The Eight O’Clock
News May 2017
And Still He Walked… He could hear the crowds screaming "crucify," "crucify"... He could hear the hatred in their voices, These were His chosen people. He loved them, And they were going to crucify Him. He was beaten, bleeding and weakened... His heart was broken... But still He walked. He could see the crowd as He came from the palace. He knew each of the faces so well. He had created them. He knew every smile, laugh, and tears shed, but now they were contorted with rage and anger. His heart broke... But still He walked. His disciples had left, denied, and even betrayed Him. He searched the crowd for a loving face and He saw very few. Then He turned His eyes to the only One that mattered And He knew that He would never be alone. He looked back at the crowd, at the people who were spitting at Him, Throwing rocks at Him and mocking Him, And He knew that because of Him, they would never be alone. So for them, He walked. May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
8 am Service, Christ Church, Kenilworth 021-7976332
The sounds of the hammer striking the spikes echoed through the crowd. The sounds of His cries echoed even louder. The cheers of the crowd, as His hands and feet were nailed to the cross, intensified with each blow. Loudest of all was the still small voice Inside His heart that whispered, "I am with You, My Son." And God's heart broke. He had let His Son walk. Jesus could have asked God to end His sufferings, but instead He asked God to forgive; Not to forgive Him, But to forgive the ones who were persecuting Him. As He hung on that cross, dying an unimaginable death, He looked out and saw, not only the faces in the crowd, but also, the face of every person yet to be, and His heart filled with love. As His body was dying, His heart was alive. Alive with the limitless, unconditional love He feels for each of us. That is why He walked. When I forget how much my God loves me, I remember His walk. When I wonder if I can be forgiven, I remember His walk. When I need a reminder of how to live like Christ, I think of His walk. And to show Him how much I love Him, I wake up each morning, turn my eyes to Him, And I walk. - Author Unknown
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A Modern Parable* Towards the end of January, shortly before the Week of Breakthrough Prayer, something happened in our living room which has had increasing significance as the weeks have passed. At seven in the morning as I went to open the curtains, I heard the sound of a sparrow chirping loudly in our fireplace. It was trapped behind the recently installed wood-burning stove and had fallen down the chimney. With no obvious means of rescue, it seemed to us that it was doomed to certain death in the darkness. As the morning wore on the chirping went on unabated and we realised that it was responding to the call of the mother bird on the top of the chimney. Our distress grew more intense until by lunchtime we could endure it no longer. Klaus disappeared and returned from his workshop armed with a metal crowbar and power drill to dismantle the fireplace. To my horror he set to work drilling out all the rivets holding the backing plate behind the stove, dismantled the stove and the flue and crowbarred the sealed metal plate from the cavity behind. With no alternative but to assist, and not much hope that the little bird could survive the noise, I fetched our strongest camping light and shone it into the slowly opening crevice. Within seconds the little sparrow was free and was flying blindly around the room, disorientated by the light and eventually found its way out of the opened kitchen window. After resting briefly on our garden wall we watched him fly towards the sound of his mother still calling from the chimney. What a reward ! Then began the even harder work of making good the damage and resettling the stove in place. It was only later when we reflected on the incident that we heard the Lord’s message to us, that right here in
our own livingroom He was going to bring those lost in darkness and tangled by the cords of death to fly free and out of darkness into His marvellous light! We received these words with hope and encouragement as we were about to start our GriefShare support group, and were praying that the Lord would send those who were grieving the loss of a loved one. The very next day, at a car show at Timour Hall Manor we made contact with our first ‘little sparrow’– a deeply grieving young woman with two small children who had been searching for just such a source of help. It was a true Shabbat moment for her and for us. Others have since joined the group with similar needs and are flying out of darkness into the light as the Lord sets them free. We are reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:29: ‘Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows.’ Sometimes the freeing of captives involves battering down the gates of hell as Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5: ‘The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.’ And Jesus says to Peter: ‘On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ - Barbara & Klaus Hahnebeck * An earthly story with a heavenly meaning
A Reunion of Old Choir Members to Celebrate Anne Dwight’s Visit Anne (organist at 8 am) and Rob Dwight left the choir and SA in 2008 to be closer to Anne’s ageing parents in the UK—and to hopefully find their fortune so that they can return to us! We gathered at John and Jan D’Arcy Evans’ home to catch up over supper. L>R: Geka Flegg, Rod & Sal Palmer, Jean Westwood, John, Anne, Tony Westwood, Ev Els, Dareth Wood, Jan, Liz Engel. May 2017 Eight O’Clock News Photographer—Denise Wood
A Tribute to Pam Stewart It
was a miracle that I ever met Pam—the person who would be the right-hand in my ever growing and expanding outreach mission to the rural poor. I had been running a housechurch for about five years and for various reasons I decided to move on. A friend insisted that I join another group but very cheekily I said, ‘I will Barbara join another group but it must meet on a Monday (highly unlikely, so close to Sunday) and meet only ever second week.’ To my amazement she replied that her cousin ran just such a group—and this is how I joined Andrea Henderson’s housechurch—and met Pam. After a few months, each housechurch was given R400 to use to grow into something that would help people in need. As the new kid on the block in the group, I was quiet when decisions were made to help two people in need of school material. I then volunteered to donate another R200 to buy wool and knit jerseys. These jerseys went to an orphanage in Matatiele and I received a grateful response. This spurred me on and a few friends and I started to collect clothes and to sew and knit. This grew into donations of second-hand clothes and household goods which were sent to rural areas in the Cape. At this point I was introduced to Tippy Toes, a secondhand kiddies clothing shop in Durbanville and I was offered all the ‘unsellables’. This was when Pam started to help m—every second Saturday we went to fetch these clothes (until Pam moved into Avondrust). We collected other donations on the way and returned with a loaded car, Pam often holding a box on her lap. After sorting, Pam would start mending, taking home what needed to be stitched on her machine. Children’s long pants, torn at the knees, were turned into shorts; broken zips on jackets were removed and the fronts stitched up, hems re-stitched. There was nothing Pam could not mend. Between sewing, Pam would knit beanies and crochet edges around blankets and join squares of various sizes and colours into warm knee rugs. But her biggest contribution was her networking among family, friends and neighbours, many of whom are still involved today. Her grandson was studying at UWC and told her that the Social Sciences Department was looking for clothes for Grabouw and other areas. UWC put me in touch with Joey in Genadendal and Pam’s grandson has ferried clothing there for five years. Pam’s son, Tony, was also involved. With his church, he May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
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Pam
went on two missions to Zimbabwe, taking two trailer loads of clothing to give away. One of Pam’s friends had four daughters—two were overseas and when visiting SA, they brought kiddies clothes with them. The other two daughters living locally were also regular contributors. I still get beanies from a woman in Parow who didn’t even know Pam but was at the end of a chain of five people, Pam being the first. Pam’s neighbourhood was also involved and many beautiful quilts were sent to the orphanage in Matatiele.
Beanies Galore
A few years ago Pam came with me to Tulbagh where we visited a primary school as part of my annual beanie drive. We took along 500 beanies, some of which she had knitted—and she really enjoyed watching the children each choose their own beanie (see photograph above). This outreach, which started 17 years ago, now sends about 16 000 items a year to various rural areas. I sometimes think about the ‘what ifs’: * What if I hadn’t joined the housechurch... * What if the church hadn’t given the R400... * What if Pam hadn’t helped and involved others... I see the hand of God in each step of the way. Thank you, Pam, for your help, support and friendship over the past 17 years. I miss you very much. - Barbara Bowden
Pam Stewart 1930—2017
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Promoted to Glory Toni Koker 1926—2017
Sylvia Duggan 1922—2017 Pam Stewart 1930-2017
Hope Link Children’s Library Update Joy is back in South Korea and is busy with a missionary master course. She and Seung Young plan to undertake a four-month missionary practical trainning course together in South Korea next year. Photographs top left: laying the base of a small amphitheatre building in the children's playground. Bottom left: the Early Childhood Development (ECD) container gets a fresh look. Bottom right: Seung Young and Joy earlier this year when Joy visited Cape Town for a few weeks. - Seung Young Jung
May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
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Practically, I have some kitchen skills to complement those of my culinary benefactors, so I do eat properly and regularly. And I sleep well—on the amazingly never-used middle section of our huge king I have been very moved by all the friends who have contacted -size bed! It is bliss—I have not slept so well for years!! me saying, ‘I am thinking about you and wondering how you are doing’, or ‘We haven't stopped praying for you and your family’, or I make the bed properly, keep the house clean, do the laundry, ‘Please carry on writing…’ I am very privileged to be so cared for. take the dogs for walks and do pretty well everything that I used to do. No wonder I sleep so well. After a two-month break I rejoined There have also been meals in my freezer (so I haven't had my prayer team yesterday and will start garden guiding again on another Spur burger yet), lovely poems and words in my inbox, hugs for Africa, more words of appreciation about Gill, chats over Monday. I must also tell you about two very special blessings which I have coffee, invitations to dinner—and an awareness that people are not only engaging me in conversation but observing me critically, received. The first is that various family members have invited me to holiday with them. This Wednesday I fly north to spend two ready to jump into action if they see worrying signs! I have a weeks in the Bushveld in the northern part of South Africa—first great family, caring neighbours, a church family who are a real blessing, a loving doctor with whom I have been friends for yonks with my brother Ted and his son Byron at a game reserve in the Waterberg and then with sister Barbi and her husband Andy at their and lots and lots of straight-talking, big-hearted friends. Without home on a nature reserve near the Kruger Park. I am so looking us using the word accountable, I feel free to give an account of forward to this! Then in late July I will spend five days with Ted, myself to them all—and that is liberating, comforting and Dorothea, Byron and Dillon in Belize in the Caribbean before empowering all in one. I am very, very blessed. spending a month with Ben and Anna and their little darlings in This is just a quick update... My basic rule has been to cry when North Carolina. And on my way home I will spend a day with Ken I want to cry and sleep when I want to sleep. Grief is exhausting, and Ulla Graham, old school friends in London, whom Gill and I and whilst I have always cried easily and am happy to do so, I last saw over 40 years ago. Then I shall also spend December am learning to walk on the stepping stones and avoid falling into with Ben, Anna and their family, which is sure to jollify my first sobbing too often, because that is achingly debilitating. I miss Christmas without Gill. All a bit over the top? I will love every Gill hugely, but the emptiness is not complicated by any anger, moment of it. remorse, questioning, fear and any 'what-if's'. I remain so very And the second great blessing just appeared yesterday: Peter and grateful for what we had together for so long, and that she didn't Ros and my dear grandchildren Stephanie & Michael would like to suffer on the way back to her Heavenly Father. Her funeral come and live with me, for at least six months, and starting quite was everything I could have wished for under the circumstances. soon. I am delighted. We have a lovely family home which is big Gill's great friend since our children were very young, Jenny enough for us all, and it includes a very nice 'suite' with a view of Harkness, filmed it and presented it for us as a youtube. It does Table Mountain into which I will very comfortably move. Its main wobble a bit, like a family home video—but that is exactly what it room was our bedroom until 18 months ago. Gill and I had often is. Thank you, Jenny. Please don't work on trying to take the discussed such a possibility with Pete and Ros—and it is a wobbles out, because they are so quickly overwhelmed by what wonderful way to consolidate, and to keep the old man on his toes. is going on. [And, by the way, the net that made the flower-filled I love being a Grandpa. It will also mean that I won't need house/ skirt around the coffin is rolled up in my garage and available if dog sitters when I go on all these extravagant adventures. you would like to do something as beautiful for someone you So, I hope that is enough to put your mind at rest and keep my love.] Here is the link: mind alert and active. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTkegHZ4lT8&feature=emWith lots of love and appreciation. - Gerry Adlard share_video_user
Dearly Beloved
A Bateman Bonanza !
Mary and Eric Bateman joyfully welcomed two grandchildren into the family from two daughters and thank God for His precious gifts. May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
L: Alison & Gareth Mellon with Rachel Grace born 18.2.17 (Grandparents Di &Brian Mellon) R: Kath & Neil Franks with Joseph Alexander Dell born 18/4/17
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Spotted at the 8 am Service 23/4/17 Anna & Rob Maydon
Gwen Jacobs (Huis Nuwland) & Christine Milligan
Annie Kirke
Di Duncan
Isobel Blake
Duncan McLea
Estelle King & Cheryl Anderson
Harerimana Oswald
Kerrin & Neil Hodges
Alec & Sara Pienaar
Celeste Diest St John’s, Crawford
Esther Marais
Annette & Nigel Christie
Helen Maree (De Kelders)
Beth Mackrill
Doreen vd Merwe
Jane & Peter Broster
May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
Lizanne Crouch (6 pm service)
Shirley O’Farrell
Gill Stubbings
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Jane Bird
Roal & Jean Van Zyl Smit
Sandra Pryce & Joan Evans
Ron Rattle
Jenni McMaster & Paddy O’Leary Jenny Marquard
Lynn Pederson
Jenni Davies Peter & Margaret Barrett
Lynne Keggie
Joan & Vivienne Saycell
Margie Hare
Wendy Willcox
Peter & Dot Wilkinson Pam & Berkeley Maytham
Stan Fish May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
Daisy Mae Michael
Desiree Payne
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Michael Cassidy : Prayer for Anxious Moments "Whenever I come to a place in my life where I am anxious or afraid or in despair or wonder what I am here for, I find it helpful to stop and state what I really believe.”
From the Mouths… BRITTANY (age 4) had an earache and wanted a pain killer.
She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, her Mum explained it was a childproof cap and she'd have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, the little girl asked: 'How does it know it's me?' SUSAN (age 4) was drinking juice when she got hiccoughs. 'Please don't give me this juice again,' she said, 'It makes my teeth cough.' JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story. His dad read: 'The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.' Concerned, James asked: 'What happened to the flea? - Source unknown, sent in by Alison Kempton Jones
Lord I believe that You love me And that You made me for a purpose. Lord, I believe that I shall die Not a moment sooner or later than You decree. Lord, I believe that I shall suffer Neither more nor less than You decide. Lord, I believe that I shall complete the work That You have planned for me to do on earth. Lord Jesus, as You died and rose again from death So I believe that I, too, shall rise from death. Lord, I believe that in the resurrection I shall see And understand all that is hidden from me now. Lord, I believe that because of this resurrection New life springs from every kind of death. Lord, I believe that all my dear ones, in the same way, Are safe in Your capable and moulding hands. Therefore, Lord, I believe that all anxiety is sin And I renounce it as unnecessary, wasteful and hurtful. And Lord, I commit myself to You with all my heart, To be set free to live and love and serve Your children. - Duncan McLea, Sermon, 23 April 2017
Revelation 7:9-12 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Editorial Team Tel/e-mail
May 2017 Eight O’Clock News
Ev Els
021 696 0336 emichael@iafrica.com
Cheryl Anderson
083 272 1530 canderson@beckman.com