St Francis e Letter 1st February 2015
This Sunday 1st February – 4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Sunday Duties: To see if you are on duty click here. Please notify the parish office if you are unable to do a duty. If possible arrange with some else to do your duty but please still notify the parish office. Readings: The lectionary readings for this Sunday 1st Februarty: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1: 21-28. 7.30 am Celebrant: Revd Jonathan Meintjes Sermon : Revd Jonathan Meintjes At 9.30 am Celebrant: Revd Maria Frahm-Arp Sermon: Revd Jonathan Meintjes Services during the week: Eucharists on Tues at 5.30 pm, Wed at 9.30 am and Fri at 7 am.
TOP INTERNATIONAL PIANIST TO PERFORM AT ST FRANCIS!
We are delighted to announce that leading German pianist, Florian Uhlig, will perform a solo recital at St Francis on Thursday 5 February 2015 at 19h30 as part of the 
Johannesburg International Mozart Festival, of which he is the artistic director. Mr Uhlig has a demanding recital schedule that takes him to places as diverse as the concert halls of Berlin, New York, London and Paris, Hong Kong and Reykjavik. We are privileged to have been given this opportunity by the JIMF. Tickets for the concert will be in great demand, so be sure to get yours early at the price of R 150 from Louise Frahm-Arp. Tel 083-275-7072, E-mail louise.frahmarp@gmail.com
CHORAL EVENSONG – 15th FEBRUARY 2015
On Sunday the 15th of February at 5.30 pm, organist Kevin Kraak and his selected choristers will sing a truly beautiful evensong. This an act of worship and serves to help us end one week and begin another on a truly beautiful note. Don’t miss it.
Youth Activity
Contact: Yvette: vettiwils@gmail.com
Rock n’ Roll: Every Sunday at 9.30 am Friday Nights: 4 pm for younger Youth and 6pm for older Youth NB Parents – Please drop/fetch your children within the parking area. Yvette can assist you with the code. Visit the Young Peoples page.
When our prayers for the sick seem unanswered – Thoughts from Maria
Luke 5:19-20 ‘When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ Jesus speaks to the paralysed man’s deepest fear. A fear that he has internalised because of the broken messages of the religious leaders who tried to make sense of suffering by arguing that it was God’s punishment for sin. As Reinhold Niebuhr (a twentieth century theologian) reminds us, we need to be wary of the slick theologies which package the mystery of God into a nice, neat, uncomplicated view of reality. For many Jews illness was considered a punishment for sin. By forgiving the man his sins, Jesus is not only proclaiming the truth about the Son of Man but giving the paralysed man what he most needs, peace of mind and a revelation of who he truly is: a man who is not weighed down and condemned by sin but is loved by God. Jesus is not saying that his sin had made him unwell quite the opposite – He was saying the religious laws which considered the sick man a sinner were oppressing him. As we pray for those who are ill, we need to ask for and trust that they will get what they truly need – the ability to fully understand that they are the beloved of Christ. For us this is sometimes so hard because we think our prayers have only ‘worked’ when the patient is healed physically. But we know that life is so much more than just our physical reality. The most important thing is our understanding of ourselves in the eyes of God – perfectly made in order to be in continual relationship with Him.
Baptism and Confirmation Courses
Baptism Classes: Baptism dates for 2015 are on Sundays 12 April, 16 August and 22 November. The first course will begin in February. There will be a meeting on Sunday 8th February at 11.15 am for those who are considering joining the course. The purpose of the meeting is to find a time suitable for the baptism group. Confirmation Classes: These classes will begin on Sunday 15th February at 11.15 am. For both of the above groups please contact the parish office from 8.30 am to 1 pm Monday to Fridays to give your names and contact details. (011) 646-2660.
EASTER CRAFT MARKET
An Easter Craft Market will be held in the Church gardens on Sunday 22 March 2015. Parishioners who have a creative hobby eg painting, sculpting, sewing, baking, woodwork are invited to participate. Part of the proceeds to be donated to the Church, and you are asked to limit the sales price of your items to R200 or less.
