URC Reigerpark - Ward 8 - Kempton Park

01/01/2026

A NEW YEAR'S WISH — REVISED

To family, friends and acquaintances,

A new year is not a sentimental illusion of new beginnings; it is an unavoidable confrontation with what already has been lived. It does not arrive morally innocent or spiritually neutral. It comes weighed down with memory, shaped by unfinished responsibilities, and burdened by the consequences of choices already made. The customary act of wishing you a prosperous new year — the year before us — caused me to pause and reconsider what I would wish for you, and also for myself, in this life as we know it all too well.

My wish for you in the coming year is a deepening of courage and a strengthening of faith in God in Christ through the presence of the Spirit as you experience trials and embrace struggles. May you come to know a peace born not of ease, but of a heart that faithfully keeps to His ways.

I wish you clarity: clarity about what truly governs your decisions, what silently commands your loyalties, and what has been shaping your sense of meaning. Too many drift through years in a direction governed by habit, fear, or unexamined views inherited from others. That is not harmless; it is a quiet form of captivity. May the coming year bring you the clarity to recognise where you have been living on borrowed assumptions rather than deliberate conviction.

I wish you a courage that is quiet yet unyielding — the courage to stand in truth when the world invites retreat, to speak what is right when silence would be easier, and to live faithfully when the easier path tempts the heart. The courage to re-examine and amend beliefs that fail the test of scrutiny. The courage to acknowledge wounds instead of masking them with spiritual clichés. The courage to act responsibly when passivity disguises itself as humility. Much damage is done by well-meaning people who confuse inertia with faithfulness. May events in this year expose such confusion and replace it with moral resolve.

I wish you depth in a time obsessed with immediacy, where quick reactions are confused for understanding and loudness for importance. Depth requires patience, silence, and the willingness to endure ambiguity without rushing to false certainty. It demands humility — the acceptance that not everything can be resolved quickly, and that some truths disclose themselves only over time. Resist the pressure to live superficially, even when superficiality is rewarded. A superficial life may give the impression of success, but it cannot sustain itself.

I wish you resilience — not the brittle resilience that lets one merely survive, but the formative resilience that allows suffering to shape rather than deform. Pain will visit you this year in some form; that is not pessimism but realism. The question is whether hardship will harden you or awaken deeper understanding. Learn to distinguish between what must be endured and what must be confronted. Endurance without discernment becomes resignation; confrontation without wisdom becomes destruction.

I wish you integrity — not the polished integrity of appearances, but the kind that brings your inner convictions, your speech, and your actions into harmony. This alignment can be costly. It may require facing one's faults rather than excusing them and embracing truth rather than seeking comfort. Without integrity, success is hollow and relationships merely become transactional.

Finally, I wish you a deeper exposure to reality itself — not merely to circumstances, but to God, the foundational source of existence and significance. If God is real, indifference is not a minor flaw but a fundamental misalignment of our lives. May the year ahead disturb the stillness of your soul, not to unsettle you, but to draw you into a deeper and more truthful communion with the living God, where courage and responsibility belong together.

This is my wish for the time that lies ahead — one I offer to you but also quietly hold for myself, that the year ahead may find us courageous in truth, steadfast in integrity, and faithful in following the living God.

A blessed 2026!
David Olivier

04/08/2024

Ons is tans besig om in Wyk 8 te besin oor wat dit beteken on deel te wees van die "liggaam van Christus". Sou u belangstel, laatmy asseblief weet. My WhatsApp no. is 082 610 2838

02/08/2024

Celebrating 26 Years of Ward 8: A Testament to God's Faithfulness

August 2, 1998, marks the official beginning of Ward 8 of our Uniting Reformed Congregation Reigerpark, although discussions to establish this ward began a few months before then. We began as Ward 14, was renamed Ward 10, and now we are Ward 8!

As we mark the 26th commemoration of the existence of Ward 8, we reflect on a journey from which much could be learnt in the struggle to witness to God's desire to reconcile His people across racial and denominational barriers into a united fellowship in His Name, in a then deeply divided society. I shall never forget those early days and the many discussions I had with Rev. Stemmet Cupido - frank discussions (open, honest, direct) but always uplifting and most supportive as we more and more found each other in the Spirit and Word of God and the great witness to God's desire clearly spoken of in the Confession of Belhar - a true pastor and brother in Christ under whose support and guidance Ward 8 made its way. It was through God’s grace and the unwavering commitment of many of those who took the step to become part of Ward 8 that we overcame numerous challenges, including periods of suspicion, discrimination and plain adversity. The path was not always easy, but with every challenge, we found strength in our shared belief and collective resolve. Over the years, it has grown into a small community, where love and fellowship thrive.

We are profoundly thankful for every member who has contributed to the life and spirit of Ward 8. Your dedication, support, and faith have been the cornerstone of our ward's resilience and growth. Together, we have created a sanctuary of worship and a community of believers who stand firm in God’s love and His desire to build the Body of Christ in our own congregation, URC Reigerpark under the guidance of Rev. Michaeline Frieslaar, and further afield.

As we celebrate this significant milestone, we give all glory to God, whose care and guidance have been our constant companion. Let us continue to walk this path together, with hearts full of gratitude and spirits uplifted by the knowledge that we are part of a divine plan.

David Olivier

24/07/2024

Ons webblad het vir 'n geruime tyd nie die aandag geniet wat dit toekom nie. En dit is jammer dat dit gebeur het. Ek vra om verskoning. Kontak met u en met ander wat wil volg wat hier gebeur is van besondere waarde vir ons klein groepie hier in Wyk 8 (Kempton Park). Nie alleen wil ons hier met u deel wat hier plaasvind nie maar wil ons ook van u hoor. Dit is wanneer ons met mekaar ons geloofsrvarings en geloofswaarhede deel dat daar wedersydse verryking kan plaasvind en ons saam in ons geloof kan groei. Ons waardeer u belangstelling! (David Olivier - 24/07/2024)

02/08/2023

Ek kan my indink dat baie van u gedink het dat hierdie wyk van die VGK Reigerpark van die aardbol af verdwyn het. Nee ons is nog hier! Voluit aan die gang! (David Olivier)

27/11/2021

On the eve of another Sunday, join me in a prayer for our beloved continent and especially our country and its people.

Provided to YouTube by HeitaPlea From Africa · Sibongile Khumalo · J. Bokwe · Arjan Tien · Chamber Orchestra of South Africa (COSA) · Members of the Gauteng ...

10/12/2014

Who is Jesus? Is Jesus God? See what Jesus said about himself, his equality with God, and what exactly Jesus did to prove it.

07/10/2014

The triquetra of interlaced fish is one of the very earliest of Christian symbols, predating the crucifix by hundreds of years and is found in the Roman Catacombs - this is an interesting symbol that predates Christianity - check it out.