​As there was no Palm Sunday celebration planned this year, it seemed the perfect opportunity to draw attention to the start of Holy Week and the coming of Easter with a morning of family crafting while being able to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with cake and purchase beautifully handcrafted decorations for the celebration of Easter.

The crafters who have been working diligently every Thursday morning began making hares and other handcrafted decorations to sell, and supplemented their craft with suitable items bequeathed by Anne-Marie van Dijk.

Miniature succulent gardens, high-quality woven baskets, second-hand books and a few select items of furniture were also on sale.

Bridgette had blown while hens’ eggs in preparation for painting them or decorating them with coloured tissue paper.

Mid-morning Ludmilla Hogerzeil and Carol Martin put on a table theatre puppet show of the Grimm’s tale of the Star Taler. The children sat enthralled by this beautifully presented tale.

When everyone had gathered again, Bridgette ran a workshop in basket weaving. The creeper that grows on the West Manse enclosure wall had been harvested earlier in the morning and prepared for this workshop. A varied array of shallow baskets was produced.

Home-baked cake and brownies from Sophia Siepker, together with purchased cakes and hot cross buns, provided a selection of delectables to accompany the teas, coffees and cappuccinos on offer.

Conversations

See information here.

The natural scenery

Hiking

On Saturday, 6 December, in the first week of Advent, some fifteen children with parents and friends gathered.

Once everything was prepared, everyone entered the church quietly and found a seat on cushions on the floor or on a chair. Quietly the door to the Sacristy opened and an ‘angel’ entered. She ‘floated’ into the Advent Spiral and with a taper took the light from the Advent Wreath burning at the entrance to the Advent Spiral to a candle standing in the centre of the spiral.

Thereafter, the angel led one child after another into the Spiral and as the child approached the centre of the Spiral found one of the unlit candles that lined the Spiral, picked it up and lit the candle at the centre of the Spiral. On the way out of the Spiral the lit candle was carefully replaced on the golden star where it had stood.

Once each child had either walked the Spiral with the angel or been led by a parent, the last of the candles in the Spiral were lit by parents and friends. As this happened, the music – alternating piano and cello – that had accompanied the children changed to the singing of Christmas carols.

Once all the candles were lit and the signing was completed, we looked upon the Advent Spiral and carrying the image in our hearts, quietly left the church to enjoy juice and biscuits.

​The Advent Fair is a staple in our community. When one walks into the Community Room with one wall draped in midnight blue velveteen dressed with golden stars and table clothed in vibrant velveteen colours, it feels as though Christmas is approaching in a way that is special to us.

On the day delighted children group around pots of hot wax and tables where they make their own hand-crafted gifts. Children queue to blow a walnut coracle across a shell and precious stone filled bay into a crystal cave using only a drinking straw; or to enter into a deep, dark cave dressed in a mantle of protection to meet an angel with a special message.

Then the bell rings and children rush over to the main hall to see a traditional puppet theatre show. This year the story was that of the Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde.

In the garden the parents enjoy conversation over a cup of tea or coffee with a slice of homemade cake. When the children feel hungry, they join their parents for quiche, a panini filled with Italian sausage or bockwurst, soft white cheese and a choice of flavourful garnishes, or a pizza, with a green salad as an option.

The weather remained dry and warm, without a hot sun, after days of torrential rain. The garden sparkled and even the old bunting looked refreshed.

Pam Klette took on the organising of the Advent Fair at the last minute and managed a remarkable event. It was smaller and beautifully contained compared to other years.

If you have photos of the Advent Fair that you feel should be added, please send them to the church office.

On Saturday, 1 November, we opened the gates to the public to come and buy and sell on our driveway. A rain shower half an hour before opening had everyone scrambling to cover the goods. The rest of the day was bright and warm.

Four people with their bric-a-brac and food to add to the White Elephant, books and a tea table we had set up for the day. Trade was slow, but members of the community, friends and the public at large trickled through, creating a festive and relaxed atmosphere.

On Friday 18 July a small group of children participated in baking a delicious raisin bread, making a natural bird feeder, listening to a story while enjoying the raisin bread and juice and planting a spotted flower garden. 

​On Sunday, 29 June we celebrated St. John’s with a Family Festival. The children made torches to light the St. John’s fire before the Sunday Service.

Then, during the Act of Consecration of Man the children were treated to a table puppet show of Rumpelstiltskin.
​
Everyone gathered around the fire with their tea and coffee to hear a story of Jesus child who visited three farmers as a child beggar. These farmers grew their crop of grain and, by tradition, offered some of their harvest to St John. After the three farmers had interacted with the child beggar and were on their way to make their offering of the harvest grain to St John, they were lifted to portals of heaven. There St. John met them, and they were appropriately rewarded according to how they had received the child beggar. Only one farmer was blessed by the Christ Child for his love and kindness, and the grain that had been blessed was baked into a golden loaf that never diminished and fed everyone who came to the farmer’s door.

​After the story everyone shared the food they had brought, and we sat down to a splendid meal.

On Sunday 25 May three children received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The preparation for confirmation was begun by Rev. Michaël Merle and picked up by Rev. Bridgette Siepker. Rev. Richard Goodall celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation on behalf of our Lenker. The three confirmees are Lucas Willemsen, Blithe Gericke and Keano Liao.

The sacrament was followed by a sumptuous tea with a splendid array of sweet and savoury snacks. The day closed with an intimate conversation of the parents and priests with the confirmees, and a Close of Day. 

Three children were baptised on Sunday 18 May 2025. Two of the boys, Keano Liao and Lucas Willemsen, were preparing for confirmation on the following Sunday. The third child was Lucas's brother Lauwrence.