Rev Hendrik Du Plessis
According to the restrictions and regulations of Botswana, all liquor sales were still forbidden, but fortunately we still had a bottle of Old Brown Cherry from the previous communion. Throughout the week, all the elders were able to report on the members in their wards. It was a busy week with three funerals and an elders meeting that we had to fit in somewhere. One of the deceased was a member of our church here, a woman, who suddenly developed flu symptoms and died a few days later. Her husband, who survived a stroke a few years ago and is still partially paralyzed, also had the same flu symptoms but survived. She tested negative for Covid-19.
Gantsi district has long been spared from the COVID-19 pandemic, but recently numbers have increased drastically. On March 2, 2021, there were a total of 821 cases of which 144 are active with 9 deaths. The health services are under tremendous pressure. By 5 March 2021, there were 30,537 cases reported in Botswana with 413 deaths and 1,166 daily cases.
In the Lord’s Supper service, the Scripture reading focused on the Pharisee and the tax collector and the attitude of a Christian to return home justified. In a simple way, I presented to them the two people, who the Pharisees were and the tax collectors at that time, and how your sense of credit or dignity could lead you to one great self-deception and the deep humility of someone who realizes how great his sin and misery are. A single sentence was enough to put him in honor before God: “God be merciful to me a sinner”, in contrast with the complacency of the Pharisee.
Before serving the Lord’s Supper, we have once again made it clear that anyone who still wears strings from faith healers or sangomas or any other tapestry of any bishop, apostle or church leader will eat and drink judgment on himself.
At communion, the Reformed form is presented to the congregation in two languages, Naro and Tswana. Here and there the form is explained in more detail for clarity. Thereafter, the congregation was invited to join in the communion service. The congregation then stands in front of the table and the church council behind the table. Standing, they are then administered the sacraments.
To conclude, we are now approaching the Easter season which extends over the weekend of the 2 – 4 April. Hopefully the restrictive regulations will be adjusted by that time. Our sincere prayer is that the Lord will bless us at this time that our attention will not be distracted, but will be absolutely focused on the merits of the atonement and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. With that, we also ask for your intercession for and in this time.
Your brother in Christ,
Hendrik du Plessis