EightNews December 2011 - Christ Church Kenilworth

The Eight O’Clock
ews
News
December 2011
8 am Service, Christ Church Richmond Road Kenilworth
Advent
There are
many benefits
to being part
of the
Anglican
communion
and one that
I really
appreciate is the way the church’s year has been
divided into seasons and the seasons are marked
by Festivals. It is interesting to read details of the
church’s year in the beginning of the Prayer Book.
As you know, the year begins with the season of
Advent, followed by Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and
Easter. Easter Day is the centre of the Church’s
year and Eastertide is marked by Ascension Day
and concludes with The Day of Pentecost.
Between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, which
marks the beginning of Lent, there are Sundays
without any particular title and between Pentecost
and Advent we have a similar situation.
I particularly find the seasons of Advent and Lent
very meaningful. Advent is just four weeks, Lent
is just six weeks. Somehow, I think because these
two seasons are contained within short spaces of
time, and because they lead up to glorious Festivals, they are perfect for a concentrated effort on
our part to deepen our spiritual lives. Also, for
both seasons, there is much, wonderful material
available which we are able to use to draw closer
to God. For the last couple of years I, and many
others, have found Carolyn Butler’s book, Under
African Skies, to be a real gem during Advent. It is
a most attractive book but, unlike most material for
Advent, it brings an African flavour to the season.
I quote from her foreword: “The old world traditions
of the North and Europe that link Advent and
Christmas with the bleak cold, snow and winter do
not meet our needs. And a failure to incorporate
an African flavour into these stories diminishes
both us and the story.”
Telephone 021-797-6332
Traditionally, the four weeks of Advent follow the
pattern of focusing on the light of Christ, the Word
of God, John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of
Jesus. Under African Skies has readings covering
these topics. Some of them are traditional readings
but some of the texts have never before been
applied to Advent. This makes the book an exciting
one to use to help us prepare ourselves for the
coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. On each
Wednesday morning at the 10 am Service of Holy
Communion during this season of Advent, we will
be presenting Advent Meditations based on material from Under African Skies which is for sale here
at Christ Church (R40 per copy).
Advent, Latin for coming, is the celebration of the
presence of Christ among us, the celebration of
God incarnate born as a Child, and the looking
forward to the full and final coming when Christ will
come as the King of Glory. Thus Advent celebrates
the three-fold coming of Christ
:
The Christ who came in Bethlehem,
the Christ who will come again in glory, and
the constantly coming Christ who dwells in us
and in our neighbour.
Advent is primarily a time of waiting. It is a sacred
time and can be seen as a time for joyful waiting, a
time of preparation—not the frenetic preparation of
all that often goes with Christmas—but a time of
quiet preparation of heart, mind and body for the
coming of Jesus, the coming of Life. Carolyn Butler
says: We cannot schedule ‘holy coming’. We can
only schedule ‘holy space’ for `holy waiting’.
And the joy of scheduling ‘holy space’ is that as we
wait on God we encounter Him and He speaks into
our hearts. Such encounters encourage us and we
become more aware of the activity of Jesus in our
daily lives than we would have been if we hadn’t
given ourselves ‘holy space’. A ‘holy space’ can be
described as a space to withdraw into grace,
awareness, holy silence, and sacred expectation.
Into this ‘holy space’, Edwina Gateley’s prayer,
Let Your God Love You, gently speaks:
2
Be silent, be still, empty before your God.
Say nothing, ask nothing. Be silent, be still.
Let your God look upon you, that is all.
God knows and understands.
God loves you with an enormous love,
wanting only to look upon you with love.
Quiet. Still. Be.
- Denise Wood
400 Years of the King James Bible
The first translation of the complete English Bible
in 1383 is associated with John Wycliffe. In 1524
William Tyndale, a scholar who studied at Oxford
and Cambridge, was keenly aware of the need
for a Bible for the common man. He started work
on translating the New Testament but had to
flee England for Germany where the NT was
completed and printed. Copies were smuggled
into England but both the King and the Church
prohibited its use. Tyndale continued translating
the Old Testament. In 1535 he was arrested in
Belgium and in October 1536 he was burnt at the
stake. He died saying, Lord, open the King of
England’s eyes.
William Tyndale’s prayer was answered.
In 1603 James 1 came to the English throne. In
1604 he called the Hampton Court Conference
where a resolution was taken that a translation of
the Bible be made that would have the approval
of all religious groups. King James took a leading
role in organising the work.
The King James Version (also known as the
Authorised Version) was published in 1611. It
became the Bible of the English-speaking world
for the next 200 years and is still used and loved
by many today.
In August this year, the 8 am choir joined an
expanded choir to sing at the Celebration of 400
years of the King James Version in Christ Church,
Constantia.
According to David Crystal, a linguist and expert on
the development of the English language, nobody,
not even Shakespeare, has done as much as this
Bible to shape the modern idiom. Many idioms or
sayings still in use today, come from the KJV.
Here are a few:
* A fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1)
* A leopard cannot change its spots (Jeremiah
13:23)
Miles Coverdale finished the work which Tyndale
* A labour of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
had begun. He prepared a translation of the whole * A multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
Bible including Tyndale’s translation of the NT and * A wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)
the Pentateuch. This Bible became the first printed * By the skin of your teeth (Job 19:20)
English Bible
* Chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:17)
The Great Bible was published c1539-41 with a
- Taken from the Bible Society’s, The Book of Books,
proclamation issued by King Henry VIII that this
Celebrating 400 years of the King James Bible.
- Sent in by Jane Broster
Bible should be read in all churches in England.
Four Generations !
Great-granny Sylvia Duggan
holds great-granddaughter,
Helen, while granny, Cynthia
Woudberg and mum, Sally, enjoy
this very proud moment.
Delighted and doting dad,
Michael Thomas, took
the photograph.
Helen was born in London
on 14/10/11 and
89-year old Great-granny Sylvia
flew over specially to meet her.
Helen is the only daughter of
Sally, who is the only daughter
of Cynthia, the only
daughter of Sylvia.
3
Maureen Pearson
I’ve been a widow since
Brian passed away after
a long illness in December
2006. We were married
for 39 years and had four
children—two girls, two
boys.
Tarren, my eldest child, is
the one with whom I have
lived (in Bergvliet) since
Brian’s death.
Shereen, the youngest, lives in Fish Hoek. My
two sons, Brett and Shane, are qualified chefs and
live in New Zealand and London respectively.
I worked all my married life as a Nursing Sister in
many hospitals and several provinces over 28
years. After a serious on-duty accident resulted in
a spinal fusion and eventual retirement, I worked
for a financial consultancy for 11 years. I am now
retired!
In February, 1972 Brian and I accepted Christ
as our Saviour at St James Church, Kenilworth,
under the guidance of Bishop Frank Retief. Thus
began a long history of ministry and service, firstly
in the Bruce Duncan Boys’ Home in Wynberg,
then to the Baptist Theological College in Johannesburg for two years. Brian’s theological studies
were completed at the Bible Institute of SA in Kalk
Bay and the WP Baptist Theological College. We
ministered in several churches including Sybrand
Park, Milnerton, Mitchell’s Plain, Heideveld and
Grassy Park with a short stint in Barberton.
This opened a gateway of service and ministry
in music for me. I was often asked to sing at
services, outreaches and evangelistic meetings
with the late Rev Roger Voke, both in Cape Town
and Edenvale.
I joined the Philharmonia Choir in 1990 and still
am a member. I came to know Richard Haigh
in 1996 when he invited me to sing at special
services at various Anglican churches, including
St Andrew’s, Newlands and St George’s Cathedral. When Richard returned from the USA, I
joined in special choirs at St John’s and Christ
Church, Kenilworth. I was also part of the choir
for the closing ceremony of the Lausanne Conference in 2010.
Living in Bergvliet for the past four years, I
attended the Meadowridge Baptist Church and
found much love, understanding and spiritual
nurturing there. My granddaughter, Jessica (5) is
involved in Noah’s Ark crèche and grandson Ross
(12) in the youth group. Noah’s Ark crèche has
been very supportive of Jessica who has a
chronic illness, ROHHAD (Rapid onset of obesity
with hypothalamic and pituitary dysfunction), a
pulmonary and endocrine illness with a limited
lifespan. Tarren (Wilson), Jessica’s mom, is
organizing a trip to Canada (set to happen in
February 2012) to consult medical staff there as
this disease is little-known in South Africa. There
are a handful of cases worldwide.
With God’s help I have become the ‘oil’ in the
Wilson family, on hand to take the children to
school and other venues and to keep the family
functioning. I love my new ministry, and love
giving of myself and helping my family to cope
with the extra demands from Jessica’s illness.
I’ve been warmly welcomed into the 8 am choir,
singing with folk who have become familiar to me
over the past few years. I know in my heart that
God has led me to be part of the singing ministry
here. I am humbled and truly blessed to have
found a niche where I am accepted and can
continue to minister in music.
For Lexiphiles
* To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
* When fish are in schools they sometimes take
debate.
* A thief who stole a calendar got 12 months.
* When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.
* The professor discovered that her theory of
earthquakes was on shaky ground.
* The batteries were given out free of charge.
* A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought
tooth and nail.
- Origin unknown
Paper Cat
Artist
Calvin Nicholls
uses paper to
create his work.
4
Margie & Willie Hare
In 1996, during an Alpha weekend in
Hermanus, James Thomas, Willie and
some others were wandering on a mountain
nearby and Willie was talking about the flora
and geological formations, when James
said, “Willie—you would make a good tour
guide.” Thus was planted the seed of his
career for the next 15 years, and he is still
going strong! He often remarks: “I love my
job and the fact that I talk and interact with
so many people and get paid for it is an
added blessing”.
The next year he asked me whether I would
like to be a Tour Operator and I said,
“What’s that?” Willie responded with,
“I don’t know—let’s wing it”—so we wung it!
There was a course on Tour Operating coming
up shortly, which we both attended and so
Cape Diversity Tours was born. Our logo was an
Oak Tree, which we felt was very biblical.
Shortly thereafter Peter Holgate asked whether
we would be prepared to put together a Cape
Town & Garden Route tour for his friend, Colin
Goode of All Saints New York (as many of you
know, he was also Minister of St Luke’s Church at
one time). Well—we wung it! And by God’s grace
and His guidance, it was a really successful tour,
with Willie as Guide and Peter as Tour leader with
Colin and Moira. I was impressed by the way that
Colin had prepared little cards with scriptures on
them for each person or couple every day and
decided that I would love to do that for a church
tour. Colin’s Tour was called, Discovering the
New South Africa, bringing both Canadians and
Americans with him and he has returned to tour
with us at least five times with a small group of
about 16 people (of course the name of the tour
has changed!).
Cape Diversity Tours has now been running for
almost 15 years and our daughter Fiona and I run
the office, using Willie as one of our Tour guides,
when he is not guiding for other Companies
(which is frequently!). It is a huge blessing for us
to have Fi working alongside us and I love to see
her each morning. The Company has had its ups
and downs—especially in 2009, when things were
so quiet, but, by God’s grace and with a lot of hard
work, things are going along well at the moment.
I must mention Ev Els here. When things were
really quiet, along came Ev with the question, “So,
where are we going next year?” Yay! And, though
my markup for friends and family is significantly
lower than for my normal tours, sometimes that
tour has just pulled us through the year. Ev has
already brought us six tours:
1) Penduka Safaris Mobile Camping Tour to the
Okavanto Delta in Botswana, 2005
2) Namibia Highlights Tour, 2007
3) Kruger Park Tour, 2009
4) Flower Trip to the West Coast, 2010
5) Penduka Safaris Tour to the Central Kalahari in
Botswana, 2011
6) Drakensberg & Mfolozi Tour to KZN, 2011.
Each Tour has been a wonderful experience,
travelling with fun-loving, like-minded people and
Ev is already saying, “So where to next?!”
Things are in the pipeline, such as another tour
into the Delta with Penduka for next year, as well
as one nearer home to the Wild Coast—watch
this space, if you are interested!
Many people complain about not knowing that
we are doing another tour. We cannot advertise
really, but you all know Ev, so you know what to
do!
- Margie Hare
Paper
Eagle
Another
creation from
artist Calvin
Nicholls
5
Pippen Hill
26 April 1915
1915—
—
9 November 2011
According to the history book,
100 Years of God’s Grace,
2007—there was an old lady
who had attended church
regularly and in her latter
years was noticeable as she
used an ear trumpet to
enable her to hear the sermon.
This was Mrs Hazell, Pippen’s mother and this
story indicates the long association of Pippen’s
family with Christ Church.
Pippen’s journey through life took her from Cape
Town to England, into marriage, to Zimbabwe
(then Rhodesia) and back to Cape Town. At the
service of thanksgiving for Pippen’s life it was
interesting to hear the details of this journey in the
tribute paid to her by her daughter-in-law, Jill.
After her return to Cape Town Pippen, together
with her sisters, Mildred and Jean, worshipped at
the 8 am service and at the 10 am Service on
Wednesdays. They were known as the three
musketeers. Shortly after rejoining Christ Church,
Pippen took on the task of transporting people to
the Wednesday service and enabled a number of
elderly people to attend church, Pippen was
licensed as a Lay Minister and served at this
service for a number of years.
People will remember Pippen for different reasons.
My memories cover the delicious biscuits she used
to make with Jean’s help, her excellent driving skills
(I was most impressed when she reversed out of
our difficult driveway using only her rear view mirror
for guidance!), her joy in travelling even when she
was long past the age when most people travel, her
very definite opinions on such important matters as
the length of sermons—and her hospitality. I loved
the way she appreciated and was concerned for
ALL her family members which included those
who were slightly removed through divorce and
I absorbed many lessons from her through her
generosity to those in any kind of need.
Pippen’s death—she was the last of these three
musketeers—in a way marks the end of an era but
it is good to know that her family’s association with
Christ Church still continues through Jenny Wright
and her young daughter, Julia, who worship at the
10 o’clock service on Sundays.
- Denise Wood
Belated Special Birthday Wishes
to
Elizabeth van Lingen
who celebrated her birthday in Israel on 14/11.
L) With John Atkinson on her birthday
Below, John teaching on the shore of Galilee.
An Unequal Contest
A group of scientists felt that they
could create anything that God had
created so they wanted to challenge
Him to a contest.
They spoke to God about this idea
and God agreed to join in.
The scientists said they’d go first to
which God agreed.
The scientists bent down and picked
up a handful of dirt with which to
begin their creation, only to be
challenged by God who said,
‘Oh no, make your own dirt.’
- Origin unknown, heard at Trianon
6
I Refuse !
“I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry,
I refuse to be downhearted,
and here's the reason why:
Happy
Special
Birthdays
I have a God, who's mighty,
Who's sovereign and supreme.
I have a God who loves me,
and by grace I'm on His team.
to
Adeline Sangster (26/12)
Monty Poolman (26/12)
He is all-wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name.
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.
My God knows all that’s happening,
Beginning to the end.
His presence is my comfort,
He is my dearest friend.
Even in darkness light dawns
for the upright, for the gracious
and compassionate and righteous man.
Psalm 112:4
When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God,
Into His arms I go.
When circumstances threaten
To rob me of my peace,
He draws me close unto His breast,
Where all my strivings cease.
When my heart melts within me,
My life is in His hands.
The "Son of the Lord" is my hope,
It's in His strength I stand.
I REFUSE to be defeated,
My eyes are on my God.
He has promised to be with me,
As through this life I tread.
I'm looking past all my circumstances,
To Heaven's throne above,
My prayers have reached the heart of God
I'm resting in His Love.
I give God thanks in everything,
My eyes are on His face.
The battle's His, the victory mine,
He'll help me win the race."
Corrections
and Apologies
The editors wish to apologise to
Janet Fry and Merle & Geoff Price
for congratulating
them in the November issue
on special occasions which
took place in 2010.
Smarter than a Pre-schooler?
A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU
Which way is the bus travelling? To the left or to
the right?
Pre-schoolers
all over Australia
were shown this
picture and
asked the
same question.
- Author unknown, sent in by Jenny Taylor,
read at Thanksgiving Service by Dareth Wood. 92% of the pre-schooler's gave this answer:
Reproduced here as requested by Duncan McLea ‘The bus is travelling to the right.’
When asked, ‘Why do you think the bus is
travelling to the right?’, they answered: ‘Because
you can't see the door to get on the bus.’
How do you feel now? (Chances are, you are
not alone!)
- Origin unknown,
sent in by Mary Thompson, Kidd’s Beach
7
Blessing the Poor
in Country Areas
When I visited Barbara Bowden’s home in a
retirement centre, I was in for a surprise. There
were boxes and parcels of clothing in the study,
baby clothing drying in the bathroom and toys
being washed on the balcony. Sorting, mending
and packing were in the lounge. How did this hive
of industry start?
Back in 2003 home groups were each given R 400
and challenged to find ways to bless the poor.
Barbara’s group helped two needy students, and
so a seed was planted. She realised that the poor
in urban areas are helped more easily and by a
much larger supply group than the rural poor.
God placed their needs on her heart.
For the last eight years a constant stream of
Barbara
clothing for both for children and adults, toys and
household goods have left Cape Town. They
have gone to such destinations as an orphanage
in Matatiele, Tulbagh child clinics, the impoverished fishing villages around Lambert’s Bay and
the Rev. Joseph Mpakanyane in Maseru. Before
leaving they have been neatly sorted, laundered
and if necessary, mended. The mending is done
by Pam Stewart, who was another hard working
member of the original home group. The goods
go out with love and there is only one proviso –
they must never be sold.
This amazing supply of goods, which never
seems to end, arrives without a single appeal
or request. Sometimes a bridge group will see
Barbara or one of her friends knitting, using
scraps of wool in delightful patterns, and when
they enquire they are touched to do something
too. The sources of materials are surprising, such
as a baby shop supplying good used clothing, a
nursery school closing down or even a soccer
team who changed their uniform. So God has
created a network of those willing to help the rural
poor. Letters of thanks are sent to each donor,
and there is an annual newsletter keeping them
informed of the recipients of the gifts.
Of course, collecting and preparing the goods is
one thing, but their transport and distribution is an
on-going problem which Barbara has had to
solve. She would welcome offers of transport to
help get the goods out to rural towns, villages
and farm schools and also the contact details of
those who could reliably distribute the goods. The
special need is for clinics, crèches and schools to
be helped, and so names and telephone numbers
would be welcomed. She showed me photos and
letters of thanks which she has received from the
children, one of which is below*. If you could help,
contact Barbara Bowden at 021-7998915.
- Lindy Tomalin
Pam
* Dankie tannie
vir die
mooi mussie
(woolly cap)
hy is baie
lekker warm
en my mamma
sê baie dankie.
Zandre.
8
A Meditation for Christmas Day
[The following is for you to reflect upon each day
during your quiet time, or at any other time which best
suits you. Spending 20 minutes in this way helps us to
draw closer to God and gives us a time of stillness
which we can all do with at this time of year!]
Christmas Day
God of good news,
today you begin again to reshape our lives
and communities.
You do not start from the outside, but from within.
You begin in the hidden place.
Behind the inn. Before the marriage.
At the wrong time.
You invite a handful of guests into your company.
Shepherds. Local children perhaps.
Maybe some animals.
You join the community of the invisible ones.
The homeless and helpless.
Refugees, fleeing a tyrant king.
Later, you find fisherfolk. And a tax collector.
More children.
The small. The unimportant. The forgotten.
The frightened.
Are the people you choose,
As little by little you start sharing
the secrets of a kingdom that will change the
whole world.
From within. From the hidden place,
God of good news:
as we celebrate worldwide the tidings
of your birth,
as we set the heavens echoing with angel songs,
as we contemplate new year
and pray for peace on earth...
remind us of the hidden places, of the
forgotten people,
of the starting points and the time it takes,
of the pace of the slowest and
the dreams of the children
Remind us that the great joy promised
to the whole people
starts with those who need it most,
in the places where they hide.
Remind us, with all our seasonal cheer and tinsel,
that some people are left out in the cold;
that it is there, with them, that you are
being born into the world again;
that it is there, through them,
that you will change the world.
God of good news,
help us to find you again
in the hidden place.
- From “Advent Readings” from
the Isle of Iona, Scotland, sent in by Wendy Gunn
Quiet Morning
12/11/11
A faithful God—a mighty God.
A God in whom to trust.
A loving God—a joyful God,
A God who’s fair and just.
His is the peace, the joy,
the love
That only He can give.
So come to Him, worship Him
And in His shadow live.
A) Pat Holmes
B) Sally Palmer
My soul is overwhelmed by
You, God.
Who can count the blessings
You have heaped upon me?
Surely I must be the richest
woman in the world!
There is no one I can envy.
Your goodness and mercy take my breath away.
They come to me completely undeserved.
Your love is beyond understanding.
I will glory in it all the days of my life.
Cheryl and Ev wish all our readers a blessed
Christmas and
a God-filled 2012.
Thank you for all your
contributions.
Thought for the Road...
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
Upon those who dwelt
in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
– Isaiah 9:2
Ev Els
Editorial Team
021 696 0336
[email protected]
Cheryl Anderson
021 715 4233
[email protected]