The Eight O’Clock
News October 2013
8 am Service, Christ Church Richmond Road Kenilworth
One of a Kind Once again it was a delight to spend time with my great-nephews and niece on their farm in Graaff-Reinet. So different from city kids, it is a joy to be taken into the bush, to climb the ‘koppie’ overlooking the farm, ford the streams and paddle on the lake. At night when the glorious myriad of stars blankets the Karoo sky, I was instructed to read from an astronomy book while the 10 year old focused on the heavenly bodies with his telescope. One morning when the air was crisp and icy and the sky was heavy and white, snowflakes began to fall. I was like a crazy kid running on the lawn trying to capture their exquisite beauty in my gloved hands. (The Border Collie had more success coating himself with crystals as he lay on the icy ground). In all my travels I have never been in snow, having only observed snow-capped mountains from a distance. So our chatter turned from stars to snowflakes as I explained how snowflakes form a wide variety of intricate shapes—leading to the expression ‘no two are alike’. Affectionately, I observed the three children, same mom and dad, alike in many ways but at the same time unique. I thought of our Creator God who took such care in His design of each one of us and my hope as I observed the children was that they should always cherish their uniqueness and not succumb to what so many do, to be like someone else! I always stay in the guest cottage about 100 metres from the main house and because we all love to read, each morning at about twenty minutes before seven (because aunty Cheryl said not before sixthirty), there sounded a little knock on my door followed by the entry of three pajama-clad bodies and three muddy dogs, plus a tray of tea. We read Roald Dahl but I promised to dig out on my return home, one of my beloved stories, The Snowflake, by Paul Gallico. On the surface a children’s book but so much more, it speaks to me of God’s great
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love for each one of us as a unique individual and of His care for us despite what we might pass through in this life before our ultimate reunion with Him. As Snowflake first fell to earth, she felt very alone. However, ‘No sooner had she thought this when it seemed as though she became aware that all about her there was a kind of dear and tender love, the feeling of someone caring, that filled her through and through with warmth and sweetness’. I also told them the story of Wilson ‘Snowflake’ Bentley, a self-educated farmer, who attracted world attention with his pioneering work in the area of photomicrography, most notably his extensive work with snow crystals (commonly known as snowflakes). By adapting a microscope to a bellows camera, and with years of trial and error, he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885. He is quoted as saying, Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty; and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind. He would go on to capture more than 5000 snowflakes during his lifetime, not finding any two alike. In embracing our uniqueness and in knowing that we are God’s children: dearly loved, redeemed, chosen and cherished, we need never fear as we encounter, like Snowflake, the bittersweet journey of life. We are beloved by the One who hung the stars in place and whose hand formed the snow crystals, by the One who knows every detail of our day and who waits for the day when we will finally be with Him. - Cheryl Anderson
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Moving the Rock
Memories of James Thomas A
I am writing this article with a great feeling of sadness. We wake up each day and do not know what we are going to face, and James' death is so tragic and is unbelievingly hard to grasp. Even at a very young age, James was larger than life and showed signs of a born leader who had such a relaxed way with children, teenagers—and oldies too. I was around when James and Colleen first fell in love with each other and I watched this beautiful young couple grow and mature in their faith, always motivated and involved. James was very enthusiastic in helping to form the CCK orchestra and in leading worship. Who could forget his enthusiastic trumpet performance of When the saints go marching in—and when we all used to hold our breath when it was time for him to hit that final note. A memory indeed, and I am sure he was greeted in heaven by a great orchestra of trumpets. It seemed so right that he became church warden as did his father and grandfather before him, and all have left their mark in the Parish. Ken and I have been fortunate to watch the Thomas family grow along with ours, and James was Godfather to our younger grandson, David. What a privilege it was for David to have his Godfather lay hands on and pray for him on his 18th birthday earlier this year. James will leave a huge gap in all our lives. We will miss his bright smile and gift of encouragement. Who will give me those great big bear hugs, sweeping me off my feet and leaving them dangling in the air? We will miss you James, but it is such a comfort in knowing where you are, and with whom you are. We give thanks for how you touched our lives. To Colleen, Sarah, Scott, Julie-Kate and Sipho, we just know that the Joy of the Lord will be your strength in the days to come. - from Granny Rose Clack
[It is unbelievable that one of our own could be killed in a terror attack in another country. The 8 am congregation sends all their love to you and continues to pray for all who loved James.]
man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light, and God appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might... So, this the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sunup to sundown, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might! Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Since the man was showing discouragement, the Adversary (Satan) decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind. (He will do it every time!) ‘You have been pushing against that rock for a long time and it hasn't moved.’ Thus, he gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, ‘Why kill yourself over this? Just put in your time, giving just the minimum effort, and that will be good enough.’ That's what the weary man planned to do, but decided to make it a matter of prayer and to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. ‘Lord’, he said, ‘I have laboured long and hard in Your Service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimetre. What is wrong? Why am I failing?’ The Lord responded compassionately, ‘My friend, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to Me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back shiny and brown; your hands are callused from constant pressure, your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. True, you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. That you have done. Now I, My friend, will move the rock.’ - Origin unknown
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The 8 O’ Clock Choir I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at a Scripture Union camp. When I was a student and a member of Christ Church, I joined the Choir in 1970 under Mrs Elsie Jennings. I am now a widow with four children and seven grandchildren (five in Cape Town and two in Surrey). - Margaret Clark (Soprano) I was born and grew up on a farm in Estcourt, in the midlands of Natal. After boarding school in Estcourt came my degree at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. I trained as a biochemist and have been working in Chemical Pathology for the past 30 years at Red Cross Children’s Hospital and latterly at Groote Schuur Hospital . I am very blessed to be married to Jim for the past 4½ years, and together we have been blessed to have been part of the Christ Church family for some 13 years. We live in Rondebosch in a home that Jim is busy renovating. It is already very different from what we had before and is going to be very special when we have completed the process! I have three grown up boys from a previous marriage and two grandsons. My eldest son, James, is an investment specialist and married with two sons. Rory is a chemical engineer and medical doctor, and Derek, my 26-year-old ‘baby’ is an engineer and singer / songwriter who has produced his second CD. I have always loved singing. I am passionate about art and photography and I enjoy reading. My job has always been fascinating. However, I am looking forward to retiring in mid-2015 to spend more time on other interests especially art. At present I am exploring the special skills of pastels and charcoal lifedrawing, after the frustration of stubbornly uncooperative watercolours. We enjoy the outdoors, walking, weekends in Greyton, we sail a Hobie cat, love the seclusion and beauty of wild and untamed places, desolate beaches, and the magic of the changing seasons on Rondebosch Common. The opportunity to serve the Lord by singing in the choir has been a continuing joy and privilege.
- Felicity de Necker (Soprano)
I was introduced to CCK by a friend after moving to Cape Town from Pringle Bay in order to be nearer to my four children and five grandchildren. I used to sing in the Dutch Reformed Church choir in Kleinmond which, to my surprise, have adopted many Anglican Church hymn tunes. I love to think about what Jesus said—that our Father is the gardener, Jesus is the Vine and those who love and follow Him are the branches. In this way, hopefully, the choir could bear fruit of a variety of flavours as an offering to God—a fruit salad, as it were. There is so much inspiration in the hymns we sing and so much to inspire in the people that I hear speak, that I feel pretty humble about being able to sing in the choir. Otherwise, my grandchildren take up most of my time. - Liz Wanless (Soprano)
I have been part of the Christ Church Choir since 2008. Richard Haigh has been my inspiration over many years, I have sung in choirs from different parishes under his guidance—most memorably, the Lausanne Conference in 2010. I’ve been widowed since 2006 and live with my eldest daughter, Tarren, in Bergvliet. I have three other children—Shereen, Brett who lives in Melbourne with his wife, Monique and Shane who lives in England and besides being a qualified chef, has become a professional soldier. He has just deployed to Afghanistan as a medic. Tarren has two children, Ross (14) and Jessica (7). My interest has always been in singing—I’ve been with the Philharmonia since 1990. I love the Lord and my desire is to walk with and follow Him in everyday living. - Maureen Pearson (Soprano)
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When Ev and her team were putting together the book, 100 Years
of God’s Grace, I didn’t consider my story interesting enough to qualify but now I have been given a second chance to go into print. Way back in 1976, my dad introduced me to Nigel Fish (Stan Fish’s nephew) at a concert in the Hiddingh Hall. Nigel was off to Amsterdam to study cello, and I was off to Amsterdam to further my career as an orchestral violinist. Before my first visit back to Cape Town, Nigel said, You MUST go to Christ Church Kenilworth. They have an orchestra! I have many memories of those annual visits from Amsterdam—a lovely evening with Stan and Barbara Fish listening to stories by Davids Cook and Prior; also Chris Dare with Woodstock in tow, coffee cup in hand, leading the choir and orchestra with skill and enthusiasm. I can still hear her lovely voice each time we sing, O breath of God, and I am pretty sure that I am just off the picture of the orchestra on page 103. I remember that concert at St John’s. On my return to CT in 1993 my intention of trying out different churches never happened. I joined the evening service group with John Walton. His stunning arrangements and beautiful playing was fun and inspiring. Later, due to home circumstances, I transferred to the 8 am service music. After some years I ‘officially’ joined the choir which made me eligible to go on enriching and enjoyable weekends at Betty’s Bay. Fast forward to the present: I am now part of the small, middle-aged+, 8 am choir under the experienced, and dynamic leadership of Richard Haigh. My prayer is that God will use all the music played and sung to communicate His love, joy and peace to the choir and congregation.
- Liz Engel (Alto)
Born in England, I grew up in Johannesburg and was a boarder from the age of 10 at an Anglican Church school. After matriculating I did a secretarial course for a year before coming to Cape Town University, where I obtained my B.Soc.Sc. S.W. Three days after arriving for the orientation week at the start of my degree I met Rod Palmer, who had come from Zimbabwe to study architecture at UCT. Four years later we were married, and have been so for 43 years. We have a daughter, Kerry, and a son, Dereck, each of whom has a son of their own, the joy of their grandmother’s heart. Kerry, like her dad, is an architect and works quite closely with him, and Dereck is an accountant, and I am very privileged to have them both living here in Cape Town—a fact that I don’t take for granted for a second. Rod and I joined Christ Church in 1977 after attending a Baptism course here in order to have Dereck christened. The course was led by Dareth and Denise Wood and I very soon realized that they had a quality that was very special, and that is what led me to give my life to the Lord. I had sung alto in my school choir and loved singing, so very soon after joining Christ Church I became a member of the choir, then led by Mrs. Jennings, and have been there pretty much ever since. I now work as a book-keeper, with various clients, including my husband and daughter. Apart from singing, I enjoy reading and watching British TV programmess like Foyle’s War and Downton Abbey, and my hobby is scrapbooking.
- Sally Palmer (Alto)
Sing for your Health ! Research published online in the
Sheila Clow (alto) Information to follow
scientific journal Psychology of Music has found those singing in a choir report a positive impact on their psychological health. Singing in a choir is a leisure occupation performed by millions of people in different cultures which requires a collaborative action. Like other leisure occupations, singing in a choir has been reported to promote
human health and well-being. However, the effects of music on human psychological, physiological, social, intellectual and physical processes still remain to be explored. The study of 70 college students discovered that choir rehearsal was associated with reduced anxiety and decreased negative moods in those who participated. *Dr Björn Vickhoff, said choir practice is healthier than yoga. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, found that choristers’ heartbeats synchronise when they sing together, bringing about a calming effect that is as beneficial to our health as yoga. —Extract from Chris Molyneux’s Musings
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Born in China, I spent the War years in England with a bit of schooling in Fleet and Chichester, then at a boarding school in Northern Ireland (Portora/ Enniskillen—think Henry Francis Light, Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett) and holidays spent at home in Co. Tipperary. There followed an apprenticeship for five years with Vickers-Armstrong (thanks to a childhood/Naval friend of my father’s and the father of the Queen’s son-in-law) with an engineering degree. I was brought up largely without a father but I won’t forget his teaching me to tear a sheet of paper accurately in half and say the alphabet backwards at an early age. He always prided himself as a purveyor of valueless and inaccurate information and he had my deepest respect. So (with a loving, long-suffering wife, Jan, three wonderful children and six grand -children) I now find myself in the 8 am choir trying to sing somewhere near the bottom end of the bass stave, confusing it with the treble stave and not really knowing the difference! - John D’Arcy Evans
I was born in Stellenbosch on 23 March 1955 and grew up in Cape Town and Somerset West, the third in a family with four children. I was at senior school in Cape Town and studied law at UCT later becoming admitted as an attorney. I was married to Gill in January 1984 and we have been blessed with two sons, William and Simon now aged 28 and 25 respectively. I have been a director of Herold Gie & Broadhead, an old Cape Town firm of attorneys, since 1986 and now find myself getting a bit too senior for my liking. My passions include travel with Gill, reading (history especially) walking, hiking, riding my motor cycle and music. I have sung in various choirs over the years from my school days to the present. I love singing both sacred and secular music and was a member of the Cape Town Male Voice Choir for almost 10 years. I am finding increasingly that there is a wonderful spiritual connection to be made via ancient and modern sacred music and also the great classical composers. Choral music is surely one of the richest parts of our religious heritage and is to be cherished. Singing with our 8.00 am choir has been a wonderfully uplifting and blessed experience—all thanks to God.
- Henry Stubbings (bass)
Seung Young Jung (tenor) comes from Seoul, South Korea, where he trained as an engineer. His heart is in children’s ministry and he came to South Africa to improve his English and to study theology at Cornerstone College and Stellenbosch University. His two children, Joseph and Pearl, joined him and have been educated here. Seung’s wife, Joy, is still working in Seoul and supports the family from there. It is their desire that she will be able to join them here permanently soon. He started a children’s library and learning centre at Jim se Bos in Philippi. The aim of this is to provide a safe and nurturing place for the children of a very poor informal settlement. Remembering with gratitude, the Sunday School ‘grandmothers’ of his
childhood, who laid and encouraged the good foundation of his faith in Jesus, Seung wants to do the same for these disadvantaged children. The library is financed by the Hope Link charity shop which he started in Wynberg. He would gratefully receive donations for the shop from our readers. His telephone Number is 079-5902865.
Richard Haigh Organist and 8 am Choirmaster. Cape Town born and bred, Richard delights many with his musical ability—on the organ, shaping a choir and conducting
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An Untapped Resource As a Parish, we are privileged to have an untapped Resource right on our doorstep. What might that be, you may ask? Well, for you who have not yet visited The Resource Centre, it is located in the Christ Church Centre in Summerley Road. There you will be welcomed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 09h00-13h00 by Theresa Keay (in photograph), by Yvonne Gsell on Tuesday and by Judy Sewell on Thursday. Come and have a cup of tea as you browse the shelves for inspiration. Membership only costs R40,00 per year and a variety of books and DVDs can be taken out on loan for your personal enjoyment and edification or to use as teaching material in your small group. Various categories include Mission, Apologetics, Culture and society, Suffering, Bereavement, Healing and Christain life and experience. There are DVDs and teaching notes by Philip Yancey and Beth Moore, amongst others, as well as all the major Christian Commentaries. There is a
table with the latest popular books and Christian magazines. Theresa is thinking about opening the Resource Centre for 30 minutes after the 8 and 10 am Sunday Services, so why not pop in and join up and open your world to some new words of encouragement. At the moment this wonderful facility seems underutilized so if you have any thoughts and encouraging ideas, please email Theresa at resource@christ-church.org.za. - Cheryl Anderson
CCK’s Resident Squirrel Attended his second 8 am Breakfast on Sunday. This time he enjoyed the seedloaf!
Rubik Cube for the Blind - Origin unknown, sent in by Denise Wibberley
Two bowls of Basset
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CCK’s Verger, Fabrice Musangilay and his
Did you know?
lovely wife, Providence, leaving the church after their wedding last month. Our prayers and love go with them as they journey together with the Lord.
* An elephant’s four legs all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made. God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs. For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily. * The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first. * A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first. * God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day. Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed! How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!
The Window From Which We Look
A young couple moved into a new neighth
HAPPY 50 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY To
Roc & Sheila Kaschula (married 19 October 1963) Did you know? * It takes glass one million years to decompose, which means it never wears out and can be recycled an infinite number of times! * Your tongue is the only muscle in your body that is attached at only one end. * If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. When a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
bourhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbour hanging her washing outside. That laundry is not very clean, she said. She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap. Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Every time her neighbour hung her washing out to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see clean washing on the line and said to her husband: Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this. The husband said, I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows. - Origin unknown, sent in by Jan D’Arcy Evans
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Understanding and Forgiving I have just learned that James Thomas was killed in the attack on a Nairobi shopping mall, by suspected Al Qaeda forces. Such a shock! I ask myself, why there is such hatred in the hearts of some people? What has happened in their lives that drives them to kill innocent men, women and children? Do they suffer any remorse? Or are their hearts so hardened by the lives they have led? O God, help me to understand and forgive. The prayers for today (24 September) on the prayer calendar from St George’s Church, Baghdad, Iraq (a persecuted church) reads: Pray for those involved in Al Qaeda in Iraq—that they would be touched by God to turn away from violence and work for peace. We need to pray this prayer for all divisions of Al Qaeda wherever they are. The following prayer is one I have had for a long time and has been an inspiration for me about forgiveness. It is a Father’s Prayer upon the murder of his son: O God We remember not only our son but also his murderers; Not because they killed him in the prime of his youth and made our hearts bleed and our tears flow; Not because with this savage act they have brought further disgrace on the name of our
country among the civilised nations of the world; But because through their crime we now follow Thy footsteps more closely in the way of sacrifice. The terrible fire of this calamity burns up all selfishness and possessiveness in us; Its flame reveals the depth and depravity and meanness and suspicion, the dimension of hatred and the measure of sinfulness in human nature; It makes obvious as never before our need to trust in God’s love as shown in the cross of Jesus and His resurrection: Love which makes us free from hate towards our persecutors; Love which brings patience, forbearance, courage, loyalty, humility, generosity, greatness of heart; Love which more than ever deepens our trust in God’s final victory and His eternal designs for the Church and for the world; Love which teaches us how to prepare ourselves to face our own day of death. O God, our son’s blood has multiplied the fruit of the Spirit in the soil of our souls; So when his murderers stand before Thee on the day of judgement, remember the fruit of the Spirit by which they have enriched our lives. And forgive. Bishop Dehqain-Tafi of Iran I pray that wherever you are God will surround you with His angels and you would be filled with His peace as you serve Him. - Wendy Gunn
God first—God last The arrival of Jesus signalled the beginning of a
Editorial Team Tel. e-mail** Ev Els
021 6960336 emichael@iafrica.com
Cheryl Anderson
021 7154233 canderson@beckman.com
new era. God entered history in a personal way and made it unmistakeably clear that He is on our side, doing everything possible to save us. It was all presented and worked out in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It was, and is, hard to believe—seemingly too good to be true. But one by one, men and women did believe it, believed Jesus was God alive among them and for them. Soon they would realize that He also lived in them. To their great surprise they found themselves living in a world where God called all the shots—had the first word on everything; had the last word on everything. That meant that everything, quite literally everything, had to be re-centred, re-imagined and re-thought. - From Introduction to the New Testament, Eugene Petersen’s The Message