St Francis e Letter 15th February 2015
This Sunday 15th February – Last 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 15th February 2015: 2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9.
7.30 am Celebrant: Revd Tim Gray Sermon : Revd Tim Gray
At 9.30 am Celebrant: Revd Tim Gray Sermon: Revd Maria Frahm-Arp
Please note: Services during this week are Eucharists on Tues at 5.30 pm, Ash Wednesday at 7 am, 9.30 am and 7 am; Fri at 7 am.
CONFIRMATION CLASSES: Confirmation Classes for young people will begin after the 9.30 service this Sunday 15 February (16 years is the minimum age for confirmation). Adult classes for baptism and confirmation will be in the evening. Please notify the parish office as soon as possible if you are interested in either of the groups.
VESTRY MEETING:
The Annual Parish Vestry Meeting will take place immediately after the 9.30 am service on Sunday 1st March. The agenda is posted in the church but its main business is to receive the reports of the Rector and Church wardens on the state of the parish; to adopt the audited accounts for 2014 and to approve the 2015 budget; and to elect the Church Wardens and Parish Council for the current year. Please note that nomination lists for the election of church wardens and councillors are at the back of the church.
SHROVE TUESDAY: Join us for this Pancake event on the eve of Ash Wednesday. The making of pan cakes symbolises the removal of old leaven. The evening lasts from 18:00 to 19:30.
ASH WEDNESDAY EUCHARISTS: There will be 3 Eucharists with the imposition of ashes at 7am, 9.30 am and 7pm.
These services mark the beginning of Lent and a special period of discipline and reflection for the Christian. Please consider joining one of the Lent Groups. (See notice below)
There are five Sundays in Lent leading up to Holy Week. During Holy Week Bishop Brian Germond will preach on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Day.
LENTEN STUDY GROUPS will start at the beginning of Lent (Ash Wednesday is on the 18th February.)
There are groups at the church on Monday evenings and Wednesday Mornings, on Wednesday evening in Parkview and at Darrenwood, and Tuesday evenings in Emmarentia. Please put your name on the poster at the back of the church. More details from Cally at 0829015857.
Elijah and Depression – A Reflection from Maria Frahm-Arp
1 Kings 19: 4b-5
He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
We might reach great heights in our careers, or experience real insight into God, or do wonderful acts of charity for other people – all things that are like Elijah’s proclamation of YHWH as the one true God in front of King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. But after these great moments the world often spins out of control and we are left feeling frail, weak and even depressed. We may also go from the joys of good health to the difficulties of ill health, old age or depression. In these God speaks to us as He did to Elijah. Just like Elijah we initially don’t hear God. We are so tired that we just need rest and God lets us rest. So if you are at a stage where you are too tired to pray – God understands and He will be with you just as He was with Elijah allowing him to sleep. God will also supply the ‘cake and water’ that we need. For many of us today the ‘nourishment’ we need is given to us by medical professionals who give us the medication we need so that we are slowly strengthened. Finally dealing with depression or recovering form illness is a long term thing, just as it was for Elijah but the timing is in God’s hands. For each of us our 40 days and nights in the desert differ in chronological time but it is always the right amount of time for us in God’s plan. After receiving rest, being given nourishment and time alone in the desert God brings us to a place where He is able to reveal Himself more fully to us. Just as He reveals Himself to Elijah in a deeper way than he had ever known Him. And here as we know, God is not in the dramatic, the unattainable or the destructive, but He is in the healing, quiet, accessible spaces of everyday life – the silence of our own hearts. Nothing can make the struggle of depression easier, the only thing we can cling to as we go through these ‘valleys of the shadow of death’ or desert spaces, is that God is there with us and at the end, whenever it is, we will find the peace of God which passes all understanding.
AN EASTER CRAFT MARKET will be held in the Church gardens on Sunday 22 March 2015. Parishioners who have a creative hobby are invited to participate. Part of the proceeds to be donated to the Church.
MEN’S CLOTHING REQUIRED: Our Community Worker Eunice requires clothing & shoes for the homeless.
ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE IN PARKVIEW: Large sunny home with four bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, double garage, lounge, dining-room, breakfast room, etc. Rental R16,000 per month. Available from 1 February 2015: phone 011 646 7159 or 072 279 1560.
WANTED:
IRON: Siphiwe would like to start an ironing business if someone can donate an iron.
COOLER BOX: Derek is looking for a cooler box for his roadside business.
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.
you may want to consider updating who will be conducting the services on Holy Week
I’m sure this will be done closer to the time. Keep an eye on the duty rosters.