Melts Musings...
Monday 6 September 2010
Dear Kenilworth,
A short musing today...
The past Sunday worship led by Reggie, and the Service of testimony and prayer led by Andy were amazing. I really felt as if something shifted (very positively) in us, as a congregation.
Whilst we will never, ever neglect the preaching of the word, we will continue to press into what God wants to do amongst us. It is, as we have already discerned, a part of the DNA of the Vineyard movement.
Sunday coming (12th) sees us move into the standard service format. Andy will be preaching a Kingdom parable. Sunday the 19th is family service and breaking bread together. I will be preaching the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Sunday 26th has Rob and Debbie Norman from Australia as visiting ministers...
I leave you with Dallas Willard’s ‘charge’ to the Vineyard some years back, and urge us all to continue desiring and to pursuing the visible signs of the Kingdom of God wholeheartedly.
''You must ensure that Vineyard churches maintain the VISIBLE SIGNS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD, or else Vineyard churches will never maintain the faith for discipleship or evangelism or anything else..I go to churches all the time where the people''s hunger for piety is enormously high, but they live in constant frustration because they don''t have the accompanying faith that God really could change who they are - because they never see signs of God doing things. If you want your pastors to have the faith for evangelism, if you want them to have the faith for changed lives, you have to maintain the visible signs of the Holy Spirit’ (Willard, D. Quoted in J.P. Moreland, 2007, p. 187).
Essentially what he is saying is that it is ‘this thing’, (signs and wonders) which sets us apart from being a ‘stock / standard’ conservative evangelical grouping. We need to press into God with all our hearts, because this experiential generation will not come into Kingdom, without experiencing the power the King.
Thank you Jesus; more of you Lord. Come Holy Spirit, come Lord Jesus.
Amen
Monday musings 30 August 2010
Dear KVC,
DREAMING & VISIONING
Please spread the word that the way forward, is now...forward.
From end October onwards I will be starting to vision for 2011 way stronger than has been the case until now. End October is the date because that is the date that Nedbank come back to Cornerstone with a yeah or nay to their proposal of purchasing the whole of Brookside Business Park.
Whilst we are hopeful that Cornerstone will succeed in their endeavours to secure the property, and we continue to pray along with them, our vision for the future does not stand or fall on their proposal to the banks.
From a missional perspective the Cornerstone ‘strategic alliance’ is exciting, by virtue of the access to railway station, taxi rank, Lansdowne Road, the Student Body and Villager Rugby Club. Beyond that the premises are secure, there is ample parking and it would be a significant ‘upgrade’ in office / ‘Church’ space, from our present arrangement.
If they are not successful in securing the business rights to Brookside, I would still (in a lecturing capacity) have access to their Student Body, and we could in due course find alternative premises elsewhere.
When I came on board at KVC, I undertook (to myself!) not to read the vision that Derek, John and team had put together as Mzantsi. I still have not read it! Ironically (or as God would have it, you can decide) I have come to something that I understand as being very similar to that vision.(Time for me to read it I guess.)
Again, Cornerstone is not the pivot around which this vision would stand or fall, but they would be a more than useful partner for reasons already mentioned.
This Vision was actually born out of a casual comment from Anida to Simon van Niekerk when we were away together recently, and it sounded something like the following;
• There are a number of smallish Vineyard groupings in the Southern side of Cape Town and City Bowl. They all, to one extent or another ‘struggle along.’
• Why are we not able to pull them all together to work together for something that glorifies God and grows the Kingdom?
In this light Simon and I have been talking to one another and to Costa and Derek. Our thinking at present (it’s still very much thinking mind you) looks something like this.
KVC could become a ‘hub’ for;
1. City Vineyard
2. Catalyst (our evening group who meet under Andy, that could become a plant into the Wynberg, Southfield, Plumstead area)
3. Kronendal
4. Woodstock (if they were interested in being a part of, and bought into such a vision)
5. Ikayalethemba (where we could plant a church on the terms of that community, rather than have ‘them come to us’...)
6. Possibly a Deep South plant towards Muizenberg...
7. Possibilities of some other small groupings...becoming satellites...
In an equation like this, there would be 6-7 ‘satellites’ of what could become the ‘Cape Town Vineyard Church.’
Each of these satellites would function on a week to week basis just as they do now (those already in existence). I.e. Pastors remain pastors of their own satellites. The difference being that all of us would share in one another. So, for e.g. God’s gift of people to the Church would be shared. KVC would not lose full ‘ownership’ of Andy and I, but would gain part ‘ownership’ of others, as others would gain shared ownership of us.
People like Simon, Caleb and Marike could be freed (whilst retaining their pastoral function) to focus on their gift of worship of God, to the church. Into job descriptions enter issues like ’10 hours of a 300 hour week ’ to be spent listening to God, writing worship songs and running worship workshops...’ I.e. the aim would be to have the whole church understand and be ‘steeped in’ the bitter sweetness of the Vineyard way of worshipping God...
People like Andy, Keith and others could look deeper into the prophetic side to our movement and perhaps start a ‘school of training’ in that direction.
People like Lindi van Niekerk could be brought onto staff to head up a counselling ministry and school that transcends just the need of KVC...
People like me would be able to spend more than the 2-3 hours a week I do now, hastily preparing something to say on a Sunday...and build a school of ministry and ‘doing the stuff.’ I would be free to teach into the lives of younger people by lecturing one or two days a week. My primary function would remain as pastor of the ‘hub’ if we want to call it that, but we would now have some shared responsibilities.
Because we would pool our human gift as well as our financial resources, we would be free to plant in a place like Ikhayalethemba’ without a local black pastor worrying about where his next meal is coming from. We could i.e. with some kind of vision like this, cross socio economic and cultural divides without people feeling they need to ‘get (by bus or whatever) to where we are...’
In a perfect world we would like to gain access to a venue that could see all of these satellites come together every month or six weeks in one big celebration of what God is doing amongst us at satellite and communal level. I.e. we would look to having some kind of venue where 500 people could gather from time to time.
My own sense is that this way forward, is perhaps the only way, given contextual changes (such as the reality that bi-vocation is hardly an option any longer) to move ahead in a way that frees people to become what God has for them to become, that draws in the young –on their terms, that crosses socio economic and cultural boundaries on the terms of the township dweller etc.
It needs to be understood that, at this stage, I am dreaming... (Remember Joseph?) It may well be that some of the groups mentioned here are not able to see their way clear to being part of a vision like this.
We may well start on a far smaller scale with just 2-3 satellites, but I do believe that at one level or another, this is an outline for a way forward.
If Vineyard Churches in the North (as in Pinelands / Edgemead northwards) wanted to do something like this, it would be down to them. It may well be that Pinelands (as an example) would not have need of this type of vision at all...
Please share, as you see it. Please remember that we are dreaming at this stage. There are probably a host of pitfalls I’ve missed, but also remember that you are as young as your dreams and as old as your cynicism.
KVC over the next few weeks
• Sunday 5 September, Worship, Testimony and Prayer workshop, Andy and Lindi facilitating.
• Sunday 12 September, Andy preaching, theme ‘The Kingdom of God.’ (Melt and Anida off.)
• Sunday 19 September, Melt preaching, theme, ‘The Kingdom of God.’
• Sunday 26 September, Rob & Debbie Norman (from Southlands Vineyard in Aus) preaching and ministering.
• 27-31 September a group of 30 of us go to Gariep on conference...
• Sunday 3 October, Rob & Debbie Norman, preaching and ministering.
Upward and onward...
Shalom
Melt
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Dear KVC,
Apologies for the fact that my musings have been few and far between.
It is only down to a busy few weeks past. Also, I am being more ‘religious’ about my off days. In my mind I undertook to knuckle down in the first few months to get structures right. We have reached that place, so on Mondays you will find me either, on a course (a golf course), or working around the house, or in the gym.
General:
It’s hard to believe that I am well into my 7th month with Kenilworth. In many ways I feel that we have not ‘accomplished’ much, but in other ways I do believe that God is not that concerned with our ‘accomplishments’ for the sake of the Kingdom.
He is, I am sure, far more concerned that we build on a right foundation. Our primary foundation being Jesus as head of the Church, and the Holy Spirit as church administrator. Secondly that our understanding of ‘who we are’ and our human leadership structures are in place. We are slowly getting to that place.
In more than one sense we have, since February, journeyed ‘back to bedrock.’ Back to our foundation and to our roots. From ‘A long obedience in the same direction’ to ‘Learning to serve’, through ‘A generous orthodoxy’, a bit of vision from time to time, to ‘The Kingdom of God.’ We continue to learn as we move into the Kingdom with intent. Come Holy Spirit.
The journey back to bedrock has been seen not only in the teaching themes, but also in structures and leadership training. Whilst we are very far from where we are going, we are moving in the right direction. Our journey has started from where we are.
Where we are, I believe, is a place of anticipation, frustration and excitement. KVC is a mixture of a ‘remnant’ of those who once were; a healthy influx of new people and a slow but steady stream of ‘returning exiles’.
Into this mix of believers we continue to seek the leadership of the Spirit and to teach and live out our Kingdom values. Come Lord Jesus.
Praise:
We are praising God for...
• ... relational break through at a number of levels.
• ... the LT and MT who are now stepping up to the plate and beginning to lead. I really value you guys, probably more than you know. Thank you Andy, Anri, Brian, Yolanda, Sam, Rebecca, Thy (and your team!) I am thoroughly ‘unequipped’ to lead a church, but together we are not.
• ...the vision with Cornerstone Institution (formerly Cornerstone Christian College) which continues to grow in possibilities. The possibilities are very, very exciting and too many to muse on here. I will share some this coming Sunday.
• Brian and Barbara’s volunteering to take on the small group ministry. Bless you as you continue to serve here.
• Marike Roggen’s assistance in the office, which has been a godsend.
• The great response to Gariep, which now sees well over 20 of us going on conference together. If we could have a group of 30+ coming along it will say much about who we are and where we are headed.
Of concern and for prayer:
1. Finances continue to be tight and we have had to revise our budget for 2010. Please know that our spending is being controlled very tightly and that we steward what we have in a way that honours God until he breaks through for us in this area.
2. Sound and equipment in the hall is troublesome to the extent that it is more than a bit frustrating. We are doing the best we can with what we have. The reality is that much of our equipment is pretty ‘long in the tooth.’ We are working at it...
3. Worship resource. Although our small worship department has a few new additions, we are praying for more musicians, leaders and song writers. It is a blessing to have Marike on board who has a few songs that will become a part of us.
4. Whilst Marike’s help in the office has allowed us to make in- roads into an admin backlog, we do have some small administrative issues that continue to frustrate. In this light it would be good to have someone who would really get stuck into the church website, update it regularly and ensure that uploads etc. are done timeously.
‘A journey begins from where you are.’
Upward and onward
Christos Kurios
Melt
Monday musings, 26 July 2010
Dear KVC,
We continue to lay foundations for God to ‘pour the Kingdom’ into. I have a strong sense that the season we are in is one of rebuilding.
During the week someone told me that the call on my life was (at this time) a Nehemiah call. To rebuild the walls of Jerusalem...on Sunday someone else gave me the following Scripture:
Haggai 1: 4
‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses while this house remains a ruin?’
For Israel returning from exile the house to rebuild was the Temple in which God dwelt. For us it is a rebuilding of the body of Christ in which he lives! The parallels are there...we have people coming into KVC as new visitors who remain with us, but we also have returning exiles.
I believe that revival (because of God’s grace) will only come, once the ‘foundations, the walls and the Temple’ has been rebuilt. When God comes in power, it is not always particularly comfortable. We continue to pray for revival, we continue to come with an expectation that the Kingdom of God can and will break in, in power at any moment, but in the interim we continue rebuilding the walls...
Teaching & Preaching
I am happy to be reaching the end of the ‘Generous Orthodoxy’ series, which along with ‘A long obedience in the same direction,’ was really a journey back to bedrock. Back to the foundation of what we believe, and how we minister. The highlight – Heaven, Hell and a call to evangelism, will be this Sunday. There will be a short move to Mission in August and thereafter we will begin our long 6month + journey into the Kingdom of God...we need at all times to be, becoming increasingly, kingdom citizens.
In this series I envisage a very strong move from theory to praxis, with Wednesday evening workshops being a part of living out the Sunday teachings. We will look at: All the Kingdom parables of Jesus, all of Jesus’ teachings on the Kingdom, gifts and fruit of the Spirit, Vineyard prayer and ministry 101 (ongoing), VBI Kingdom I, II etc. I would appreciate prayer as we begin the journey.
There are some very positive moves afoot regarding the possibility of a new venue which could become a permanent home, but without the capital outlay of purchase. Talks are tentative at this stage so I can’t share much more than I have, but to ask for prayer to determine whether God is in it.
A small personal request
Can I ask as a general request that Sunday’s are ministry space? Too many people enquire regarding confirmation of bookings, functions, dates, meetings and / or appointments for the coming week with me on Sundays prior to the start of the Sunday Service.
Worship, preaching and ministry are intensely spiritual activities, and I do try to prepare myself as best possible on Sunday mornings for this. It is unhelpful to be side tracked by administrative issues in this ‘space.’ It is also so, that I tend to double book if asked for this type of thing on Sundays, as I don’t come with a diary, and have no intention of coming with one any time soon!
Marike is helping out at the church office on a part time basis and is here Tuesday through Friday (was ill for most of last week). We do check the messages left telephonically and will return your call. Please do call me at the church office Tuesday through Friday, or drop me an email, any time. I am (without fail) on email every day.
Mk 1:14, 15
‘The time has come, he said, The Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news.’
Agape
Melt
Monday Musing...19 July 2010
Dear KVC,
It has been a while but I am back on line this morning. God is beginning to move us into a higher gear...
Feedback from LT / MT
Saturday’s leadership visioning day was more than just a space and time to ‘hang out’ together. Hanging out is a good reason to get together, but it is even better when we begin to hear God speak to us collectively.
I will summarise (very briefly) what we believe we have heard in terms of those things we all sensed, heard and expressed. There will be other things that will join these in due course...
1. Whether we stay on these premises or ultimately move on, Voortrekker High School will to some extent, form a part of our outreach effort. Andy and I are to schedule a meeting with the head as soon as we are able to.
2. Possibilities of ‘moving on’ without major capital investment are being investigated and will be shared with the congregation as progress is made.
3. We are at all times, both a ‘hospital and an army.’ I used the analogy of a military hospital. We will always be a place of healing, but ultimately we need to move out of the building. We exist for the mission. God is the Missional God and he is asking us to join him on the Mission. In this Missional emphasis, some of us will find our healing.
For more detail on all of the above you are free to speak with anyone who serves on LT or MT. In this instance we want the Church grapevine to work!
Sunday Past and ‘A generous Orthodoxy in general
I am chuffed to be able to share that we have covered, Unity, Eschatology and Human Sexuality, without me receiving a single death threat, or being labelled an ‘arch conservative, or rampant liberal.’ Thank you for taking the call: ‘In essentials Unity, in non essentials liberty, and in all things charity’ seriously. We continue to move toward Jesus who is our focal point, our Lord, our Master, our Friend and by his Spirit our Counsellor.
This Sunday I am dealing with the small matter of creation and Genesis. Strangely, as my dementia has now set in completely, I am actually looking forward to it.
The series will end with a call to Evangelism / Heaven and hell the week thereafter.
August will be a month with a Missional focus. Spring will see us move into a new series on the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is...our mantra as a Vineyard Church. It will be a series that may well last upwards of six months.
It will start by preaching every parable Jesus told and then move into Kingdom I, II etc. As per Jesus VBI, Wimber, Morphew etc.
This is our heritage. I’m hoping that it will be a six month theory / praxis on the Kingdom of heaven and we will begin to move into the reality of living as citizens of the Kingdom of God! How exciting is that!
- I will be getting a new cell phone and number today and will put it on the web by tomorrow
- We are makeing some administrative progress and are delighted to have Marike Roggen helping out on a part time basis. The past six messages have been recorded and will be posted onto the web within a few days.
PACO, MEET ME AT THE HOTEL MONTANA AT NOON – ALL IS FORGIVEN – PAPA
Blessings
Melt
Tuesday tribulation...
07 July 2010
Greetings to all.
It’s 12h46 and I am slowly starting to recover from what appears to have been a 48 hour type gastro bug, which hit me very hard on Monday morning and had me between the loo and bed all of yesterday and today...thankfully the loo trips seem to have stopped. Am still in bed though.
A few thoughts:
Anida and I were touched by Sunday’s ‘ordination’. It was simple and meaningful. I’m also relieved to have come through a message on Eschatology without the rapture having taken place to disprove my interpretations!
We now move onto our next hot potato being ‘sex and homosexuality’. You may be able to lay many weaknesses at my door, but looking at this lot (the hot potato series), I guess cowardice would not be one of them...don’t know what I was thinking, I must be loony...
It appears that my sharing from Australia on my last musings created some healthy debate and even some small fears. This is very encouraging! I will flesh out vision between now and December, but at this stage most of my meanderings are more a case of ‘thinking out loud’ rather than ‘vision’ as yet.
I invite you all to ‘dream’ with me, and to raise any concerns you may have, as vision begins to unfold. It will be interesting to see where this all leads. My desire is simply that KVC would make a dent for the kingdom on our society. We need first to get ourselves healthy and make sure our own house is in order, but ultimately just being a church of a few hundred who run good Sunday gatherings is not enough. Our country is rife with Socio Economic issues Jesus is asking us as the church to address.
You will notice that I am quite good at asking questions, but not always equally good at answering them. So, for e.g. I asked the question of how we as the church respond to the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor? I asked whether education was something we needed to consider getting involved in again, without always looking to the State to resolve all of the country’s problems. I failed to mention that I have very strong reservations over specifically ‘Christian schools’ and education. I have not answered (in my own mind) the how of the church being involved in education...but this much I know, we have to start thinking, dreaming, praying and talking into these things.
Both the LT and the MT have been mandated to share openly with all regarding their meetings and any specific decisions reached in them. I am hopeful that the church grapevine, along with my musings and pulpit ministry will ensure that present and future communication is open and clear. Please remember that my door is (still) open. You are welcome to come and grab a cup of coffee with me. Many have and many more still are.
The first five months of my call to KVC have (necessarily) been spent mostly dealing with relationship and people. I feel we are now at a place where we can begin (very tentatively) to cast some vision, and along with that, spend more time on the administrative issues that always threaten to trip us up.
As we begin to make small inroads into administrative issues I do feel there are a number of people I would like specifically to thank, as they continue to assist us in becoming (as per Andy’s recent message) a church that works.
Thanks to Thy for the way in which she has picked up the chair of the MT
Thanks to Clive and team for the incredible way they have followed through with welcoming and follow up. Our welcome department is more than functional! Thanks Faye for preparing the welcome packs and for doing the church purchasing. Thanks to Ken and Andy for making inroads into our (now less) chaotic data base. Thanks to Anri for her administrative back up...and timely reminders. Thanks to Dave for coming up with some good logos for KVC. Thanks to all of you involved in the caring and benevolence ministries.
Whilst it may be so that KVC has seen its share of difficult times, it is very good to be in a church where literally 80-90% of the people are involved in some form of ministry. Ranging from setup, through social, small groups and Sundays, there is a very high percentage level of involvement.
Our sincerest condolences to Samson (Sam) Muyanga whose mother passed away last Saturday from heart failure. Sam has had to travel home for the funeral and will be back with us in a week. The Lord bless you and your family at this time Sam.
Agape
Melt
Crack of dawn Tuesday 22 June 2010, Adelaide Southern Australia
Dear KVC,
Had a bit of a restless night, so am up early and catching up on some musings. I trust that Chris’ visit was good and that you were all blessed on Sunday.
My time with Costa at Southlands Vineyard Church has been very good at a number of levels (despite my reservations about leaving you guys at this particular time in our journey together!)
Rob and Deb are great people and have been amazing hosts. We have been (more than) well wined and dined...
Check out their website on www.svs.org.au
The church itself is, at a number of levels, fairly similar to KVC, and at many others quite different. Our times of ministry have been well received and we too have been ministered to. It has been, for me, a time of giving, receiving, reflecting and visioning.
I want to invite you, the family of KVC, to start dreaming with me about what our church is going to look like into the future.
Whilst I am going to continue the series of teachings ‘A generous Orthodoxy’ on my return, and handle the ‘hot topics’ of our faith (because we really need to understand who we are, if we are to determine where God is asking us to go...) I will intersperse this with implanting vision. Hot topics (although necessary) are a bit of a slog. Our journey will be one of finding out both; 1) Who we are, and 2) Where we are going.
The new LT and MT (leadership and management teams) will be taking a day out in July as a visioning day. We will share the vision that comes out of this with all.
Some of the things going through my (chaotic) mind at the moment are just pragmatic and to do with ongoing / administrative irritations. Others are way bigger and more in the ‘dream zone.’
Invitation to dream
Set aside (if you will) financial constraints – because God is just way bigger than those.
What is God saying to you? About:
1. The venue in which we meet?
2. Our office facilities?
3. Our worship and media type setup and equipment?
4. The lack of young people who attend our meetings?
5. Evangelism and ‘doing the stuff’ outside of Sunday gatherings?
6. The poor and our role in decreasing the gap between rich and poor in our country (without a doubt our biggest sociological challenge)?
7. Education and our role in that? (Check out Sparrow schools – is it time for the church to get involved in main stream education once again?)
8. Ownership of property? (One can only do so much in a rented facility.)
9. The role of small groups and bigger Q&A groups at our church? I.e. what is our small group ministry for and about?
10. Interaction and cooperation with other churches in our area?
11. The valid pursuit of church growth (both spiritual and numerical)?
History aside, it is time to start dreaming again.
I will share with you some of my own dreams for KVC:
I see a Church that in three to four years from now owns its own campus. I call it a campus rather than ‘building’ because we have to dream big. The older we get, the smaller our dreams. You are as young as your dreams and as old as your cynicism.
On this campus I see:
• A Church
• A School
• A ministry school of some sort, equipping and sending...missionaries (what a quaint term!) pastors, worship leaders, teachers, social workers...
• I see a church environment that is sufficiently ‘familiar’ to give root and anchor to a rootless and anchorless generation, but sufficiently inspired by the Spirit of God to be innovative and exciting.
• I see little people, children, young people, poor people, wealthy people, old people...we preach the words of Jesus and do the works of Jesus. People (including the lost) are drawn to us, because what is happening is a thing of beauty...
I could carry on, but you might lock me away. As Gary Player said: ‘If you aim at nothing, you’ll be sure to hit it every time.’
We have a very long way to go, but we are allowed to dream. In fact, we are required to dream. If this lot inspired you, great. If it seems ridiculous to you, then ask yourself how big your God is?
In closing, I share a story with you.
The story is told of Bobby Fisher (the one-time famous USA world chess champion) going to see a movie with a friend. The movie was called the 7th seal. In the film, the final act, shows the ‘prince of darkness (yes, that one) playing a chess match against a righteous knight.
The prince of darkness moves his Queen into position looks up at the knight and says: “Check Mate.” At that point the movie dramatically ends – game over.
Bobby Fisher turns to his friend in the movie house and says: “That game wasn’t over; the King still had one more move...”
Many at KVC thought the game was over, I want to encourage you today, that “the King still has one more move.” And beyond that, whatever we do, and wherever God takes us, that self same King will always have one more move...trust him.
Agape
Melt
Sunday evening 13 JUNE 2010
Dear KVC,
Tomorrow and Tuesday are going to be fairly full days for me, as I prepare to leave for Adelaide with Costa. Thought I’d catch up on some way overdue musings whilst watching Ghana play Serbia. Go Ghana go!
Today
This morning’s family service was a great blessing. It’s amazing to look around and to see what God is doing in bringing people into the church. The kids’ ministry, the youth leading worship, the introduction and releasing of the Leadership and Management teams and the ‘feel of our church’ in general is moving toward the centre, who is Jesus.
It was great to see the leaders breaking bread, with, and serving the whole Church. We will continue to break bread together in various ways that allow us to reflect on the work of Christ on the cross, and the time needed to reflect on our own condition and the incredible grace of God. The programme today was very full. In future we will try to have the breaking of bread in a less cluttered programme.
Thanks to Brian for the preparation and presentation of our financial situation. Whilst we will continue to call all to a God honouring ethic of giving, we are trusting that he will grow the church to the place where the income increases incrementally.
Blessings
• Ken Dunbar-Curran has volunteered to update and ‘tidy’ our rather chaotic data base. Please forward as much updated detail (Names, address, phone numbers, email addresses etc. To Ken at pat-a-cake@absamail.co.za
• The expanded, appointed and released LT and MT. Please acquaint yourself with the various ministries and leaders of each. We will all be ‘walking’ the path of the new way of leading together, so we’re on a learning curve! There will more than likely be some glitches along the way, please show grace upon grace as per Pat’s word this morning. Remember too as Thy reminded us, we will find our unity in the centrality of the cross of Jesus.
• My own trip with Costa to Australia. Please pray with us that God will’ show up’ as we minister and incrementally increase his presence (which is always with us) in a way that has people experience him tangibly.
The next few weeks
Andy will be standing in as senior pastor in my absence. Please give him all the support and assistance you can. Whilst I’m gone Andy will start the process of helping Ken get started with the data base, attend to the taping and loading of Sunday messages on the website, of looking at some possibilities for the new KVC logo, letterhead and email signatures and attend to his usual duties and pastoral issues as they arise.
Sunday 20th sees Chris Goddard from Stellenbosch Vineyard in the pulpit and Sunday 27th Andy will lead and preach.
I will most certainly drop a musing or two into the pot from Aus and look forward (God willing) to be back in the pulpit on 4 July...
Blessings to all
Melt
Monday 7 June, 2010
It has been a while…forgive me. Things are getting busier around church and I’ve been a bit snowed under.
I am looking forward to this week and coming Sunday’s service for a number of reasons. Tomorrow (Tuesday) evening sees our first gathering as new Management and Leadership Teams respectively.
We will discuss the roles of the teams, the ministry leaders, the frequency of meeting and general functioning of leadership within Kenilworth Vineyard Church.
It is a great joy to be able to gather together to talk and pray about the journey God is leading us on as a local church.
On Sunday the Leadership teams will be ‘introduced’ to the congregation and we will be releasing them into their role as leaders.
At this Same Service your new Leaders will serve you at the Lord’s Supper. We are here to serve you. Jesus said: ‘Now, just as I have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.’
As it’s a family service and a thanksgiving gathering we are trusting that it will be very well attended – school holidays aside!
Blessings to all
Melt
Tuesday 25 May 2010
Today sees the final LT meeting of KVC as it is. We will wrap existing business, and then reconvene as the new and expanded LT / MT from June. Many thanks to the outgoing team (most of whom will also form a part of the incoming team!) for their effort and commitment in steering the church.
Friday and Sunday past, was a time of praying for breakthrough…past experience tells me that (in most areas of our lives) when God starts to move, it starts with a few ‘trickles’, or indicators, that something is happening. Before long the trickles turn into streams, and the streams turn into rivers and eventually it becomes a flood.
Remember: ‘Salvation may be a long time coming, but it’s eventually immediate.’ (How’s that for a paradox?)
Let’s continue to focus on Jesus as we seek an outpouring of his Spirit. The ‘stuff’ is just an indicator of his presence with us.
‘We are turning towards you Jesus. What you do, you do, and we both want it and welcome it, but we do not want to be sensation seekers, we want to be Jesus seekers.’
Provision and need
We are thankful to God for his financial provision through and to the church. We are, way below budget, but are keeping our spending below budget as well. We would however, like to spend much more on the Kingdom, so do ask that you revisit your giving / tithing and let God speak into it.
We are extremely grateful to the leaders of the Kids church. There is a very good thing going down in kid’s ministry, but our leaders are ‘thin on the ground.’ If you feel the Spirit saying you need to be involved with kids work, please chat to Liza Fatti. The team need to be able to take some time out occasionally, and also to attend the main church service from time to time, outside of just family services.
New and existing ministries that are ‘covered’ in terms of leadership are:
Counselling: Lindi van Niekerk
Prayer: Urshi Newman and the Gowies
Care: Thy Cameron
Worship: Rebecca Carder
Kids Church: Liza Fatti
Youth: Josh Sparks
Benevolence and Feeding: Kees and Henny Luchthart
Social (Play!): Gavin and Judith Stanbridge
We still seek to fill leadership for:
Education
Welcome and follow up (this would entail Sunday welcome and following up newcomers / ultimately membership orientation.)
Maintenance
Housekeeping
Small Groups
Mission, Evangelism and Social Justice
We have a fairly urgent need for an IT literate person to assist us with the updating of the (chaotic) data base. There are names long since departed (perhaps even deceased!) on the data base. Many newcomers are not on the data base. It’s also quite hard to determine at this time who is and who is not in membership, as many (returning exiles and other) are quite justifiably ‘feeling it out.’
I have some ideas as to how to address this, and will chat the data base person through those, once the volunteer is raised up. It would be great if this person could take permanent responsibility for the updating and maintaining of the data base. There would need to be cooperation between (the still absent) welcoming people and the data base people. (Come on, where are you hiding? – you guys are here somewhere.)
As we continue to look at the pragmatic, we are mindful of the spiritual foundation we are building on, who is Jesus Christ.
Our communal prayer for the week is still: ‘That we would not accept the place of weakness, the Achilles heel, the propensity to a particular sin in our own lives, to be our place of permanent residence i.e. our address.’
Lord, we continue to pray for (individual and communal) break through.
In Jesus
Amen
Wednesday 19 May, 2010
Top of the day to you all…
God continues to surprise. Sunday’s family service was (for me) a great blessing. It’s incredible to see how life comes into something when the right team is in place. We continue to bless and release ministries, as the Spirit guides.
This Sunday will see us blessing and releasing the care ministry under the leadership of Thy Cameron. Thy has a team that supports her in visiting, lifting, caring for and praying for the sick, the elderly, those without private transport and the incapacitated. The team does practical things like lifting people to and from hospital. There may come a time where providing meals to the families of those who are ill or in hospital will grow out of this.
I would call it a practical ‘one another’ ministry, as in, ‘love one another’, ‘care for each other.’
Thy’s growing team:
Faye, Di, Celina, Margie, Cherith, Dan, Charles, Lecia, Cate, Michelle, Jenny, Henny, the Hilliards, Karin, Lillian.
Thy reckons she has her ‘sights’ set on asking some others to sign up, but does not want you to be frightened to death when she asks you aboard. Jesus said: ‘Do not be afraid…’ In this context he might have said, ‘the more of you there are the lighter will be the load!’
I cannot tell you what a blessing this ministry is to me. Looking at the amount of visitation that goes down just in a church of our size (our size is of course at present a mystery) I would, without their help literally be completely snowed under.
Friday Night All night prayer in Church house and 10 days of continuous prayer
IGNITE - PASSIONATE PURSUIT (From Urshi)
“Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord.
Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children…” Lam 2 v 19
Whenever there was a great need in the nation of Israel, the people went to their leaders and begged them to enquire of God, to find out what they must do to get out of their hardships. In most of these occasions the foremost request from He’s side was that they should go into a time of fasting and prayer.
In the last 2 weeks I have been receiving a cry from a lot of youth leaders, even pastors, asking, with their hands in their hair, what are we going to do about our young people? Our youth are being robbed, killed and destroyed, by any means necessary, and I know we don’t have to point a finger, we know who is the cause of this destruction. We are outraged; I think it’s about time that we are, we are crying for justice, yes, we should! I hear it on radio stations people doing things to take a stand against the abuse of our youth. What shall WE do about these things?
I ask you to join hands with one another and join us, as many in our country take a stand: “For your fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms…do everything to stand…Pray continuously…” Eph 6v10-18. It is not the only thing to be done, but it is the greater work, the place where God’s strategy for our cries are downloaded.”
Join us from 13 – 22 May in 10days of continuous prayer for this young generation. I want to encourage you to not even wait but start immediately and continue until you see breakthrough.
VCF RESPONSE
Above is the reason we are holding the all night prayer event this coming Friday 21st May 2010 at the Church House starting at 19:00hrs. We will spend time in worship and then pray through the night. This is such a glorious opportunity to hear our Father’s heart about our youth in our nation. Please can you bring your own bedding if you want to sleep over or else you can take a slot to prayer. The kids are more than welcome to attend. We will end on Saturday morning with breakfast at 07:00hrs.
RUGBY
Later on Saturday is the Super 14 semi final starting at 17:00hrs and the second semi final game at 19:00hrs. We would like to start braaing at 15:00hrs so bring your food and drink and enjoy the afternoon with us. Please feel free to invite any friends and family.
GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER SUNDAY 23RD MAY 2010.
The 10th Anniversary of this event being held in Cape Town but unfortunately this prayer event could not be held at Newlands because of the rugby on Saturday so the venue has moved to the Velodrome in Bellville. The gates are open from 11:00hrs and the worship will begin at 13:00hrs. Tickets @ R30 are available at Computicket or Checker Checkers just up your street. We could possibly leave from Church on Sunday so if anyone wants a lift we can arrange. Speak to Brian or Urshi
Please consider joining us on Friday night at Church house. You do not need to sleep over but can join us for a one hour shift anywhere from 19h00-07h00 on Saturday morning.
Blessings to all
Melt
Monday 17 May 2010
Morning all,
It was good to have Simon and Gael with us on Sunday. His message was a timely (if not prophetic) word regarding the giving and receiving of forgiveness. Without confession and repentance, we are…nothing. We are, in Christ, a people who recognise, apologise and do our utmost to reconcile. If we are unable to be the initiators in a process such as this, we have…nothing.
‘…leave your gift and first be reconciled…’
‘if you have anything against your brother / sister then…just between the two of…make it right.’
I know I’m banging the same drum. But I will bang it until the Holy Spirit does something with it.
The Good
The leadership team as it will be from 15 June is taking shape rapidly. The only gaps on Management team are for someone to head up, maintenance, admin and housekeeping (although we do have a strong idea of what this may look like from 2011), and the education fund.
It was good for me to escape to PE for the Senior Pastor’s retreat and link up with the Vineyard family across SA. Unfortunately, Anida was unable to make it, as Simone is writing mid year matriculation exams and Emma needs her around too. Driving with John Fischer is an interesting experience, as the 10 hour trip there and back did wonders for my prayer life.
Not only is John the highest energy 71 year old I’ve ever had the pleasure of being in ministry with, but he also puts Michael Shumaker to shame. It is a very long way to travel for a 2.5 day gathering, but was still well worth it.
The message of the gathering, tied well into where we as a congregation are presently headed. ‘Rediscovering the soul’ of the Vineyard and also looking at some of the things Simon spoke into in terms of authority structures.
It seems that (in certain instances) the experience of past leadership abuse from other church groupings has swung us to an apologetic mode of leadership that is (to be frank) flabby and weak.
We seek to pursue the leadership style of Jesus. One that is gracious, fair, just and true, but also one that has his authority. I am unlikely to become Attila the Hun (so relax) but some difficult situations may need to be answered with a degree of authority.
The Week Ahead
Today is my off day, but, because the squirrels around our home have been nibbling at the cables, I will need to go into the office to catch up on emails. There is too much noise on our lines to send and receive. Telkom will be sorting it…in due course…so I am told.
I will be doing a funeral service at Camps Bay United Church on Tuesday afternoon and will be seeing the family (Coulstocks) pastorally today. Please be in prayer for me for the funeral service.
I will be in office on Tuesday morning and then again Wednesday, Thursday and part of Friday. I am pretty snowed under on all fronts so forgive me if my responses to you are not as quick as they ought to be.
Please remember the Friday evening all night prayer session. Urshi and I will structure this in one hour blocks. We need ‘harp & bowl’ type muso’s please. Do bring food for supper and a contribution to the breakfast I will be making at 6.30am – any volunteer help would be appreciated.
This coming weekend is Andy and Shan’s first off weekend of 2010…we pray that they would have a good and deserved break.
Blessings to all
Melt
Monday 10 May 2010
When God is on the move it stirs up things in the ‘spiritual’, which is usually seen in the ‘relational / physical’. As we are not dualists, we see all of this as spiritual – hope that makes sense to you, because it’s quite a mouthful for a Monday morning!
For me yesterday’s service was difficult. I guess knowing that I had to mediate a conflict situation straight after the service was not helpful. It ‘kind of ‘sits on one.’ There was a degree of heaviness over the service that has been absent for some months. My sense is that the Kingdom of God is breaking through in various areas, which will be followed by opposition. We continue to pray.
Kingdom Break through’s
• Lindi van Niekerk was praying about picking up the counselling ministry in church and is now able to confirm that she will be doing so! Welcome aboard Lindi, we pray this will be a blessing to you, us and God. Lindi comes with 11 years of experience as Counsellor at Valley Vineyard (Alexander Venter) in Johannesburg.
• Rebecca Carder has been considering whether to pick up leadership of the worship ministry and has come forward to do so. This is a continuation of what Rebecca has already been doing in church and we pray God’s blessing on her, for, what is, the ‘engine room’ of our existence as the oikos (household of God.)
• A couple (still to be announced) has volunteered to pick up the social ministries.
• Samson Muyanga (Sam) has accepted a call to represent Oasis on the LT. He will not be the only representative from Oasis on leadership. Watch this space as we continue to share. Bless you Sam.
Many of you will be wondering how and when this all comes into effect. Let me explain:
Come end May, the Leadership team as it presently is will be dissolved. In mid June we will launch the new expanded Leadership Structure with a Leadership Team (‘Eldership’) and a Management Team (‘Diaconate’). The ministry or ‘department heads’ will then take up full responsibility for the ministries they represent.
We continue to pray for ‘champions‘ / ‘point people’ for the Education fund, Maintenance, Housekeeping and administration.
I am away this week from Tuesday afternoon till Friday evening on Senior Pastor’s retreat in PE. I will muse when I return.
We look forward to the family service on Sunday 16 May, when we will be releasing the kids’ church leaders into ministry.
Simon van Niekerk will be the guest preacher and we will be sharing lunch after the service. It is a bring and share lunch, so do please, bring and share generously.
Agape
Melt
Wednesday 05 May 2010
Dear all,
Apologies for my slow musing. Life has been busy on the home and church front, and doesn’t look like slowing down.
The Good
The family and I enjoyed an off weekend and it was good to have the local ‘Bish’ John Fischer visit KVC.
The spaces on the flow chart, which we plan to kick off with in mid June are fast filling up…we have point leaders for Prayer, Care, Kids Church, Feeding, Missions, Evangelism and Social Justice and Youth.
We are planning an all night prayer meeting on the 21st at church house, perhaps combined with a super 14 semi final. More to follow in the bulletin on Sunday.
The Bad (not really – this should read the encouraging, but that wouldn’t rhyme…)
There are people considering and praying about stepping up to lead; Worship, Small Groups, and Counselling. Bruce Worrall is still collecting Administrative glitches from the congregation on Sunday – please be forthcoming with suggestions and complaints, we are very far from where we need to be.
The Ugly
Praying for leaders in Maintenance, Housekeeping and Admin, Education, Social and Welcome / follow up.
During times of prayer yesterday with Andy and also with the intercession group in the evening, there was an overriding sense of the spiritual climate ‘hotting up.’ God appears to be ‘on us’ at a level we have not experienced in some time. This is seen particularly during ministry time. The progress with kids church, and the coming forward of leaders for various ministries.
Along with this degree of ‘renewal,’ there has been a significant kick back in the form of relational conflict. I have to mediate in two meetings this week. One is between two parties and one involves a group of no less than 10 people.
Conflict in and of itself is never wrong, it is a part of life…what we do with it however is directly linked to our Kingdom lives and values. I am shocked at the levels of animosity that exist in pockets of church life and I am equally shocked at the ‘un-grace’ (if I may call it that) that the conflict is handled with.
It is never right to shout at, insult, belittle, prescribe to or, threaten other members of the body of Christ.
I would ask for ongoing prayer as I mediate into these areas of conflict. Please pray for wisdom, authority, strength and faith.
It is not my ‘bent’ to share with you only ‘rah-rah’ stories and encouragement. My appeal to the congregation at this time (beyond prayer) is this:
Disagreements happen. But the manner in which we are to resolve our conflicts is extremely important. Conflict can become the catalyst to greater understanding, intimacy and depth of relationship, or it can bring anger, bitterness and broken relationships.
Proverbs 17:27, ‘A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even tempered.’
Words can be used as tools to build or weapons to destroy…
I appeal to all to be builders, rather than breakers.
Seek reasons to encourage rather than to criticise.
Lord have Mercy
Melt
Tuesday evening 16h32, 20 April 2010
Evening all,
The first two days of this week have flown by in a blur of activity. My own week has been significantly better than last week. Looking at the number of hands that went up when I asked how many had been experiencing a difficult week, I do feel I need to issue a word of warning.
Without wanting to give inordinate time to that old liar, old sooty foot, I do feel we need to be ‘on our guard’ as Paul warns us to. Collectively God is doing stuff in our midst and we need to be aware of a kick back. Check your relationships at home, check your relationships at work, and check your relationships in the church, because that will be the area (mostly) which he targets.
In time I will do some teaching on spiritual warfare, but now is probably not the right time. Suffice it to say that we pray a prayer of protection over us all.
Psalm 91 reminds us that if we dwell in the shelter of the most high God, we will be OK.
‘Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, we ask for your protection and for your guidance. We ask too that we will be the one’s encroaching on enemy territory, rather than cowering in the face of the adversary. We pray that the evil one will flee at the sight and sound of the advancing church, because of Jesus.’
Sleep tight
Melt
Monday 19 April 2010 (part two)
Two in one day…how about that?
Based on a number of words received this past Sunday, including the one I shared from Isaiah 43:18-19… which someone else had received as well…
‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’
…and this one sent to me today;
‘Look at the people around you; these are the people I have given you in this church. No one is here by mistake. Look out for these people. I have given you each other to look after one another. Look sympathetically toward each other. This is your church. Worship me together. If you take the time you will find the reason I have brought you together and the ways in which you can bless each other, heal each other, inspire one another. Look beyond the faces to the lives and the individual stories. You will discover the gold I have woven into everyone’s life and the way in which you complement each other. Build each other up. Love one another. Be considerate to each other. These are the people I have given you. Don’t look for different people, and don’t run each other down. This is your church. This is your spiritual story. I have brought you together for good reason. This is not a random collection of people. These are the people I have put in your story. Look at the people around you. ‘
…and these few I have been holding onto for some time…
‘Strengthen that which remains’... ‘Love those who are here’… ‘Watch this space’…
…I will from heron in be going out of my way not to refer to the past except in as far as it is to recognize the good, the landmarks, the memorials, the spiritual highlights and the good stuff.
It is God’s time for us to start a new journey from the place we are presently standing. This has been confirmed by too many for it not to be of the Spirit.
The past had to be dealt with, which I am convinced it has been, let’s together look to the new thing that God is doing.
Come Holy Spirit
Agape
Melt
Monday Morning 19 April
Morning all,
God is on the move, and we are earnestly praying for leaders in various areas. I will attempt to load the flow chart as I had it on Sunday during the service onto the website, but with my IT proficiency there are no guarantees!
For want of a better word I will refer to various ministries as ‘departments’. We have department heads covered for:
Prayer (Urshi)
Care (Thy)
Sharing love, food vouchers and benevolence (Kees and Henny)
Some departments have people under consideration, or praying about whether they feel the call to the specific ministry. We should have clarity on their status shortly. These would include:
Youth
Kids Church
Mission, evangelism and social justice
Worship
Small groups
Some departments are really a ‘wish list’. Although there may be a few things happening in those areas, there is not a champion for the cause. Every ministry needs a ‘champion.’ Would you think and pray through whether God may be calling you to:
Social
Maintenance and housekeeping
Counselling
Education
Beyond these vacancies, there are a number of areas in the ‘missions’ department that still need to come into being. Oasis, as a ministry is well covered by their own leadership team, but many of you may be wondering what ‘conspiracy of kindness’ is for e.g. I won’t be telling you unless you ask me, particularly as we are still ‘learning to serve’ in our long obedience in the same direction.
Please do not step up to the plate unless you are convinced that a particular department or ministry makes you come alive to yourself! We are into gift and passion orientated ministry – not into filling slots. Also, please assess your own spiritual space and check out scriptures relating to the call to eldership and diaconate.
As mentioned on Sunday the reason we are going this route is twofold:
1) The invitation is for the church to become the church, as following Jesus is never a spectator sport.
2) Leadership is a shared endeavour. We want by end May to have broadened the church leadership to effectively around 20 people.
To close today’s ramblings, just a very short note on the care ministry that Thy will be heading up. ‘Care’ is a very full word that probably needs to be unpacked a bit.
I want to differentiate it from counselling. Care would be things like:
1) Ongoing prayer ministry sometimes flowing out of Sunday ministry time – but (NB) differentiated from counselling. Prayer is NOT counselling. In time there will be a counselling ministry.
2) Care would involve referring people to the counselling department, when it becomes apparent that counselling is needed.
3) Care would involve meals to families where a mother or father is hospitalised, or ill for an extended period of time.
4) It may involve lifts to and from doctors or hospitals.
5) Care would involve house visitation.
If you feel called to any of the above, please make contact with Thy Cameron.
There is a modern RC hymn that goes something along the lines of:
‘I the LORD of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry,
I have wept for love of them,
Whom shall I send?’
I leave you then with that as a thought.
Chistos Anesti
Thursday 15 April, 2010
Evening all. Brian, Costa and I have just returned from a two day Alpha conference, which was well worth attending.
Much of the conference had to do with visioning, which was just as well, particularly given the fact that this Sunday sees us visiting our own values and vision. Our core values (as Vineyard and as Kenilworth) need to be revisited again and again, as does our vision. If this doesn’t happen, the vision just becomes a catchy phrase on the bulletin, or website.
In case you have forgotten, our vision is: Gather, Grow & Give. Remember?
Please think through what this means. Please pray through what it means; so that by the time Sunday comes the Holy Spirit will be stirring up a ‘vision’ for local church in you.
Vision is (unfortunately) something that has to be preached over and over and revisited again and again, if we are to become what God intends for us to become.
The quicker we all ‘catch it’ the quicker I’ll stop preaching it! So, please catch it quickly, because I’d really hate to be saying the same thing week in and week out (:
‘Knowledge comes, but wisdom lingers’ Alfred Lord Tennyson
Blessings
Melt
Monday 12 April 2010
I am humbled at what God appears to be doing amongst us on Sunday’s. Sunday past saw us release the ‘prayer team’ into ministry. (Please do not think that this lets us off the hook!). Prayer is communal, and prayer is often hard graft…keep praying even if your prayer life seldom rises above O God, O God, O God…
Three words were brought before the church on Sunday. Two were from KVC members and were both words of encouragement to keep moving in the same direction, as God is with us by his Spirit.
The third word was from an occasional visitor who is part of a neighbouring Christian community. He shared with me after the message and ministry that he had felt slightly disengaged from the service, as KVC is not his ‘home community.’ The particular person has just returned from IHOP where he heard God fairly clearly for the church in Cape Town.
As he was sitting there ‘disengaged’ from my message (cheek) he felt God saying to him…’I didn’t send you all the way to Kansas to sit here and disengage from the body of Christ. I want you to know that I feel these people’s pain, because they love me, and I want you to watch ‘this space’ and to see what I am going to do in them and through them.’
I took this as a very big word of encouragement to us.
From my own vantage point, I am finding God inspiring me in areas where I am usually not naturally inclined, nor gifted, which leads me to believe it is definitely God.
In the area of my own passion and gifting I am beginning to feel a real inspiration when preaching the word.
I put this down to a number of things:
1. The ‘fit’ is right and we are all God’s people for such a time as this.
2. The prayer before and during services.
Equally inspiring is the ministry time renewal we are presently experiencing, which I put down to the same.
A word / prayer of caution: ‘Lord, we take nothing, absolutely nothing, for granted. Please continue to bless and use us, as we continue to seek your face.’
A small request.
Please try not to make appointments for the coming week with me on a Sunday after I’ve preached, or to talk church ‘business’ relating to the coming week with me. Preaching, like worship, ministry time and prayer, is a spiritual endeavour, and I am usually pretty drained after a Sunday service.
It’s really a time for us all to ‘hang out together’ over coffee and just talk…please don’t take offence at this request. Let’s leave the business side of church for business hours. I am in office, Tuesday through Thursday and also try to respond to all my messages on mobile. Sunday is pastoral and fellowship space.
As we move towards visioning Sunday please start asking the Lord, what he is laying on your heart for us.
Agape
Melt
Thursday 8 April
Dear flock
Do not fear that I have slowed down during my midlife crisis, nor that I have got off to a ‘reasonable start’, but have now dropped the ball (like Nakelavuki) over the line…My ramblings will be sporadic.
During busy times I may only muse one or two days in the week (as per last week and this week) and during times of reflection I may well put something out daily.
Andy and the Youth had a great weekend over the 26th and 27th of March in Betty’s Bay, where they teamed up with youth components from Stellenbosch and Pinelands Vineyard. There were a number of young guys who made first time commitments to Jesus on this camp and a strong outpouring of the Spirit during ministry.
Thanks to Andy, Josh, Jenna, Luke, Teresa and Sue, for the effort that is put into this group.
It is essential that we hand over the baton of faith to the next generation.
Thanks also to all involved in Kids Church. Whilst we are still seeking a ‘champion’ to head up this ministry, the commitment of all involved is evident. Thank you.
The Keetmanshoop Mission was a great blessing. I will not be giving any feedback in this musing, because Sunday will see Keith doing a short feedback and presentation on the trip and the church community in Keetmans.
I understand that Easter weekend on the home front was blessed and that Easter Friday at the Milandri’s and Sunday in church were well attended.
In my own heart and mind there is a picture taking shape of a ‘new’ and very much expanded leadership structure that will see up to 25 people being involved in ‘leading’ the church. I want to run it by the LT as it presently is on Tuesday next and then perhaps share briefly with the church by the following Sunday.
I would also like, at that time, to address the way in which we break bread and hold out a different possibility.
This Sunday sees a return to ‘A long obedience in the same direction’ with the theme of ‘Learning to Live.’
Saying for today:
‘Elvis has left the building.’
Christos Kurios
Melt
Monday 29 March 2010
I am reminded that in many Christian traditions this week is regarded as ‘holy week.’ The week in which the passion of Jesus Christ is remembered. For Christians, every day is Christmas, Passover and Pentecost, but it is still well worth while placing ‘pegs’ of remembrance in the ground.
So, you may well find it Spiritually renewing to contemplate the last week of Jesus life up to crucifixion, starting today.
To help you here are some gospel readings for this week:
Monday
Matthew 26:20-25
Matthew 26:31-35
Tuesday
Mark 14:32-41
Matthew 26:47-52
Wednesday
Luke 22:54-62
Matthew 27:20-26
Thursday
Mark 15:16-20
John 18 -19:42
Please remember the Good Friday retreat that will be run by Sergio Milandri in Hout Bay. If you are not away over the Easter weekend. Details below:
Easter Friday Retreat : Dying with Christ.
If we have died with Christ, we also live with him. If we don’t know what it means to die daily, can we really life fully in Christ?
Easter Friday from 12 noon to 3pm
At Sans Pareil.
#1 Welbevind Way corner Valley Road, Hout Bay
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