Vestry meeting and Reports

On Sunday 22 of April, we had our Vestry meeting after the morning service. Liz our beloved rector briefly presented her report during the service. During the meeting the following people were again been chosen to serve on the church council:
Trevor Webster (Warden), Quinton Dick (Treasurer), Norma Van Niekerk, Carol Neith, Maggie Verster, Helen Fox, Ann Webster, Mark Keasie and of course our rector, Liz Thomas.

To download the following documents, click on the given links:

• Vestry minutes
• St Patrick's Annual Financial Statements 31 December 2017
• Vestry Report by St Patrick's Chapel Council Chairman 22 April 2018

Notice of Vestry Meeting

Reminder Notice that the Vestry Meeting of St Patrick’s Chapel will be held on Sunday 22 April 2018 after the Service at 10am in the chapel. Vestry is the annual general meeting of the congregation and will be chaired by the Chapel Priest, Rev Liz Thomas.  

Council reports will be made by the Chapel Warden, Trevor Webster, and the Council Treasurer, Quinton Dick. An election of Councillors for the incoming year will be held for Chapel Warden, Alternate Chapel Warden, Treasurer and 6 Councillors.  An Auditor will be elected. All are welcome.

Sermon: Breakfast on the beach

Reading: John 21:1-14

What is your favourite meal of the day?  Ours is breakfast - we give it no thought!  It is so good to receive with no effort.  This was what happened on the beach when Jesus made the breakfast - he saves us in the same way, by grace and without our effort!  But I hope that we do seek to understand more? The other thing about breakfast is that I pray at that time - are you spiritually hungry?  We are invited to a meal with Jesus, the communion.  And regular provision.

Peter was! He was eager to get to Jesus, the RISEN LORD - what of us?  Jesus had become the centre of his life - he was saved, so called God's child (Jn 21:4). What a contrast with his call (Lk 5:8), when meeting with Jesus was terrifying - he knew that he was a sinner. If we are not saved, God is indeed terrifying (Heb 12:29). Do we run from Jesus because of our sin?

Peter had tried to go back to his previous life, which was fishing, but it could never satisfy again.  The miracle must have reminded him of the time when he was called, he was sent to fish people (Lk 5:10).  We likewise can be reminded of the time when we committed to God, and that will help us

When they got to the beach, they saw Jesus' provision.  What an abundant supply - 153 fish!  They had been made by God, brought to them by God, the creator and provider, but collected by people.  Does God have more blessing for us?  They were told to put their net on the RIGHT side - we will only be blessed if we are obedient.

The fish had to be cooked before they ate, using the coals and fire that God made.  And at the communion, people need to act; the bread and wine are created, but need to be prepared by people.  The fire must also have reminded of the coming Spirit, enabling their service.

Peter met Jesus
            He was SAD because he was confronted by the past, his failure, sin and denial. Likewise we disappoint God, but like him, we receive God's grace.
            He was SENT, commissioned for the future.  "Feed my sheep" (three times - John 21:15,16,17)
            But then he was promised SUFFERING, he would glorify God in giving his life (John 21:19).

Jesus invited them and us to "Come and have breakfast"
                        He provides for His children (Jn 21:5)
                        is it a long time since you knew blessing?
                        Enjoy the RISEN LORD!?



Prof David T Williams
Theology (retired)

Special Easter Services at St Patrick on the Hill Chapel

Easter is not about njammie chocolate  eggs, hot cross buns and bunnies, but about taking time out to celebrate and reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. This week there will be plenty of opportunity to do just that at our lovely little chapel up on the mountain.

WEDNESDAY  4.45 - 5.20 pm  
Time for reflection on the Psalms of Lament as part of  an informal Evening Prayer session.

THURSDAY  5-6 pm
Simple informal service with  'Breaking of Bread' - Jesus said 'Do this in memory of me'

FRIDAY  12 noon to 1.15 Good Friday 
Short reflections on the cross and nails  - with readings, prayers and lovely music

SATURDAY  All day
Quiet personal reflection in the chapel

SUNDAY  8am   
Celebration of Easter - the Risen Christ - with joyous music and Holy Communion

SUNDAY  10am 
Family Service of celebration in the Chapel with well-known hymns and ... a visit from the Easter Bunny ?

Sunday Sermon Hallowed be your name

Psalm 24, 

Luke 18:1-14 

Are you happy with your name? Is it meaningful for you?  We carry the name of our FATHER; if you are called “Christian”, you should be known as such and reflect Jesus to everybody around. 

The name identifies the person and as a person- God is not a thing.  At the bush, Moses asked “what is your name?” (Ex 3:14).  In a polytheistic setting he needed to know, “Are you the same God who helped me?”  Then the name respects the nature – God called Himself “I AM”.  The Israelites wrote this as “Yahweh”, but did not pronounce it, but said it as LORD, which is how our Bibles print it. 

The Lord’s prayer starts with God, our Father.  Are we consciously addressing GOD?  Do we deliberately make contact when we pray?  Are we reverently addressing GOD?  Do not rush into His presence!  Or is your prayer just sounds? 

Remember who He is, the unique Lord!  Appreciate the king of the universe.  Make sure that you seek only the LORD, and not rely on anything else. 

So in our prayer we ask that God be hallowed; this is not a common word, we should   pray with understanding!  It does not mean “hollowed”, a God at all defective, but “Holy”, which means, among other things, “wholly”.  Remember that secret sins spoil prayer, lack of commitment spoils prayer – our prayer to be effective must be “whole”. 

Then we approach God in holiness - there is no other way, except through Jesus, for we must have our sins forgiven to stand before a holy God.

Then we approach God by holiness.  We need to make the connection! The only way to do this is to be filled by the HOLY Spirit to bond us to God. 

Then when we pray to make his name more holy, we want this to be done by many other people – we pray “thy kingdom come”.  This prayer means evangelism, and of course evangelism is effected through prayer. 

Finally, Listen!  Prayer is two-way.  It is communication.  So take time not just to enter prayer, but afterwards to hear him, perhaps through his Word. 

God has opened his side for us so we can pray - Have we?

Special moments at St Patricks

We were very blessed this Sunday to play host to little Klara and her parents, Jotham and Laulani Stone, who came all the way from Stutterheim to dedicate her to God at our little Chapel.

Grandparents and family from all over the country came to join in and little Klara clearly enjoyed the ceremony. Reverend Liz's message of shining God's light into her life was very apt.

Her dad presented us with a poignant dedication of her life to God and we were very privileged to be part of all of this!

Celebrating the life of one of our worthy chapel woman

Yesterday we had a high tea in Hogsback to celebrate the value of woman, all woman, but especially one woman who has made an incredible difference in the lives of not just woman, but everyone on the mountain. Her name is Norma and she is a prayer warrior.

Norma stands for everything that is gentle, kind, generous, caring and worthy. She was the doctor here in Hogsback for many years, caring for the sick and running an AIDS outreach. Even after she finally retired (after her initial attempt at retirement to Hogsback), she still remains totally invested in our little village as part of the executive board for our local outreach, Jikani, and as part of our Chapel lay preachers and pianists, as a friend, a wife and a mother to all.

Silke's poem for Norma says it all:



For a text copy of Silke's poem, download it from here: goo.gl/KgChgf 

Norma read to us the story of when God created woman to remind us of our biggest flaw....

 

So, Norma, on your 70th celebration month, we can only say that you mean the world to us and that we appreciate you more than you can imagine! As you did not want to be honoured with presents and accolades, we would like to ask everybody to acknowledge you by making a donation to your hearts project, Jikani (www.jikani.com) at the following banking details:

FNB

Acc name: Jikani

Acc No: 62391132075

Branch: fort Beaufort / 210419

Reference: 70th

For all the photos from the event, see here: goo.gl/XQ6dts