News and Events
Ladies Day at Jane's home
Jenny, Eileen, Melanie and Thea have been feeling that a get-together for fellowship would be good at Good Shepherd. One afternoon Melanie suggested that we have a Ladies’ Day for the women from GS where we could fellowship and enjoy one another. We felt it very important that EVERYone be included and were delighted when so many from so far turned up! We can truly thank our God that his Holy Spirit has enabled us to enjoy harmonious fellowship at GS.
We were very grateful that when Eileen phoned Jane V-C and asked if we could use her house as a venue, she immediately agreed and we took it as a sign that God was guiding us in the right direction!
Thirty five ladies attended the tea on the most perfect day. Like so often in the past, we were blessed with perfect weather. All had a wonderful time of food and fellowship. Melanie's "ice-breaker "gave us all a good laugh. We were grateful to Jo who gave us several copies of the Revd Brenda Payne's book of poetry called "Women of the Bible" to distribute to the guests.
Many thanks to Jane for opening her lovely home to us.
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Welcome back to the New Good Shepherd Church - 27 June 2010
(an address of thanksgiving given by from Derrick Burns at the first service held in the chapel after the building renovation)
Welcome home to the new Good Shepherd church. This is truly a red letter day and a milestone in the incredible journey of this small community. It is a journey which started not 3 or 30 thirty years ago, but 130 years ago and far from being completed, this is only a milestone, since I firmly believe we are now on the threshold of a new phase of this journey, with a beautifully enlarged and transformed church.
There will be other occasions to offer thanks but at this our first service, there are certain thanks which need to be acknowledged. Firstly, this has been achieved through a massive communal effort in which the entire congregation contributed in various ways and it has been achieved by the grace of God and for His glory. But I need to acknowledge the leadership and skills which have directed the project. To Andrew Wilson for raising the necessary funds within a year, to Binci Clark for the beautiful architectural design, to Brian Lindsay (please note the very sad news at the end of this article) for his engineering expertise and project management, to Gerard Wigram for taking us to the brink of bankruptcy but saving us from falling over the edge, and last but not least to Judi Tippett for quietly and efficiently managing the formidable task of moving out and moving back during the middle of a Cape winter. At 10am yesterday few would have believed the church would be ready by today, with an empty shell, paint still wet on the walls and workmen finishing off the interior. But what we experienced was a turnout of a large number of our parishioners, who worked with exceeding joyfulness, delighting not only in the fellowship with eachother, but also in the awe and sense of ownership of what had been created. The result has been the presentation of this beautiful new church, including glorious flowers provided and arranged by Dawn Findlay and Jane Verster Cohen, for this thanksgiving Eucharist today.
We do however need to remember that a church is really about the people and not about bricks and mortar. But we have now replaced this historic church which was falling down, with an expanded and beautifully restored place of worship, which will stand for another 100 years and this is highly symbolic. It is a visible tribute and testimony to the faith and resilience of a community which survived the hurt and injustices of the past, whose faith and loyalty never faltered and who, through a process of reconciliation, have enabled transformation to a new Good Shepherd family with a new church, ready to move forward.
So we urge you to enjoy what you have created, enjoy worshiping in this beautiful church under the mountain and let us work together and move forward as a community with whatever God plans.
Thanks be to God.
Dear Good Shepherd Family
It is with great sadness that I write to tell you of the sudden passing of Brian Lindsay today (Monday). He had a meeting with Binci at the church, and then went into Cape Town to complete the work he had to do before leaving for Bangladesh tomorrow. He collapsed and died in central Cape Town.
Please keep Pat and all their family in your prayers. May God comfort them in their great loss.
The shock of Brian’s death is huge, but we are grateful that Brian was able to enjoy our great celebration of homecoming yesterday. He was so determined that we should be back in the church yesterday, and we see God’s hand in this. Our beautiful church will always bear witness to Brian’s hard work and commitment throughout the building operation.
With love in Christ.
Jo Tyers
BOWLS DAY BUILDING FUND RAISER – SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2009
Bowls Day was held last Sunday and what a good time was had by all. Special thanks must go to the stars of the day -- the team in the kitchen -- who cooked, braaied, made endless coffee and tea as well as ending the day with cake for the weary bowlers and cheer-leaders -- all this done with a smile on their faces. And, of course thanks to the "Wilson Team" -- Andrew and Jenny who were the inspiration behind the day and worked incredibly hard towards ensuring its success. The winning team included Gerrard Wigram, Anne Trevor (who has a 'mean turn' on the bowl) and Alma Johnston.
PS -- our resident Priest-in-Charge stole the Cheer-leader prize despite not dressing in the right gear!
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David Adams showing fine form |
Do these cheer-leaders look a little glum? |
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Graham & David Adams chatting with John Gardener |
Chair of the Fund-raising Committee (Andrew Wilson) showing some skill |
MYSTERY LUNCH
We extend our heartfelt and grateful thanks to Derrick Burns for once again organising this special event on our social calendar. Thank you to each person who attended, to all members who sponsored tickets, to the people of St Saviour’s who do so much for Good Shepherd behind the scenes, to Aiden Carelse for his transport services and to all who offered a lift to someone else – this day was a success because of your participation. The lunch was held at the stunningly beautiful Elgin Country Club on a perfect Cape winter's day. Beautiful views, excellentcompany and delicious food. What a wonderful day out.
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John Gardiner aand Michael de Lisle -- are they reminiscing about their days as Rhodes scholars? |
Andrew Wilson, Robina Bryant, Brian Lyndsay and Colin McCarthy. Is this the queue for coffee? |
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Photos of different table groups -- they have been persuaded by Thea, our photographer to pose - and they all look pretty happy to do so! |
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More "lunchers" including a photo of the"ORGANISER" (3rd back, bottom left), Derrick Burns. |
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Prayers for the month
A prayer of adoration
Lord, it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint
Yet I love Thee and adore
O for grace to love Thee more. Amen.
A prayer for spiritual growth
O Holy Spirit, giver of light and life,
impart to me thoughts higher than my own thoughts
and prayers better than my own prayers,
and powers beyond my own powers,
that I may spend and be spent in the ways of love and goodness,
after the image of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
A prayer of thanksgiving
Dear Lord, we thank you for the splendour of the whole creation,
for the beauty of this world,
for the wonder of life and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends,
and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us tasks which demand our best efforts,
and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures
that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ,
for the truth of his word and the example of his life,
for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation,
for his dying through which he overcame death
and for his rising to life again,
in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit,
that we may know Christ and make him known,
and through him, at all times and in all places,
may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
(from the prayer book of the Episcopal church)
A prayer for those who are sick
Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of the sheep,
you gather the lambs in your arms and carry them in your bosom:
we commend to your loving care all who are sick.
Relieve their pain, guard them from all danger,
restore to them your gifts of gladness and strength,
raise them up to a life of service to you.
Hear us we pray for your dear names sake. Amen.
A prayer for Africa
God bless Africa
Guide our children
Guard our leaders
And give us peace
For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
