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Volume 11, Issue 1 1111 1 11

January 2020

What’s HAPPENING

@ Happening

The Three Wise Women................

Not The Three Kings but The Three Wise Women of the Christ Church Constantia

parish office! Pictured at Jean Catchpole’s farewell tea party are, from right, former

parish secretary Cathy Cilliers, her successor Jean, and newly appointed Camilla Todd.

(Rob Smith took this “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” photo, prompted by Bishop

Christopher.) See “A fond farewell to Jean”, page 6; welcome to Camilla, page 7.

What’s Happening wishes you a Happy New Year!

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

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!........................

The crib scene in the sanctuary at Christ Church Constantia on Christmas Day

Sleep in heavenly peace... baby Jamie Perkins

slumbers on mom Jennifer’s shoulder after the

7am service on Christmas Day.

A special moment for a little girl on Christmas

Eve; she is preoccupied with rearranging the

animals in the manger at the crib service.


Crib Service

One-year-old Thomas Edwards couldn’t wait

for the service to begin. He crawled up to the

sanctuary ahead of proceedings.

Lay minister Lisle Adams with some of the

figures and animals which the children

would take to the crib during the service

Warm seasonal greetings and happiness shone

all around...

Bishop Christopher, who led the service on

Christmas Eve, heralds the arrival of

animals for the crib.

Parents and children come forward for a better

view of the crib.

Our indefatigable churchwarden, Saskia Emary,

was there to accompany the carols.


O Come, O Come Emmanuel...

A near gale-force north-wester and the

threat of rain put paid to the candles but

didn’t deter the hardy Christ Church

Constantia faithful. They turned up in their

droves – and Santa bobble hats – for Carols

by Candlelight in the church grounds.

Parking was at a premium. Some had to

leave their vehicles way down Constantia

Main Road.

The caroller families were well wrapped up

and some had blankets on an evening of

chilly wind and warm hearts.

Under festive lights, Bishop Christopher and

Ruby Klazen narrated the Christmas Story

and Vocal Unity, led by Jeremy Quickfall,

entertained.

A festive crowd on the church lawns

“Bless all the dear children in thy tender

care...”

In harmony: Vocal Unity led the carol singing.

In high spirits were, from left: Doreen Farmer

(visiting from Springbok), Papillon Johnson,

Althea Farmer, Solara Louw, Hannah Williams

and Samuel Louw

Pictures by Lisle Adams, Helen Constantine,

Riekie Barrett and David Hill


Narrators Bishop Christopher and Ruby Klazen

Sandy McWilliams calms noisy, excitable

children as the Christmas Story unfolds.

Riekie Barrett in Yuletide mood with adopted

grandchild Gemma

Tidings of comfort and joy!

Celebrating are, from left, Grant McWilliams,

Ruby Klazen, Michele Ross-Innes, Saskia

Emary, Cornelia Jaftha, Charleen van Rooyen,

Jon-Jon Emary, Robyn Lassen and (bending

down) Saskia’s husband Rob.

Cheers! George and Emma Fonzari

Exuberance on the roundabout


Jean made headlines in October.

Jean certainly cut it as parish secretary – and

she got to cut her special chocolate cake at the

farewell party.

A fond farewell to Jean...............

The parish hall was packed on Thursday

December 12 for a farewell tea to mark Jean

Catchpole’s retirement as parish secretary.

The Rector, the Ven. Terry Lester, said it

was sad to see Jean go. “First it was shock as

news of her retirement was reflected in

What’s Happening but they say change is the

only constant.

“We want to say a huge thank-you to Jean

and to show our appreciation for all she has

done for us.”

Father Terry made the presentations.

Terry was in good form. “She served under

Keith [Griffiths] and then served under me,

which was when she started ageing!” he

quipped – to lots of laughter.

Jean was presented with two bouquets of

flowers, an “envelope” and was first to cut a

special chocolate cake inscribed with:

“Farewell Jean, we shall miss you”.

All the ministry team were there to pay

tribute to our very popular parish secretary.

Jean finished work at the end of December,

but will be on call during January and

February should her successor, Camilla

Todd, need her assistance.

The parish hall was packed for Jean’s farewell

party. (A big thank-you from Jean – page 18)


Our new parish secretary, Camilla Todd

Camilla looking forward to

joining the team.....................

We welcome Jean’s successor, Camilla Todd,

as she moves into the frontline of church

administration as parish secretary. What’s

Happening asked her to pen something so

we know a little more about her:

“I am married to Donald [lay minister and

former churchwarden] and have three

children - Melissa, Christopher and Julia - all

of whom are pretty much off our hands.

“ Julia is doing her honours at Stellenbosch

next year, the older two live and work in

London.

“We live in Bergvliet and are regulars at the

7.30 service.

“I have worked for an accounting firm for

the past four years and previously for a very

big and busy *anaesthesthetists’ practice.

“We are crazy about ‘Guinness’ our young

black labrador and ‘Basil’, the newest

member of the family, a rescue kitty from

SPCA.

“I love my volunteer work at the SARDA

stables and when time allows with the

LifeMatters foundation.

“I have had a little bit of exposure in the

office, standing in for Jean in June, and

know what big shoes she is leaving to fill!

“I am really looking forward to joining the

Christ Church team in 2020.

“Regards,

Camilla”

*Thank you, Camilla. We hope you don’t

need too much anaesthetic in your new role.

Big shoes to fill? Jean takes size 5 so you’ll

be absolutely fine....

Our 7.30 belle.............................

Paddy McPherson is someone who likes to

tackle everything in life with gusto – whether

it’s sampling a good red on one of her wine

appreciation outings or doing duty as a

steward. What’s Happening caught her pulling

on the bell rope with tremendous enthusiasm

to wake the neighbours before the 7.30 service

on Sunday December 15.


Wardens’ report

A very special thing happened at the 11am

service on December 8. Mikey Rich – all of

10 years old (grandson of John and Brenda

Rich and son of David and Amanda Rich)

offered to do the sermon. He really did a

most wonderful job and we are all extremely

proud of him.

Father Chesnay has now put out the

challenge to any other of our youth to do

the same!

We are ready to focus on the year ahead.

2019 has been a busy year and financially we

have had some challenges.

The Diocese has introduced a standardised

accounting template which we are required

to submit quarterly and we have been

restructuring our management accounts so

that both our reporting and the Diocese

requirements work hand in hand.

Treasurer Chris Sickle and Tricia

Garschagen have done a wonderful job

starting this process. However, due to the

workload at his new job Chris is unable to

devote sufficient time to complete the task.

We thank Chris for all the good work he has

done as treasurer.

The good news is that Creagh Sudding, one

of our parish councillors, has agreed to take

over as treasurer and is already hard at work

with us on the accounting changes and the

2020 parish budget.

The weather at the Carols by Candlelight

evening was not kind to us and resulted in

bringing forward the start of the event and

cancelling the lighting of the candles.

However, even with the inclement weather,

we were able to raise R1 727 which will be

donated to Cheshire Homes.

Thank you to everyone who braved the

weather and supported the evening.

May 2020 bring new happiness, new goals,

new achievements and lots of new

inspirations in your life.

- Grant, Saskia and Roger

Our music director, Jeremy Quickfall, posted

this festive card on Facebook, relaxing at home

with Shaun Klaasen and their cats: Einstein,

left, and Kitsy.

Who has not found the heaven below

Will fail of it above.

God’s residence is next to mine,

His furniture is love.

– Emily Dickinson, poet (1830-1886)


Nine Lessons and Carols

Music director Jeremy Quickfall and the choir in good voice on Sunday December 22.

The choir enters, singing “Once In Royal

David’s City”, at the beginning of the service.

David Daniels read one of the lessons.

Shaun Klaasen sings a solo in “Child in the

Manger”, arranged by Jeremy.

Cornelia Jaftha also read a lesson.


Personality of the Month

Bianca Mariani has a double calling: to be a

doctor and to share the Word of God with our

younger ones.

When not in scrubs she

nurtures our future leaders........

What’s Happening decided to break “the age

barrier” this month. We’ve interviewed

plenty of greyheads in the past. This time the

over 70s make way for someone in her 20s.

Her name rolls musically off the tongue...

Bianca Mariani . Sounds like a seafood

starter cooked in white wine at a pasta

restaurant. In fact, our Personality of the

Month does have an Italian heritage.

Bianca Mariani is best known to us as the

dedicated leader of our Junior Church but

she also happens to be an enthusiastic

deliverer of babies! More of that later....

Bianca’s granddad emigrated to SA from

Rome. Once here, he met and married her

grandmother who was from Sicily.

Meet the Mariani family: from left, dad Ray,

Bianca, brother Luigi, sister Micaela and mom

Arlene.

Bianca’s dad, Ray, grew up in Green Point

and went to Christian Brothers’ College. He

worked for Telkom as a technician for 42

years.

He met Bianca’s mother, Arlene, on a blind

date. They were married and Bianca arrived

in December 1993. A sister was born two

years later and her brother in 2000. The

children went to Edgemead High.

Bianca matriculated with a couple of

distinctions and was accepted to study

medicine at Stellenbosch. “I was blessed to

get in,” she says.

She has just passed her third-year exams.

Three more to go and then two years of

internship followed by two years of

community service!

Her third year, involving hands-on

experience at hospitals and clinics, has been

an eye-opener.

She worked at Khayelitsha Hospital,

sometimes on 24-hour shifts. Among other

duties, she delivered babies. “I absolutely

loved it. It was emotional. I learned to be


more compassionate, focusing more on the

patient rather than just the procedure.

“It’s a new hospital, well resourced, well-

kept, with beautiful gardens.”

She also undertook family medicine in

Wellington and Delft. There she valued the

relationship with patients.

“As students, we were able to give patients

extra time, to get to know them. Often they

had been waiting for hours so they really

appreciated the extra attention. They often

had other issues. I could refer them to a

physio or psychologist.”

However, her time spent in the Emergency

Room at Tygerberg was often traumatic as

the many victims of road accidents and

violence were brought in.

“I’ve seen some horrible things. A patient in

a truck collision had both femurs broken.

“It’s wall-to-wall beds. Too many patients,

some sitting on chairs because there are not

enough beds.

“The doctors are fantastic; they do a really

good job.”

A week in the burns unit was quite an

overwhelming experience.

“Fortunately the patients are well sedated. I

had to keep reminding myself that the

patient is not in pain and I’m doing my best

to help them.”

She enjoyed working with children in

paediatrics at the Brooklyn TB clinic.

Bianca has shared all these experiences as

part of a group of eight students. “We work

Bianca scrubbed and ready for medical action with her clinical partner, Khanyisa.

together and have become lifelong friends.”

Haven’t the years of study, the long hospital

shifts and the demands of the job put her

off medicine?

Not a bit of it. Bianca is in for the long haul;

it’s a calling. “I get tired, burnt out and

exhausted but I don’t want to do anything

else.

“It’s tough but excellent training and

experience. South Africa turns out good

doctors. Many international doctors come


here to gain experience they cannot get

elsewhere.”

So, after all that, what energy does she have

left for Junior Church on Sunday mornings?

“I get my energy from the children.

Whatever mood I’m in when I get up on

Sunday mornings, by the time I’ve left

Junior Church I’m uplifted.

“I see the children enjoying themselves.

They tell me what they’ve been doing during

the week. They’re chatty.”

Bianca enjoys planning lessons. She finds the

Internet a great resource and often shows

short animated videos of Bible stories.

The youngsters are encouraged to read the

Bible out loud, based on the same-day

readings we have in our services.

The renovation of the church complex,

which led to the creation of the Youth

Room, has been a tremendous boon. “It’s so

good to have our own space.”

Amy Lester joining the team has brought art,

creativity and colour into the Youth Room.

Ever-willing parish councillor Ruby Klazen

is also very supportive.

“The three of us have a wonderful working

relationship. Without it the whole thing

would fall apart,” says Bianca.

Socials for the youth are held monthly, if

Bianca can fit them into her busy schedule.

“The regulars bring along friends who often

become regulars too.”

How did she first come to Christ Church?

Wish you were here! Bianca and Mike Barrett

pose on the Christ Church Constantia trip to

the UK.

Sharon Davis, then our assistant priest, put

the word out at Scripture Union that she

needed leaders for a pirate-themed holiday

club at our church. A friend of a friend put

her in touch with Bianca and her pals and

they all helped out at the holiday club.

Some UK youngsters had attended the club

and Bianca went on a reciprocal tour to the

UK with a group from Christ Church,

chaperoned by churchwardens Mike Barrett

and Saskia Emary.

(Editor’s query: who chaperoned Mike?)


Sharon later asked Bianca to take over

leadership of the Junior Church and the

answer was “yes”.

“I loved Christ Church. People were so

friendly and inviting.”

Bianca likes to get involved in charitable

projects. She has a good relationship with

chorister Sarah Fenton, playing with the

children at Fikelela - the Aids project in

Khayelitsha -and also Sarah’s shoebox

project at the Educare in Hout Bay.

As if she doesn’t have enough to do, she

also serves on the house committee at her

varsity res.

Does she have any leisure time?

“I like to go to plays and the ballet at

Artscape.”

She fondly remembers seeing our music

director, Jeremy Quickfall, playing the Lion

in “The Wizard of Oz”.

And what of romance?

Bianca has a long-standing boyfriend,

Nicholas, whom she met at an emergency

medicine course at CPUT. He is a paramedic

and physiotherapist so they share an interest

in matters medical.

It’s clear that Bianca is a well-grounded

young person with the key Christian quality

of unselfishly expending her energy on

helping others.

We don’t need a crystal ball to tell us she will

make a mighty fine doctor. (She has not yet

decided which branch of medicine she will

pursue but does prefer personal interaction

with patients).

All smiles... with boyfriend, Nick, a paramedic

and physiotherapist

Meanwhile Bianca has taken on the added

responsibility of sharing the Word of God

with our vulnerable younger churchgoers,

nurturing and guiding potential future

leaders at Christ Church Constantia. It

seems this precious task is in very capable

hands. – David Hill

Where did you find your Christmas?

Option 1: Pick n Pay (or could be Checkers,

Spar, Food Lovers’ Market) or

Option 2: Christ Church Constantia


Hampers packed with enthusiasm – and love......................................

We did it! Part of the happy Christmas hamper-packing team in the parish hall

The 2019 hamper programme ended on

Monday December 9 in the parish hall, with

willing volunteers going round and round to

pack 300 bags with the 13 items and a

Christmas card.

Roger Steward and Jill Buchanan had spent

much of November buying and organising

the items for the hampers. On the day, the

Outreach Team got there early to lay out the

items onto trestle tables in the hall. More

than 20 helpers arrived soon after 9am and

they enthusiastically packed the items into

bags for collection.

By 10am, all the packing was completed and

distribution began.

Happy Valley community arrived to take

their load back to their distribution centre,

closely followed by Westlake WUCT to

Preparation: Rob Smith checks the lighter

goods.

collect their share for handing out to the

Westlake needy.

The balance of the hampers was distributed

to St Simon’s in Hout Bay, the Vrygrond

libraries (where we support four groups),


The production line in full swing

Sunrise Special Care Centre, and some were

kept for local distribution through the

Rector and the church office.

Your Outreach Team thanks all the

parishioners who supported them during the

year, ending with donations in cash and kind

and hard work to make all this possible.

May you all have a happy and blessed

Christmas. – Rob Smith

Please bear stationery gifts for

these children.............................

From Jill Buchanan of the Outreach Team:

On Epiphany Sunday (January 5) we reflect

on the Three Wise Men arriving at the stable

bearing gifts for baby Jesus. This for Mary

and Joseph was totally unexpected and

greatly appreciated.

At Nooitgedacht School in Bishop Lavis

hundreds of children will be starting the new

school year without basic stationery. Let us

at Christ Church Constantia surprise them

with a huge donation of gifts.

I appeal to all to keep the school in mind

when doing your grocery shopping and to

pop suitable stationery items into your

baskets. This is a primary school and the

learners will need pencils, crayons and pencil

crayons, scissors, exercise books, rulers,

erasers and glue sticks. In fact they will

welcome anything in the stationery line.

Stationery can be delivered to the office or

brought to church on Epiphany Sunday

(January 5). Donations can made directly to

the church via snapscan or EFT. Please use

the reference “Stationery”.

Should you require any further information,

kindly contact Jill Buchanan on 021-

7943637.

Every byear a generous soul, lay minister

Marvel Billett, makes up little gifts for those at

the Princess Christian Home in Tokai

attending the last Christ Church monthly

service there before Christmas.


Our man in Kenya......................

Father Terry represents South Africa at a

workshop on conflict transformation in Africa.

The Ven. Terry Lester at the All African

Conference of Churches in Nairobi, with other

delegates from across the continent

Remarkably resilient people in

the face of some dire challenges

I was the representative for the Anglican

Church of Southern Africa at a conference

in Nairobi, Kenya, whose title is a bit of a

mouthful!

“The Continental Workshop for Concerted

Local Approaches in Peace Building and

Conflict Transformation” took place from

November 25-30 at the Desmond Tutu

Conference Centre of the All Africa

Conference of Churches.

Part of the conference was listening to

presentations by academics on how peace is

built and how to leverage the parties in

conflict to a place with reduced conflict and

where peace can have a chance.

But what we also heard, and these were the

more meaningful contributions in my view,

were stories of those on the ground in the

real situations where conflict has ravaged

lives and communities.

We heard of parts of the Democratic

Republic of the Congo where the situation is

dire.

Coltan is a mineral mined there and tantalite

is extracted from it. This is what the

batteries in cell phones are made of; they

retain power and have low heat and there is

a mad scramble for it.

Not only are people using picks and shovels

and scraping with their bare hands for this

sought-after commodity, armed gangs

control informal and often illegal mining

efforts.

We were also told by representatives from

the Plateau state of Jos in Nigeria of women

and girls who have escaped their Boko

Haram abductors, who are needing to be re-

integrated into communities who have been

traumatised by raids and where these women

return with children who were conceived

from the militant Islamists.

What is clear is that whether pre- or during

or post-conflictual situations, the healing

and restoration needed in communities is a

long and slow journey requiring huge

amounts of compassion, dedication and

patience.

Our continent and her people are

remarkably resilient and our work as people

of faith is never done. – Terry Lester


Reign of Christ

The church was packed for the Reign of

Christ service, followed by the Feast of Title

breakfast in the parish hall on Sunday

November 24.

A marimba band from Lavender Hill

accompanied the Gloria and some of the

hymns, bringing a vibrant, upbeat

atmosphere.

Lukhanyo Calata preached the sermon. His

father, Fort, was one of the Cradock Four,

activists in the Eastern Cape who were

abducted by security police, stabbed to death

and their bodies burnt, in the 1980s.

Father Terry welcomed Lukhanyo and said

he had bought a copy of his book (co-

written with wife Abigail) “My Father Died

For This” at Exclusive Books.

Lukhanyo gave a deeply moving account of

his father’s cruel death and said it was

particularly hard for his family that “no-one

has been brought to justice”.

He said that the equal opportunity South

Africa his father had died for had not

materialised. The country was as divided as

ever and the gap between rich and poor had

widened. He asserted: “Nothing will be

achieved without sacrifice.”

The marimba band from Lavender Hill

Lukhanyo Calata said whites were privileged

under apartheid and there must be reparation.

Lukhanyo concluded his sermon with a

reading of the “Love your neighbour”

passage from the book of Romans.

Music director Jeremy Quickfall was ill so

churchwarden Saskia Emary accompanied

the service on the piano. Thanking her,

Terry said: “We are blessed to have a

churchwarden who can do everything under

the sun.”

Terry also announced that it was the 65th

birthday of Jean Catchpole, who is retiring

as parish secretary. The congregation

applauded.


Lukhanya and Abigail Calata’s book

’Tis the season to be postman...

Last month What’s Happening recorded the

tale of the “postman” who arrived at our

house 45 days before Christmas Day asking

for his seasonal tip.

Since then, in mid-December, another

postman arrived asking for his Christmas

box. This chap seemed to be genuine as he

was bearing letters for us. Obviously we had

been duped by the previous claimant.

However, the real “Mr Postman” handed us

a sheet of pencilled-in names of those

purported to have already given. Topping

the list was one “R Ackerman ... R500”.

Was it really Raymond, we wondered, or was

our postie taking a bit of a chance? You be

the judge... – David Hill

I was overwhelmed;

a big thank-you to all.................

From Jean Catchpole:

I want to say a big thank you to all of you

who had anything to do with my farewell

party - those who planned it, those who

attended and even those who missed being

there! A special thank you to the wine

group who cancelled their outing that day,

giving up their wine in exchange for a cup of

tea! That makes me feel special.

I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of

love and appreciation for me as a person and

the work I have done here at Christ Church

Constantia. Thank you for your gifts as well.

Thank you for all our encounters over the

years, for your trusting me with your stories

and for the laughter we have shared. They

go to make up so many memories.

So many of you have asked what I am going

to do in retirement. There are two questions

to answer that:

1 Have you got a job for me?

2 Do I have to actually do anything?

Others have suggested I write a book. Well,

I have in fact written it already. It's

dedicated to Camilla and is a tell-all book on

how to run the office!

We’ll all be adjusting to change in the new

year. May we embrace whatever God has in

store for us.

With love and blessings....


Clothes sorting

The team of volunteers for the last clothes sorting of the year in the parish hall on Tuesday December 3

are: from left, back row: Jessie Lund, Arthur G Clarke, Debbie McGavin and Dino (a visitor who

popped in and asked to help); front row, from left, Judy (Dino’s wife), Jill Buchanan, Lynne Hill and

Roger Steward. After sorting, the clothes were taken to Victoria Hospital. The Outreach team wishes to

thank all those who donated clothes during the year.

Matthew 25:35-45

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I

was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a

stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked

and you clothed me, I was sick and you

visited me, I was in prison and you came to

me.”

Then the righteous will answer him, saying,

“Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed

you, or thirsty and give you drink? And

when did we see you a stranger and welcome

you, or naked and clothe you? And when did

we see you sick or in prison and visit you?”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25%3A35-45&version=ESV


Last concert of the year

A packed Christ Church Constantia witnessed a rousing last concert of the year as the international

prize-winning Cape Town Youth Choir entertained on Sunday December 1. Above: members of the

audience were invited to sing with the choir towards the end of the concert. This photo is a perfect

illustration of what a magnificent backdrop our church provides for such events.

Saskia Emary, left, and Anne Burrough on

ticket duty before the concert

The queue at the church door

A young concertgoer finds a distraction.

A standing ovation


February concert

A Russian revelation..................

There will be no concert at Christ Church

Constantia in January. The first of the New

Year takes place at 3pm on Sunday February

2 and will feature Russian violinist Alissa

Margulis (pictured).

The Guardian describes her playing as

exceptional, Ivry Gitlis praises it as “a

revelation” and Martha Agerich calls her a

“strong musical personality”.

Appreciated for her expressive and very

emotional performances, Alissa regular plays

in renowned concert halls such as the Palais

des Beaux Arts in Brussels, the Cologne

Philharmony, the Vienna Musikverein, the

Tonhalle Düsseldorf and Zurich, the St

Petersburg Philharmonic Hall,

Beethovenhalle Bonn or the Schönberg Hall

in Los Angeles.

She is a title holder of many international

competitions (Wieniawski, Vercelli among

others) and wards, such as “Pro Europa”

from the European Cultural Foundation,

which was presented by Daniel Barenboim.

Tickets at R130 are available from Anne

Burrough on 082 218 0100, by writing to

[email protected] or via the parish

website www.christchurchconstantia.co.za

They will also be available at the door – cash

or Snapscan.

Lyn Regan, left, and seniors’ Christmas lunch

host, Sheila Glyn-Owen

Lovely lunch but (oops!)

someone left a ‘plate’ behind.....

From Riekie Barrett:

The seniors recently had a great time at their

annual Christmas lunch - so much so that

one of the seniors left their dentures there!

The lunch was hosted by Sheila Glyn-Owen

who usually has it at her Imhoff’s Gift home

but, in view of the roadworks, she arranged

to have it at her daughter and son-in-law’s

home in Bergvliet.

Later, when they were cleaning up, they

came across a set of upper dentures!

Fortunately we managed to track down the

owner of the dentures who gratefully re-

claimed them. It’s the first time that has

happened at any of the teas.


Editor’s note: What’s Happening is pleased

the false teeth are back in their rightful place.

Meanwhile we will not reveal the identity of

the unfortunate senior involved but will

keep a stiff upper lip....

Also, we understand that rock buns will no

longer be served at the seniors’ teas....

McKyle Marco has his trade certificates; now

he’s keen to gain workplace experience.

McKyle ready to power up his

wiring career..............................

Servers at Christ Church Constantia have to

be quick learners and to keep up their

concentration. They are under the watchful

eye of dedicated head server Helen

Constantine who teaches newcomers the

“ropes” and insists on things being done

properly.

One of her charges is Mckyle Marco, a

member of the extensive Marco family

(father Phillip is a steward) who populate a

pew at 9.15 services.

McKyle is a tall young man who is often the

crucifier – the carrier of the church’s

processional cross – at services.

When not in his server’s robes McKyle has

devoted himself to his electrical engineering

studies at the Westlake campus of False Bay

College. He has completed CBMT level 1

and 2 and N1 – N3 in Electrical

Engineering.

“My passion for electrical engineering came

about in Grade 10 when I took Engineering

Graphics and Design as a subject,” says

McKyle.

“It taught us about wiring, installations of

household appliances as well as teaching

how to read floor plans and this sparked my

interest for the trade.”

Now he needs work experience and he is

seeking an electrical engineering internship.

If someone can give McKyle this career

opportunity they can contact him on

083 789 9371.


A basket case.............................

The Checkers at the new Constantia

Emporium, on the corner of Ladies Mile

and Spaanschemat River Road, is a splendid

store but there is at least one drawback: it

does not have shopping baskets, only

trolleys.

So if you’re popping in for only one or two

items, you have to push a large trolley

around.

The alternative is to hold prospective

purchases in your hands/arms, which could

draw the attention of store security.

It doesn’t make sense, so What’s Happening

asked the store manager about it. They don’t

have baskets, he said, because many get

stolen and they cost R250 each.

Apparently some shoppers were in the habit

of putting a basket in the trolley, making

their purchases, heading out of the store

with trolley and basket – and the latter was

never seen again!

A sad reflection of our times....

Note: our church shop has no such

difficulty. No trolleys, no baskets; only

bargains and warm chat. – David Hill

(The shop reopens on Sunday January 12.)

From black to purple.................

Bishop Christopher Gregorowski told the

congregation at the First Sunday of Advent

service on December 1:

“I’m sure like me you’re glad that Black

Friday is done and dusted. Now we welcome

Purple Month.”

(Purple is normally Advent’s liturgical

colour, associated both with the sovereignty

of Christ and with penitence.)

Bishop Christopher’s sermon focused on

serving God or mammon (wealth/money).

You can’t serve both....

Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two

masters, for either he will hate the one and

love the other, or he will be devoted to the

one and despise the other. You cannot serve

God and money.”

‘Duracell’

Saskia.....

At the same

9.15 service,

churchwarden

Saskia Emary

played the

piano (organist Jeremy Quickfall was ill),

read a lesson and announced the notices. “I

feel like a jack of all trades,” she told the

congregation.

Saskia also played the piano at the 11am

family service. In the afternoon, our all-

action warden was seated at a trestle table

outside the church selling tickets to

hundreds of concertgoers. Duracell indeed!


The memorial bench is inscribed with: “Jack

Ince who loved mankind”.

A reminder of foul play

in Constantia..............................

There’s a sad but interesting story behind

the bench, pictured above, which you will

find in the church quadrangle, between the

kitchen door and the Youth Room.

Long-serving lay minister David Giles has

tried to piece together the tale for What’s

Happening.

Apparently, in the 1970s, Jack Ince and his

wife returned to their Rust en Vrede

Avenue, Constantia home in the evening

after playing bridge. At their gate they saw a

couple of men. The Inces went into the

house and then Jack walked down the

driveway to find out what the men wanted.

They killed him....

David cannot recall how Jack was murdered

but says Mrs Ince was also injured.

According to him, no-one was arrested and

the motive was unknown. Details are

sketchy. Perhaps other members of the

Christ Church community have more

information.

Jack Ince was the father of six children,

including twins.

DIARY

No healing service on Monday 6 January

Sunday 12 January The church shop re-opens

Sunday 2 February

Next concert: Alissa Margulis (violin) and Luis Magalhaes (piano)

BAPTISMS

Ava August, Ruby August, Jude Hangone,

Jemima Loubser, Amelia Louw, James

Louw, Annabelle Meier, Sienna Meier,

Miekela Moore, Olive Talbot

FUNERALS

Gill Durrant, Dr P J L Botha, Anthony

Malan, Robbi Scott, Stephen Helm

Christ Church Constantia Telephone 021-7945051

[email protected] www.christchurchconstantia.co.za

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.christchurchconstantia.co.za/

what’s happening happe 1111 1 11 ning january 2020 the ...€¦ · happening @ the three wise...

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