Weekly Update – 6 September 2026

by Takalani Musekwa | Sep 4, 2026 | News

15^th Sunday of Pentecost

Psalm 149:1-9 • Exodus 12:1-14 • Romans 13:8-14 • Matthew 18:15-20

Coming Events to Diarise:

Women’s Retreat 2026 – 4-6 September 2026

Women’s Monthly Bible Study – 8 September 2026

Bi-weekly Online Bible Study – 9 September 2026

Monthly Day of Prayer & Fasting – 12 September 2026

Singles & Young Adults Retreat – 2- 4 October 2026

Spiritual Equipping Program (SEP) – 12-19 December 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Hallelujah! Spring is here!

Hallelujah means “Praise the LORD.” Somehow “Praise the Lord” just doesn’t carry the same weight for me — there’s something about the original word that lands differently. That’s why so many Bible translations, including my Tshivenda and Kiswahili ones, don’t even try to translate it. They borrow it straight from the Hebrew, because some words say more than any translation can capture. “Amen” is the same. Every language I know of has simply taken it as it is. Hallelujah and Amen belong to all of us — they’re some of the few words that unite our worship across every language on earth.

That’s part of why I love hearing worship songs sung in languages I don’t understand. God still understands. The Spirit carries our worship even when our minds can’t keep up with the words — though that’s never an excuse to stop wanting to understand them.

This week we’re reading Psalm 149, and I love how the International Standard Version opens: “Hallelujah! Sing a new song to the LORD, praising him where the godly gather together.” A new song. Some of us are not new-song people — we’re old-hymn people, and there is nothing wrong with that. “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art” will always make my worship list any day. You may have your own, I’m sure.

But the Psalmist keeps nudging us toward something new — a new song, praising “with dancing,” making “music with timbrel and harp” (v3). It reminds me of Michael W Smith’s song “A New Hallelujah.” There’s a place in worship for the songs that have carried us for decades, and there’s a place for the songs still being written.

Let’s stay open to new songs not for the sake of it, or because the old ones have failed us, but because Psalm 149 keeps calling God’s people back to freshness.

Music is one of the areas where people split, especially in a church like ours with so many faithful, older members — where new songs, and the styles that come with them, can feel like foreign ground. I get it. But I keep coming back to something Ed Stetzer wrote in 2015: “If your church loves the way you do church more than your children, it loves the wrong thing.” That line won’t leave me alone. It’s worth reflecting on as we shape how we do Hope and Love Avenues (worship and evangelism) going forward.

My prayer for this week is that we’d embrace new songs and new ways of reaching people with open hands. Music reaches young hearts in a way few other things do — it gives them a way in, a way to meet God that’s truly theirs. Hallelujah! Amen!

PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES:

Women’s Retreat 2026: Please pray for safe travels and a successful women’s retreat taking place in Cape Town this weekend.

Offerings: Our budgeted income is now 3.2% above budget as at the end of August 2026. It is now 7.9% higher than 2025. Thank you for your continued generosity as God has blessed you. May your blessings overflow.

Sick Brethren: Please continue to pray for the brethren who are suffering from various sicknesses.

Have a blessed weekend!
Shalom!

Takalani

NATIONAL OFFICE UPDATE

Gill Khoury will be away from 9 – 30 September. Any disbursement requests will be processed as normal by Carrie and Nowakhe. Please let me know if there is anything you need assistance with during that time.

SEP GROCERY DRIVE.

In order to keep the cost of SEP low, we are asking for donations of grocery in kind or cash. If you are able to donate a bag of potatoes, rice or mealie meal, please complete the attached form and indicate your selection. Please add a comment on how many items you are able to provide, for example, 2 bags of 10kg rice, etc. The attached form will guide you on how to indicate your donation. The donation can be delivered to a Pretoria address which we will provide to those who have pledged at the end of November.

SEP Grocery Donations Pledge

https://forms.gle/CX1xJjXzSrMccgnd7

SINGLES & YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT.

A Singles and Young Adults Retreat is being planned as follows:

Date: 2-4 October 2026

Venue: Aruka, Bela Bela

Cost: R1600 per person, including all meals, plus a complimentary copy of Marriage is Not Obsolete by Pastor Takalani Musekwa. To book, please complete the booking form here: Singles & Young Adults Retreat.

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)

Staff Application Form

___________________________

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

Registration Form

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 – 2^ndTuesday 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 8^th of September. Please diarise it and join.

NATIONAL BUILDING FUND NOW OVER R1.7 MILLION

The National Building Fund has now exceeded R1.775 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 12 September 2026

Our next Day of Prayer and Fasting is on Saturday 12 September 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:

· September 12

· October 10

· November 7

· December 12

Online Bi-Weekly Bible Study – 9 September 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