chronicle 2012
DESCRIPTION
St Agnes Church MagTRANSCRIPT
20
Note:
Opinions expressed in this magazine
do not necessarily reflect
those of the Magazine Team or St AgNes Church
AAAA ccording to Jim Rogers, any economy that saves, invests and works hard
always wins out in the future over countries which consume, borrow and
spend.
This does not only apply to global economies, but also to our very own
‘personal economy’. It is critical that we spend more time focusing on our personal
economy, as this is where we can actually make a significant impact on our lives
and the lives of our families.
Are you working, saving and investing like a German or are you consuming,
borrowing and spending like a Greek?
Monitoring and managing your own economy is essential to personal suc-
cess, and is much more valuable than worrying about the economies of the world
which causes stress and irrational decisions. Regardless of the size of our personal
economies or the size of our monthly salaries, we need to ensure that our economy
is at all times more like the Germans’ as opposed to the Greeks’.
We have zero control over what the market does but we do have control over
what we do with our finances. Start focusing more on your own economy and stop
worrying about the global one.
Andrew Padoa
Consolidated Financial Planning (Pty) Ltd.
Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!
1
Page No.
1. Letter from the Rector 2
2. The Pastoral Care Team 3
3. What’s up down in the Valley? 4
4. And More? / Five Finger Prayer 5
5. The Green Corner 6
6. Let the Little Children Come to Me 7
7. Foot-washing in the Valley 8
8. Closer than my Needs 8
9. December Chronicle notice 9
10. The Heartbeat Course 9
11. A Letter from the Post Office 10
12. More Behind the Scenes / Grief Share 11
13. Answer to Prayer 12
14. The Pastor’s Cat 12
15. The Face of Jesus 13
16. This is a Day of Good News … 14
17. Small Business Development Training 15
18. Celia’s Book Launch 15
19. Newcomers to St Agnes 16
20. The Bible—God’s Instrument 16
21. Epitaph 17
22. The Knots Prayer / Tea Teams 18
23. Be Strong and Courageous 19
24. Personal Economy 20
2
DDDD ear family at St Agnes
CHARISMATIC OR NOT
It has been wonderful to have feedback from various peo-
ple on our sermon series which is ending as I write this letter. I
was thrilled to hear how some people have really grappled with
the implications of the list of Charismatic gifts in 2 Corinthians
12. If this is the believers’ toolbox then surely I need to learn to
use those tools just as I have had to learn to use mechanical
tools in the house to fix what needs fixing. I know some of us are most unconfident
around tools. Many years ago Ruth asked Meg Oxford if we could borrow her elec-
tric drill. Meg’s question: Who is going to use it? Ruth was able to reassure her that
it would be her father who was out visiting us from the UK! But in time Ruth’s Dad
bought me an electric drill and taught me how to use it. So with the gifts—we have
to learn to start using the tools with which God has equipped us to bring his rule to
this earth. And they are power tools!
People have been owning up that they knew almost nothing about these ba-
sic gospel tools and have really appreciated having to think about them. And these
gifts are unavoidable because they are part of the ‘normal’ Christian life. Anyone
who aspires to be like Jesus needs to be like Jesus fully. It is so easy to be comfort-
able with just wanting to be loving like him – but we should also wish to be powerful
like him – and to do greater works even than he did (John 14: 12). In this demand-
ing world we are not to be content with some emasculated Jesus. We are to be im-
pactful as he was impactful. We are to read the gospel’s understanding who Jesus
really is, and long to see the rule of God restored in every life and situation where
Satan has been robbing and killing. Let us not just be charismatic in name but char-
ismatic in truth, bringing supernatural life to the dead and dying in this world. Noth-
ing else will do what needs to be done. All the resources of heaven are ours in Je-
sus .
A DEAD AND DYING WORLD
We have begun to touch the world out there. We had prophetic encourage-
ment recently that some of the seeds which have been planted into Kloof will begin
to bear fruit. The Year of Mission was there to bring perspective to our life as a
church. A church that lives for itself is itself dying. We have all the Good News of
God which will die if we do not share it. Put simply: The Good News is Jesus! And
We are to help people to see him, experience him and take hold of the life that he
brings.
19
DDDD ear friends,
Fear is the greatest obstacle that we face in experiencing the fullness
of kingdom life that God has for us. It can be more debilitating and destructive than
even our sin and our rebellion.
When Joshua was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, God
told him that their inheritance would extend from the Mediterranean Sea to the Eu-
phrates River (Joshua 1: 4); and that He would be with them and defeat their ene-
mies (v.5). All they needed to do was to trust in his grace and goodness.
The rest of Israel’s history shows that they did not live into the fullness that
God had promised them They became terrified of the ‘giants’ in the land, did not
conquer all the pagan nations, made treaties with some of them, intermarried with
them and ended up taking on their evil and immoral worship practices. They could
have enjoyed and experienced much more of God’s goodness and blessing in their
lives, but they chose not to.
Why? Fear! As the Israelites were about to cross into the Promised Land in
Joshua 1, God said to them three times, “Be strong and courageous!” (Joshua 1:6,
7, 9). He is saying that in order to experience all that he has for us, freely by his
grace, we have to be bold and step out in faith.
So what are the ‘giants’ in our land that keep us in fear’s grip? Fear of man?
Fear of failure? Fear of losing control and really risking for God? Fear of stopping
an unhealthy relationship? Fear that God may not come through for us?
Whatever our fear is, know that God’s promises to us are greater than that
fear, even if it may not seem so at the moment. God’s perfect love drives out fear (1
John 4: 18). He will be with us in this life on earth, he will fight our battles, because
ultimately Jesus has won the victory on the cross. Our God has conquered the
grave, defeated the powers of darkness, and is on our side! Let’s live lives of risk,
faith, courage and boldness for God, because “the Lord your God is with you wher-
ever you go.” (Joshua 1: 9).
God bless,
Antonio
“When we submit our lives to what we read in scrip-
ture, we find that we are not being led to see God in
our stories but our stories in God's. God is the larger
context and plot in which our stories find themselves.
18
TEA TEAMS
On Sunday 15th July I was part of the ‘DWHGTT’ - Deryck Willans’s
Home Group Tea Team. During a survey of those Folk who enjoyed our
home-baked bread and amazing tea and coffee service, we were voted
as the very best team ever, and have been selected to represent KZN
at the National Tea Team Trials in Gauteng!
Training takes place every Tuesday Evening at the Tea Team stadium,
sometimes called Deryck Willans’s House.
Wish us luck. Sam Hutton. Front Man.
Dear God
Please untie the knots That are in my mind, My heart and my life. Remove the have nots,
The can nots and the do nots That I have in my mind. Erase the will nots,
may nots might nots that may find A home in my heart.
Release me from the would nots, Could nots and
should nots that obstruct my life. And most of all, Dear God,
I ask that you remove from my mind My heart and my life all the ‘am nots’ That I have allowed to hold me back,
Especially the thought That I am not good enough.
Amen
Author known to God Sent in by Lindsay Salthouse
3
TTTT he work done by the Pastoral Care team in our St Agnes community is sig-
nificant, underpinned as it is by the direction and support that we receive
from the Holy Spirit. Our aim is to care for and show love to the people of St Agnes
through a number of ministries.
The Grief Care Team, whose vision is to comfort those in bereavement and
to help them to move on in their journey from mourning to joy, and also to make
sustained contact with those who have been bereaved. Support is offered through
the GriefShare DVD series.
We have a team of people who take communion to those of our congregation
who are unable to come to our church service and visits are arranged to those in
hospitals and to our folk who are at home and in need of some company and some
help. We have a number of volunteers who do the visiting and others who kindly
prepare meals for our freezer.
We are all called to pray for one another, and our Sheltering Prayer Teams
undertake to pray His will into our lives and into the lives of those around us, know-
ing He hears and that He cares and that He is able to be our very present help. We
know that God works through the prayers of His people, that He acts because of
our faith in Him and that we can trust Him!
We have a team of counsellors who have been trained by Philippi Trust, and
who provide counselling for family members and help for people to connect or re-
connect with God. They also offer marriage counseling, using the marriage course
from Holy Trinity Brompton to help people through their problems. A marriage
preparation course is offered for young couples who are getting married here at St
Agnes.
Our church office coordinates and channels all requests for pastoral care to
the appropriate team – and if you would like to be a member of this team, or to be
cared for, we would love to hear from you.
Nina Madsen (Portfolio leader)
As you reach out and God uses you, please tell one another what God has
done! There are opportunities for testimony on Sundays. But we now also have
space on the website so that a person at 9 am can hear about a testimony from
someone who worships at 7am. Let us continue to stir one another up to be The
significant Kingdom Church that God has called us to be
Yours in His Love and Life
Nigel Juckes
4
FFFF rom the 25th to the 29th June 2012
Philangethemba held their holiday
club in the community hall in Lower
Molweni, and it was great to be part of it
for a few days. I have put down some of
my thoughts and memories because I
thought it would be nice for the greater
St. Agnes to know what was going on there.
There were many role-players behind the holiday club, namely SPCA,
Soul of Africa, the local municipality and many others who made it all possible.
Zilungile (Zlu) Msomi and the Leth’Ukukhanya (bringing light) team - who have
made a significant difference to the people’s lives in Lower Molweni and Umgababa
- were the stars who put the whole thing together. The interns Siyabonga and
Thumeka, as well as Lydia, an international volunteer, also play a vital role in the
running of Philangethemba down in the valley. Then
there were the volunteers in the kitchen who prepared
meals - cooked them, served them, washed dishes and
cleaned up without being paid. Where would you get 33
teenagers volunteering their services to work hard for 5
days with no pay, except for a meal at lunch?
The theme of Environmental Awareness based
on God’s creation was brought out in very practical and fun ways, and the enjoy-
ment of the kids was evident in the increase in numbers from 95 on day 1 to 270 on
day 5! Each day was started with a time of worship (singing and praising) and
prayer, and there was a tremendous spirit of UBUNTU among the youngsters.
Their acceptance of those with physical and mental challenges was obvious as
they cheered them on during the performances. Their pride in their culture and heri-
tage was also clear in their performances on stage and other activities.
Most of the youngsters were very comfortable with themselves generally
and on stage. Could this be partly a result of the program run by Philangethemba
staff - the expression of me, kids’ club and life orientation? I will answer my own
question with a resounding YES!.
The love of God was central and visible in His followers during the week of
the holiday club. It was a privilege to be a part of it all.
Philip Lanz
17
us further than just reading and understanding what the Bible is teaching us
‘about’.
Since this experience, I have tried to do three things: I ask myself: (a)
What does this Scripture passage mean? (its ‘correct’ meaning in the con-
text in which it was written), (b) How do I respond to it honestly and frankly,
at both head and heart level? (and sometimes this response is negative and
unsettling), and then (c) What do I ‘hear’ God saying to me about this pas-
sage and my response to it?
Practising this way of reading the Bible, and recording my responses
in a journal, has helped me to deepen my knowledge and experience of
God as Father, and Jesus as the only permanent connection to the Father
through His Spirit at work in me. Sometimes what God is saying to me is so
‘out of the blue’ that I end up in tears of adoration and wonder, or of sensing
the pain and lostness of the world – and myself – without God.
This deeper knowledge and experience of God, through reading and
reflecting on Scriptures, has not been an exercise in ‘head’ understanding
so much as a journey in ‘getting to know’ the Presence of God, which is of-
ten (mostly) beyond words and understanding.
HJM
16 April 2012
EPITAPH (in a cemetery in England)
Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, so shall you be,
Remember this and follow me.
To which someone replied by writing on the tombstone:
To follow you I'll not consent,
Until I know which way you went.
16
WWWW e would like to welcome the following new members to our church family
as from the beginning of the year:
Please do send us a few details about yourselves and your families, and join us for
tea or coffee after or between services so that we can get to know you. You will find
contact information on page 9 of the magazine.
Gavin & Marianne Manley (children Jordan & Edyn)
May Greeff (children Garrick & Gabriella)
Martin & Toni Easson (children Rachael & Naomi)
Njabulo & Hlengiwe Radebe (child Chumule)
Raymond Van Reenen
Katlyn Olds
Talent Tanhera
Pierre & Wendy-Ann Venter-Maher
Gaynor Reeders
Roly & Bev Anderson
Greg & Helen Scholtz
Doug & Julie Brazier
Laurie & Lee Berg
Anthony Walker
Edwin & Dirkie Schultz
Jean Foster
Jeanette Brown
Di Churchill
Jekka Irvine
Margie Inggs
Janice Chetwynd-Palmer
Sue Gilmer
Maggie Davis
Mark Kelly
Liam Conway
Jean-Paul Sulon
Melissa Groenink
Bernice Ferreira
GGGG od, Jesus, Salvation, Eternal life …. these are among hundreds of
words that we read in this ‘instrument’ we call the Bible. The risk is
that even if we take the time to read this book, it may never take us further
than ‘learning about’ our faith, instead of helping us to meet this God who
loves us so much that he died for us. We may be tempted to stop at ‘good
teaching’ from the Bible, and never get as far as ‘good learning’.
In my own dissatisfaction with ‘lessons’ from the Bible being enough
to deepen my own faith, I started reading the Bible in a different way about
thirty years ago. A few may recall Bob Bosworth’s two-week project called
the Morning Watch (from 0530 to 0630 daily), which was designed to take
5
AAAA nother small happening in the valley is that Philange-
themba, together with financial help from the out-
reach of Thomas More College, have donated and installed
8 notebooks and 2 laptops at the Philangethemba offices
for the use of learners and staff of the 3 schools, Bazamile
Primary, Lamula Primary and Tholulwazi High Schools.
Philip Lanz
Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest
to you. They are the easiest to remember To pray for our loved ones is, as
C.S. Lewis said, “sweet duty”.
The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal.
This includes teachers, doctors and ministers. They need support and
wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the
President, leaders in business and industry and administrators. These
people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guid-
ance.
The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our
weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to
pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers
day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all, which is where we
should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says,
“the least shall be the greatest among you”. Your “pinky” should remind
you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four
groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be
able to pray for yourself more effectively.
Taken from A.W.F. Provincial Newsletter
6
The Poor or the Planet – which comes first?
IIII s the Gospel – God’s good news – only for people, or is it
good news for all creation? Take a practical example: if a rare species of frog
is threatened by a poor community chopping trees for firewood, should Christians
support the wildlife or the humans? Put so starkly, most Christians would say
‘people come first’. After all, didn’t Jesus say we are ‘worth more than many spar-
rows’? Didn’t he make us uniquely in his image and give us ‘dominion’ over other
creatures? Anyway, isn’t going green just a luxury for the rich?
Human ‘dominion’ is not power to do as we like, but responsibility to be
‘servant Kings’ within the community of creation. As for the rich, the real luxury is
not going green but surely the opposite – over-consuming resources at terrible
cost to both poor and the planet and forgetting our utter dependence on God’s
provision in nature?
God’s care for the humble sparrow should not be underestimated. Whilst
Jesus clearly says individual humans are of greater significance than individual
sparrows, he’s also showing that each individual of every species is valuable to
God in itself. Not a single sparrow falls (or is caught) ‘without your Father’ – em-
phasising God’s protection and oversight of even the smallest and cheapest crea-
ture.
Elsewhere, the bible repeatedly affirms that non-human creatures matter to
God. Noah’s ark shows God’s passion for biodiversity conservation – preserving
species ‘so that their kind might continue upon the earth’, irrespective of their
usefulness to us. Creation care is woven through Jesus’ parables, teaching and
lifestyle.
Psalm 36:6 sums it up: ‘You save humans and animals alike, O Lord’. The
choice of ‘poor or planet’ is false and dangerous. God created both, God cares for
both, God saves both, and God calls us to work for the flourishing of both people
and wildlife. If we stop caring for the planet it’s the poor who suffer first and worst.
If we stop caring for the poor they have no choice but to live less sustainably. The
biblical vision is of ‘shalom’, God’s peaceable Kingdom, where relationships be-
tween God, people and other creatures are restored, and poverty is no more.
Whether it’s frogs or elephants in India and elephant-shrews in Kenya, they all
matter to God along with the human communities around them. The gospel is
God’s good news, even for sparrows. Matthew 10: 29 - 31, Luke 12: 6 – 7.
Peter Spence
Posted on 30 June 2012, by Peter Bookless
15
RRRR achel M'Jeni is a widow. Her husband was killed whilst a passenger in a
Taxi 10 years ago. She has two children of her own to feed, nurture and
educate. Her sister and brother-in-law died of TB leaving Rachel to provide and
care for their four 'orphaned' children. Her own children share her double bed, two
share a double bed and two share an uncovered sponge mattress on the floor.
Rachel started attending the Employment Bureau last year, joining the +/-
200 other unemployed work seekers each week and paying her bus fare of R30
from Inanda each time. In all this time she has not once been interviewed for a job
as a domestic worker. She was desperate.
She joined the Business School and will receive her Business Skills certifi-
cate next month. Through the foundation phase she has heard the Gospel of the
Amazing love of the Father, the Abundant Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the
personal fellowship of God the Holy Spirit. She loves the Lord and now believes
3 John 2: “… that you may prosper in all things, and be in health even as your soul
prospers”, and Isaiah 48;17: “I am the Lord your God who teaches you to prosper”
Having proved her Entrepreneurial gift she now sells fruit,vegetables, chips
and sweets in addition to selling clothes in her Community. Even her two children
are involved in her business.
Please support this venture with good second-hand clothes, particularly for
children and medium size men. We thank the Lord for those who have donated
clothes and shoes. Our most desperate need is for additional helpers, and storage
facilities, maybe a few donated cupboards or shelving?
Please take the Employment Bureau to your hearts. The needs are desperate.
Social Outreach Portfolio
TTTT he launch of
Celia’s second book of poems “Shammah at the River”
took place in the St Agnes hall on Saturday afternoon, 4th Au-
gust. Andrew Geils and Erica Benham officiated, and Ron Olds
accompanied Mike McGraph on the guitar in singing “Ladybird
Song” and “Sing to the Lord”, arrangements of two poems from the book. Seven-
year-old Abigail Kane sang “Sound of Music” (from the movie) very beautifully,
and Bianca and Lauren Wesley treated the sixty eight guests to string duets while
Doreen Philip (designer and illustrator) helped Celia autograph books. Special
guests were Celia’s parents, Ray and Julie Davidson, who celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary last year.
14
TTTT here has been an air of celebration among the leadership when we received
a donation to cover the outstanding amount owing on our church build-
ings. This has made us debt free as a Church. We really thank God for the way in
which the risk of faith taken in 2006 has been honoured by Him. The loans were
repaid with some extraordinarily generous as well as sacrificial giving by a number
of people in the church. We are thanking God for His goodness.
The vision of a community centre that is not just for us but, as a blessing to
those outside the church, comes into its own with events such as the recent supper
evening when the Kearsney College Choir sang to us. It has also given us space to
grow as a church - and with our increasing commitment to touching those outside of
God's love who live alongside us, we can focus more and more on this - free from
financial burden. Also, with no more interest to pay, all of the regular giving by each
one of you enables us to afford more for mission and ministry.
Though I will be writing to those who have given to the building fund, some
do give anonymously and so we will not be able to acknowledge your giving di-
rectly. I want to say two things: Firstly, every gift makes a difference. When we
thought that the cost would be about R8 million (it proved to be more than twice that
amount) we suggested that if everyone gave a certain sum, we could pay it off up
front. But if for about 6 years someone gave R100 each month, they would have
given easily what we asked for. And some of you have done that. Thank you so
much to everyone.
The second thing to say - is that although we are now debt free, some as-
pects of the building were left unfinished to save us from going into further
debt. One such thing was highlighted by the Kearsney College Director of Music:
floodlights for the staging in the auditorium. Also, having lived with the buildings, we
realise that to get the full benefit of them, we would like to do something to convert
the 'wind tunnel' between the buildings into a gathering space that we can use in all
kinds of weather. We also need to improve the small child-friendly area outside the
auditorium. In short, we are suggesting that you do not stop contributing to the
building fund just yet - and if others who have not had the privilege of giving to-
wards these amazing facilities which we enjoy want to, it is not too late to join in!
"This is the Lord's Doing and it is marvellous in our eyes" Psalm 118:23
With love to you all
Nigel
7
Matthew 19:14 KAREN CAPES Grade 0 – 4th yr Married to Kenneth (my childhood sweetheart!) and have 3 chil-dren: Matthew at boarding school, Megan and Michael. When Michael was a baby I spent most Sundays trying to keep him from swinging on the alter rail in the old church and I think St Agnes decided it was time for a group for the littlest of our members!! I was “recruited” into the first “Teeny Weeny’s” group... and so Michael and I have been “promoted” up the ranks together - to Fuzzy Wuzzy’s and now to Grade 0. I love being part of the St Agnes family and it feels so much “like home” for us. As part of the Children’s church Ministry, I am constantly inspired by Bernice’s enthu-siasm and unconditional love for each child, and I have loved meeting new peo-ple and making friends with fellow Childrens’ Church teachers.
PAMELA GRIFT Grd 2 – 3rd yr Pamela volunteered and was part of the team through her matric year and now as she starts out in her working career. Pam got married a year ago, and we pray that her marriage will be blessed by our Lord and Saviour and that He would reign and be a part of their family ever more.
WENDY GREYLING Grd 5 Wendy has been volunteering at children’s church for the past 2 years, but due to her very busy schedule has had to give it a break for now. We thank her for her commitment and for her perseverance over these past busy times.
ROSIE BROWN Grd 3 and this year Grd 7 – 2nd yr Rosie is doing her masters in psychology and we wish her all the success she has worked so hard to achieve. Rosie has been a volunteer at Fulton and at Lifeline this past year.
8
IIII would like to thank Zlu for the amazing love she's spreading in the Valley. Yes-
terday I was a last-minute helper at the Mandela Day event she planned for the
older folk in the area. She had a dedicated and very enthusiastic group of school
children helping, serving and, most importantly, loving. There are defining moments
in one's life and this was one for me—seeing the children washing the feet of their
elders with fragrant soaps and creams. I saw humble young people serving with
open hearts and the elderly responding to their generous, humble love. Then there
was tea and eats, lots of lunch and pudding and, of course, dancing and singing.
Zlu, you radiate such humility and love—and it is so evident that you are
sowing that into young lives. I thank God for you and pray that you will know His
strong blessing on your life as you bless others so generously.
From a report by Jill Rose
CLOSER THAN MY NEEDS Lord am I far,
Or just feel far from you
because I only
turn to you in my need,
when I want something done
for me, for others?
“No and Yes, I am closer to you
than your needs,
they can blind you to me.
I want your YOU to see ME,
To have who YOU are meet ME
and not just your,
Others’, needs.
Then you, your heart will truly see,
even when you feel
far from me,
that I am close to you”.
Jeff Moys
13
girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Finally she said to
the child, 'Well, if God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it.'
She continued, 'I watched my child go out in the yard, get
on her knees and ask God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't
believe this, but I saw it with my own eyes. A kitten suddenly
came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws outspread, and
landed right in front of her!'.…..
Never underestimate the Power of God and His unique sense of humour!
Numbers 6:24 It’s the face of Jesus
Giving us a glimpse of who he is,
As he turns towards us,
As our hearts leap to see him,
From the depths of our longing.
As the darkness of our lives
Is dispelled by the light of your face;
As we are caught up
And transformed by your
Infinite love and grace;
By your love, acceptance and forgiveness.
As you look past our sins and foolishness
At the glimmer of yourself in us.
So Father,
May you bless us and keep us.
May you make your face shine upon us
And be gracious to us.
May you turn your face towards us
And give us your peace.
A Parishioner
12
IIII praise and thank Almighty God for His answer to prayers.
Over the past few months Stomp's health had deteriorated and he was
having great difficulty walking even with the aid of a walking frame. A friend and I
prayed about the situation and asked God to show me the way forward.
Out of the blue the Matron from the Rest Home told me there was a vacant
room in the Frail Care Section and asked if I would consider moving Stomp there. It
was a difficult decision to make, but we felt God had opened a door and this was
an answer to our prayers, as I was finding it difficult caring for Stomp.
He has settled down very well in the Frail Care, and I give thanks for the
dedicated staff who care for him and all the other patients.
My thanks also to all the friends at St Agnes for their prayers and support
during this time.
THANK YOU GOD!
Joan Uys (July 2012)
AAAA true story is told about the pastor of a church who had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard
and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, of-
fered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy
enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and
pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.
That’s what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He
then figured that if he went just a little bit further, the tree would bend suf-
ficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he did so the rope broke, the tree
went ‘boing!’ and the kitten instantly sailed through the air—out of sight!
The pastor walked all over the neighbourhood asking people if they'd
seen a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, 'Lord, I
just commit this kitten to your keeping.'
A few days later he met one of his church members at the grocery
store. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see
cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her,
'Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?'
She replied, 'You won't believe this,' and then told him how her little
9
PPPP roverbs 4 vs 23 says we should guard our hearts above all else as it is the
wellspring of life.
During March and April this year, we ran a Heartbeat Course here in the St
Agnes auditorium. Over 50 people signed up to do the course and we were en-
couraged by the level of commitment we saw.
The course consisted of weekly teachings taught by a wide range of speak-
ers followed by private, paired ministry with an allocated mentor/pray-er. In this
time slot, participants could discuss and deal with any personal issues that arose
out of the topic and receive deep ministry in those areas.
The topics were varied and covered areas like God’s plan and purpose for
each of us, rejection, forgiveness, how to deal with our ‘hearts’ that were wounded
in childhood; roots of having walls around ourselves; dealing with our hardened
hearts, and examining the ungodly ties we might have formed with others in our
life journey so far.
It has been said that there is probably no such thing as a blue-sky, white-
clouded happy childhood for anybody. Childhood is a very, very tricky business
and in some instances, hard to survive. Because if one thing goes wrong, or any-
thing goes wrong, and usually something goes wrong, then you are compromised
as a human being. You’re going to trip over that for a good part of your life.
How wonderful that we have a Father God who longs to heal his people.
Over the weeks we felt His presence, we saw His touch and we heard testimonies
of His healing. We all ended encouraged, renewed, strengthened and deeply
touched to see the new freedom and healing, that God had brought to this precious
group. He is faithful!
Sheila Stokoe
DECEMBER CHRONICLE
Deadline for Articles: 31 October
Word Limit : +/- 350 words
Send to:
Sarah Burns: [email protected]
or place in Chronicle tray in audito-
10
OOOO ur 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The next day
my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and missing
Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to
heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could, and she dic-
tated these words:
Dear God,
My dog died yesterday and is with you in heaven. Will you please take care
of her? I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am
sending a picture of her so you will know she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Mere-
dith, addressed it to God/Heaven and put our return address on it. Meredith pasted
several stamps on the front of the envelope to get the letter all the way to heaven.
That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later,
she asked if God had got the letter yet.
Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch
addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a
book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies’. Taped inside was the letter we had
written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Ab-
bey and Meredith, and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized
her right away. Abbey isn't sick any more. Her spirit is here with me, just like it stays
in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in
heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I'm sending it back to
you in this little book to remind you of her.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you to send it to
me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
Remember that I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God
(We don't know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead
letter office of the US postal service!)
Sent in by Carol Tooley
11
JOHN TSOANYANE
Many of our long-time parishioners will know John, who has
been working at St Agnes for 42 years – he was a verger (together
with John Mkholise; remember him?) in the days when John Harris
was Rector! Before the extension of the church buildings he used to
have accommodation on the St Agnes campus near the old hall, but
now stays at his home in Kwadabeka. John looks after the church
grounds every day except Thursdays, when he takes care of the
Rectory garden.
He and his wife have four sons and three grand-daughters, and also had a
daughter who has died. During his spare time John likes to work on his own garden
at home.
DAVID SHANGE
David works as a gardener at St Agnes on Mondays and
Thursdays, and has been with us for about nine years. He lives at
Shongweni, from where he commutes the long distance by bus and
taxi. He has two children, a son of 27 and a daughter who is 29.
When he is not with us, or at his other place of employment
in Kloof, he enjoys cutting the grass and planting mealies and
vegetables on his large piece of land at Shongweni.
IIII have been a member of St. Agnes now for 9 months, and it has become
a great joy to me. Perhaps the most profound experience so far has
been my participation in Grief Share. The transformation of all the Partici-
pants from sadness, sometimes deep despair, perhaps even depression,
was remarkable and inspiring. The structure of the process produces a
gradual mindset change to accept that it’s ok to be at peace, and smile at
times.
The two Facilitators ‘Irene and Denzil’ have an amazing gift for compas-
sion, and a deep understanding of human sadness.
We were Blessed.
God is good. Sam Hutton. Front Man.