What does God want? (Sunday service by David Williams)

Readings:

Ez 33:1-9, 

1 Tim 2:1-8

It is always so sad to stand in front of the church and see empty pews.  Why do people not come? (but thanks to those who do!) This demands the question...

Why are we here? What do people want? 

They want fellowship, music, to feel God, all good reasons, but really secondary.  The essence of Christianity is to relate to God, and to yield to Him.  The Bible’s favourite title for God is “LORD”, in both Testaments.  In salvation, we are transferred to His Kingdom. So there is a question …

What does God want us to be if he is Lord? 1 Timothy 2:2 gives an answer: Quiet and peaceable, Godly and respectful.  In short, in HARMONY with others and with God!  In this we reflect the nature of God as Trinity, three Persons in full harmony – we are in His image – incidentally 3 Persons are ONE God (1 Tim 2:6).

What does God want us to have (1 Tim 2:4)?  He desires the salvation of all, and that all have the knowledge of the truth, in short, LIFE! – both for now and forever.  Again as in his image, this reflects the nature of God, who is life.

This is what God wants; what has He done (1 Tim 2:6-7)?  Thank Him for that!  God sent His son, to teach and die so we know how to live now and forever.  AND God sent His servants, which also means us.

So what should WE do?  Obviously seek to live right and proclaim, but Paul puts something else FIRST of all (1 Tim 2:1), our priority …

• Pray!  It is God’s work that we need

For all, even those we do not like, irritate us, harm us etc. For rulers, even those who misrule, are corrupt, even persecute.  Remember the emperor at the time was Nero

This means that we have a responsibility; we are called to stand in breach to ask God not to bring judgement on those who deserve it (Ps 106:23, Ex 32:7-14)

                        We are watchmen Ez 22:30, 33:1-20

                        We are intercessors 1 Sam 12:23

                         But if we do not …, then we answer to God

Are we serious? If he is our LORD, we MUST pray!  Indeed, we must supplicate (1 Tim 2:1), so urge, beseech, implore!

Featuring: Rev Barry and Lynden Wittstock

The next St Patrick’s couple to highlight is the Rev and Mrs Barry Wittstock. Barry has been the Archdeacon of St Mark’s Anglican Church in Cambridge, East London, since 2006. During that time, he has also been involved with St Patrick’s, especially during the last few years. In fact, he is one of our two official marriage officers and has taken many weddings here. He plans to retire shortly to live in Hogsback where he has a house where his son stays. We have enjoyed the fact that he has been able to take services quite regularly. A bonus is that his wife, Lynden, is a superb pianist/organist and plays at services.

The wedding of Barry and Lynden at the Grahamstown Cathedral on 24 June 1978; Barry’s ordination at Holy Trinity Church, King William’s Town on 1^st June 1980, with his mother

Barry matriculated from George Randell High School in 1971 and gained his diploma in theology from St Paul’s College in Grahamstown. He has served in at least eight parishes in the Eastern Cape, starting with and ending at St Mark’s Cambridge. He went to Queenstown and returned there, Fort Beaufort where he was also responsible for St Patrick’s, Hogsback, Adelaide, Kidd’s Beach and Beacon Bay.  He was chaplain of many institutions. During this varied career Barry has got to know and been involved in many rural areas including being involved with Hogsback activities. He has been a part of Hogsback affairs as a landowner, a priest and has been on the board of the Hobbiton-on-Hogsback Association. During his career Barry has led social responsibility projects, been an invigilator for matriculation examinations, has led missions to other towns and many countries and has been involved with the training of ministers.

Barry, Barry’s brother, Rod holding Emily and Lynden; the Wittstock children Jonathan born in 1983 and Victoria born in 1981

 Lynden was brought up in Cradock where she went to St Peter’s Anglican Church. She studied nursing and has progressed to become a sister. Barry and Lynden married on 24 June 1978 at the Grahamstown Cathedral. Two years later, Barry was ordained at the Holy Trinity Church, King William’s Town on 1^st June 1980. They have two children: Victoria born in 1981 and Jonathan born in 1983. Victoria married Wesley Luff in 2003 and they have two children, giving Barry and Lynden two grandchildren studying at Stirling.  

The marriage of Victoria to Wesley Luff in 2003 at St Nicholas Church, Beacon Bay; the two grandchildren: Kiara and Kaylib in Stirling uniform

We thank Barry and Lynden for their service to St Patrick’s over many years and for their involvement in our activities.  We look forward to their retirement here at Hogsback in the near future and assure them that they will be much appreciated.