BIRTHDAYS Mamello Tlagadi 12/12 Thabiso Pheto 13/12 Olivia Nkutha 13/12 Pulane Lefakane 13/12 Maud Khumalo 13/12 Luvuyo Mengezeleli 13/12 Warona Mokoena 14/12 Samson Mohajane 15/12 Alice Mathafeng 15/12 Mogale Mogale 15/12 Catherine Raphunga 16/12 Valencia Kgame 16/12 Gail Mathabathe 16/12

Catherine Raphunga 16/12 Pandora Seane 16/12 Lydia Tsewu 16/12 Linda Duma 17/12 Lindiwe Sihlangu 17/12 Trevor Ncengwa 18/12

PARISH COUNCIL FOR 2016/2017 Zandile Sithole (Warden), Nokwanda Mngoma (Warden), Councillors: Pulane Lefakane,

Nonhlanhla Sibiya, Makhantso Hermanus, Mpho Montjane, Refuoe Mosololi.

SPECIAL PRAYERS This week we continue to pray for: Those travelling this festive sea-son for God’s travelling mercies. More good rains for our crops, animals and ourselves. Our home bound, the sick, marginalised, oppressed, abused, the hungry and desolate, homeless and the fearful. For the rich to bless and share their generosity with those who are less fortunate in life especially this Christmas. The government that they may lead this nation in the way of justice and peace. We pray for our own safety with our children at all times.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: We must judge ourselves, and judge of our own acts, but not make our world a law to every-body. We must not judge rashly, nor pass on judgement upon our brother/sister without any ground, says Matthew Henry. Spirit Science has observed that sinners judge sinners for sinning differently. Love one another and leave judgement for God to handle.

BANKING DETAILS - FOR CHURCH DUES AND OTHER MONIES Account Name: Orlando Holy Cross Anglican Church Bank: Standard Bank Account number: 201028557 Branch code: 006805 Reference: Name & surname.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

COLLECT

God of Joseph and Mary, May Jesus, our Emmanuel, be more than just a dream in our hearts: save us and restore us, that we may bear your power into the world; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Diocese of Johannesburg Anglican Church of Southern Africa

The Parish of Orlando West

7354 Mdaniso Street | Orlando West 1804 | PO Box 375 Dube 1800 | Tel: 011 936 1394 | Fax: 011 936 5574 | Fax 2 Email: 086 710 2011 | Email: holycross@mwebbiz.co.za | Web: www.hcross.org.za | Rector: The Rev Lankiri Thaba| Parish Administrator: Cur-

rently Vacant | LOP: The Rev. Fr. Mduduzi Alfred Khumalo.

Parish Mission Statement Holy Cross Church will always be a Relevant,

Vibrant Christian Community.

READINGS & SERVICE LEADERS FOR TODAY— 18 DECEMBER 2016 Isaiah 7:10-16……..……………...……………..…........Banele Dlamini Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (APB pg. 705)…………………..Lerato Mphahlele Romans 1:1-7...………....……………………………....…Baby Kgame Matthew 1:18-25……..………………....….……………..…Busi Ndala SYNEXER:……………....……..…………….………Moliehi Morailane PREACHER:…………….…….…..………………...…....Rev. LE Thaba THEME: “The Birth of Jesus is foretold—The Emmanuel”

NOTICES, LITSEBISO, IZAZISO, DIKITSISO, NDIVHADZO NEXT SERVICE: We will have ONE service next Sunday at 09h00 SHARP as we celebrate Christmas. “Better three hours too soon than a minute too late” (William Shakespeare). If you are a visitor today and would like to know more about Holy Cross Church kindly speak to the priest or Parish Councillors/Church Wardens at the table next to the choir. We highly value your presence here today and extend a very warm welcome to you all. We kindly ask that you fill the VISITORS’ BOOK at the back entrance as you leave the Church today. Your comments are of importance to our growth. Please spare a few minutes of your time and fill it. CHRISTMAS CAROLS: The Liturgy of next Sunday will incorporate the nine lessons with Christmas carols in the context of the Eucharist of course. A big thank you to those who attended a splendid performance of the Christmas Carols by our choir accompanied by ACOSA. We Strongly encourage you to support our own activities here at Church all the time.

BAPTISMS: The next baptisms will be on 8 January 2017. Could all parents email the good

quality picture of their child for baptism and use the following email address:

holycross@mwebbiz.co.za showing the full names of the child and gender. Other matters

will be communicated via WhatsApp and/or sms.

CONFIRMATIONS: The confirmation service pictures are still waiting for collection by those

who were recently confirmed. See the Rector’s office after the service today.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PORTFOLIO: The Community Engagement Portfolio is ask-ing for non perishable tin stuff to be dropped off at Church. This will be used as donations to those who are less fortunate during this time of Christmas. Please donate and makes someone's Christmas a worthwhile this time around. ALPHA: This is a reminder that the Alpha team invites everyone who has done the Alpha course previously, to join the Alpha Staff for 2017. As it has been announced, on 19th Janu-ary 2017, Alpha will be having an Opening Supper night, the venue will be at Nambitha Res-

CHRISTMAS DAY — 25 DECEMBER 2016 Isaiah 52:7-10…..…………………….…………...………..…Pamela Hobo Psalm 98 (APB pg.727).…..……………………..………..Kananelo Thaba Hebrews 1:1-12…………..……………….…....……...……. Zola Montjane Luke 2:1-20…………………..…..……………..………..Kefilwe Kgasoane SYNEXER:…...………………………………...…………..…Gloria Malindi PREACHER.…………..………………………………………Rev LE Thaba

taurant, Vilakazi Street, starting at 6pm pm till 7pm. (We are all expected to be seated at 5:45pm). Fundraising towards Alpha will be through selling of the 'Christmas Newslet-ter', 'Christmas Crackers' and other similar projects . SPIRITUAL FORMATION PORTFOLIO: The Portfolio team under the leadership of Mme Makhantso Hermanus wishes to remind the congregation that Christmas Day this year will be on Sunday, we are therefore tipped to expect a special service. Invite friends and family to come and enjoy with us. We have eventually organised the Liturgy and Worship Team and it consists of the following members of the congregation: Thandi Thelele, Moss Tau, Mpho Kunene, Modiehi Morailane, Linda Mokgatlhe, Nqobile Magani. A big thank you to these beloved for agreeing to serve in this portfolio. RIP: A big thank you to those of you who managed to attend both the funeral services of NTOMBI ELIZABETH “MEISIE” KHOBA yesterday and Fr Khumalo’s sister JOYCE BUSISI-WE “DOLLY” KHUMALO on Thursday. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Let us support one another at all times and in that way we live out the Gospel of our Lord. OUSTANDING MONIES: Beloved in the Lord we have come to the end of the year and as we look back we take this opportunity to thank God for all his love and mercies to us. The Parish Council would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the on-going support that you have shown in 2016. We hope you do the same again even on a bigger scale in 2017. We therefore encourage everyone who still owes any monies for 2016 whether for Easter, Holy Cross Day, Heritage Day, Container, Christmas etc to kindly settle this before we close the books for year. PARISH OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR’S POST: The Post of the Office Administrator will come out this week on Tuesday. It will be on ALL our Notice Boads, Facebook page, as well as the Diocesan communication channels. Pay attention to this if you are interested and please note that it is going to be a fair process that the Council will follow to fill up this post. Please pray for us as we start this tiresome process that we may be led by the Holy Spirit. PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE: Please note that the Parish Office will be closed from Wednesday 21 December and will re-open on Tuesday 3 January 2017. Please see your Zone leaders for any matter during this time. Their particulars are on the Notice Board. Speak also to the Wardens and the Rector. Have a well deserved restful break.

BUILDING PROJECT BANKING DETAILS: Account Name: Diocesan Deposit Fund Standard Bank Account: 1302353 Branch: Small Street Code: 001805

Use reference: 7511 Orlando Holy Cross Building Project