to coordinate this event.  We will elect one person from each branch to be in the organising committee.
9. Our 2011 Thanksgiving starts next month.  Our target is R35 000.  Each deacon/ward is asked to bring in at least R2 500.     Members are asked to start now to ensure they exceed their targets.  This is easy and achievable.
10. We have been invited to the dedication of the new church building at our Manopane church on the 15^th October at 10H00.  Ibandla liyacelwa ukuthi liphumelele.

“Committing myself anew in the Lord”

Somalia famine - Percy Webber Congregational Church responds

I am glad to be part of the church that responds to the needs not only of its members but to the 'outside world'   As prt of our social and Christian duty our church has responded to the need and the plight of the people of Somalia.    we contributed R1 000;00 to the somalia relief fund, which seeks to bring som kind of relief to the thousands of people who are dying in somalia.  Here are two short articles which explain the situation in Somalia, AFRICA.

NAIROBI (July 20, 2011) - Today, famine was officially declared in two regions of southern Somalia – the first time a major famine has been announced since the famine in the Somali region of Ethiopia in 2000. This morning's declaration of famine confirms that the Horn of Africa emergency is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world now. The United Nations is warning that if the international community does not act now, famine will spread to all areas of southern Somalia within two months.

                                  

It's amazing as a nation what we can achieve united in thought, word, deed, spirituality and diversity. Concerts, sports events, school fundraisers, employee driven efforts with matching employer support, collect a can initiatives, mall collections, corporate and government contributions and the collective support of 50 million South Africans has made the Somalia Famine Response the greatest humanitarian effort ever in South African history. South Africans from every strata of society from Soweto to Sandton have started responding to their fellow African brothers and sisters. This is a huge tragedy and requires an overwhelming generous response, the latest offer of assistance coming from the Massmart group. http://www.giftofthegivers.org/somalia/somalia-starvation-crisis-update-1-20-july-11.html United Congregational Church of Southern Africa is also engaged in raising some donations to send to our sisters and brother is famine in Somalia.   We encourage each and every member of the church made a donation - Lets show our faith by what we do.   Let coordinate through the central office at +2711 837 9997. Thank you Ma- Percy Webber - maCongregationalists - ma UCCSA amahle Rev DJ Nxumalo

Soldiers of christ are out on a mission !!

In the past few weeks, we have seen the Soldiers of Christ (our evangelism ministry of the church) on a mission.  The aim of the new drive is to visit all members of the church who have not been seen in a little while.   The ultimate goal is to get back all the members who are no longer active in the church.  Part of the aim is also to be visible in homes that need prayers. 

This has proved to a worthwhile effort.   Some of the members who were visited are now active again and hopefully for keeps.  This reminds me of the Matthew 25:16 when those who did well will be rewarded. 

Hambani mabutho kaKristu ningakhathali. 

Pictures say it all

Give Him glory, Give Him glory
We've come to lift our hands and give Him praise
Give Him glory, Give Him glory
We've come to lift our hands and give Him praise

____________________________________                        
                               The ministers.  
         Do find time to just hold hands !  
           Growing together in Christ 

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.

                                                         Dont's they look cute !

IMB Conference at Hillcrest KZN

It was with such excitement to see our ladies rush as they booked their space in the bus ensuring that they were part of the delegation to KZN.   At first people did not believe but as soon as people saw the picture of the bus that would transport them - INTERCAPE BUS- specially hired for Central Region IMB, the excitement grew stronger.  The bus was full and God was with us because the bus company offered us a bus with extra capacity at no additional cost. "If you think God is dead, you better look around"   We would like to thank the ministers who accompanied the ladies to the conference.  Those were  Gasenewe, Koppies, Mcopela and Nxumalo. 
  Rev TM Mcopela amongst the ministers
Siyabonga kubo bonke abaphumelele ukuya KwaZulu Natal.  Ukuphumelela kwenu ukuya lapho kwenze ukuba abantu bazi ngebandla lakithi i Percy Webber. Hlwayelani lokho enifundile lapha ekhaya.

We give thanks  to the Lord for making this trip possible.   The services were such a blessing. The preachers and the worship leaders showed indeed they had done their preparations.  Preacers challenged the congregation and reminded us that we need to always remember that we are called to serve and worship God and God alone.  "We are emptied so that we can be filled by God through Jesus Christ"  This was the final 'nail' as Rev CS Mkhize bade farewell on Sunday morning service. 

Dont be mistaken.  It was not Percy Webber Memorial Church's conference.  It was the Denominational Conference.   Rev DJ Nxumalo and members of our church took the centre stage as we sang and celebrated the choice of being made the chosen nation of God.   On the picture is Mrs M Mthombeni,  Mrs NS Mnweba, Joyce Zonele and Mrs G Kondlo in the background.   Percy Webber was there .    

 

Minister's wives left to right: Mrs Petso (Teemane), Mrs K Nxumalo (Central), Mrs S Bloem (Algoa), Mrs E Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), Mrs J Makuzeni (Kei), Mrs Z Makhanya (KZN) and Mrs Luphuwana (Kei) 

Lest we forget !!

The first South African democratic President Dr Nelson Mandela spent 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. 

WHERE WILL YOU SPEND YOUR 67 minutes  OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO NATION BUILDING ON THE 18TH JULY 2011. 

Teemane Region is 15 Years old !!

To God be the glory.  He has done great things !   We give thanks to the Lord for sustaining the Teemane Region for 15 years!  They took time to celebrate this event in a special way.  Who on earth said our ministers dont get to have fun?  See them in their sport gear. 

Can you please write the comment and name as many ministers as you possibly can.  If you know, please write the names of the church they serve..  Happy naming.   

Sunday School Children

At the recently held Sunday School Day - we celebrated with the kids their own createdness in the image of God.  Children serious at work with the Bible study accompanied by the snack that made it easier to understand the lesson "Eat and Learn" session conducted by the Bridgman Development Centre staff members.  They were also entertained with Jumping Castle, Music, dance.    


Sunday school is getting bigger.  Parents are requested to bring their children for this important foundation-laying program.   Makangabikho osalayo

WOMEN'S MINISTRY (IMB) OUTREACH

Few years ago, UCCSA's theme or slogan (if you like) was extracted from James 2:20  "WE SHOW OUR FAITH BY WHAT WE DO"   The ladies of our church displayed this once again to the orphans at Othandweni Orphanage in Soweto on the 26th June 2011. Accompanied by a number of Youth members, some deacons and members of the church, the entourage arrived at Othandweni with gifts ranging from toiletry, clothes and baby formulae. 

 The main aim was to bring the message of love and hope to those kids - some of whom were picked up dumped in the streets and some left abandoned  by their parents, others are orphans.   

Othandweni provides a home and the warmth that each child deserves.  It was heartwarming to see the dedicated staff members who forsake their families and give of their time to be there for the childen at Othandweni.  We met one lady who has worked there for 27 years. 

Bomama - you have really lifted our flag high.   Halala Percy Webber - nawe uwumncane kumasekethe akhona. 

Mrs Gladys Kondlo - left

To Central Region IMB leadership - siyabonga for making this possible !

Church Leadership

  

Rev DJ and Mrs KT Nxumalo  

June 16 - Soweto Uprising Commemorations

June 16 is the day when South Africa commemorates the events of Soweto in June 16, 1976. That was the day when tens of thousands of Soweto students marched against the use of Afrikaans (the language of the perpetrators of apartheid) as the medium of instruction in schools. This event led to the sporadic eruption which spread throughout the country. During that march, a 13 year old student, Hector Peterson was shot and killed - a clear sign of the Police brutality unmasked.


Bridgman Centre played a prominent role in the life of a number of students when the schools were closed after the June '76 uprisings. It provided a home and a place of fun and learning. Students armed themselves with education while having fun with games.  Behind the scenes they planned the future activities which were meant to circumvent the might and the brutality of the law - of the South African government of the time.

We commemorated the 35th anniversary of this event at BRIDGMAN Development Centre - Zola Soweto. Eighty odd young people gathered on this year (June 16, 2011). We were blessed by the presence of the TIM participants who come from different parts of the world; India, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Madagascar Whales to name but a few.

We were also blessed by the presence of UCCSA local youth groups. The Krugersdorp Youth (on the picture) presented a drama - which was fitting the occasion.  The TIM guys each presented something of their culture amongst the items rendered on the program was:

- A musical item by Charlz (Bangladesh) singing the song he composed for his girlfriend

- Dance by Tieem (pronounced Sam) from Killibas Islands together with Beta (from Solomon Islands).

We were also privileges to hear of cultures from Hong Kong, Malawi, and other countries. They were 12 altogether.

Bridgman Centre continues to a home and an icon of the communities around .  Viva Bridgman Centre !

Welcome to the Percy Webber UCCSA blog

Dear friends

This is the very very first of its kind in our church.  We are so excited to be using this stuff.  We are trying to keep abreast with the inevitable demands of technology.  We live in a world that is slowly but surely shrinking because of technology.  One of the ways in which we can keep in touch is is the use of computers - email, skype, blog and much more. 

We just want to keep our members and friends informed of what is happening in our church.and community. Communicating this way will us reduce the use of paper - printing of notices and sending letters informing peopel of new development.  Instead we will just post things on this site - for all to read - without chopping the trees to make paper.   

Let's hear what is happening with you.  Happy reading

Blessings
Rev DJ Nxumalo