Sunday 27 December 2020

Sunday 27 December 2020

A big thank you to Barry and Lyndon for their dedication in doing our online services over this festive season and that on top of moving an entire house. We welcome them with open arms to our little village and wish them a blessed and prosperous stay!
  
 

Friday 25 December 2020

Christmas morning 2020

 Welcome from a sunny Hogsback on this blessed Christmas day 25 December 2020. Please join for our online Christmas reflection lead by Barry and Lyndon, who has managed to put this lovely service together in the midst of them moving to Hogsback permanently. 


Thursday 24 December 2020

Carol Service 2020

 Thank you for joining us for this joyous occasion, even if it has to happen online! May you be blessed by looking with new eyes at the birth of Christ through song and readings. 

Our festive season services

 All our services will be held online over this festive season. Please come and join us here at www.stpatrickonthehill.co.za 


Sunday 13 December 2020

Sunday 13 December 2020 Wait and respond

 We are back to doing virtual services! Due to the increase in corona virus infections, we have decided to return to doing digital services. We must be a little bit out of practice as we had many challenges, from load shedding to internet problems and the video being blocked on YouTube. But fear not as our God is faithful!! Thank you to Liz, Ann, Helen and Lizzie for making this service possible.

Saturday 12 December 2020

St Patrick-on-the-Hill December 2020 Newsletter

 A close up of a sign

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What a strange Year!

We celebrated our 85th Jubilee in March with the visit of our Guest of Honour, Rev Margaret Fourie; immediately afterwards Covid-19 enforced lockdown with excellent virtual services organised by Maggie Verster until the end of September; and since then, from October, we have had chapel services following protocols. Remarkably, we have not missed a Sunday service and were able to reach a wide congregation with our broadcast services. Our ministry team has been outstanding in cautiously, but professionally, maintaining worship!  We have even had weddings and a baptism.


Services

Even though we have resumed our face to face services for the last month, we have had to make the decision to return to virtual services due to the second wave of carona. This Sunday’s service (13th Dec) will therefore be broadcast with no chapel service). Although we would like to maintain chapel services especially for the positive morale they bring, we shall only do so if practical and safe. We shall let you know if there will be changes.  


Our Christmas Services are planned to be in the gardens:

  • 5:30 Thursday 24th December: Carols
  • 10am Friday 25th December: Family Service

Please bring chairs and follow protocols. Wear masks and sanitise



The St Patrick’s Council wishes all a Happy Christmas and a Great New Year.


Trevor Webster; Chapel Warden


Sunday 27 September 2020

Sunday 27 September 2020- Water

 Today is the last time that we will host an online service. From next week we will be doing services in our little chapel. We are looking forward to be meeting at St Patrick's on the Hill in person. The online service today is lead by Barry and Lyndon Whittstock. 

Sunday 20 September 2020

Sunday 20th September 2020

 Norma leads the team in this morning's online worship from St Patrick on the Hill. We want to remind everybody that our normal Chapel services will resume on the 4th of October. Have a blessed week!! 

Sunday 13 September 2020

Sunday 13 September 2020 The Creation

 This morning's service is celebrating God's creation and how we can honour God in looking after his creation. Liz is leading the service with the help of Dianna, Helen and Maggie. Have a great day!! 

Sunday 6 September 2020

Sondag 6 September 2020: 'n Lewensveranderlike liefde

 Vanoggend se diens is in Afrikaans van a heerlike nat Hogsback. Ons is so dankbaar vir die reen!! Norma doen die diens vanoggend, bygestaan deur Ansie, Jan en Maggie. 

Sunday 30 August 2020

Sunday 30 August Service

 This morning's Anglican service is lead by Rev Barry Whittstock and his wife Lyndon. Just a reminder that we will be resuming normal services in the beginning of October. 

Saturday 22 August 2020

Reminder that we are joining the Bible Society at 10am for the bicentennial thanksgiving service

This Sunday we will not be having our normal Sunday online service, but will be joining the Bible Society of South Africa for their 200th Birthday celebration over the weekend of 22-23 August 2020. 

The Thanksgiving Service that will be broadcast live on BSSA’s Facebook and Youtube channels on Sunday 23 August at 10am SAST (8am GMT). An online Songs of Praise that will be broadcast on BSSA’s Facebook and Youtube channels on Sunday 23 August at 3pm SAST (1pm GMT).


We would love you to join us for all or any of the celebration events. The proceeds from the Run/Walk for Hope will go towards The Bible Society's special bicentennial project, 2 Million Bibles for South and Southern Africa: http://2millionbibles.co.za. Should God lay it on your heart to make a Birthday Gift to the Bible Society in thanksgiving to God for the availability of the Bible in all of our languages, affordable to all and in all needed formats, please do so via http://2millionbibles.co.za. This too will ensure that more people who need God’s Word will receive Bibles in their own heart languages. 

The Bible Society's mission of providing affordable Bibles, with the Bible as their foundation and driven by the Great Commission, the following values direct all their activities – integrity, trust, respect, service, accountability – so that all may experience the life-giving message of the Word. You can download the Celebrations invitation here:
bssa-200-celebrations-invitationDownload

Sunday 16 August 2020

Sunday 16 August Service: Compassion

This morning Norma looks at how compassion manifest and how we can be inspired by Jesus and Joseph to practice compassion in our daily lives. 

Thursday 13 August 2020

Tribute to Neil Cooper, 14 December 1927-11 August 2020

 

Neil, with his daughters Corinne and Julie, on the occasion of his 90th birthday party at Arminel

Neil, with his daughters Corinne and Julie, on the occasion of his 90th birthday party at Arminel

On Tuesday 11 August 2020 Neil Cooper passed away after a long illness, leaving behind an impressive reputation as a successful businessman in Alice and a legacy of service to community.

Neil Cooper was the minister for the St Patrick’s first service of the month. For years he loyally drove up the mountain from Fort Beaufort to take the service. His favourite sermon revolved around the importance of leaders to have integrity and to serve their people, especially as accountability was lacking in our democracy. Neil, himself, was an example of integrity and selfless service to society. He did not accept travel allowance to travel to St Patrick’s but would pass the chapel’s donation to his Alice Church. The words of his favourite hymns say so much about his values: Love Divine, all love’s excelling; Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah and O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end.

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

Neil was a legend as a successful businessman in Alice. He owned properties which he would rent and managed the Cooper Brothers in Alice to become a very reputable commercial business. From this sound anchor, Neil could help the many needy organizations that came to his door for help. He was a major contributor to worthy causes, gave of his expertise and time to lead bodies like SANTA, and many others. Many individuals appreciated Neil’s generosity: tenants who were given space when they could not pay their rental and needy who were helped. His kindness was noted.

Neil’s strength of character showed commitment in focussing on priorities, working hard, maintaining strong principles, helping others in need, and showing love to his family. Neil served society; showed generosity to people in need; and was a loving family man. He loved his wife, Jean, dearly; he was proud of his daughters, Corinne and Julie and her husband Gary, and enjoyed time with his grandchildren, Laura and Liam.

Neil’s message to us is important. He reminded us through his example and preaching that humility, faith, hard work and integrity are the basics of life. He would quote the missionaries that had built up the famous institutions of Lovedale and Fort Hare as being humble people who were models of good living. These values have been forgotten and need to be revived.

Rest in Peace, Neil.