Dear friends, Your friend and minster Chunky

Transcription

1 Dear friends, It is with great sadness that one looks around and sees no end to this unprecedented wild cat strike season. The miners not going back to work will have a huge impact on our economy, and more especially our ever growing budget deficit; enough for Moodys to downgrade the future prospects of our economy as any form of growth this year now seems almost impossible. Much closer to home of course is the truckers strike. Notwithstanding the violence and intimidation of these strikes, the trucks burned, drivers threatened, we all face the prospect of longer queues as we rush around looking for petrol/diesel to ensure we can get to work and our children to school. I remember people saying when the credit crunch came, that we would be spared because we had put such good credit legislation in place, and that was true. We also have wonderful labour legislation but what happens when all of that legislation is ignored because of the massive wage disparities that exist between those who run companies and those who make its wealth? In a strange way we see all over again how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. At some stage something has to give. In the subsequent mayhem that follows, everyone gets hurt. We are then reminded of that old saying, When the elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. The interesting thing for me is that the church has been around for a very long time, and has borne witness to this kind of social upheaval since her very inception. The church was born in a time of political, economic and violent social unrest. Many have tried to use her power to take sides, many have tried to silence her; none have ultimately succeeded. In times like these the church needs to use her role as prophet a role that speaks into fear, pain, and the uncertainty that is being felt by all. More than ever before do we need to pray the Prayer for Africa. God Bless Africa, guard her children, transform her leaders and give her peace. Your friend and minster Chunky

2 MINISTERS: THE REV DR MARTIN (CHUNKY) YOUNG THE REV STEPHEN VAN SCHALKWYK THE REV PROF HANSIE WOLMARANS ORGANIST: KEVIN KRAAK: ORGAN SCHOLAR: NICK REDELINGHUYS COUNSELLING CENTRE: SARAH TAYLOR / NICCI HUTTON Monday 8th 10h00 13h00 16h30 19h00 Tuesday 9th 17h30 19h15 Women s Fellowship Bridge Outreach Meeting Property Committee Meeting PATH Music of the great cathedrals followed by cheese and wine Wednesday 10th 09h45 Biscuit Club Informal chat planning ahead Thursday 11th 11h00 19h30 Thusano Choir Practice Friday 12th 09h00 Staff Meeting Sunday 14th 08h00 Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young 09h30 Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young Sunday School, Alchemist Group 18h45 AA meeting in the Jones Hall 19h00 Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk The CHALLENGE Spring Edition 2012 is now available Click on the cover to download

3 We have several new books, including Revelations by Elaine Pagels and Thank God for Evolution by Michael Dowd. The Book of Revelation was the topic for the first series of Wednesday Night Live talks this year. And Dowd s book has been mentioned during the current series, Perspectives on God. Hansie has written reviews of these two books for our newsletter. Here they are: 1. Michael Dowd, Thank God for Evolution. Michael Dowd was born again, spoke in tongues, had been taught that evolution was of the devil, and Darwinism the root of most social problems. He even distributed anti-evolution tracts and debated anyone who thought the world was more than six thousand years old. However, as he came to know more of the facts of evolution, he realised that there is no reason for faith and science to be at war. He discovered that All truth is God s truth. He regards the 14 billion years of cosmic history as an epic of divine grace and creativity. In accessible language he not only explains evolution, but also argues that religion and science provide a solid moral and ethical foundation for our lives. No less than five Nobel Laureates recommend this book, as well as a plethora of ministers and theologians. A must read. 2. Elaine Pagels Revelations. Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation. Elaine Pagels is a professor of Religion at Princeton University. In this concise and highly readable book, she explores the basic questions surrounding the Book of Revelation in the Bible: Where did it come from? What is the meaning of its images of dragons, monsters, angels and cosmic war? Why were other books of revelation not included in the Bible and this specific one chosen? Pagels argues that the fascinating aspect of the Book of Revelation is that each generation sees its own conflicts, sufferings, and hopes reflected in its images of cosmic war and divine victory. Reading this book, provides us with a deeper understanding of why there are violence and division in the religions of the world. It also provides hope for reconciliation. Book reviews by the Rev. Prof. Hansie Wolmarans World Food Day is celebrated throughout the world every year in October The aim is to increase awareness, understanding and informed year round action to alleviate hunger. The Pantry is a St Columba s initiative to take food to those in need and we will focus on World Food Day on Sunday 21 October (Communion Sunday).We especially appeal to all members of the congregation to please bring Non-Perishable food items to the church office during the week ahead of the services on that day so that we can create a display on the 21st October If you are unable to bring donations ahead of the services you are of course welcome to bring them to the services on the Sunday. Please support this as it is also one of the ways we can give thanks for the food that is so readily available to us.

4 PANTRY Please remember the pantry when you are grocery shopping: Pkt of macaroni/spaghetti, tin mixed meat, jelly/instant pudding, dish liquid. Click here to follow us on facebook. 7th October am Rev Prof Hansie Wolmarans 9.30am Rev Prof Hansie Wolmarans 7.00pm-Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young 14th October am Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young 9.30am Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young 7.00pm Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk DAILY LECTIONARY READINGS Monday: 1 Cor. 4:8-21 Tuesday: 1 Cor. 5:1-8 Wednesday: 1 Cor. 5:9-6:11 Thursday: 1 Cor. 6:12-20 Friday: 1 Cor. 7:1-9 DONATION OF BINOCULARS We run Leadership Academies for disadvantaged youth and these are always held at really nice venues in the bush, where part of the course includes conservation and the environment. One of the requirements of the head facilitators is binoculars to use on the field trips, game drives and walks. Unfortunately we only have about 4 pairs of binocs which makes things difficult as there are always 12 learners and 3 to 4 educators in the groups. We also find that the academies overlap quite often so we have no binocs to send out on some of the trips. Please if you have any spare binocs, in working order, would you consider donating to the Leadership Academy. Please could you drop them off at the church office. Saturday: 1 Cor. 7:10-24

5 Dear Friends, There are two bounds copies of The proceedings and decisions of the 10 th General Assembly 2012 and Papers for the 10 th General Assembly 2012 in the church office for those who would like to peruse them. God Bless Ernie Blom Session Clerk SOUP KITCHEN Two helpers required to work on a Friday twice a month. Very convivial working conditions Only one and a half hours in the morning On the job training Please Phone Peter Visser Tel: or Visiting our members recovering in hospital has long been a major component of St Columba's Pastoral Care Programme. We have a dedicated team under the able leadership of Lorna Riddet. As we are looking to strengthen the team, volunteers are invited to assist, especially occasional visits to the Park Lane Clinic and the Garden City Clinic. MUSIC OF THE GREAT CATHEDRALS Featuring: St Columba s Church Choir with audience participation. 16 Oct - World Food Day 21 Oct - World food Sunday Oct - Santa Shoe Box Project Nov 4 All Saints Day Nov 11 - Remembrance Sunday Nov 29 - Thusano Prize giving A Choir fundraiser for their gift of the tower bells. The concert includes the premiere of Nick Redelinghuys s organ mass Suite Medievale written for his Cambridge A-level final. Date: Tuesday, 9 th October Time: 7.15pm followed by cheese and wine in the church hall Tickets available at the door.

6 Yvonne Hattingh Allen Sharp Jennifer Gillies Robert Van Dongen Carol Timm Loris Manferdini Shannon Norton Melanie Eddison Geoffrey Ehmke Candice Annandale Matthew Ackron Ian Davies Chris Griswold James Leslie Joern Kuebler Helen Beggs David Wright Michael Rutherford Susan Fanner Victor Mcculloch Robyn Corder Helene Marsh Heidi Clowes Margaret Staveley

7 The Santa Shoebox Project is an inspiring community initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust (IT2671/2009, PBO Section18A NPO ) that co-ordinates the donation, collection and distribution of personalized gifts at Christmas time to underprivileged children across South Africa. Please can you help in one of the following ways: Go onto register as a donor and pledge one or more boxes. Note: You should select JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL as a drop-off location, as this is the St Columba's drop-off Unfortunately every year, many incomplete boxes get delivered so another way to help would be to sponsor 'fillers'. By this I mean actual items that go in the box, ie toothbrushes & toothpaste, facecloths & soap, educational supplies, toys, sweets, and what we usually struggle with most is NEW clothes, in particular for the older children years of age. The third and last way in which you can help, is to assist as a volunteer on the actual drop off days, when we need to scan and pack over 4000 boxes into the correct cartons for logistics to deliver them to the orphanages, safe havens, nursery schools in townships and similar facilities. The days are 24th and 25th October 2012, we will be open from 7:30am - 6:30pm, at St Columba's church in Parkview. People who would like to volunteer for this should contact me on or ingabothner@yahoo.co.uk so that I can put their names into my volunteer rota. MEN S SHOES & T-SHIRTS T URGENTLY REQUIRED for distribution to the local community Any underwear, socks (preferably washed) and caps are also most welcome There is a receiving bin at the church entrance for your convenience. Thank you and kind regards Penny

8 SANC registered nurse required. The incumbent must have nursing admin and managerial experience with lots of compassion and patience for the elderly. Please forward CV to or fax to Commencement date: January 2013 with prior probation period required. Rosehaven Retirement Village has frail care space available for immediate occupation. All rooms are private north-facing with shared ablutions. Please contact Noeleen for more information regarding costs etc

9 Due to unforeseen circumstances, the walk will no longer take place on 6th October and has been rescheduled for the 10th November. Time: 09h00 12h00 All proceeds will go towards the ongoing care of our 300 children and adults with profound intellectual disability. Register online at Or contact office

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