Sunday Morning service 27 June 2021- Sadness and Hope

 This morning Rev Barry Whitstock will be leading our virtual service from St Patrick on the Hill. The message is about sadness and hope. We also pay tribute to Dr Johan. 

Memorial service for Dr Johan

The St Patrick on the Hill Community mourn the loss of our doctor, Johan Delport.  He will forever be in our hearts. We know he is safely in the arms of Jesus. 

Feel free to leave a message on Dr Johan’s Memory wall. Drjohan.hogsback.info

Sunday service 20th June 2021: The struggles in life

Due to the high incidence of Covid 19 in our little village and the onset of the third wave, we have decided to go virtual again again for a while until things have settled down. We invite you all to join us this morning virtually for a message by Anne and Norma. The theme is very apt and deals with how we can cope with the struggles in life.

 

Afrikaanse oggend diens 6 June 2021

Easter Services 2021

We want to wish everybody a blessed Easter, and a new joy about Jesus conquering death and redeeming our sins. 

We will have two services this weekend at St Patrick's Chapel. On  Good Friday (2 April) we will meet at the Chapel at 12 noon for a quiet service with readings, music and reflection on what happened 2,000 years ago, which changed the world forever! The service will be facilitated by Rev Liz Thomas.

Our Easter Sunday Service on 4 April will be at the normal time at 10am and will be taken Rev Barry Wittstock. 

All are most welcome.

Vestry Report by our church warden Trevor Webster

 

A reminder that we will be holding our Vestry meeting this Sunday at St Patrick on the Hill, straight after the service. All invited. If you want to nominate someone for the Council, please contact Trevor. Here follows the Warden's report for 2021. 

Lockdown: 

From March 2020 until February 2021 St Patrick’s has had virtual services broadcast by Maggie Verster with the ministry team of Dr Norma Fivaz, Ann Webster, Barry and Lyndon Wittstockand Rev Liz Thomas. The broadcast services were professionally done and attracted a greater congregation far and wide. Unfortunately, Liz can’t be with us for vestry, as she is on sick leave.

Council: 

The last actual Vestry was held in 2019 at which the following were elected: Trevor Webster (Warden), Quinton Dick (Alternate Warden, Treasurer and Gardens), Rev Liz Thomas (Priest), Dr Norma Fivaz (Lay Minister and Pianist), Ann Webster (Lay Minister, Sacristan and Pianist), Carol Nieth (Weddings), Maggie Verster (Blogpage, communication), Helen Fox and Ansie Klaassen (pastoral care, flowers). At the virtual Vestry of 2020 Jan Delport was elected. All The members have continued loyally, showing commitment in spite of the services being only virtual. In any democratic organization it is vital to have regular elections, which will happen at Vestry this year on Sunday 14 March 2021.   

Worship and Services: 

We are very privileged to have Rev Dr Liz Thomas as resident priest and two committed lay ministers: Dr Norma van Niekerk and Ann Webster. We are a small congregation of different denominations and we all participate in the different services. The flower arrangements are beautifully done, organised by Ansie Klaassen. Our chapel continues to be a much-visited gem in Hogsback. The Prayer Trail has become a major source of comfort for those needing to pray or meditate. Many visitors regard the chapel and Prayer Trail as a priority in their visits to Hogsback, especially as the chapel is open throughout the day. The Monday Bible Study group is a powerful worship group.

Community and Care: We donate on a regular basis to Hobbiton and Jikani. Ansie visits those in need and our lay ministers use the discretionary fund to help those in need. The blogpage and WhatsApp groups run by Maggie are very effective in reaching a further congregation not living in Hogsback. Maggie has been brilliant in reaching people through technology during lockdown.

The community identifies with the chapel by using it for memorial services, baptisms and weddings and the Wall of Remembrance, although these have not been active during lockdown.  

Finance: 

We are fortunate in having Quinton Dick as treasurer. We donate much of our income from tithing to worthy causes locally, in addition to paying our Diocesan assessment. We have maintained and improved our assets, especially our garden. Whatever has been done has been done to the glory of God. In spite of not receiving collections because there have not been services, we have been able to maintain our commitments. Our financial statements are presented for comment, if necessary, and acceptance by the congregation.

Weddings: 

There have not been weddings during lockdown.

Buildings and Gardens:  

The gardens are looking particularly beautiful thanks to the supervision of Quinton and others. We were able to cover the thatch with netting wire to protect it from baboon foraging. All this is appreciated by visitors who are constant visitors.

HUCF: 

The Hogsback United Church Fellowship property and assets are looked after by the Council and are not owned by St Patrick’s. The property is up for sale.

Challenges: 

Although the congregation of St Patrick’s is a shining example of service, we realize that there are challenges. We are grateful that we can do as much as we do as each of us has a limited time-span in this village. We appreciate the opportunity and joy to be able to be part of this beautiful, iconic chapel, celebrated daily by visitors from all over the world.  

Thank you

Trevor Webster

Chapel Warden

14 March 2021

Sunday 14 February 2021- How does beauty shape our view of the world

 This morning's sermon is lead by Norma and Anne and they look at how beauty shape our view of the world. Where do we find beauty and how do we find it? Come and join us. 

From next week we will be meeting at the Chapel and resuming our normal services.