2nd Sunday of Pentecost
Psalm 33:1-12 • Genesis 12:1-9 • Romans 4:13-25 • Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Coming Events to Diarise:
Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 9 June 2026
Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 17 June 2026
Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 13 June 2026
Denominational Conference 2026 – 23-26 July 2026, Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Women’s Retreat 2026 – 4-6 September 2026
Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) – 12-19 December 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our faithful God, whose promises never fail.
On this Second Sunday after Pentecost, we are reminded of the deep and enduring love that God has for humanity. One of the readings for this week takes us back to the story of Abraham—a story that reveals a God who makes promises, keeps promises, and fulfils promises in ways far beyond what human eyes can see at the time.
When God called Abraham, he said to him, “I will make you into a great nation.”(Gen. 12) At that moment, Abraham had no evidence that such a promise could come true. He had no child. He was advanced in years. His circumstances seemed to contradict the word of God. Yet God’s promise was not dependent on Abraham’s circumstances, but on God’s faithfulness.
Thousands of years later, we are among those included in that promise. What God spoke to Abraham was not only about one family, one tribe, or one nation. It was about the blessing that would come to all nations through Jesus Christ.
As Paul writes in Romans 4:16:
“The promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”
For us living thousands of years after that promise was made, it is easy to lose hope when things in the world seem to be getting worse. We wonder whether we can still trust the promises of God. This week’s scriptures remind us emphatically: We Can Still Trust His Promises.
My prayer this week is that we may remember that our God is a promise keeper, no matter how long it takes. Amen!
PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:
Offerings: Please remember to pray for the church’s offerings. There has been a drop in May. We are now 3.7% (3% end of April) below budget for the period January to May.
Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.
Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!
Takalani
SPIRITUAL EQUIPPING PROGRAM (SEP) 2026 – Applications Open
Applications for SEP 2026 are open. The closing date for applications is 27 September 2026. A non-refundable deposit of R600 is payable by 30 September 2026. The balance is payable by 31 October.
Please read the terms and conditions, camper and staff fees, and other details on the application form. The application form must be completed online by computer or mobile phone. To access the relevant application form click below:
Camper Application Form 2025 (13-18 years)
Vacation Bible School Form (9-12 Years)
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REPEAT ANNOUNCEMNTS NOT TO BE READ IN CHURCH SERVICES
Women’s Retreat 2026
The Women’s Retreat 2026 will be held as follows:
Date: 4-6 September 2026
Venue: Rocklands Centre, Simon’s Town, Cape Town
Cost: R1,600, payments due by 31 July
Further details: Speak to your local Women’s Ministry Coordinators for payment details. There are no private rooms available, only shared accommodation. Bedding is supplied. Bring own towels.
Women of Faith Monthly Online Bible Study – 2nd Tuesday of the month
The National Women’s Ministry has started a women’s monthly bible study every second Tuesday of the month, from 7pm to 8pm. The next Bible Study will be on the 9th of June. Please diarise it and join.
NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.7 MILLION
The National Building Fund has now exceeded R1.7 million.

Please support your congregation’s Building Fund by contributing additional offerings monthly or once off to the dedicated bank account as follows:
· Bank: First National Bank (FNB)
· Name: GCI Building Fund
· Account No: 6304 180 7835
· Deposit Reference: Name and Surname
You can also fundraise as a group or alone. You may have items that you no longer need or use which you can pawn and donate the funds, or approach friends and family who may be able to donate to the fund. If you need a letter to request donations please feel free to contact me.
Monthly Day of Prayer and Fasting –Saturday 13 June 2026
Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 13 June 2026. Please see the dates for the rest of the year below, and diarise accordingly.
Please find some video links on Prayer and Fasting if you want to know more. Here are the links:
1. Fasting- The Forgotten Spiritual Discipline – https://youtu.be/7MgrVj_w9sY
2. Fasting Questions and Answers 1 – https://youtu.be/Mkk3U2KvPHg
3. Fasting Questions and Answers 2 – https://youtu.be/CghD-uxBbFk
4. Fasting Question and Answer #3 – https://youtu.be/ajKaWRgreLw (Question #3: How should I fast? Are there different types of fasts?)
Future Days of Prayer and Fasting:
· June 13
· July 11
· August 8
· September 12
· October 10
· November 7
· December 12
May 2026 ISSUE OF FACE TO FACE PUBLISHED
Our May 2026 issue of the online Face To Face magazine has been published. Please find it here: Face To Face
Mission Possible
Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 17 June 2026 – Ephesians
Please diarise and join the biweekly Online Bible study every second Wednesday at 19:00. The current series is: The Book of Ephesians.
To connect to the biweekly Bible Study, here are the details: Click
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89054374373?pwd=NFZVaFJjVGxqQjc5K0YyeWEzVVZMUT09
OR enter the details below to join the meeting:
Meeting ID: 890 5437 4373
Passcode: GCI2021
Time: 19:00
OFFERINGS: (should Christians pay a tithe?)
Even though some churches are not able to meet, we urge you to continue to give your weekly Thanksgiving offering that you would normally give during church services. The bank details for EFT and Cash deposits are below:
The Banking details for both the weekly Thanksgiving Offerings and the monthly Freewill Offerings are as follows:
EFT PAYMENTS
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL-S.A –
Account No: 593 800 27523 – FNB Current Account Number
Ref. NameSurname Church
Please reference your offering so that we can send a receipt.
CASH PAYMENTS
GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL-S.A –
FNB Account No: 74451599946
Account Type: 32 Day Notice account
Ref. NameSurname Church
Please reference your offering so that we can send a receipt.