August 2014August 2014

St Kiaran'sSt Kiaran's Chronicle Chronicle

St. Kiaran's rejoices

as we welcome

Mike, Louise, Jethro and Jessica Muller

We look forward to a fruitful We look forward to a fruitful

future together in the Lord.future together in the Lord.

Dear St Kiaran’s Members and Associates

This is my last letter to you in your church magazine. May I take this opportunity to thank you and the Session for the privilege of being your Assessor/Interim Moderator for a year. I need to thank especially Jimmy de Jager, the Session Clerk, and Lesley Stoll, the church secretary for their help and support as well as the Vacancy Committee and the Session for their diligence. I also need to thank Tony Hawkridge and Naomi de Koning for their efficiency and sensitive leading of the worship on Sunday mornings and their worship team and Mike Abrahamse and his team for leading the worship on Sunday evenings.

In my last contribution to the newsletter I focused on the Ascension and subsequently preached the message on Ascension Sunday at St Kiaran’s. I thought I could summarize the message I brought a few weeks after Pentecost Sunday on the subject of Pentecost and Revival which would act as a reminder for those who were present and hopefully be informative and a challenge to those who were not.

I have pointed out previously that Pentecost is one of the central events of the Christian Faith following after the Incarnation(Christmas), the Crucifixion(Good Friday), the Resurrection (Easter Sunday), and the Ascension (Ascension Day). As such the event is unique. However, Pentecost was also a Spiritual Revival and as such is repeatable for Spiritual Revivals have taken place throughout the church’s history.

Before Jesus left his Disciples in the Ascension, He gave them this command, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). The Disciples and others, including Mary, the Mother of Jesus and His brothers met in an Upper Room after the Ascension and “They all joined together constantly in prayer…(Acts 1:14)”.On the Day of Pentecost they were all together in one place when they experienced the sound of a violent wind, saw tongues of fire on each of them, and “…were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4)”. This caused amazement and astonishment among the God-fearing Jews “from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5)”. The Apostle Peter then got up, explained what was happening, and went on to proclaim Christ with amazing results all recorded in Acts 2: 1 – 47. The Christian Faith is a supernatural faith and cannot be understood without understanding the work of the Holy Spirit. This can be demonstrated from this chapter.

1. Without the Holy Spirit we cannot get to know Jesus Chris t (But with the Holy Spirit we can). It is vital to know Jesus Christ and not just about Him. John tells us in 1 John 5:12 “ He that It is vital to know Jesus Christ and not just about Him. John tells us in 1 John 5:12 “ He that has the Son (Jesus Christ) has life, he that has not the Son has not life” while John the Baptist has the Son (Jesus Christ) has life, he that has not the Son has not life” while John the Baptist says “whoever believes in the Son has Eternal Life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,says “whoever believes in the Son has Eternal Life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him (John 3:36)”for God’s wrath remains on him (John 3:36)”

a) The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.After Peter’s sermon we are told – “when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles “Brothers, what shall we do?” (vs 37) They were convicted of sin by the Holy Spirit as was Isaiah when he had the vision of God’s Holiness in Isaiah 6 and cried out “Woe to me …I am ruined for I am a man of unclean lips…(Isaiah 6:5)”. Jesus Christ told his disciples “When He the Spirit comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment” (John 16:8). Without the convicting work of the Holy Spirit no one can get to know Jesus Christ.

b) The Holy Spirit Confesses Christ.'It is interesting to note that after explaining what was happening in terms of the Holy Spirit’s Outpouring, Peter then focuses on Jesus Christ. Jesus had said that when the Spirit came “… He would glorify Me..” Paul wrote “…no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor12:3

c) The Holy Spirit Converts and gives New Birth. To be converted means to be changed. It is God’s work and ours. Jesus says “..unless you turn(are converted) and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:3). Our responsibility is made clear in Acts 2 when Peter responds by saying “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit..”(vs 38). To be baptized in the name of Christ implies a personal faith in Christ. In Acts 16 we read of Lydia’s conversion “..The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message (Acts 10:14)”.

It is the Holy Spirit who gives New Birth. Jesus tells us “…no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3)” Just as we cannot make ourselves to be born physically so we cannot make ourselves be born spiritually. This is the work of the Holy Spirit.

2) Without the Holy Spirit we cannot become like Jesus Christ. (But with the Holy Spirit we can).Paul tells us “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son…(Romans 8:29)” Let’s notice how the early church became like Jesus in Acts 2.

In relation to Godi) They were prayerful – They prayed before Pentecost and after Pentecost “They devoted

themselves… to prayer (vs 42)”. Jesus spent many hours in prayer.ii) They were worshipful – “They devoted themselves …to the breaking of bread (vs 42)” “Every day

they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes…praising God… (Acts vs 46,47)”. Jesus also worshipped in the synagogue every Sabbath day.

We are told that God anointed Jesus “…with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades (Hebrews 1:9)”. Jesus often rejoiced.

In relation to othersi) They were together “all the believers were together…(vs 44)”. Note Jesus’ love for His disciples.They were together “all the believers were together…(vs 44)”. Note Jesus’ love for His disciples.ii) Note Jesus sharing everything with His disciplesiii) They sacrificed for the needy “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he

had need” (vs 45) . Jesus sacrificed His life for sinners.

The early Christians began to display the character of Jesus as seen in the Fruit of the Spirit “…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal 5:22,23)”. This was only possible because of the work of the supernatural Holy Spirit in their lives.

3) Without the Holy Spirit we cannot witness effectively for Jesus Christ. (But with the Holy Spirit we can).

Jesus told the disciples “When the Holy Spirit is come upon you, you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)”.We saw how “…the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:47)”. The book of Acts details how the Apostles and ordinary Christians spread the gospel across the known world. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We need to have the same compassion for those outside of Christ.

CONCLUSION. Do we know Jesus Christ personally? Are we becoming more like Jesus?Are we witnessing boldly for Jesus Christ? This is only possible through the Work of the Holy Spirit.

Heinrich Asch Interim Moderator

PS Don’t forget to attend the Induction Service of your new Minister, the Rev Mike Muller on Sunday 3 August at 2.3Opm at St Kiaran’s. He needs your support on that day and every day in the future.

Thank You, HeinrichSt. Kiaran's owes a great deal to you for so faithfully and wisely having led us, in the Vacancy Committee

and in your preaching at our services on many occasions, during the lengthy period of the Vacancy.

Thank you Denise for your great support of Heinrich through it all and your involvement through prayer,

both privately and following services.

May God richly bless you both as you continue to serve Him.

Nobuhle Mbata

Ralph and I spent a delightful hour with Nobuhle, the Probationer at Masiphumelele Presbyterian Church, when she recently came to have coffee with us.

Nobuhle is a lovely open, friendly person deeply dedicated to God's service. She is the youngest among several siblings in a very committed Christian family from Ixopo in KZN. She is now, therefore, a Zulu speaker in a Xhosa community, but can easily accommodate this.

Her studies for the ministry began at the University of Pretoria, followed in 2013 by post-

graduate study at Stellenbosch University, facilitated by the ministry committee of the Presbyterian Church. She is now a probationer in her Post Academic Training period with David van Duyker as her supervisor.

Mary Suter

2.

Please Note:Fund-raising event No. 1A raffle of a KNEE RUG donated by our Prayer Shawl Ministry.

In aid of : the Alpha “Holy Spirit” camp to be held at Rocklands on the weekend of 15 - 17 August.Cost of tickets: R10

Co-ordinator: Liz de Jager 021-7865094Tickets Available from Liz each Sunday.

Fund-raising event No. 2Our Women’s Fellowship are holding a fun ‘Beetle Drive’ afternoon with tea and prizes on Saturday 30 AugustVenue: in the HallCost of tickets: R10Available from - end July from Women’s Fellowship members.

Co-ordinator: Wilma Woodburn - 021-785-4161

Meet the Warrens

Neil’s parents came to Fish Hoek when he was 2 years old in 1955. They moved into the house that his grandfather built in 1946, and after 3 generations he is still living in the same house. He attended Fish Hoek Primary and Fish Hoek High School after which he went to Pretoria for his military service. He went to Stellenbosch University and studied for his Bachelor of Education degree commuting everyday by hitch-hiking. He was and still is an avid beach fan and in his younger days did a lot of surfing, completed 10 Argus cycle tours and did a lot of marathon running as well as playing social hockey and diving for the pot.

Neil and Phillipa spent many hours in the holidays with their girls, taking them on these diving and camping holidays and instilling the same passion for the sea that he has. On one of these memorable holidays Neil dived a perlemoen that contained pearls which the girls now wear as pendants.

Phillipa was born in the then Rhodesia in Salisbury. She is the second eldest of 5 daughters. Her father ran the family printing business, Edinburgh Press and Quick Print in Salisbury. She attended school and college in Zimbabwe and only moved to South Africa at the age of 20 with her family in 1980. The family settled in Fish Hoek and she travelled everyday to work in Cape Town by train. It was on one of the return trips from Cape Town that Neil first saw Phillipa who was reading and did not notice him. He made a point of catching the same train the next day so as to introduce himself but she had caught a later train. On the third day he waited in the beach car park near the station to catch up with her. They were married one year later to the day. Neil and Phillipa were the first couple whose marriage David officiated at the start of his tenure at St Kiaran's. They were married in May 1982.

They have two daughters, Gina, who followed her parents into teaching, and taught for 5 years before leaving to raise her 3 sons. Gina married Jayde Brammer in 2007 at St Kiaran's and Sara, who studied and qualified as a physiotherapist, married Gerrit Van Velze in 2014 in the St Kiaran's church. They have three wonderful grandsons aged 8 months, 2 years and 3 years. They all still live in Fish Hoek.

Phillipa gave up her work as a personal assistant when Gina was born and then established a playschool at their home, which continued there for 9 years, then moved it over to Milkwood when she began her teaching career. When Sara was 4 years old and all

Gina and Jayde with their family

Gerrit and Sara

her little ones were now old enough to move onto Milkwood Pre-Primary Phillipa started helping out at the same school and commenced studies for her Foundation phase Teaching Diploma. Neil changed schools from Grove Primary in Claremont to a school closer to home, in Muizenberg Junior where he has been teaching for 22 years. Phillipa began her career as a teacher at the age of 35 and continued with the after-care. She has been at the same place for 20 years. Neil semi-retired from Muizenberg Junior in 2013 and has filled in as an assistant teacher four days a week. They have been members of St Kiaran's Church for 34 years and have taught Sunday school for 15 of those years.

(Phillipa serves St Kiaran's as an Elder)

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Michael Abrahamse – On his life at St Kiaran's and his future as he makes his move to KZN

I have been part of the youth since I was 12 years old and I am nearly 27 now and so that means I have been around St Kiaran’s for the last 15 years; twelve of them have been in a youth leadership role. It has been a great time for me and I have had the chance to meet many great people and walk alongside them learning and growing as well as teaching and encouraging others through my walk with Christ.

While I was in youth leadership at St Kiaran’s at the age of 15 I knew I had a call to youth ministry on my life and the mentorship, development and encouragement by both Tanya Thom and Mike Denne really placed me in good stead to take over the youth in 2011. It has been a real privilege to serve at St Kiaran’s in a multitude of different ways: leading the youth ministry on Friday nights, serving and leading the many schools' ministries for the past 8 years, as well as leading the evening service and getting monthly opportunities to preach.

Finally, in my time here at St Kiaran’s I have been mentored and encouraged by several people among them being the youth pastors Tanya Thom and Mike Denne. I would like to thank everyone who has encouraged me in the past in the ministries that I have been a part of and I would specially like to thank David for the past couple of years where he really placed an added effort on my mentorship and development.

What am I going to do in KZN?God has had a great hand over me in my life and I have known that I am not meant to stay in Fish Hoek for the rest of my life. Up until now I haven’t felt like the time has been right and that there has still been work that I have needed to a part of. When the job application came up for Hillcrest Presbyterian Family Church I felt for the first time that the time was right. There were people capable to lead all of the ministries that I have been leading in the past. God is Good and has been with me in the interview process to Hillcrest Presbyterian as their full time youth pastor. It is a great opportunity and I look forward to serving God in a whole new area and context. It has been a long journey but I know this is where God is leading me and is fulfilling his next part of His plan for my life.

My Hopes for the Future

God has had a clear plan for my life, and my hope and dream for that is to carry on serving Him faithfully and honour Him in the ministries that he places before me. I know for now that I am to serve God in Hillcrest Presbyterian Family Church. He has had His hand over me through the whole application process and I know that He has other plans that He will reveal in time. For now I am nervous and excited to take this next step in His plan for my life.

Something of the Life of two Missionaries we support!

Eugene and Tina Wessels are working with World Outreach International which is an inter-denominational missions organisation run by missionaries, for missionaries.

Financial support Each Missionary is to be self-funded for the day-to-day work in the field. Occasionally, when funds become available missionaries are invited to submit project proposals and if selected will then receive a once-off financial support. (e.g. During 2013 Eugene and Tina were able to purchase 2 motorbikes for 2 of their main local evangelists and church planters). Before going into the field they had to investigate well the economic demands of the region where they would be working and have sufficient income to cover basic costs such as accommodation, groceries, transport…etc.Their total support from churches and individuals can vary greatly from month to month, but probably averages around R20,000 per month which covers everything from apartment rental & residence tax to purchase of Bibles & resources. This support must be known before they are allowed to proceed to the field. A 10% Levy/Tithe goes to the local S.A. office that is then forwarded on to the central office in Singapore.

Home Assignment/leave opportunities can vary.Their case is somewhat unusual as they normally return to S.A. on an annual basis for at least 1 month, prior to the monsoon season each year. They normally take a week or so for annual leave and then use the remainder of the time for deputation work and visiting the various churches that are currently in partnership with them. These churches are spread across the length and breadth of S.A. The organisation also recommends that they take a long home assignment of at least 6 months every 5 years or so. In the 12 years that they have been in the field this has happened only once, about 8 years ago.

Their home church Their home church has changed during the last 5 years and Eugene and Tina have been taken into membership of Gateway Presbyterian Church in Kempton Park, under the leadership of Sean Wells. Their original sending church underwent a change of leadership who did not have a vision for missions' outreach, and wanted to focus instead on becoming a truly “contemporary” church. Notice was given that they would be withdrawing all forms of spiritual, physical, emotional and financial support. For a time Eugene and Tina simply continued working in the field without any form of spiritual home until Sean & Karina Wells suggested that they would like to take them into full membership, which they duly accepted. This church provides about R1500 support each month.Eugene and Tina will be on their own with regard to their retirement when that day comes.

St K'S Missionary Support Group

Please Note:Fund-raising Event No. 3A ‘Soup & Movie’ evening – to be held in the hall by our Mission Group – to raise much needed funds to enable them to continue in the good work that they do supporting Missionaries in the field – i.e. the Wessels in Mozambique and the Liprinis, with MAF.

SILVERSUITMany English-speaking children enjoy the Beatrix Potter stories: Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher and so on. Is there anyone in the congregation who knows ‘SILVERSUIT’? He wasn’t an invention of Beatrix Potter and in fact I don’t know who the author was, but his story was one of many that were read to me as a child when I was bathed and safely tucked up in bed.

Silversuit was a little mouse, part of a large family of mice: there was Daddy and Mommy and seven little children. On the whole they got on very well together but Silversuit was different from the others. He was white, but all his brothers and sisters were brown. His siblings were so sorry for him being a different colour, that they devised a plan. While the parents were out of the house, they got hold of a tin of brown paint, and voila, Silversuit looked just like the rest of them.

When Mommy came home, she was puzzled There were the right number of children “But where is Silversuit?” she cried. The others ushered him to the front. “Oh, no!” she wailed. But mothers have a wonderful way of solving problems. She filled a bath with turpentine and washed her little darling gently. Voila, he’s white again.

The story goes on. A nasty little boy grabbed Silversuit and put him in a cage and shut the door firmly. Oh dear, Silversuit cried himself to sleep and at this point little Lucy would also cry. BUT, one day the little boy was careless and left the cage door a little bit open. So Silversuit made his escape, “with twenty tiny twinkling toes” and was reunited with his family: what joy for them all.......

Silversuit’s siblings had to learn that though he looked different from them, they were all one family and they were all so happy when he came back to them.

Why a child’s fairy-tale for St K’s Chronicle? You’ll no doubt think I’m stretching a point or two ........ Change is coming, is coming, is coming. Don’t let’s try to make the new minister and his family ‘just like us’. Don’t let’s try to imprison them in a cage. Mike and Louise and Jethro and Jessica are their own selves Personally, I rejoice in that.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL Lucy Centlivres

CongratulationsJohn and Jenny Strickland

celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on 11th July 2014.

We wish them good health and happiness in all the years ahead.

WOTSUPwith the Liprinis

from their recent newsletter

Thank the Lordfor a really good time of meetings and family time during deputation.

Deputation 2014 is now passed and Mark is back in Johannesburg with Lorraine. Thank you to all the people we were able to meet up with. You have blessed us so much with those meetings. All the coffee and tea shared, meals and laughter, catching up with old friends and work colleagues. We realized how incredibly blessed we are to know so many fine Godly people, and have so many strong and happy relationships all over South Africa. Thank you for journeying with us over many, many years.

AND THE REST OF THE YEAR?

Mark leaves for Kenya on the 20th July and will be serving as a relief pilot on the MAF Kenya program until the end of August. He returns home for the month of September.

After that it looks like he will be returning to one of the MAF East African programmes for October and November, but those plans are yet to be firmed up and the destination will be based upon the need at the time.

We are not sure what next year holds for us, and we have certainly been praying and exploring various ministry opportunities, but one by one they have all come to a dead end.

So please pray with us in this interesting time as we continue to explore and ask the Lord where He would have us serve next. We do know that He knows, and that’s good for us to rest in while we seek and pray.

Mark and Lorraine

Ralph and Mary Suter are grateful for the prayers, kindness and assistance

which we have experienced during Ralph's time of ill-health.

God bless all.

Point to Ponder

Perfectly cooked biscuitsOne morning, so long ago, Mama

placed a plate of fried eggs and bacon and fried apples in front of all the family, and placed an extremely burned plate of biscuits in the centre of the table.

I remember waiting to see if Dad would notice: But all he did was reach for a biscuit, as he smiled at Mama.

I remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit. He ate every bite of that thing …

never made a face or said a word about it.When I got up from the table that morning, I remember hearing Mama

apologise to Dad for burning the biscuits. And I’ll never forget what he said. “Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then.”

Later that morning, I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned?He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Mama puts in a hard day at

work every day and she gets tired: There’s just as much love in a burned biscuit as there is in an unburned one: And besides, a little burned biscuit every now and then never hurt anybody!

As I’ve grown older, I’ve thought about that morning many times. Life is not always fair and it is full of imperfect things and imperfect people and I’m not perfect.

I forget things like everybody else. But what I’ve learned over the years, is that learning to accept each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each others differences is one of the most important keys to creating healthy, growing, and lasting relationships.

Throughout our married life, if my wife, Jane, burned something, I’d say, “Sweetheart, I like it that way.” Which I really did, as she prepared it out of love. All her food has one main ingredient, “LOVE”.

And that’s my wish for each of my children and grandchildren; that you will learn to take the good, bad and ugly parts of your life and overcome them with kindness: Because in the end …

True thoughtfulness, forgiveness and consideration will give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit ain’t such a big deal!

Congratulations

on the occasion of her 90th Birthday to our long-

standing member, remembered for her smiling face and full engagement in life. As Eva van Belle recounts she had a special request for her celebration.

My mother, Bep de Lange, turned ninety in June, and wished to celebrate this with the children at Phumlani. In her “younger days” (her eighties!) she helped to deliver the “past sell by food” to Phumlani and helped with outings. We bought cake and she came to visit. The children sang their hearts out for her, very much in awe of such an elderly person, and we all enjoyed a party together. The children politely lined up to get their cake, made a choice and said thank you with the traditional small bow. The joy on all the faces, shared by old and young alike, is something I will not forget. It was a small

moment, seemingly time we reach across the barriers created by age, gender, culture or wealth. Each time we celebrate our common humanity, we take a step closer to being the people God wants us to be: united by his love.

St Kiaran's Presbyterian ChurchCentral Circle, off 7th Avenue, Fish Hoek

P.O.Box 22146, Fish Hoek, 7974 Church Phone: 021 782 6118

Interim Moderator: Rev. Heinrich Asch

All are welcome at our Regular Sunday Services

Sunday Worship Services at 9.30am & 7pmHoly Communion is served on the 1st Sunday of the month at both

services

When there is a 5th Sunday in the month we have aUnited 9.30am Service with the Masiphumelele Congregation

CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS (in the old vestry)

• Tuesdays: 11.45 am• Prayer is offered after services - in the Vestry -

for healing or other needs. Please speak to Duty Elder.• Prayers with our young people: as arranged .... or whenever you wish to

arrange times with fellow Christians.• Prayer for the Nation: on the 1st Tuesday of the month – 5-6pm at church