The Eight O’Clock
- Origin unknown, sent in by Sheila Scheppening
News February 2018 8 am Service, Christ Church, Kenilworth
Christmas Ponderings And Prayers On Christmas morning I was awake by 4.30, with a particular carol
going round recurringly in my head: Holy Child, how still you lie, safe the manger, soft the hay; faint across the eastern sky breaks the dawn of Christmas Day. I lay and pictured the sky lightening over that small town in Israel more than two thousand years ago, and was visited afresh by the realisation that, as the sun rose on that day, the world would never be the same again. It was, indeed, a New Day. The Prince had come! Aslan was on the move! The deep, deep Magic of Christmas had begun for us all. What can one do except join the angels in awe and wonder, crying Glory to God in the highest! Then I thought about the way Christmas is celebrated in today’s world, and felt so sad and sorry for the many people who haven’t understood that real, deep Magic of Christmas, and who, instead, buy into the cheap, watered-down, tinselled-up, sheer saccharine idiocy created by those faithful agents of the father of lies: commerce and Hollywood, and who mistake that for “the magic of Christmas”. No wonder so many people hate Christmas! That kind of magic can only disappoint and disillusion, can only leave you feeling spent and empty and possibly hung-over. So what is the answer? Do we abandon Christmas celebrations and withdraw in holier-than-thou isolation? Do we sit in condemnation of any celebration that doesn’t meet our standards? I confess that there is something in that which I find a bit tempting. But then I remember how, when Jesus was entering Jerusalem on a donkey amidst shouts of praise and blessings from the crowds, the Pharisees wanted Him to rebuke them. Jesus’s reply was that, if they kept quiet the stones themselves would cry out [Luke 10:40]. And I realised that that is what Christmas is about—people may not understand why they are celebrating, but there is a sense in which they can’t help themselves—if they didn’t celebrate, the stones themselves would cry out in worship. The earth itself rejoices at this incredible miracle of salvation, and there is nothing to be done to stop it, and everything to be done to enter into it with heart and soul and voice of praise and thankfulness! So what we do about those who don’t ‘get it’ is, we pray for them, pray that there will come a time when they do understand, when they can rejoice alongside us, when the true Magic enters their souls, lights up their eyes and changes their lives forever. Then I thought about the other thing the angels sang: Peace to all people on earth. I thought about this troubled, divided, un-peaceful world and wondered why it was so, and what had gone wrong. I came to the conclusion that the Peace that the angels wished for us was not so much a ‘happening’ as a ‘doing’, that we, who are the children of the Prince of Peace, are to be the Peace. Each of us is February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
a piece of the Peace, a carrier of the Magic. Each of us is a channel through which the glory of God can be shone into the darkness of this world. And so my prayer for myself, and for all of us as this new year is getting underway, is that Jesus will so fill us all with the joy and peace of His birth that we will become pieces of the Peace to our families, our friends, our work colleagues, to all the people we serve in any way, and specially to those we know who have not yet understood the Magic. May the Prince of Peace reign triumphant in your heart and mine in the teeth of whatever odds life may throw at us in 2018. - Sally Palmer
A Franciscan Blessing May God bless you with discomfort At easy answers, half-truths, And superficial relationships So that you may live Deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger At injustice, oppression, And exploitation of people, So that you may work for Justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears, To shed for those who suffer pain, Rejection, hunger and war, So that you may reach out your hand To comfort them and To turn their pain to joy And may God bless you With enough foolishness To believe that you can Make a difference in the world, So that you can do What others claim cannot be done To bring justice and kindness To all our children and the poor.
Amen - Sent in by Wilma Tindall
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Message From Annie Dear Christ Church,
Looking back I can’t believe that this is my last Sunday at CCK in my role to date and that next week I begin a whole new chapter. For those who have been away for announcements, I am going to be focusing four days a week on the development of 'More Than Peace' and supporting the training and development of pioneers at the St John’s Leadership Academy led by Rev Duncan McLea and Keegan Davids one day a week. More Than Peace was founded in 2015 through The South African Christian Leaders Initiative (SACLI.org), alongside partners Christ Church Kenilworth, The Warehouse Trust and The Mennonite Central Committee. We are a coalition representing various likeminded churches and organisations, mandated to work towards the establishment of peace and social justice in our nation. Some of you have been actively involved in pioneering this initiative alongside our mediator team as Peace Justice Witnesses (PJWs) and intercessors. PJWs are trained as impartial observers and deployed into protest and conflict situations to help diffuse tensions and provide a thirdparty witness to the tensions and behaviour of the parties involved. CCK PJWs have been deployed at UCT since #FeesMustFall 2016 protests. Additionally, CCK has been committed to praying for the resolution of the University crises and for the witness that God has called us to be as peace-builders, justice seekers and ministers of reconciliation. In our January 2018 More Than Peaces Update, we share our journey and reflections on the South African context together with our vision as a coalition. Please take a look and consider how you might like to get involved? This work of conflict transformation needs to be rooted in prayer and discernment and invested in financially for the short, medium and long term. https://issuu.com/morethanpeace/docs/ more_than_peace_January_2018 Following a wonderful evening sharing the vision and journey of More Than Peace so far with guests Prof John Volmink (CPUT Acting VC Oct 2016-June 2017) and Derek Ronnie (MTP Mediator), we are hosting another event on Monday, 19 February, 7pm-9pm, Venue: The Warehouse. Looking ahead As I passed through passport control at Heathrow last week on return to South Africa, a lady who was next to me in the queue asked, ‘Are you travelling to Cape Town?’ I was quite surprised as she had no way of knowing. ‘Yes!’, I said. ‘Wonderful,’ said she, ‘would you mind if I followed you?’ I was even more surprised by her request and as we walked together she explained that she has only ever flown with a family member before and that she felt very fearful travelling alone. As we walked through Duty Free, she asked me what she should expect next. I took her to the Departure screens and we located the flight. I explained how the Gate No. would be posted an hour before take off and that then she could proceed to the boarding area. I got her settled and we said we’d see each other at the gate. When I got there, I couldn’t see her. I boarded the ’plane February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
only to discover that we were sitting in the same row either side of the aisle! She seemed overjoyed to see me again and we chatted before sitting back for the take off and flight. At Cape Town airport we went through security, reclaimed our bags and walked through into the airport together, where her friend was waiting for her. She thanked me for being there with her and helping her each step of the journey. As I walked away, I felt the Holy Spirit pressing on a deeper message for me and the journey before us here in SA. In this Kairos moment or second transition since the end of Apartheid, there are unknowns and uncertainties which we are facing. There are real crises such as the drought and water shortage. We may feel that there is a journey before us that we feel fearful of or dread. I felt the Holy Spirit say that in this moment, God is with us and we need only ask to follow him and God will walk with us and guide us through each step. He will ensure that we reach His plans and purposes if we ask Him and depend on Him. Similarly, if we follow Jesus, others can follow us. I pray that for all of us at CCK, asking to follow and being guided by Jesus will become our life pattern to the extent that we become a blessing and a real source of comfort and guidance for every person and situation in our communities and nation at this time. I am so grateful for the time that I was gifted as Assistant Minister at CCK and the inspiration that you have been to me. Please stay in touch and know that I will be praying for you! Much love, Annie (Kirke) annie@morethanpeace.org
Greetings All from Shakespeare Land. Lauren Bates with a Christmas gift. Lauren’s latest newsletter includes her ‘essay about Shakespeare's depiction of the conscience and how reading Shakespeare can help us to sharpen our own consciences.’ If anyone needs Shakespeare’s help and would like a copy, you have only to ask. - Editor
A Tribute to Annie Kirke I am so pleased we sang this Isaac Watts’ hymn, ‘Jesus shall
reign where’er the sun’ to start the service, especially verse 6 which says, ‘Let every creature rise and bring peculiar honours to our King.’ And that’s what I’ve been asked to do—to comment on the peculiar honours Annie has brought to God while with us. I knew some of those peculiarities but wondered what others thought. So, I decided to do some research. Using a very small sample size, totally un-random, I selected 9 friends and asked them to describe Annie in three words, to send the ones they first thought of and not to change them. They were quick to respond. Of course, this research project was totally skewed and in academic circles, probably invalid—but it yielded interesting results. What I really wanted was a cartoonist. When I couldn’t find one, I asked Gerry Adlard if he could write a poem based on the responses I’d garnered plus my own view of Annie. It will go into the next Eight O’ Clock News (February) but I plan to quote a few excerpts here. Here is the first verse: There's a lady whom we've come to love Who's hair's as black as pitch. She's full of peace and quietude But one thing makes her itch— If there's just a whiff of injustice Or bias in the air Her heart beats fast, her spirit soars And she seeks God's will in prayer. I have always seen Annie as a trailblazer. If I could draw, Annie would be fighting her way through long grass, head above the grass, dressed in her clerical garb and with a pith helmet on. She is followed by shorter people who cannot see what she sees. It reminded me of what Konrad Adenauer (a former German chancellor) said: ‘We all live under the same sky but we don’t all see the same horizon.’ One of the responses I received said, ‘Committed, loving, responsive’, followed by a comment, ‘Sounds like Jesus.’ So I decided to share a few ways in which I think Annie resembles Jesus: Single-mindedness. Like Jesus, when He set His face towards Jerusalem, Annie is focused on uncovering injustice, bringing justice and showing compassion and mercy to those marginalised in society. Like the disciples following Jesus without truly understanding what He was about, we are called to support Annie so that she keeps her eyes on the horizon God is revealing to her. One friend said, ‘Annie is fearless; she makes you aware and uncomfortable in a good sense’. Another said, She’s a ‘Justice warrior, feisty, passionate’. Passionate came up many times but Annie’s passion never translates into aggression—her eyes merely get bigger and according to Gerry’s poem, her eyebrows are a good indicator of what’s going on inside. Annie is also single-minded in engaging individuals and like Jesus, she gives the impression that you are the focus of her attention and she has all the time in the world to talk to you—until she realises she’s late for the 10 am service.
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It's the 'Face of the Future' for oppressors, For as hard as they may try, Whenever they think of a new plan She'll appear with her eyebrows on high! Compassionate, gentle, accepting, responsive. Annie has a huge heart which she pours out in hardworking energy to show those around her that God loves them. I have learned much about mercy and compassion from Annie, her concern for the people on society’s B list, the hundredth sheep… Vulnerable yet tough. There is always a cost to being a trailblazer. Apart from all the energy expended, trailblazers almost always elicit a response—a kind of, you either like or dislike them—neutrality is usually not possible. And the people around don’t always see the cost. It is borne in secret, often known only to God and perhaps a few friends. Annie once told me that after a day of negotiation in Hout Bay she was so tired that as soon as she was inside her flat, she lay down on the floor. It reminded me of Jesus withdrawing on His own to share His vulnerability with His Father and to receive strength. Annie, like Jesus, will rise to face another day. Broader context. Though Jesus came to earth in Israel, He was never going to be confined to that country. His mission was always broader and bigger than His local context. I had a conversation with Annie a year or so into her ministry at CCK which made me realise we were never going to keep her at CCK for the five-year contract she’d signed. I’m not sure Israel appreciated what Jesus did for that country. Let us not fall into the same trap. Annie We're not quite sure where you are going, But we know who is egging you on. And we've developed a taste for adventure So we've decided to come tagging along. Instead of waving our hankies As you go over the brow of the hill We're girding our loins and our gargoyles So you'll have us for company still. Lastly, Annie reminds me of Jesus because, should you ask her a question, you can be certain that you will receive an answer that is broader, deeper and more extensive that the one you anticipated! Annie, I am sad that you will not be with us as much as before, but I thank God for you and for what you have shown all of us about the heart of God. And I pray that we will have many conversations—for I have many questions to ask.
- Ev Els
Who ?
She has a face that's not easily forgotten: Fringe, big deep eyes, eyebrows asking this and that. With freckles, to prove that she's human And the grin of a Great Cheshire Cat. February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
- Origin unknown, sent in by Lindy & Peter Tomalin
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Annie There's a lady whom we've come to love Who's hair's as black as pitch. She's full of peace and quietude But one thing makes her itch If there's just a whiff of injustice Or bias in the air Her heart beats fast, her spirit soars And she seeks God's will in prayer. You might think that a well-bred young lady, Would stay in her bed through the night. But our Annie is out in her cat suit Taking God's love to the fight. This lady of ours breaks the curfews, She walks right through barriers of steel Leading light into darkness, hope to despair, Declaring to Power that God really does feel. Acknowledging frustrations, demonstrating care, Building relations, channelling God's love Sharing the hurts, weeping real tears, Praying that they'll grasp that they come from above. She pours oil on the wounds of the hurting, And lifts open the eyes of the blind. She unstops proud ears and assuages the fears Of those usually left far behind. She brings peace to a world that's in pieces. And love into heartless regimes. She turns standpoints on end, and takes rulers
round the bend For a view of her visions and dreams. She has a face that's not easily forgotten: Fringe, big deep eyes, eyebrows asking this and that. With freckles, to prove that she's human And the grin of a Great Cheshire Cat. It's the 'Face of the Future' for oppressors, For as hard as they may try, Whenever they think of a new plan She'll appear with her eyebrows on high! Annie We're not quite sure where you are going, But we know who is egging you on. And we've developed a taste for adventure So we've decided to come tagging along. Instead of waving our hankies As you go over the brow of the hill We're girding our loins and our gargoyles So you'll have us for company still. Now, if you stay in the advance party We'll ensure no-one creeps up your rear. We'll act like old-fashioned camp followers Making lots of boboetie and beer. And should you ever need help in the front line We'll be right there, protecting your back, And passing one or two friends up as ammo While we keep the 8 O' Clock service on track. - Gerry Adlard Composed upon request from Ev Els (Thank you, Gerry)
All We Like Sheep… A herd of sheep leaving the stall. There is no fence, only the gate. - Extract, The Trap of Thinking
Bad Ear Day ?
Politically correct Apparently, it’s no longer politically correct to direct a joke at any racial or ethnic minority, so: An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Ghurka, a Latvian, a Turk, an Aussie, two Kiwis, a German, an American, a South African, a Cypriot, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Mexican, a Spaniard, a Russian, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Swede, February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
an Israeli, a Dane, a Romanian, a Bulgarian, a Serb, a Swiss, a Greek, a Singaporean, an Italian, a Norwegian, a Libyan, an Angolan, a Kenyan and a Zimbabwean went to a night club—and were refused permission to enter. The bouncer said, ‘Sorry, I can’t let you in without a Thai.’ - Origin unknown (and deservedly so)
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Olivia Kelly Wibberley was born on Monday, 15/1/18 and weighed in at 2.8 kg. She is a delight to her parents, Gabby and Simon Wibberley—and the apple of her grandparents’ eyes— Denise and John.
HAPPY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY To
Jim Harris (12/1) Belatedly! Rod Palmer (3/2) Jeanette Harris (4/2) Jacqui Mellor (6/2) 90 !!! Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings Psalm 17:8
David Dumisani [Praise the Lord] Taylor, son of Paul and Bern and grandson to Sue and Rob Taylor, finally meets his Granddad, Rob. David seems to be taking it all in his stride but Rob is obviously tickled pink!!
Apple of God’s eye ‘The apple of the eye’ is the pupil (the opening of
As I get older, I realize:
Jacqui * I talk to myself, because there are times I need expert advice. * The biggest lie I tell myself is, "I don't need to write that down. I'll remember it." * I have days when my life is just a tent away from a circus. * These days, "on time" is when I get there. * Lately, I've noticed people my age are so much older than me. * When I was a child, I thought nap time was punishment. Now it feels like a mini vacation. * Some days I have no idea what I'm doing out of bed. * I thought growing old would take longer. * Aging sure has slowed me down, but it hasn't shut me up... * I still haven't learned to act my age. - Origin unknown. Sent in by Margaret & Peter Barrett February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
the iris in the eye through which light passes to reach the retina), and so signifies the thing most treasured. ‘Hide me in the shadow of your wings’ also tells of God’s love, intimacy and protection. Jesus picked this image as He looked over the people of Jerusalem in the days leading up to His crucifixion and longed for them to come and hide under His wings(Matthew 23:37). - Nicky Gumbel
Spot the Capetonian ?
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A Cure for Sore Feet
I’ll Do It My Way ! Does a major symphony orchestra ever defy a guest
Every evening after my walk up the west coast of Portugal (News, October 2017), I would head for the bar fridge in my hotel room. I’d grab a couple of tonic waters or a couple of Super Bock beers, lie back and let them work their magic. No—it’s not what you’re thinking—in this case. Ice-cold beverages are a tonic for sore feet. Just place the bottle or can under the feet and roll the feet gently back and forth, into the arch and back over the heel. The coldness soothes and reduces inflammation and the rolling motion massages. This was my invention I thought, when thinking that I needed an ice pack and didn’t have one. However, a night or two after I’d embarked on this daily treatment, I met a Sports Massage Therapist from the UK at dinner. It was after my 24.4 km stint. I asked her what her remedy was for aching feet. She started to say, “Put a bottle of water in the fridge...” How I laughed. It was just the therapy that I had used and I can assure it works!
conductor to play a famous piece the way they feel most comfortable? Usually not, but they can. There was an instance with the Chicago Symphony where a guest conductor was conducting Mahler 5th. This was during the concert heavy/rehearsal light Ravinia Festival. Said conductor made a couple of nasty remarks to the orchestra during rehearsal. That evening in the performance, he gave the opening prep and beat. Nothing happened! Finally after about two seconds, Ta-ta-ta-Ta—-! The orchestra, who could play that piece in their sleep, simply ignored the conductor, and played their own performance of Mahler 5th without him. At the end, the audience jumped out of their seats and went wild! He had to take his bows with most of the Orchestra grinning from ear to ear! He was suitably chastened, and was on his best behavior in future engagements with them. - Thomas Wikman, Doctor of Fine Arts from University of Illinois at Chicago - Sent in by Jim de Necker
- Cheryl Anderson
Pardon ? - Origin unknown, sent in by Alastair Michael
A Different Christmas Tree Wendy Willcox and Felicity de Necker alongside a tree February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
depicting the current drought situation.
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Kath Lister married Ruan de Wet on 28 December. Seen here with Grandparents, Alec & Janet Fry, with father, Anthony and mother, Mary. Mary painted the wedding cake (and shared a layer with the 8 am congregation). The flowers were arranged by Janet, assisted by Di Stuart-Findlay and Ali Bourne
February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
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How to Lead Like Jesus Few people have shaped the day-to-day management of people and companies more than Ken Blanchard, author of The One Minute Manager, which has sold more than 13 million copies. The book was so successful that he had trouble taking credit for its success. He began to think about God. He started to read the Bible. He went straight to the Gospels. He wanted to know what Jesus did. He became fascinated with how Jesus transformed twelve ordinary, and unlikely, people into the first generation of leaders of a movement that continues to affect the course of world history 2 000 years later. He became aware that everything he had ever taught or written about effective leadership, Jesus had done to perfection way beyond Ken’s ability to portray or describe. Jesus was more than just a spiritual leader. He gives a practical and effective leadership model for all organisations, for all people, for all situations. You may not think of yourself as a leader, but leadership is about influence. You do have influence, therefore, in a sense, all of us are leaders. Jesus was the greatest leader of all time.
Matthew 21:1-17 What does it mean, in practice, to ‘lead like Jesus’? 1. Lead from who you are more than your position Who you are is far more important than what you do or what you have, in terms of possessions or position. Jesus’ authority did not come from having a high position in some hierarchy. It came from who He was as a person. He had a natural authority. He had total confidence that all He needed to say was, ‘the Lord needs them’ (v.3). No threats or promises were required. 2. Be gentle and unassuming ‘Your king comes to you, gentle…’ (v.5). This is not a characteristic of leadership that the world expects. Yet it was right at the heart of Jesus’ leadership. The Greek word for ‘gentle’ means considerate, unassuming. It is the opposite of aggressive or selfseeking. 3. Avoid arrogance and ostentation Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. What a contrast to so many other leaders in history, secular and religious, who have travelled with pomp and ceremony and ostentatious entourages. Jesus’ mode of transport was a sign of great humility. It is the opposite of pride and arrogance, which can so easily creep into human leadership. 4. Have the courage to confront People sometimes think that gentleness and humility mean giving way in every situation, but Jesus was not afraid of confrontation. He ‘entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers (v.12). One of the hardest aspects of February 2018 Eight O’Clock News
leadership is to know the right moment for confrontation. Failure to confront is in itself a decision with consequences. Conflict and confrontation are never easy but, wisely applied, they are a necessary part of good and courageous leadership. 5. Seek spiritual, not worldly power The power of Jesus was so different from many of the leaders in the world. ‘The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and He healed them’ (v.14). Spiritual power is far more important than earthly power. It cannot be manufactured. It can only come from the kind of relationship Jesus had with God. 6. Make prayer your number one priority In Jesus’ confrontation with the money-changers we see how passionate He was about prayer (v.13). And throughout the Gospels, we read of Jesus withdrawing (v.17) to be on His own with God. This was the source of His strength. Like with David, prayer was at the heart of Jesus’ leadership.
Lord, help me to lead like Jesus with authority, gentleness, humility, courage and power. Like Jesus, may my strength come from my personal relationship with You. - Extract from The Bible in One Year by Nicky Gumbel
LORD, Pour out Your gifts within and among us, quickening faith, hope and love, and put Your words of blessing and encouragement in our mouths. We thank You in advance for the lavish, fruitful gardens You are growing in our hearts. To You be all honour, glory, and praise. Amen. - Ministries of Pastoral Care newsletter. Sent in by Angelika Flegg
Above all, Father, fill me with the one power that can bring people together by attraction, and not by compulsion… the power of Your love. In that power may I spend myself in healing, in reconciling, in binding up this splintered world. - Extract, J Barrie Shepherd. Sent in by Wendy Gunn Editorial Team Tel/e-mail Ev Els
021 696 0336 emichael@iafrica.com
Cheryl Anderson
083 272 1530 canderson@beckman.com