St Kiaran's

Chronicle

Behold I make all things new .....

Rev: 21:5

FEBRUARY 2016

While thinking about the theme for this first

magazine of 2016, which always seems to
call for the recognition of a New Year
bringing new opportunities, new experiences
and new challenges, our cover photograph by
Brian Suter of the wonderful transformation
which has taken place at Silvermine following
the devastating fires in 2015 reminded me
that our God brings beauty for ashes, not
only in nature after fire, but in our lives as
well.
May we grow in grace, knowledge and
fellowship this year.
Mary Suter - Editor

But as it is written:
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him.
1 Cor 2:9

NKJV

A NEW YEAR WITH NEW POSSIBILITIES

Dear family and friends of St Kiarans
Heres a New Years resolution I found in a Wikipedia article 1 on New
Years resolutions:
Resolve to renew all your old resolves, and add a few that are
new. Resolve to keep them as long as you can,what more can a poor
man do.
This sounds like an exercise in futility and frustration! And little wonder, since we constantly
struggle to hold things together at the best of times. With regard to the success rate of New
Years resolutions, that same article says in one place:
A 2007 study by Richard Wiseman from the University of Bristol involving
3,000 people showed that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail,
despite the fact that 52% of the study's participants were confident of success
at the beginning. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged
in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as,
a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10%
more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends
Someone may be saying: Perhaps my resolution should be that at some point during 2016 I will
go get that thing I dropped under the bed. This is vague enough and has a time-frame that is
long enough for them to be successful and feel like they have achieved something! I joke, of
course.
I think that if we were to make any resolution at all, it would be to live for Jesus one day at a
time. As we do, we can rest assured that we are in Gods hands and are in a position to
encounter new possibilities in Christ...one day at a time. Lamentations 3:22-23 is very helpful in
this regard, reminding us that the The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies
never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (ESV).
New every morning We are invited to enter each new day this year with the understanding
that what awaits us is a fresh start as Gods children. This reality exists because we are granted
the assurance, not only of Gods steadfast love, but his tender mercies or grace, if you will.
Grace that is new. Or to put it better, grace that will never lose its shelf-life or its purpose: to
enable us to enjoy a covenant relationship with the Father and live effectively for his gloryone
day at a time!
Just For Today (Author unknown)
Lord, for tomorrow and its needs, I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin, Just for today!
Now, set a seal upon my lips, For this I pray;
Keep me from wrong, or idle words, Just for today!
Let me be slow to do my will, Prompt to obey;
And keep me, guide me, use me, Lord, Just for today!
May God bless us and guide us as together we journey through this year.
With much love
Mike

1 Https:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/new_year%27s_resolution

REPORT TO ST KIARAN'S SESSION MEETING JAN. 2016

MASIPHUMELELE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2015 ended on a very low note in Masiphumelele. The congregation was exhausted
and depressed after the terrible events at the end of September in the community
with the rapes, murders, drug problems and allegations of poor policing, as well as
the November fire which destroyed so many homes. All the people wanted was
their Christmas holiday and going off to the Eastern Cape. We in Fish Hoek will
never realise the tensions and threats all in the community faced. I kept in contact
with the elders and went into Masiphumelele only when allowed and when
instructed by the elders.
I am thankful for the support received from St Kiaran's.
2016 is however getting off to a smooth start:
Session met on 18th January.

Sunday services started again on 10th January and on the 17th there were
about 45 adults and 15 children present. We plan to hold the traditional annual
Mnqophiso/Covenant service on 31st January and are trying to invite a black
minister to lead the service. We pray this will set a standard of commitment for
the New Year.

A confirmation class begins on 14th February.

I plan to meet with the Associations to encourage them on their way for 2016.

Plans are being made to restart the Sunday School.

The Elders are meeting to prepare their work in the zones (Elders' districts).

The membership roll has been attested at 31 December and it shows a positive
growth since the middle of 2015.

I controlled the Finances in 2015. I plan now to work with a finance group and
hope that by mid-year much of this aspect of the work will be off my hands. For
2015, I have balanced the Cash Journal and the Bank Statements, but still need to
unite them into one Annual financial statement.
I wish to note how the Masiphumelele Elders have remained faithful to their calling
in the last difficult year and trust that they will remain consistent in 2016 in their
Christian service.
David van Duyker

Jawn the Luthier

I have recently discovered a whole new
field of exciting things to do. I decided I
would like to try playing the guitar and
along the way got side tracked into
building them. Hence Luthier... someone
who makes or repairs string instruments
generally consisting of a neck and a
sound box.
I discovered CBGs (Cigar Box Guitars) on
the internet which are generally 3 string guitars tuned to an open chord generally
G. (Although Barry Buret of Rocking Horse fame prefers open E tuning) An open
chord means you can play all the chords as barre chords. Another advantage of the
3 stringed CBG is that if the chord required is A, or A minor or A7 you merely play
the barre chord on the 2nd fret. CBGs started out in the 1800s in the USA and are
witnessing something of a modern revival on the East Coast of the USA in the UK
Australia and now in Fish Hoek. I have had great fun building them. Each one is
custom-made with proper frets on a 25 inch scale length. And tuned to GDG. To
date I have made 10 CBG some with magnetic pickups some with piezo pickups.
The cbg in the bottom of the picture has both, with a switch allowing individual or
a combination of the two pickups to be used. This is similar to the system found on
Fender guitars.
I have also branched out into making Ukeleles which to my untrained fingers seem
much easier and simpler to play. I think the difference is similar to the difference
between a Harley Davidson and a scooter. One requires
serious attention - the other is just fun to play with. I
found the travelling uke very interesting as it supposed
to be small and easily portable. This is achieved by
having tuning pegs situated in the body instead of the
neck with an
ingenious wrap
around for the strings at the rear of the
bridge. It allows for quiet practice without
disturbing anybody and if you wish to fill a
room with sound you can easily plug it into an amplifier. My most recent
construction is a curved body Ukelele with a proper under-saddle piezo pickup. The
construction is 3mm plywood on meranti formers with a laminated pine and
meranti neck. If anyone would like more info on these instruments please feel free
to contact me.

AFTER CHRISTMAS .....

After Christmas, in due course, comes Easter and Easter celebrations. But of
course just before Easter comes Good Friday and on that day in Cape Town people
flock to the City Hall to hear THE MESSIAH.
It may surprise some people to hear that the composer,
George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) ran into difficulties even
before this particular oratorio was performed. He was German,
living in London and his first English oratorio was ESTHER.
Oh my goodness, what a to-do.
Vulgar, vulgar, vulgar that the words of God should be
spoken in a theatre. (Yes, the first oratorios were performed, not in churches, but
in theatres.) The Bishop of London banned the work, so what did Handel do but
ask the Royal Family if he could put on a private performance for them. They loved
it! Good for Handel, who was a devout Christian.
Handels next big work was ISRAEL IN EGYPT advertised on posters round
London. It wasnt long before the adverts were torn down by irate Christians.
A wealthy friend, appreciative of Handels genius, asked him to compose a
work on the significance of Christs life. Putting aside his original reluctance, he set
to and in 24 days The Messiah was completed. Now there was a fuss about the
so-called blasphemous title which Handel, no doubt by this time thoroughly
irritated, altered to A New Sacred Oratorio. It was premiered in Dublin. When it
was performed in London the King, moved by the words and music (or so the story
goes) stood up in the Hallelujah Chorus. And when the King stands up, so must
his subjects they mustnt remain seated! So a tradition was born which we and
many others, even living in a republic, still follow because the person we are
honouring is the Messiah
Back to Cape Town. Once again, the Philharmonia Choir (+/-120 amateur
singers) will put their heart and soul into the performance. This choir has been
called The jewel in Cape Towns musical crown and was founded by the late John
Badminton in 1967. Since 2013 the overall director has been Richard Haigh. This
year the conductor is Vetta Wise and the Good Friday performance will be on 25 th
March at 19.30. I wonder how many Philharmonia singers come from Fish Hoek?
Lucy Centlivres

This is Lin Kent's Story ......

To start at the beginning, I was born in Piketberg on 9 th November 1926, the youngest
daughter of five children. My father, Melt van der Spuy, was
a land surveyor and mother, Margaret, well known in the
wild flower world with a Watsonia called after her (Watsonia
v d Spuy). The plant was found growing on the Piketberg
mountains.
In 1935 my mother decided their five children had
to go to better schools and we were packed up and moved
to Cape Town, settling in Rondebosch. There I started my
education in Oakhurst Junior, not understanding nor
speaking a word of English. Soon I transferred to Jan van
Riebeeck School in Cape Town, then on to the first Afrikaans
school, Groot Schuur, which was started in Rondebosch. In fact it was started in the hall of the
N.G. Kerk. In 1939 I was sent to boarding school at Bloemhof Girls' School in Stellenbosch. By
now my English had much improved and I was able to matriculate with a university pass, with
both English and Afrikaans Taalbond. I entered UCT to study Social B.A. but changed my course
to Trigonometrical Survey. I started my working life with Trig. Survey in Mowbray during the
WW2 years, then transferred to Pretoria Trig. Survey, eventually moving on to Livingstone,
Northern Rhodesia in 1954.
My move was by train with all my possessions. A Singer treadle sewing machine,
carefully packed in a box, my golf bag with clubs, tennis racquet and hockey stick. Unfortunately
it was so hot and humid that I only continued with my golf. My whole reason for moving to
Livingstone was to join the newly established office of the Survey Department where I had been
accepted as a mapmaker - i.e. from aerial photos.
Playing on a 9-hole golf course with no grass on the putting greens was a new
experience. The surface was covered in a sediment of grey coal and oil (from Wankie coal mine).
It did not take long for Ron and I to meet on the golf course. He had moved from
Hastings, England to join a legal firm in Livingstone. Within a year and a half we were engaged
and then married in Pretoria in the N.G. Kerk where the Dominee kindly did the whole wedding
service in English for Ron's sake. Three sons were born - Anthony in an old bungalow and Robert
and Colin in a brand new hospital.
In 1966 the family, plus dog, relocated to Cape Town by train for political reasons,
although Ron stayed on for a year to pass on his legal practice.
We had by then been members of the Presbyterian Church in Livingstone. Ron and the
boys found it difficult to follow the Afrikaans in the N.G. Kerk. Having arrived in Fish Hoek where
we planned to live we contacted Rev Glen Craig and joined St Kiaran's where the boys went to
Sunday school and Ron became an elder. I joined the Women's Fellowship where I am still a
member.
Ron and I were invited to join the Manse support group to experience occasional
weekend retreats away. David and Linda were new and we enjoyed our time together by walking,
swimming and having communion, and prayer meetings with the others in the group.
Our boys did their army training and Ron and I moved to Kalk Bay. We lived there for
about ten years where Ron had a stroke and died on the 5th October 2005.
I continued living in our home for three years but was encouraged by my sons to sell my
place and move into Nerina Gardens where I have happily been for the last seven years. My flat
is my home and is conveniently near our church, shops and beach.
Our sons have now also returned from various places where they had worked i.e.
Azerbaijan and Fujairah, Dubai and all live close by now.
I've been blessed with four beautiful healthy great-grandsons and only wish Ron was
here to share them with me.
Lin Kent

Watsonia News
The genus Watsonia was established in
1758 by the Scottish botanist Philip Miller (16911771) to honour the English naturalist and
physician, Sir William Watson (1715-1787). The
Dane C.F. Ecklon and the German C.L. Zeyher
were the first to record W. vanderspuyiae in the
mountains near Tulbagh in the 1820s, but it was
only formally described in 1926 by the Cape Town
botanist Dr Louisa Bolus.
She named the species for Mrs Melt van
der Spuy, a resident of Piketberg, who provided
flowering material for the botanical description. The pressed material is
preserved in the Bolus Herbarium at the University of Cape Town.

February's Recipe!
Eton Mess!!
is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries or bananas, pieces of
meringue, and cream, which is
traditionally served at Eton College's
annual cricket game against the pupils
of Harrow School. The dish has been
known by this name since the 19th
century. According to Recipes from the
Dairy (1995) by Robin Weir who spoke
to Eton College's librarian, Eton mess
was served in the 1930s in the school's
"sock shop" (tuck shop), and was
originally made with either strawberries
or bananas mixed with ice-cream or
cream. Meringue was a later addition,
and may have been an innovation by
Michael Smith, the author of Fine English Cookery (1973).

Ingredients
1 punnet strawberries
a dash of sugar
a dash of port
meringues, broken up
cream, softly whipped

Preparation method
Mash the strawberries with a little sugar and port, and fold in broken meringues and
softly whipped cream.
Couldn't be easier! Good for this hot weather in strawberry-time!
Delicious once enjoyed by the Suter Home Group, courteously prepared by Jeanette
Goosen

News From Heather and Jeanette

Dear Friends,
Even though Christmas has come and gone and
almost a forgotten event, we would like to give you an
update of what took place. We closed the bookshop at 5
p.m. on the 24th December and then shared a meal
with a large group of folks from the church that evening
but we all left early as the next day there was a lot of
preparation to do for the Christmas programme held in
the public square in Mamoudzou. It was well attended
by a crowd that was very attentive and we praise the
Lord for all those who heard the real meaning of
Christmas. Pray with us for those who heard that the
Holy Spirit will do His work in their hearts.
On New Year's Eve we had a bring and share
meal at the church and a good time of fun and
fellowship. After that we concentrated on having a rest before we opened the bookshop again on
the 12th January so we are now back into full swing with all our activities. We had to cancel our
Outreach meeting last week at Koungou, unfortunately, as our rainy season is now in full swing
with its torrential downpours and as we do it in the open we have to cancel it when it rains. At
the same time we are very grateful for the rain as we now no longer have water restrictions.
We thank you for your prayers for us for good health and strength so that we can
continue to accomplish all that the Lord has given us to do especially with our increased teaching
responsibilities in the church.
Heather and Jeanette

St Kiaran's Children's Ministry

Good news! Although growth is slow, more children are gradually coming to church, and the
time has come to start another class. Lee Faulkner and Herman Strydom have jumped
aboard with enthusiasm. They were steamrollered with some training
and have spent a few weeks helping me, and are going to be
responsible for the grades 1 to 3. Their love for God and for the
children is very evident in their interaction with them, and I pray that
their service may bring joy to both them and the children.
On 7 February we are planning to have a breakfast on the beach before
church - hopefully the Southeaster gives us some respite! A family fun
evening is being planned for March, and the whole church is invited.
Watch this space!
Eva van Belle

Connor "helping" Mom

St Kiaran's Presbyterian Church Phumlani Educare Centre

The Masiphumelele community during the last period has been beset by great unrest, rioting, a
murder or two and a serious fire affecting the homes of about 1000 people. Through it all the
Centre's work has continued.
Here is a short extract from Eva's newsletter on this valuable work:
These past six months I spent two mornings at Phumlani instead of one: on Monday morning I
did my usual ad hoc educational support and managing the visit to Sinethemba Special Care
Centre for our weekly play-date with the disabled children. These are such valuable times of
laughter and togetherness: all the children benefit. The best time was when someone treated us
to a drumming session. The music really energised and united the children.
Our involvement at Sinethemba has been severely curtailed
by the unrest, as I could not always be sure that I could
transport the children there and back safely. Most of the
children have coordination skills that are below par, and for
many years I have been wishing to remedy that. In July time
freed me up to spend Thursday mornings at Phumlani as well,
where I organised gross motor groups followed by a fine
motor activity for every class. These activities were based on
their learning theme for the week. Preparing and offering
these groups has been a lot of hard work but I have certainly
seen improvement. The children were certainly enthusiastic to
try all sorts of new activities and the staff have been exposed
to many new ideas which they can integrate into their own
lessons.
The sessions culminated in great movement sessions
centering around the Christmas story and all sorts of
Christmas crafts, which again led to play, the best learning
activity of early childhood.
Eva van Belle

Phumlani children on an outing to

Rondevlei reserve

SEEING THE INVISIBLE

(Ordinary people of Extraordinary Faith)
by Faith Cook
This book gives an account of the 'little people' or 'the background
people' or 'the low-profile people', who despite not receiving human
recognition in this world, are really Spiritual giants as far as their belief in God is concerned.
If Satan sometimes accuses you of not doing enough for the Lord, then this book is for you!
One of the most moving stories depicts the short life of Jane (12) a child who died of TB, but
rejoicing in Christ.
Another one focusses on the life of Elizabeth, wife of John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's
Progress). She was very much in her` husband's shadow, but her faith in God helped her
husband stand strong despite being persecuted.
Highly recommended.
Miranda Moisey

St. Kiarans Womens Fellowship

Our next meeting will be held on 24th February at 9.45am
when Beryl Thornley, the coordinator of the Womens
World of Prayer will be giving us a talk on the history of
the organization. All ladies are welcome to join us for the
talk and a cup of tea and fellowship in the church hall.

Womens World Day of Prayer

Womens World day of Prayer is held on the first Friday of March each
year. This year the 86th observance of the Day of Prayer will be celebrated on the
4th March at 10h30 at St. Kiarans who will be hosting the service. The Womens
Fellowship is co-ordinating the event and we would like as many of the
congregation to join us for the service and a cup of tea afterwards. The men folk
of the congregation are also very welcome to join us. This year Cuba has compiled
the programme and the theme is Receive children, receive Me.
The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian
women, men and children of many traditions who come together to observe a
common day of prayer on the first Friday in March each year. Many countries are
now calling the event World Day of Prayer to make it inclusive of all. WWDP brings
together people of various races, cultures and churches in fellowship and
understanding. In South Africa, the programme is translated into nine languages.
Cuba is an indigenous word that means cultivated land. Cuba was
inhabited by aborigines and in 1512 the Spaniards began to establish villages on
the island. Spain and the United States ruled the island for many years until the
revolution triumphed in 1959. Spanish is the official language.
Cubas national flower is the Butterfly Jasmin. The flower is known by its
delicacy and pleasant perfume: however it is also
a flower that reminds them of the resistance and
struggle for freedom by the people of Cuba. It
was used by women to hide messages in the
petals for the troops in the fields fighting the
Spanish colonists. Today it reminds them of the
commitment to be united in the building of Gods
Kingdom, giving fragrance and beauty to life.

Prayer Flames
Thursday 21 January I returned home from a course at 14.00 to find Elsie's
Peak engulfed in smoke, with an enormous ball of smoke exactly where our house
is. As we stay just below the hairpin bend that connects Contour and Mountain
Rds, it is immensely reassuring to have the fire truck parked right above our
garden. The battle was on! By dusk the fire seemed under control, and when I
went up to serve the fire fighters some coffee they assured me that i could sleep
peacefully.
That was not to be: at 2.30 I was woken up by an urgent call on the
Neighbourhood Watch 2-way radio and a lurid orange glow filled the bedroom.
There was a huge blaze right behind our house, and embers and bits of burning
vegetation flew over the house and garden in the strong wind. No fire fighters were
present, and we had some difficulty reaching them. Their arrival was a welcome
sight indeed!
There is a bit of waste land between my next door neighbours property and the
fire break, which is full of tinder dry sticks and dead vegetation. In addition, there
are two sizeable bushes on the fire break just above it. This stretch of land is
directly in line with the houses on Berg Rd. If the fire jumped the fire break there,
I would probably be safe as I was downwind from it, but those houses would be in
great danger. So I watched the roaring flames and prayed.
The next afternoon Jonathan and I went up to look. On of the bushes on the fire
break was burnt, the other not. Jonathan looked at the piece of waste ground and
shook his head it seemed impossible that the waste ground had not caught fire,
especially as embers had been flying all over it. Impossible? Not to God!
Eva van Belle
With our
grateful
thanks to
all our
heroes
who
fought the
fires!
Photo by Brian
Suter

St Kiaran's Presbyterian Church

Cnr. Central Circle and Recreation Road
P.O.Box 22146, Fish Hoek, 7974
Church Phone: 021 782 6118

Minister: Rev. Mike Muller

All are welcome at our

Regular Sunday Services
Sunday Worship Services at 9.30a.m. & 7p.m.
Holy Communion is served on the 1st Sunday of the month at both
services

CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS

Tuesdays: 11.45 a.m. in the Craig Room

Prayer is offered after services for healing or other needs, by members of

our Prayer Ministry

Prayers with our young people: as arranged .... or whenever you wish to
arrange times with fellow Christians.