what’s happe appening...volume 11, issue 6 1111 1 11 june 2020 what’s hhappeappening christ...

Volume 11, Issue 6 1111 1 11

June 2020

What’s HAPPE @ Happening

Christ Church not reopening until it is safe – see page 4.

The Holy Spirit came upon them

Pentecost was on Sunday May 31.

By the Rev. Dr Mark D. Roberts

On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after the resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those followers of Jesus who had gathered together in Jerusalem.

What happened on the first Pentecost continues to happen to Christians throughout the world today, though usually not in such a dramatic fashion.

We rarely get a heavenly wind and tongues of fire anymore. Nevertheless, God pours out the Spirit upon all who put their faith in Jesus Christ and become his disciples (see Romans 8:1-11).

Christians are meant to live in the presence and power of the Spirit of God.

The Holy Spirit helps us to confess Jesus as Lord (1 Cor 12:3), empowers us to serve God with supernatural power (1 Cor 12:4-11), binds us together as the body of Christ

2 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

(1 Cor 12:12-13), helps us to pray

(Rom 8:26), and even intercedes for us with God the Father (Rom 8:27).

The Spirit guides us (Gal 5:25), helping us to live like Jesus (Gal 5:22-23).

Pentecost presents us with an opportunity to consider how we are living each day.

Are we relying on the power of God’s Spirit? Are we an open channel for the Spirit’s gifts? Are we attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit? Is the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) growing in our lives?

Most Christians I know, including me, live in the presence and power of the Spirit, but only to an extent. We are limited by our fear, our sin, our low expectations, not to mention our tendency to be distracted from God’s work in us.

Pentecost offers a chance to confess our failure to live by the Spirit and to ask the Lord to fill us afresh with his power.

On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on individual followers of Jesus as they were gathered together in Jerusalem. This gathering became the first Christian church.

New believers in Jesus were baptised as they joined this church. They, along with the first followers of Jesus, shared life together, focusing on teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They shared their belongings so that no one was hungry or needy.

As these first Christians lived out their new faith together, “the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (Acts

2:47). Thus we speak of Pentecost as the birthday of the church.

In theory, the Spirit could have been poured out on the followers of Jesus when they were not gathered together. There are surely times when the Holy Spirit touches an individual who is alone in prayer, worship, or ministry to others. But the fact that the Spirit was given to a gathering of believers is not incidental. It underscores the centrality of the church in God’s work in the world.

The actions of the earliest Christians put all of this in boldface. The Holy Spirit is not only given to individuals, but also, in a sense to the gathered people of God. Thus, in

1 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul observes that the church is God’s temple and that the Spirit dwells in the midst of the church (3:16-17; in 1 Cor 6:19-20 we find a complementary emphasis on the dwelling of the Spirit in individual Christians).

Many Christians, especially those of us who have been influenced by the individualism of Western culture, live as if the church is useful but unnecessary.

We seem to believe that as long as we have a personal relationship with God, everything else is secondary. But Pentecost is a vivid


illustration of the truth that is found throughout Scripture: the community of God’s people is central to God’s work in the world.

Thus, Pentecost invites us to consider our own participation in the fellowship, worship, and mission of the church.

It is a time to renew our commitment to live as an essential member of the body of Christ, using our gifts to build the church and share the love and justice of Christ with the world.

Source: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/

The reason the disciples were all together in the upper room was to celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest.

This feast celebrated the end of the grain harvest, and it occurred seven weeks after Passover. Because this was about 50 days after Passover, the Greeks called it Pentecost.

Pentecost offering From churchwardens Saskia Emary and Roger Steward:

Dear Parishioner

By tradition, the collection at all Pentecost services is given to the parish curate/assistant priest. Father Chesnay has become such a much-loved member of our church family and has contributed much to the life and worship of our parish.

As has been announced, he will be leaving us in the not-too-distant future to take up his new role as Rector of St Saviour’s Church, Claremont. Together with Samantha and daughter Sarah he will be sorely missed.

This is an opportunity for us to express our appreciation for his contribution over the last two years and to give him a wonderful send-off. As there are no services at the moment, should you wish to contribute to the collection, please use Snapscan or pay via EFT.

Our bank details: Christ Church Constantia, Standard Bank, Constantia, branch code 02 53 09, account number 07 1 699 120. Please use “Pentecost offering” as a reference.


From the wardens

Not safe to reopen yet..............

We write this report at a time of great change. We are at a point where we are getting ready to welcome Level 3 of lockdown, as well the announcement that places of worship can reopen from June 1.

Since sending out the letter dated May 28 to parishioners, we have met again with Father Terry and the Lockdown Task Team and have concluded that we will not reopen Christ Church until we believe it is safe to do so. This group will monitor guidance from the diocese and only re-open the church when this guidance says it is safe.

The safety of our beloved clergy, staff and parishioners is our foremost priority and we will send out further communication when we receive more information.

We have carried on with Exco and Parish Council meetings via Zoom. We continue to strictly monitor expenses as our income has dropped due to lack of services. Yet we continue to be amazed how very blessed we are with the generosity of our parishioners, the continued Dedicated Giving and support for appeals we have made recently, such as the Easter and Pentecost offerings and Pastoral Feeding initiative.

Our wonderful Camilla, Tricia and Cameron have kept the cogs turning. Michael van Ryneveld has been steadfast in ensuring our service podcasts are on the website as soon as they are recorded and Connie has kept our social media channels updated daily.

Portfolio allocation:

Education and Spiritual: Helen Constantine

Fellowship: Donald Todd

Outreach and Environment Project: Roger Steward

Property: Mike Barrett

Publicity and Communications: Cornelia Jaftha

Safety and Security: Quintin Faure

Shop: Gary Buchanan

Staff and Administration: Saskia Emary

(Connie Hutton and Ruby Klazen

have resigned.)

Amy, Bianca and Ruby have ensured that the youth have been catered for, Penny has started Sunday evening contemplative services via Zoom and these are proving to be extremely popular. We are very grateful to all of these people for their support.

As always, our thanks go to Fathers Terry and Chesnay who have continued to feed us spiritually through the pew leaflet and the service podcasts.

You are all continually in our thoughts and prayers.

Blessings Saskia and Roger


Ascension

The Ascension of Jesus was celebrated on

Thursday May 21.

All that He had come to do,

He had accomplished................ After Jesus rose from the dead, He “presented Himself alive” (Acts 1:3) to the women near the tomb (Matthew 28:9-10), to His disciples (Luke 24:36-43), and to more than 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6).

In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).

Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the

Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come.

Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus’ ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11. It is plain from Scripture that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers.

As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return “in just the same way that you have watched Him go” (Acts 1:11). The Ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for several reasons: 1 It signalled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father. The period of human limitation was at an end. 2 It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished. 3 It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9). 4 It symbolised His exaltation by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23). The One with whom


the Father is well pleased (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honour and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9). 5 It allowed Him to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). 6 It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15). 7 It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left – literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). Currently, the Lord Jesus is in heaven. The Scriptures frequently picture Him at the right hand of the Father – a position of honour and authority (Psalm 110:1; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 8:1).

Christ is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18), the giver of spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:7-8), and the One who fills all in all (Ephesians 4:9-10).

The Bible says Jesus promised the disciples that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and asked them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come.

Source: www.gotquestions.org

“There’s always another level up. There’s always another ascension. More grace, more

light, more generosity, more compassion, more to shed, more to grow.”

– Elizabeth Gilbert

Helplessness, heartlessness.......

Excerpts from REFLECTION: Fourth Sunday of Easter (shared by ipod)

By the Rector, the Ven. Terry Lester

The harsh lockdown of these past weeks has exposed the fault lines and fissures of the lived experience of many – some a mere stone’s throw from here...

These past days I have seen grown people cry like babies; hunger and desperation turned to helplessness as parents watch children starve.

One thing is clear as we begin our 27th year of democracy: after this, we cannot simply go back to how it was before. We must revisit our electoral system and ensure greater accountability from our representatives.

Seeing government ministers who have in plain sight treated the electorate with such disdain a mere few years ago, now giving daily briefings on care for the destitute, is sickening to say the least and an indictment on our hard-won democracy.

The poverty we see today is man-made, a direct consequence of greed and


heartlessness shown towards the poor and desperate.

... we also need our humanity restored. The indigenous people of our region used to fill emptied ostrich eggs with water and leave them strategically along the dry desert paths so that struggling travellers could quench their thirst and refresh their weary souls.

Now is a time for such restoration as we respond to the Good Shepherd in our care towards each other. Blessings, Terry

‘Black Christ’ on Good Friday not appreciated by all.................

Not everyone in the Christ Church Constantia congregation appreciated the Good Friday recorded talk by H. F. Verwoerd’s grandson, Wilhelm, pictured right, which was available by ipod on the church website.

They reacted in a message to What’s Happening which had published pictures of Wilhelm and “The Black Crucifixion” in last month’s edition.

The message said: “The aspect of the Black Crucifixion I did not appreciate.... What I don’t like about the Verwoerd clip and the Black Christ is clearly he has a guilty conscious and as a result sees the Roman soldiers etc. as his late grandfather and BJ Vorster.

“However, I see glaring errors here as, firstly, Christ was not black and, secondly,

not everyone sees it the same way. We are reflecting a racist view of the Black Christ.

“We need to keep racist issues out of the church but sadly that won’t happen as many... still have racist views and can’t seem to shake off the past and move forward.”

What’s Happening asked Father Terry to comment:

“The Black Christ is art! During these lockdown weeks I have seen memes of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa lounging with feet up… or as a battered and bruised ‘wife’.

“Surely the point of it was Wilhelm’s personal reflection and what it made him

have to deal with as grandson....

“I am happy for people... to put in writing their objections or views

or why they think it counter-productive. “Recently our President expressed his views about the levels of poverty... and Desmond Tutu echoed this on the 27th – Freedom Day.

“We have not attained our vision of a new South Africa... so, it is a work in progress and just sweeping our past under the carpet is not gonna help.

“If we can talk about it and together, work towards it never happening again....

“I shall continue to ask people to share their stories; after all, it is their story.”


‘Impossible to celebrate when many remain impoverished......’

South Africa has not fulfilled the vision that it had when it obtained its liberation from apartheid 26 years ago, Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s foundation said on Freedom Day, Monday April 27.

“The democratic South Africa that celebrates its 26th birthday today is not the fair and just country that it should be – that many in 1994 dreamed it would be,” read a statement from the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation.

“This cannot be blamed on the coronavirus. If anything, the virus has done the country a ghastly favour by exposing the unsustainable foundations on which it is built... that must be urgently fixed,” it continued.

Like the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Tutus’ foundation said it is impossible to celebrate freedom when many in the country remained impoverished.

“Celebrating the spirit of Freedom Day today means powerfully accelerating the need for food, security, human rights and

dignity for our all our vulnerable sisters and brothers,” it said.

They called for reflection and selflessness.

“That is the promise Freedom Day brings in the time of the coronavirus crisis, the promise of reaching beyond ourselves and rediscovering our inter-dependent soul, obligations and humanity.”

‘I’ve learnt to cry again’............. Colin Bosman, Newlands (Cape Argus letter)

I have learnt humility during the lockdown. I shall never again throw food away. I shall never again look down my nose at a car guard. I shall never again ignore a bin-picker who greets me in humility with a smile.

I’ve learnt to cry again – for myself, for my failings, for my privileged life, for my lack of humility, for the many people who will die during the pandemic, for the poor, for humanity... Without faith and hope, we have nothing. May the spirit of Ubuntu rest in all of us.

Even the Spotty Dog in Retreat is taking precautions....


Seasickness and the

importance of ballast................. By Associate Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, consultant pulmonologist, Division of Pulmonology and Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital

When I was 8, I went on my first crayfishing expedition. An old family friend took me out in a small two-man rowboat into the kelp beds at Betty’s Bay. Our “anchor” was a rope tied to a big head of kelp and we dropped our lines into the water to wait.

The continual looking down into the water and rocking of the boat quickly made me seasick. I was then taught the important lesson of looking at the horizon – the only thing that was not moving as the boat bobbed. The constant gaze into the distance calmed my vestibular system (inner ear) and the seasickness soon abated.

We never went out into the sea when the wind was blowing the wrong way or when the sea was rough.

This Covid period has been unsettling for many and there seems to be a heightened sense of rough times ahead as our numbers of cases increase as we navigate the partial lifting of the lockdown.

When we hit rough seas (bigger than the bob of my rowboat example) looking at the horizon is no longer that helpful as any sailor will tell you. Even the most sea hardened amongst us might be feeding the fish when the swell starts getting rough.

“Lord save us – we perish,” (illumination, 11th century)

Anchors also don’t help in the deep ocean as there is nothing to hold onto, bringing us to the importance of ballast.

Modern sailing boats have specially designed ballast to ensure they stay upright in heavy winds and in open ocean storms. The ballast ensures the boat does not capsize and can handle greater winds and speeds.

... at this point I suspect we are purely focused on staying right side up. Much of what we would want to hold onto in this time of uncertainty is no longer so secure.

The stock markets, currency exchange, job security, education, commerce etc. are all very unstable and have lost much of their “solid” feel. Even health care, our ability to


provide a service for our patients is uncertain. We additionally may not so easily be able to anchor ourselves to the sea-bed. The academic bedrock is effectively closed, granting agencies are changing their priorities, research activities put on hold and even journals are not publishing much but Covid-related articles.

1 *ARDS: adult respiratory distress syndrome is the most severe form of pneumonia that requires mechanical ventilator support and is very challenging to treat.

As Professor Greg Calligaro so eloquently mentioned in his recent webinar about severe Covid-19 pneumonia: “it is ARDS* Jimmy – but not as we know it”, paraphrasing Dr Spock from Star Trek.

What we are experiencing is different from before, our normal approaches don’t seem to be working, even “going back to the basics”’ has not brought much confidence in what we hold onto in an attempt to anchor ourselves in this difficult time.

So, we are left with ballast to keep our boat steady and upright. This is not necessarily a bad option, but one that we might not be so used to. We have individually and collectively never been this far out to sea, nor in such big storms.

As a friend recently pointed out: even the world’s leaders have never experienced anything like this, and their mentors have no experience either to guide them.

We are all at sea together, reliant only on the ballast to keep the boat upright. But be

assured, it is remarkably difficult to capsize a modern sailing boat, and they also “self-right” if the wrong side is up.

For each of us and collectively, the ballast will be different. Some will be held upright by family, faith, friends or other relationships. Much of which is difficult to quantify, and certainly not in any way “physical” for us to grasp onto, but it keeps us right side up.

That which is so deeply ingrained and important to us is that which keeps us right side up, the unshakable truth we hold to, the intangible promise or hope.

These are things of ballast. Not easily defined by most of us, but so important to keeping the boat right side up. Should the boat be flipped over by a massive wave, our ballast will bring us right side up again.

In these uncertain, ever-changing and overwhelming situations, these intangibles may be all that is keeping you upright. Hold onto them and don’t discount them as irrational.

Ballast might not make a whole lot of sense but when you understand the physics it is a no brainer!

Associate Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit is the son-in-law of Keith Honeyman, a 7.30 regular worshipper at Christ Church Constantia. He is in the front line of the battle against Covid-19, doing regular duty in charge of ICU and other Covid wards at Groote Schuur Hospital. He is renowned for writing inspirational snippets for his staff. Richard and his wife, Heather, worship at Christ Church Kenilworth.


One word sums up the long-time

servant of Christ Church Constantia PADDY McPHERSON: bubbly! It’s also apposite because Paddy has organised wine-tasting visits for the University of the Third Age and for the benefit of the church over the years. In a three-part series for What’s Happening, starting this month, she uncorks fascinating memories and shares highlights of her adventures in the winelands. In this first part, she tells how she came to cultivate her interest in cultivars....

So many lovely historic farms,

I wanted to see them all.............

It all started in 1988. I had just arrived from Bermuda to live in Cape Town, to be near my son and his family, and enjoy two little girls growing up.

They lived in Wynberg and kindly took me in, but then they moved to Rondebosch East, so I stayed on in the empty house whilst I got my “bearings”.

I got a job in town straight away, so travelled in by train, which was enjoyable in those days.

I used to walk to Christ Church Constantia

Paddy... wanted to find out so much and ask lots of questions.

from Wynberg every Sunday until one day a kind lady, Jeanne Orpen, gave me a lift and continued to do so until I got my car.

The first job was boring as I just did not have enough to do, so, seeing an ad in the paper for “someone to work for a short-tempered and busy man”, I applied.

I was interviewed by Sam Berk’s daughter but as they had just had a bad experience with a previous PA, she decided to call my ex-boss in Bermuda for a character reference, which she duly did. Murphy just said to her: “I want her back”, so I got the job – at The Drop Inn in Diep River.

I have been fortunate to have had so many super jobs. I do not know whether this was my favourite one but it was madly busy. Mr Berk was an exacting boss but he was always interesting and I really enjoyed working for him.

Often it would be flat out all day and I


would leave at only 5.30 or later, and as I went off I used to call out: “am going to lunch Mr Berk”. We had our arguments but he was always fair and he worked hard himself.

I found working with the wine estates and associated people so interesting. Mr Berk organised for all the staff to be trained in all aspects of wine and he paid for a few of us to attend the Cape Wine Academy courses, which I did for two years.

Mr Berk knew a lot about wine and had visited the European wine areas, including a stay as a guest with the Krug family. His great school friend at Rondebosch High was Ronnie Melck whom he said could pick up a glass of red wine from Europe and tell you exactly where it came from, the year as well as the terroir.

I had never lived in Cape Town before, although I knew a few people from sailing days in Redhouse so I began to attend Wine Degustations which were held by Margaret Frith in Constantia. The winemakers of the day gave us presentations and tastings, which I found fascinating. Among the winemakers then were Ross Gower, Kevin Arnold and Hempies du Toit.

I’m afraid I did not become all that proficient in picking the various cultivars but it gave me a big interest.

When my overseas funds arrived, on the advice of my kids I bought a cottage in Harfield Village where I lived for three years. I was happy there and bought an old “Beetle” to get around in, plus I was joined

by a kitten, Spaghetti.

I kept up the Wine Academy which was now at the Fig Leaf Restaurant, but it was not easy to visit the winelands on my own like the other students as I could not afford it. However, I kept up with Christ Church and became a steward.

In 1991, after four burglaries in Harfield (the local CID guys got to know me personally: “here she is again!”), I bought a cottage in Lakeside, and got a dog, Purdey.

At the same time the University of the Third Age started up, and friends called the Nedens invited me to join the wine group which had just started.

Margaret Newman, who had been with KWV, led the group. Her knowledge of wine was great and she was such an interesting personality as well as a very attractive lady who lived in Athlone.

She led the group well, and I remember having her to lunch on her birthday with a few from the group. However, due to family commitments, after a year or so she had to give up leading the group.

Another member took over, and I


remember she organised a visit to Spier. However that person stood down and I then offered to lead them as I wanted to find out so much and ask questions.

There are so many lovely historic wine farms to visit, farms offering lovely views, and I wanted to see them all.

I took over the group in 2002 when, after reaching 70, I had Wednesdays off during the week and got teased about my “drinking on a Wednesday”.

I certainly knew very little about the winelands but then I started reading the John Platter Wine Guide, looking for “old historic farms”.

We had over 20 members and we started exploring. I think the first one

was in Somerset West when we had a picnic lunch.

I could not afford to visit the farms beforehand, so had to rely on the telephone but it worked out and we met and visited some truly beautiful farms with hospitable hosts who seemed to go out of their way to accommodate us.

I had so much to learn, I was always asking questions, but I think that also helps because then the winemaker knows you are really interested.

Being a bit bossy, I always requested that either the winemaker or the owner should give the presentation as I am afraid I am not in favour of glamorous ladies giving their “chatter”.

I am happy to say that mostly we have had interesting presentations, with only a couple of exceptions, as winemakers/owners love their subject.

It never stops amazing anyone in the group that after so many years we have never found a winemaker/owner duplicate a presentation.

They are all so passionate about what they are doing that every visit brings out a different aspect of winemaking, wine farming or marketing.

In Part 2 next month, Paddy recounts a donga, a ditch and Piet Retief’s bible...

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement

rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen

to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly,

act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual,

unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common – this is my symphony. –

William Henry Channing, clergyman and reformer (1810-1884)


Pastoral Fund The extended lockdown has lengthened the time many households have had to endure without any income and become even more dependent on donations and food parcels.

The Pastoral Committee have been assessing how best to help those in need in our more immediate community and have made donations and food parcels to the following communities during May:

R7 000 for 20 food parcels for needy residents; R3 500 to the rector at Simon of Cyrene, Parkwood; and R3 500 to the rector at St Augustine, Lotus River.

The committee would like to thank Erica Williams for distributing the food parcels and Eddie Beukes at Pick n Pay Constantia Village for making up the parcels.

A donation of R5 000 was made to Westlake United Church which has been used for medication, food parcels and other essentials that their healthcare staff provide to the poor in the Westlake community during home visits.

A donation of R5 000 was also made to the Hout Bay Christian Community for food parcels for residents in Imizamo Yethu.

Food donations made to Outreach are being distributed by Father Terry to those he sees in need.

If you have any suggestions as to how we can assist those in need and who live within our reach, please contact one of the

The contents of the food parcels made up by Eddie Beukes at Pick n Pay Constantia Village and distributed to residents in Parkwood and

Lotus River

Food parcels sent to St Augustine church in Lotus River

committee: Jill Buchanan 082 852 7182; David Daniels 078 804 0289; Terry Lester 073 402 0064; Roger Steward 081 037 3033; or Sheila Thompson 060 634 6212.

We would like to thank everyone who has


responded to our Pastoral Feeding appeal and made a donation . To date we have received R14 500.

We welcome any further contributions towards the feeding initiative. You may use Snapscan or pay via EFT. Our bank details are: Christ Church Constantia, Standard Bank, Constantia, branch code 025309, account number 071699120. Please use “Pastoral Feeding” as a reference.

Westlake United Church food parcels – these have been distributed to residents who take part

in their daily and weekly programmes.

What’s Happening Postbox

Appreciate the daily

abundance of blessings.............. From Riekie Barrett’s Facebook page:

For a few weeks now I have heard people saying “I just can’t wait for things to be back to normal.”... (just to be able to be with all my family and friends).

But as I’ve thought about our current

situation I have realised how much I don’t want things to go back to exactly the way they were. Here are a few of my reasons:

I hope that the next time a friend grabs me and pulls me in for a hug, I actually take the time to appreciate the gift of their presence and embrace.

I hope that when school resumes and you are dropping your kids off, you take the time to thank the staff for the amazing gift that they give to your family.

I hope that the next time I’m sitting in a crowded restaurant I take the time to look around at the smiling faces, loud voices and be more appreciative of the gift of community.


I hope that when I am at the supermarket that I take a moment to acknowledge the necessities of life and the amazing people who work so hard to keep us supplied.

I hope that I never again take for granted the ability to hop in the car and visit a friend, go to the beach, a restaurant, walk or hike wherever whenever etc. So, truth is, I don’t want things to return to the way they once were.

I hope and pray that we take the lessons and challenges of the past few weeks and create a new normal.

My goal is to appreciate more, love harder, and truly appreciate the daily abundance of blessings that were so easily overlooked just a few weeks ago.

If someone tells you they love you, take it to heart!

Kindness of heart................. From Rosemary Summers:

I feel Jill Buchanan must receive a big thank-you for kindly dropping off four hand-made face masks.

She is using whatever is at hand, like old tablecloths etc. She is a star and a good Christian who practises caring with vibrant energy and kindness of heart.

He husband Gary, who has offered to help in the shop, is a great help because honestly my energy is waning.

Because of the virus we are definitely spending less, have not needed to fill up the

cars with petrol and there are no cappuccinos, which we miss.

I’ve been baking so certainly have not had a shortage of cakes, tarts and brown seed bread; am also making my own marmalade.

God bless.

One ‘let nothing perturb you’ quote and two Theresas............. From Bishop Christopher Gregorowski :

Thank you for yet another excellent edition. So much to read, and by clicking on all the blue bits one could be occupied for more hours than there are in a day!

Just one small point. If you Google “Let nothing perturb you ...” you will be told that the quote belongs to Mother Theresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), and in the very next entry you will be told, correctly, that it comes from Saint Theresa of Avila (1515-1582).

It was known as Saint Theresa’s bookmark long before Mother Theresa of Calcutta was born, a matter of four centuries.

Our daughter Anna (who worshipped with us in February — do you remember life before the world changed?), who has since been nursing Covid-19 patients in London,


sent us this floral tribute (above) to the NHS outside the hospital in which she works.

Wish you what a young person unknown to me posted on her gate to wish passers-by, of whom I was one (I had to go shopping for essentials — we had run out of chocolate).

Heaven after Covid………… From Keith Honeyman:

We however, are citizens of Heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from Heaven. – Philipians 3 : 20 (TEV)

Release from lockdown will seem like Heaven for most of us but, at this time many of us, being human and imperfect, might fear, in degrees ranging from mild uncertainty to panic, sickness, death and the Hereafter. What is this Heaven that we are promised? Where is Heaven?

When we were young we were blessed with a special aunt named Ruby. She would arrange games for us on rainy days, we

would make lemonade, bake cookies, and best of all she would arrange secret treats.

She would announce that on a certain date she had arranged a treat for us. They were always wonderful; we visited places that we had never been to before and she never let us down.

We would frantically try to guess what the treat was and as the days passed we would almost burst with excitement and impatience. We would fantasise but the reality always exceeded our wildest dreams.

I have entertained many impressions and fantasies about Heaven over the years but now I view it as a Glorious Surprise Treat that the Lord has promised us in scripture.

I have no idea of the reality but know from past experience that God has never let me down and throughout my long life has provided only special things.

As the date of this Treat draws nearer, I am positive that the reality will surpass my wildest dreams.

Prayer: Dear Father God, we thank you and praise you for the eternal place that you have prepared and promised us in the many mansions that are in Heaven.

On our way at last...................... From John and Susan Haresnape (sent on May 29):

We leave Tokai at 5am on Monday June 1, for a daytime “mercy” flight (which one-way has cost us more than the return flight did) direct to London.


We have had five flight cancellations to date, and I am certain our July 2 flight will not qualify for Level 1 international air travel.

This flight was not without complications. We were allocated seats on Monday May 25 but we didn’t know about it till we found a delayed junk mail at 9am with travel authorisation to proceed to the rendezvous point at 6 that very morning. The flight notification and air tickets never arrived – a very stressful day.

We hope to return to Cape Town as usual in early October, President Cyril permitting. Continue to enjoy the rains which have just started, and the liquor relaxations the day we leave.

President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a national day of prayer on Sunday May 31. “Prayer will comfort and strengthen us as we continue to

confront this epidemic,” he said.

Mask appeal...............................

Ruth Seipp is appealing for home-made masks – any shape or size – to donate to Constantia Primary School. They can be dropped into the marked wooden box outside the church office.

Music-maker and baker... clearly, our music maestro, Jeremy Quickfall, is a man of many “rolls”! He is not just a master at tickling the ivories, he is also a dab-hand in the kitchen – and proud of it. He posted these “before” and “after” pictures on his Facebook page with the

message: “Made rolls for the first time today. Shaun Klaasen had 2! That means they're

amazing!” They certainly elicited a warm response. In no time at all 46 people had

commented. Among them were Eileen Cruise of the choir (“These look scrumptious”) and warden Saskia Emary (“Wow, well done!”) Now Jeremy has an eight-minute video on

YouTube showing how to make the soft rolls!


Childhood memories of tears,

VE joy and dancing

with ‘Winston Churchill’............ From Bishop Christopher Gregorowski’s Facebook page:

VE Day brings back one of my earliest and most vivid memories. I had recently turned five. We were in our third year in Okiep, where my father was rector of the parish of Namaqualand. Almost as far from the theatre of war as one could be, but more than aware of the fierce fighting in Europe and the suffering of the British people.

We had of course long shared the shortages of many essentials: food, medicines, petrol, tyres to replace the threadbare ones on the ageing Ford, and much that was required for our wartime baby brother. My mother had summoned all her ingenuity to cobble together the ingredients for my fifth birthday party with my friends.

During WW2 the most solemn moment of every day was our family's evening gathering in the drawing room, waiting for the six “pips” and then the news on the BBC, as we listened to the sounds emanating from the walnut-cased art deco wireless.

We boys dared not breathe a word, as the asthmatic radio waves rolled in, often drowned by the familiar crackles and squeaks. I didn’t of course understand the words, but I came to know the sound of Winston Churchill’s voice and the sombre tone of the newsreader.

Most of all, the atmosphere in the room was palpable: the tension in my father’s face, and often tears from my mother through the Blitz and the destruction of her beloved birthplace, London. Then they would be cheering the bravery of the Allied troops, chiefly her compatriots and “our South African boys” and their short-lived triumphs. But mostly the sombre reality that victory was never by any means a certainty.

The only one who seemed unmoved by it all was our wire-haired terrier, Winston Churchill, asleep on the floor.

But on May 8 1945 the scene was different. Mother and father holding our hands and dancing round the room, Winston Churchill joining the dance and barking excitedly, Dad pouring two glasses of sherry and cold drink for the three boys, a slice of vanilla cake with lemon icing baked in anticipation, and a shilling each for our piggy banks.

I continue to be deeply moved by the bravery of those who fought and salute their memory. I also began to learn then to have a horror of war, and I pray that we humans may learn to co-exist as a family that is just and compassionate, no longer destroying one another or the beautiful home we have been given to live in and enjoy.


In search of happiness

A life grounded in God, filled with joy and meaning................

Aristotle believed that the goal of all human activity was to satisfy our desire for happiness. In other words, no matter what we do, happiness is always the final end.

While it’s perhaps obvious that happiness is something worth ordering our lives toward, the actual definition of happiness isn’t.

In our culture, the term happiness is often grounded in the notion of the atomised self – one free from the shackles of obligation or responsibility and therefore able to choose, without hindrance, what he or she thinks will bring fulfilment.

A recent, insightful article by Jared Zimmerer explores in depth the role happiness plays in our faith as Christians.

Happiness, according to many of our advertisements and diffuse forms of entertainment, consists of fulfilling physiological (food, drink, sex, comfort etc.) and egoistic (reputation, esteem, fame, honour, wealth etc.) desires.

Therefore, with this blueprint of how to obtain happiness doled out to us incessantly since we were children, consciously or not, we go about achieving it in a logical and reasonable manner.

If happiness merely entails the fulfilment of these base human desires, then of course we should pursue such ends with verve and unwavering commitment. On toward the

We can’t neglect the task of the spiritual works of mercy that educate, form, and

nourish the soul and mind.

pursuit of pleasures and comforts of all sorts, the adulation and esteem of peers, the building of an insular kingdom for the ravenous ego!

Naturally, as Christians we believe this to be a disordered end for human beings, and though this is clear upon examining Scripture and the tradition of the Church, even without reference to transcendent convictions we can observe that such a limited way of seeking happiness will only lead to a lack of fulfilment.

For a country rich with opportunities to meet these lower desires, we are still battered by suicide, depression, crime, violence, narcissism, addiction, boredom, and a general lack of, well, happiness. This is why, though social justice and corporal works of mercy remain a key and necessary part of the Church’s mission, we can’t neglect the task of the spiritual works of mercy that educate, form and nourish the soul and mind.

God desires to heal the physically sick just as much as the spiritually ill, for his love is perfect, expansive, and unchanging in intensity.

Still, some champions of secularism believe that if we only resolve the global problems of poverty, injustice, and disease, then we


will have expunged all maladies shared by humanity, and consequently, the anachronistic notion of “original sin” will finally dissipate from our consciousness as Nietzsche predicted years ago.

Yet, even as technology continues to raise us to dizzying heights of anthropomorphic grandeur, the opposite seems to be occurring.

In an article from The Hedgehog Review titled “The Strange Persistence of Guilt,” Dr Wilfred M. McClay explains that technological progress and modern society have only heightened our sense of pervasive guilt.

Modernism, giving us abundant access and connection to others, has fomented greater responsibility toward others, and therefore greater guilt. With more knowledge of our grave environmental footprint, the millions of people starving in third-world countries, and the injustices of corrupt governments, our progress has revealed our intricate relationship with and partial involvement in more evils than past generations could ever have been aware of.

Without going into a robust overview of the many thorns of modern society - one bereft of a moral imagination and belief in a Divinity that gives order to all things, human life included - it isn’t hard to soberly acknowledge that the direction we’re headed is not conducive to human flourishing.

This leads us to the vital importance of taking great care of our soul and intellect. This can be seen as an evangelisation of the

If our happiness is ultimately Christ, then we must study who Christ was, how he lived, and how we are called to live in like manner as human beings with other

human beings.

mind – a concerted effort to acquire God’s truth in all its forms, and to help others do the same.

The life we are building toward should be one grounded in God and, therefore, filled with joy and meaning. Yet, if our vision lacks truth – a capacity to humbly see our abilities, weaknesses, and responsibilities toward others – then we will never reach our ultimate aim of happiness. We will become frustrated, needing to continuously remain in a state of active distraction – which our society has done a masterful job of encouraging - or admitting of our failure to grasp happiness, allowing a tide of malaise and depression to cloak us in darkness.

But this would be a tragedy, since humanity does indeed have a vocation. Our calling is greater than the fulfilment of a mere economic benefit such as productivity or utility; it is a divine telos, or end, that speaks of our need for community, to love and be loved, to pursue truth and beauty, to worship a God who offers eternal fulfilment.

If our happiness is ultimately Christ, then we must study who Christ was, how he lived, and how we are called to line in like manner


as human beings with other human beings.

From my own personal experience, once we form a right vision for our life – and begin actively living it through our relationship with Christ – we start to receive affirmation that we are on the right path.

Our lives become more fruitful and happy. We begin to experience more peace and meaning. And we come to say with St Augustine, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

- Chris Hazell, founder of The Call Collective, a blog exploring the intersection between faith, culture and creativity.

Youth Corner

A time for reflection

and creativity..............................

Hello youth community

It’s been quite a strange time getting used to different ways of bringing our lessons to you. We hope that you are finding time to read your Bible weekly or just join along in a fun craft or song.

I understand that the uncertainty of school pressure and lockdown can be a lot to manage. I hope you will all see the time for youth and worship at home as a time for reflection, and calm creativity, a break from the noise this world can bring at times.

We will be sending our weekly lessons out via our website; please check for updates on our Facebook page.

James Jaftha doing Bible Study

Here are some photos from our at-home youth lessons! Thank you everyone for joining us.

I look forward to seeing you soon when this has all lifted and miss you all very much.

Much love, Amy Lester

PS: Remember to wear yellow on Sundays as part of the drive to being a beacon of Hope.

Little paper disciples made by Seth and Cohen


‘Knit-a-beanie’ reminder

The May edition of What’s Happening carried Sheila Thompson’s invitation to parishioners to knit beanies and scarves for 60 Grade 3 children of Constantia Primary School. The knitted items will be handed over to the children at the annual party arranged by the fellowship committee in August, so there is still plenty of time to get busy with those needles....

The patterns were published in last month’s What’s Happening which is available on the church’s website www.christchurchconstantia,co.za

A lockdown tea party.................

I had a little tea party, This afternoon at three. ’twas very small, just three in all, I, myself and me.

Myself ate all the sandwiches

While I poured out the tea. ’twas also I who ate the pie

And passed the cake to me.

(Submitted by Sheila Thompson)

Guess who? She is a former parish councillor, she sings in the choir and organises seniors’ teas – and she turned 70 on May 16. Congratulations Riekie Barrett,

pictured here half a century ago, with baby Kevin who turned 50 in May. We can see a lot of husband, parish councillor Mike, in young Kevin’s face.

The Sparrow...............................

A sparrow landed on the porch, first eyeing me speculatively to assess if I was a threat, and then looked for insects in the sliding-door track.

As it hopped over the surface, I realised it had only one leg, yet, when it flew off, its flight was as graceful as any.

How like life – so often crippled by sin, yet in confession and restoration, able to soar in flight.

“They will soar on wings like eagles.”

Is. 40:31 - Anon

(Submitted by Adin Harmer)


Our rector, the Ven. Terry Lester, was amused to receive the above photograph. He sent it to What’s Happening with his own subject line: “Rector has a sideline!” and the message: “A

‘funny’ pic which a friend found on the Internet!” For the record, our Terry was christened Terrence, with an extra “r”.

Christ Church Constantia Telephone 021 794 50 51 [email protected]

www.christchurchconstantia.co.za

A poem....

(with apologies to William Wordsworth)

Forwarded by Peter Jones:

I wondered lonely as a cloud

Two metres from the madding crowd

When all at once my name was called

To enter Waitrose* hallowed hall This was the pensioners’ special hour

I’d gone to get a bag of flour

But I forgot when through the door

What I had gone to Waitrose for

The Waitrose staff are extra kind

I told them it had slipped my mind

They asked what else I had forgot

They clearly thought I’d lost the plot

I phoned my wife again to ask

She reminded me of this special task: “I need some flour to bake a cake

with all that cream you made me take”

“Ah yes, I recall” I had to lie

I dared not ask what flower to buy

But then I saw them next the tills –

A bunch of golden daffodils!

*Waitrose is a supermarket chain in the UK.

If you’re going through hell, keep going. – Winston Churchill, British politician,

army officer and writer (1874-1965)

“We are gathered here....”

what’s happe appening...volume 11, issue 6 1111 1 11 june 2020 what’s hhappeappening christ...

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