1

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

(I apologize in advance for the

length of this letter, but it deals

with a very important issue that

strikes right at the heart of our

congregation’s current state and

lived experience. Please bear

with me…)

Dear Friends,

When former British Prime

Minister, Harold Macmillan,

delivered a speech to the

South African Parliament in

1960 – declaring the intention

of the Conservative-led British

gov e r nm en t t o g r a n t

independence to a number of

its African territories (including

South Africa) – I doubt he was

fully aware of the fact that

one phrase, in particular, of

that history making speech

would so captivate our

imagination that it would go

on to inspire songs, poems,

and even battle cries; that it

would become such a common phrase in public usage that most would hardly even know

where it came from at all… What was that phrase?

“The wind of change is blowing.”

While the changes brought by that wind were (mostly) good – it called into question the

status quo of colonialism, delivered the first blow to the policy of Apartheid, and shifted the

furniture of political power in South Africa, as well as other African countries – let’s not

pretend that it was a pleasant wind. This was not some mild summer breeze that gave cooling

relief from intense mid-day heat; it was a gale-force blizzard that swept through the land with

terrifying and unsettling power. The wind of change was a frightening wind; and our easy

usage of this phrase in every-day conversation belies the frightening force that it still has.

LETTER FROM REV. JACO BESTER

WEEKLY MESSAGE FROM ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH

2

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

LETTER FROM REV. JACO BESTER CONTINUED

When the wind of change blows it threatens to uproot trees of age-old beliefs, to unhinge the

doors of tradition that keep our identity safely tucked inside, to lift the roofs of our neatly

constructed houses where “we” belong and “others” don’t. This is indeed a frightening

wind…

And it is a wind that has been blowing through our congregation. There is no use in pretend-

ing that it has been little more than an easy breeze. True, for most it has been invigorating and

refreshing, bringing with it the promise of new and the potential for a place to belong. But for

a few it has been a scary and unsettling wind.

I want to take this opportunity to assure you that Session is deeply aware of this, Alistair and I

recognize it, and the staff fully appreciate that this wind leaves some of us in a place of uncer-

tainty. Please know that whatever changes we introduce are done so after much thought and

prayer, with respect to our history and tradition, in consultation with a variety of people, and

always with the desire to offer new life and greater hope for tomorrow. This is most clearly

seen in the fact that many of the so-called changes we have introduced are just attempts to

recover and revive practices held dear by this congregation many years ago… The genuinely

‘new’ directions that we take are done so out of sincere conviction that we need to always

listen to the creative voice of God calling us forward.

In this issue of the Weekly you will learn about some of the changes that will come into effect

soon, my note serves as a precursor. In the hope that the wind will not terrify but encourage

and challenge.

I leave you with the words of German rock band, Scorpions, that capture something of what

we hope will be true for our own journey into the future… “Take me to the magic of the mo-

ment… Where the children of tomorrow dream away in the wind of change.”

With love, Jaco

3

Our sincere condolences to Barbara Formby

& family on the death of Peter and to

Richard & Jennifer Clowes, Patricia (Pat)

Scott & family on the death of Graham.

SUNDAY EVENING SERVICES

As you are aware, we have, over the past few months, been giving serious consid-

eration to the future of the Sunday evening services, including doing a survey

which was completed by 18 people. After careful consideration, the Session took

the decision at its meeting on Tuesday 6th March, that these services will be dis-

continued at the end of March.

The Sunday evening services will be replaced by a Wednesday evening service

which will take place at 18:00 for 18:30, and the first of these services will be on

18th April.

DONATION OF FLOWERS

If you would like to celebrate a special occasion or to

commemorate a loved one, you can do so by donating a

flower arrangement for the Sunday Services. Please let

Ann (ann@s tco lumbas .o rg . za ) o r Pau l i ne

(pauline@stolumbas.org.za) know if you would like to do

so and we will order the flowers on your behalf.

4

LECTIONARY READINGS

8.00AM

9.30AM & 7.00PM

REV. JACO BESTER

SERVICES THIS SUNDAY, 11TH MARCH

Monday: 1 Kings 6:1-14, 21-22

Tuesday: 2 Chronicles 29:1-11, 16-19

Wednesday: Mark 11:15-29

Thursday: Ezra 6:1-16

Friday: 1 Corinthians 3:10-23

Saturday: Psalm 84

Solomon builds the temple

Hezekiah cleanses the temple

Jesus cleanses the temple

King Darius orders the temple rebuilt

You are God’s temple

How lovely is God’s dwelling place

5

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

6

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

7

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

8

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

16

LETTER FROM REV. ALISTAIR ANQUETIL

17

11th March - Marumbu Banda, Jan Koekemoer, John Reucassel,

Gerald Terblanche, Claire Van Niekerk

12th March - Likondwa Banda, Irene Black, Kate Delmont

Raquel Gush

13th March - Mapundi Banda, Justine Piccolo

14th March - Joy Cameron, Dennis (Hutch) Hutchinson

Hugh Montgomery

15th March - Ryan Bester, Sandra Claassen, Zoe Howie

16th March - Lynne Collie

17th March - Ruth De Jong, Wesley Gasser, Richard Grundy

11TH

TO 17TH

MARCH 2018

18

Contact Iris Fair

Telephone number

+27(0)84 438 0709

Email address: irisfair@icon.co.za

Please remember the

pantry when you are

grocery shopping:

• TIN LARGE AND SMALL PILCHARDS • TUNA • SWEETCORN • PEAS • SMALL TOMATO SAUCE

19

THIS WEEK AT ST COLUMBA’S

12tTH TO 18TH MARCH 2018

TEL: 011-646-5420/1

EMAIL:

Alistair Anquetil: alistair@stcolumbas.org.za

Jaco Bester: jaco@stcolumbas.org.za

Andy White: admin@stcolumbas.org.za

Pauline Shelver: pauline@stcolumbas.org.za

Ann Klemptner: ann@stcolumbas.org.za

Monday 12th 05h15

08h30

10h00

12h00

18h30

Yoga with Dale De Klerk

Silver Fit

Women’s Fellowship

Bridge

Bach Choir Practice

Tuesday 13th 18h00 – 19h30 Yoga with Kim Blair

Wednesday 14th 18h00 Lent Reflection Service

Thursday 15th 11h00

19h00

Thusano

Choir Practice

Friday 16th 08h30

10h30

12h00

Silver Fit

Shakespeare Society

Yoga with Dale De Klerk

Sunday 18th 08h00 Rev. Alistair Anquetil

COMMUNION SUNDAY

09h30 Rev. Alistair Anquetil

18h30 to 19h30 AA meeting in Jones Hall

19h00 Rev. Alistair Anquetil