Out of sight, but not out of mind
- kathy
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
By Brian de Smidt
Every individual within the St John's family is valued by God and our entire faith community. This core belief drives our pastoral care team to support those who are housebound and can no longer attend regular services. We connect with them through shared communion, presence, and compassion, reinforcing their essential dignity and place in our church family.
Recently, we invited them to share a glimpse of their lives with us. We are now pleased to share some snapshots of their diverse experiences with the wider church community, hoping their stories will enrich all our lives.
Even to your old age and grey hairs, I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. - Psalm 46 vs 4
Eileen Kruger
Eileen recently moved to Somerset West with her daughter. As a church, we prayed for her in early October. Soon afterwards, she heard the devastating news that she has stage 4 bile duct cancer, which runs right through the liver and the doctor has given her 5 months. It has naturally been a shock and she is asking the Lord for healing and comfort. "We are all in God’s hands, we place all our cares on him and he holds us." We continue to remember Eileen and Carmen in prayer.
Corrie Fortuin and her son Brian
My mother’s family worshiped at St John’s for many, many years. Everybody in our family - the Meyer and Stevens families - were at St John’s. We were all baptised, confirmed and married here and many were buried at St John’s too. We are very strict about not allowing anyone to say something bad about St John’s.
For me, not to be able to go to church is heartbreaking because I was so used to being in church on a Sunday morning and Wednesday evening prayer time and so forth. St John’s is my church. It is hard.
My brother Tommy passed away in November 2025 and Alan Smith led the service at St John’s as he encouraged Tommy in the Lord. He was my last sibling and I am the only one left now.
Among my special memories at St John’s were the dances and fetes. I loved the Wednesday evening prayer services. I was in charge of the prayer group, visited and did communion outside, visited the sick and took communion to the hospital. Alan was a great instigator in following up those at home, and finding out why they were not able to come to church.
I had a back operation and it has been a painful journey. Then I lost my brother and I am really feeling the shock of the loss, All this has happened too close on one another, it really threw me and I often can’t remember things.
I am 91, so must be satisfied with that.
Corrie’s son Brian lives with her and thought he has cellulitis, he is encouraged that this has improved recently and he was able to get his hearing aids adjusted. What a difference hearing makes. He always faithfully shares the communion with us when we visit.
Cynthia Dennis
"My husband and I used to attend St Aidan’s Church in Landsdowne. However, 28 years ago, my husband, Chris, died very suddenly, and I was very sad that day.
I then had no-one to take me to church. At that time, Jean Davids phoned me and asked if I would like to come to St John’s with her and she brought me here. Hazel then used to pick me up every Sunday and I have very nice memories of my time worshipping at St John's.
I live with my daughter in Fairways, and my granddaughter Chelsea works from home. I sit and knit and read at home. I knit little caps for toddlers and squares for blankets for old age homes."
Doreen Petersen
"I thank God that I had good health for all those years and thank you people for coming to visit me regularly.
My connection with St John’s goes back to my parents time - they were all St John’s people. My mother always took her children here. Eventually my father took ill and my mother had to look after him, so we stopped going to St John’s. We then went to Emmanuel church as it was closer. I started going back to St John’s when I was confirmed then got married at St John’s. I was confirmed at age 16, my sister Sheila was two years older than me, but my mother said we could be confirmed at the same time. I got married in 1955 and I and stayed there ever since.
Pray for me because my memory is not always so good, or I don’t always hear and have to keep saying, ‘Excuse me". I do have angina, so it does make me tired. I can’t do much to help Jenny or Simone as they are always working - sometimes I am able to wash up. I can sit on the stool and do breathing exercises when I need to.
I say thank you for coming and for your loving words and your thoughtfulness. Thank God for what he has done for me all these years - surviving an alcoholic husband. He was not an aggressive man (or I would have pitched him out), just too talkative. I always said, “I don’t want to listen to you, until you decide to put the top on the bottle” When he got sick I put him in an old age home. Thank God for all the Good Samaritans, friends who come to help me and take me places. Rae Vermeulen is tops!"
Joyce Horne, Connie Page & Jean Davids
Brenda Bezuidenhout has been doing home visits for many years and comments, "The highlight of my month is sharing Communion with Alice Van Oudtshoorn, Joyce Horne, Connie Page and Jean Davids. We spend time praying for each other and also for those who are not well in our St John's family. It is such a joy just being together and catching up! We enjoy many laughs at the silly things we say and do, also the senior moments when we just can't remember what we were talking about, then just have a good old laugh at each other. These beautiful, precious friends are my responsibility for as long as I am able to get around!! Thank you Jeremy for always making yourself available to visit. Warm Blessings. Much Love. Brenda and Ben."
Joyce is always so thankful that I am always available to share Communion with her and Alice. She loves her St John's Family and Jeremy. She really missed everyone and never fails to enquire about and pray for all of us. Joyce is pictured with Mary Holgate & Brenda.
Connie is thankful to Brenda for bringing Holy Communion to her when she is unable to get to church.
"This service by the SJCare team is much appreciated by those receiving Holy Communion in this way; and also drawing closer to Jesus. St. John’s is like a large family who extends its arms wide to embrace current members, and also those no-longer-regulars for whatever reason. It is heart-warming to know one is always welcome ‘back home’."
Jean also expressed her gratitude for this ministry of communion and God's word. "It’s always a pleasure to have you around Brenda. May God bring healing to your entire body, always a pleasant word to share take care. God bless , much love." Jean takes a selfie with Brenda.
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