what’s happe happening 1111 1 11 ning september 2017 · pdf fileafter many tears, fears...
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 8, Issue 9 1111 1 11
September 2017
What’s HAPPENING
@ happening
Our man in China..........................
Look who’s enjoying one of the seven wonders of the world. What’s Happening managed to shanghai our music maestro, Jeremy Quickfall, into sharing his (and partner Shaun’s) experiences on a recent trip to China. Over to the Orient with Jeremy...
For those of you who do not know this,
Shaun and I are both educators at the same
school, Groote Schuur High. Shaun works
in the languages department and I am part
of the Arts and Culture team. Both of us
were sent to China during the July holidays.
I took seven learners to summer camp in
Beijing, and Shaun went on a teacher
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exchange programme in Shanghai and
Quzhou. We did not see each other at all
while we were there.
Getting permission to go to China was quite
a task. None of the seven children who I
took had travelled before, so they all needed
to get passports and unabridged birth
certificates. Passports are easy, but
unabridged birth certificates….
To apply for your Chinese visa (as a minor)
you need an unabridged birth certificate (or
a letter in lieu), booked flights and an
itinerary, an invitation from a Chinese
person and proof of where you will be
staying.
The Home Affairs office at Wynberg flatly
refused to give us letters in lieu of the birth
certificates. Langa and Cape Town offices
were very accommodating, but not
Wynberg. After many tears, fears and
emotional mothers, we managed to get the
visas one day before we departed, and the
letters on the morning of our flight! Home
Affairs....
It is so much fun flying with seven children
who have never been on an international
flight before – four of them had never
flown. Loud comments like: “Yor, I got a
TV,” “Sir, why is this flight so long?”,
“What’s this?” (when they saw their food)
and “Yor, this food is junk!”
Seeing their fear when we took off and
landed, and their exclamations when we hit
some turbulence, made the flight quite an
enchanting experience (for myself and the
other passengers).
When we got to Beijing, we were exhausted.
We arrived two days earlier than we were
meant to, and we all slept for those two
days.
On the first morning of our camp, we were
given a schedule that said “Summer School”.
School? We signed up for camp!
Our days
started at 9am
with a 3-hour
practice
session
(unsupervised
but we had to
sign in and
out), lunch
was from 12
to 1. Between
1 and 5.30pm we had four lectures. From
5.30 to 6.30pm it was supper time, followed
by a 3-hour practical music lesson. The
reason we had six hours daily with our
instruments was because we were all
required to learn to play a traditional
Chinese instrument. I learned to play the
Chinese guitar (pictured).
After one week of an impossible
programme, I officially complained. I had
spoken to the other teachers about talking to
the hosts. Everybody agreed that we would
go together. When the time came to
complain, Mr Quickfall stood there
completely alone.
I told the lady in charge that my children
were desperately unhappy, and that they
wanted to go home. They told me that there
was nothing they could do, the programme
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could not be altered. I told the children, and
we had a little venting session together.
One day later they presented us with a new
programme – one with many more cultural
visits and “free time” (not a term you hear
often in China).
We saw some beautiful places, but the
highlight was most definitely the Great Wall
of China. If you have not been to the Great
Wall, be warned that it is not for the faint-
hearted. The steps are narrow, and they are
all different heights – not slightly different,
but hugely different.
When I climbed up (it literally is a climb;
some people were going up on all fours)
there were children crying as they were
coming down. Their parents were soothing
them, but the little boys never stopped
crying. I did not understand why they were
crying, and why their parents were not
carrying their obviously distressed children.
When I descended, I understood why.
Coming down is very scary. The incline is so
steep that it feels at times that you will
stumble and end up rolling down the stairs. I
also realised that carrying a child down
would be impossible. The unpredictability of
the stairs and the steep incline would make it
too dangerous.
The weather was horrible.. Our coolest day
was 35°C, and Beijing is very humid. You
cannot see the sky on most days (because of
the pollution) and it rains at random.
Food was included in our package, so we
had local food at every meal. We went to the
hotel’s breakfast buffet every morning,
where they served blue boiled eggs,
dumplings, salad, noodles, rice, cake, soup
and watermelon.
No coffee! Coffee was quite difficult to find
and very expensive when we found it. At
lunch and dinner, we also had a buffet. The
protein was very interesting at times –
chicken feet, pig ears, “duck guts” (that was
what they called it), quail eggs….
Our training ended on a high, with a
concert. Seven hundred local people
attended. We all played our Chinese
instruments and I got to play some piano as
well.
Shaun wields chopsticks sharing local cuisine.
Shaun went on a very different trip. He was
not responsible for caring for any children.
They were taught basic Mandarin in a
Chinese cultural context.
Shaun only had a three-hour workday, and
the rest of the time they were taken on
excursions and cultural visits. They spent
their two weeks in different cities (where
coffee was freely available) and did activities
4 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
like attending a traditional tea-making
ceremony, ceramic pottery class and
traditional fabric painting.
Shaun finds that public transport in China can
get a little crowded.
They also visited very interesting places like
a root-carving museum, the Ancient Water
Town, a Confucius museum and a number
of ancient Buddhist temples.
However, Shaun has not climbed the Great
Wall of China…..
On a completely unrelated note: the Wizard
Of Oz opens at Artscape this month. I have
been cast as The Cowardly Lion. If you
would like to see me strut my stuff on stage,
book at Computicket.
However, there are two casts. My performance dates are: September 17 at 2pm and 7pm; September 22, 27, 28, 30 at 7.30pm; October 3, 7pm; October 4, 7.30pm; October 7 and 8 at 2pm. We continue to hold loved ones
in our prayers.............................
From our Rector and Archdeacon of
Constantia, the Ven Terry Lester
Dear Christ Church Community,
We have been coming to terms with the
death of a number of our faithful regulars as
well as those who are now no longer able to
be in attendance as regularly as they used to
through illness or incapacitation.
We continue to hold loved ones in our love
and prayers through their many challenges.
On Monday September 25, a public holiday,
the Constantia Heritage and Education
Programme will hold another of their
Heritage Day events. We meet at Alphen
Common at 10am for a walk up
Brommersvlei Road into Southern Cross
Drive, stopping along the way and laying
flowers in the Parish Road cemetery.
The event will end with a family fun day at
Christ Church. I hope many from the
community will be able to attend.
I shall be away on leave from September 4
till the 17th, in Zimbabwe. It is 51 years
since I was last there visiting family in
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Mutare. My father’s eldest sister married a
Zimbabwean man and they lived in Elsies
River in a place called “Malawi Camp”.
In 1960 the Manangwa family were told they
had to move to Langa township. The family
decided instead to return to Uncle Ernest’s
home in Umtali. My grandmother is buried
there as she died while on a visit to Amy, her
daughter. I shall be visiting her grave for the
first time.
Starting on Wednesday September 20 at
7.30pm we shall be running a course on
“Aspects of being Anglican and faith in our
time”. The course will look at Celtic
spirituality, the role of the permanent
Diaconate as well as past and current voices,
like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and others, whose
lives witnessed to the Living God in times of
turmoil and challenge. More details will be
published soon.
Every blessing, Terry
“A Quiet Morning or Afternoon” will be
led by Penny Day on Saturday
November 11 (9.30am – noon or 2pm –
4.30pm) at Christ Church Constantia.
The theme: Why be quiet?
Full details will appear in the October
edition of What’s Happening.
Each parish councillor has a portfolio.
Riekie Barrett has responsibility for
fellowship. She also organises the
seniors’ tea group.
Lots of ideas for fun-filled
events………..............................
My mission is to build fellowship within our
parish and hopefully attract more people to
our church by introducing events with a fun
element.
Forthcoming events include:
Sunday September 17 – Concert by Country
& Western group “Fintry”, a unique sibling
band consisting of Caroline, Julie and Jonny
Blundell, with gifted violinist Rayelle
Goodman. They will perform acoustically
driven (mostly original) songs with folk,
blues, African, Celtic and country influences,
close harmonies and beautiful intricate
guitar-picking.
The Blundells grew up making music
together, led by their father Keith. They
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have performed widely at music festivals,
live venues, on TV and radio.
The concert starts at 3pm, at Christ Church
Constantia. Tickets R100, booking through
Quicket. Refreshments will be on sale.
Friday October 6 - Family Barn Dance with
a “caller” and lively music.
Friday November 10 – Poppy Day Sing-
Along Evening. Tickets will include dinner.
Music by Bob Mowday on sax and Alan van
der Merwe on piano. Profits to the SA
Legion Poppy Day Fund.
Sunday November 26 – Patronal Fest –
Breakfast and delicious treats served.
December – Carols by Candlelight picnic on
the lawn. Boerie rolls, mince pies, tea and
coffee on sale.
Ideas suggested so far for 2018 include:
games/quiz evenings; cocktail social
evenings; tea parties/lunches with guest
speakers ; family picnics/cycle rides;
mountain hikes; disco evenings; jazz concert;
variety concert, featuring our parishioners.
Further ideas will be welcome.
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet
trials of various kinds, for you know that the
testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing.
Parish councillor Tracey Appollis has
special responsibility for the church’s
Outreach programme. She shares her
objectives:
Supporting the care of
vulnerable children……….........
The main objective of the Outreach Team is
to support the education and care of
children living in impoverished conditions
within our diocese. The team works in five
broad areas of support:
Church-based programmes – providing
pastoral care and support, and donations to
St Simon’s Anglican Hout Bay and Westlake
United Church Trust.
Community-based programmes –
educational support for libraries, ECD
centres, and primary school-based
organisations in Vrygrond, Retreat,
Steenberg, and Westlake.
Child caring centres – financial and pastoral
care and support for organisations that care
for OVCs (orphaned and vulnerable
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children) and children with special needs in
Elfindale, Crawford, and Lansdowne.
Feeding schemes – donations and spiritual
support to people in need. Donations of
food and clothing are distributed to various
regions of Cape Town through a number of
partner organisations.
Transforming lives – pastoral and spiritual
support and professional mentoring.
Additionally, we run seasonal appeals that
feed into the five broad areas of support:
Harvest Festival; Jersey & Blanket Sunday;
Christmas Hampers.
The Christ Church Constantia Outreach
team 2017/8 committee: Rob Smith, Jill
Buchanan, Dot Pink, Judith Smuts, Arthur
Clarke, Tracey Appollis and Roger Steward.
Shop helps to fund Outreach.....
Parish councillor (and warden) Grant
McWilliams has
responsibility for
the church shop
and books. He
writes:
The shop, which is
run by Bob and Rosemary Summers, really
feeds the Outreach programme.
The shop (books and bric-a-brac) is my
portfolio but there is really only one
objective: to achieve the budgeted income
which then drives many of the Outreach
initiatives.
As Tracey Appollis looks after the Outreach
portfolio, the objectives of Outreach are the
final objectives of the shop. Therefore
Tracey’s portfolio is really Outreach and the
shop with the shop being one of the
methods of raising income for her Outreach
programmes.
MORNING MARKET
The sun is rising on a golden
opportunity to help, enjoy and
have fun......................................
The Morning Market will take place in the
grounds of Christ Church Constantia on
Saturday October 28 from 8.30am to 1pm. How
can you help? Co-ordinator Axel Wallander sets
out his stall...
The end of October seems a long way off
but, to have a successful event, planning has
to start well in advance.
In fact it started months ago when the
Morning Market co-ordinator put together a
plan which includes many stalls and activities
ensuring that the morning will be filled with
many opportunities to spend your money
and to enjoy breakfast and fun for young
and old.
8 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
It is a golden opportunity for worshippers
from all four services to meet and enjoy
traditional parish fellowship together.
Finding volunteers to convene stalls was
not difficult but assistance in manning the
stalls is still needed and if you would like to
help, please contact the stall-holder.
Paddy McPherson (021- 761 7515) and
Moses Jaftha (073 203 1912) will be running
the Garden Centre offering plants, seedlings,
bulbs, trees, shrubs, cut flowers and fresh
produce. Now is the time to start taking
cuttings or planting seeds, dividing shrubs
and bulbs. We also need empty plastic plant
pots of all sizes, which will be offered to
parishioners wishing to fill them.
Ruth Seipp (021-701 9100) is calling for
donations of cakes, cookies, biscuits, loaves;
also confectionery, jams and preserves. Cake
boxes will be provided nearer the time.
Bring the family and friends to enjoy
breakfast, which will include bacon and egg
rolls prepared by Grant and Sandy
McWilliams (021-794 2648) or hot dogs and
boerewors rolls, skilfully barbequed by
David Daniels.
The “elephant in the room”, Mike Barrett
(021-794 1136), has already been calling for
domestic items no longer being used, to
stock up the White Elephant stall. Items may
include electrical appliances, garden
equipment, camping and sport equipment,
small household furniture, toys and games,
musical instruments, artificial Christmas
trees and decorations.... Please ensure goods
are in working order and saleable condition.
Libby Nelson (021-705 3125) and her team
will welcome you to the Tea Garden for
beverages and a variety of small cakes,
cookies and scones. Plan to bake or make
them nearer the time. Enjoy under the
umbrellas in the grassed quadrangle or inside
the hall. Helpers are needed.
The Book Stall will be convened by Norma
Read (021-674 4326) and her team. Book
shelves bulging at home? Send them our
way. Books will be sold in the hall.
A huge treasure island is being organised by
Ruby Klazen. It is being prepared and will
be manned by the youth leaders, Kyle (061
743 8865) and Bianca and run by the youth.
Buy your ticket on the day, pin it on the
island where you think the treasure may be
hidden, and win one of many prizes, if you
are spot on or closest. To donate a prize of
any sort, please contact the convenor.
The cash office will be run by the parish
treasury (Saskia Emary 082 493 5445).
The gate, parking and security will be
organised by Gary and Jill Buchanan (021-
794 3637). Volunteers are required to assist
in one-hour shifts. Entrance will be by
voluntary donation. Lucky numbers will be
issued for a draw with prizes.
The shop will be open during the market.
Bob and Rosemary Summers (021-712 8560)
are calling for donations of unwanted items.
All Morning Market proceeds will be in
aid of parish projects.
We are calling for the support of all
parishioners, family and friends by starting
9 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
to prepare and promote the Morning Market
to make it a bumper success.
(Axel can be contacted on 021-712 8423 or
Words of inspiration from Adin Harmer,
Princess Christian Home, Tokai: “They
who fall into the sea of God’s mercy will
never drown.”
Concerts x 2
Quarrymen here on Sunday.......
The 30-strong male voice choir, the
Quarrymen, are coming to perform at Christ
Church Constantia this Sunday (September
3). Their family-friendly variety show will
include barbershop singers, award-winning
young violinist Jordan Brooks, Irish harpist
Christy-Lyn Marais and the Dixie Singers.
Their repertoire includes “Battle Hymn of
the Republic”, “Bring Him Home”,
“Bawo”, “I Believe”, “Kalinka” and “Do
You Hear the People Sing”.
The concert begins at 3pm. Tickets are
R100. Book through Anne Burrough on 082
218 0100 or by writing to
Payment can be made at the door (cash or
snapscan); no later than 2.45pm please.
The Hungarian Trio, from left, Gabor Jeney,
Nerina von Meyer and Donat Pellei.
Romantic rhapsody coming to
Christ Church............................
Benjamin Britten was introduced to two
teenage Hungarian brothers, Gabor and
Zoltan Jeney, in Budapest on a rare trip
behind the Iron Curtain in 1964. Both boys
were proficient on two instruments.
The composer wrote The Gemini Variations
for them, arranged that they travel to the
Aldeburgh Festival for its first performance,
and was instrumental in subsequently
helping them to emigrate to the West.
Gabor settled in South Africa and, after
playing in the CTSO for 16 years, started the
Hungarian Trio, now much in demand at
weddings and functions.
At 3pm on Sunday October 1, at Christ
Church Constantia, the Hungarian Trio will
present a programme of music from
Hungary, Old Vienna and Eastern Europe.
The trio, comprising flute (Nerina von
Meyer), violin (Gabor) and double-bass
(Donat Pellei), have played together since
1991, when all three were principals in the
Cape Town Symphony Orchestra. They
10 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
bring a spontaneous joie de vivre and
romantic, beautiful sound.
The programme includes Liszt’s Hungarian
Rhapsody No.2, the romantic Dreams,
Dreams (Kalman), Rumanian Dances
(Bartol), Vienna City of My Dreams
(Szyieczynski), and Blue Danube Waltz
(Johann Strauss).
In the second half, the trio will be joined by
pianist Sue Paterson-Jones. They will play
Alfred Knumann’s magnificent and seldom-
heard salon orchestra arrangements of the
folk music of Hungary, Rumania and Russia.
Tickets are R100. Book through Anne
Burrough on 082 218 0100 or write to
Payment can be made at the door (cash or
snapscan);no later than 2.45pm please.
What’s Happening Postbox
The happiness we can give to others........................................ From Paddy McPherson:
Thought you might like this saying from the
book “Wine and War”:
“In my meditations I find that nothing in life
counts more than the happiness we can give
to others, the good we can do. This is what
we must teach our children – to think of
others more than they think of themselves,
for it is in this way that we will find the most
noble satisfaction of all” – Robert Drouhin,
French winemaker, while imprisoned by the
Gestapo.
A very satisfying concert............
From Matthew Reid, organiser of Christ Church Concerts:
The Virginia Davids Studio concert on
August 6 was highly successful; thank you
Axel, Saskia, Anne, Jean and David for your
efforts!
The preview article appeared happily in the
Constantia Bulletin, a respectable number of
people came, the singers did a great job, the
audience was happy, the presents and
programme were lovely, the piano and
church were organised efficiently by Rob
and Saskia and their team, everyone got their
drinks outside, we got a good number of
new folk joining the database...all in all a
very satisfying concert.
De-clutter for the shop.............. From Rosemary and Bob Summers:
We are always looking for donations for our
shop. Without our congregation’s support
we would be at a loss.
Books, every knick-knack, crockery, cutlery,
old pictures, ornaments, shoes, old bags and
toys - anything you would like to get rid of
and which is cluttering up your home. Please
think of the shop; all your excess clutter
could be income for community outreach.
11 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
Surprise 90th celebration for
Daphne.......................................
Jessie Lund cuts the surprise 90th birthday cake
while Daphne Allsop stirs her cuppa.
Daphne Allsop had quite a surprise after
attending eucharist at Christ Church on
Wednesday morning August 2 – the day of
her 90th birthday.
After the 10am service there was a special
celebration awaiting her in the parish hall,
complete with an impressive birthday cake.
“I had just arrived back from four days
holiday with my family in Franschhoek,
including grandchildren and great-
grandchildren,” she told What’s Happening.
“I was very surprised to see that cake; I
couldn’t believe it. It was so nice.”
So Daphne had tea and cake with her
Wednesday worship friends – and a bonus
was a warm hug from Father Terry who
popped in and enjoyed showing off his
pretty little granddaughter.
Daphne has been attending Christ Church
since the 1980s, a regular at the 7.30 service
in earlier years and now she’s at Anchusa
Court in Meadowridge she gets a lift to the
church on Wednesdays.
- David Hill
Father Terry was there with a happy hug for
Daphne. He also brought his granddaughter,
Frances, into the hall. The sweet little one was
rather pleased to sample a birthday biscuit.
12 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
A lack of convenience on a visit
to the UK....................................
Our parish secretary, Jean Catchpole, has just
returned from a visit to the UK. She found some
places were less than flush with facilities...
This comment from the comedian Bob
Hope came to mind when I attended a
village church in Devon recently: “My
mother always taught me to go before I
went”.
That’s because there were no toilets attached
to the church. Thankfully I was staying in
the nearby rectory but the nearest facilities
were at the village hall about 100 yards away.
Cups used for tea after the service were
taken home to be washed! No wonder Jo
Burke enthused about the facilities here at
Christ Church.
A cathedral-like church I attended in a small
town had a mere two toilets squashed away
off the kitchen area, also a luxury in old
churches. The accompanying photo depicts
what’s available for children.
Last but not least was a visit to another
church in a modern building. As I closed the
toilet door behind me I stopped short on
reading the notice behind the door: “This
toilet is twinned with a latrine in Nepal”.
Living without a toilet is all too familiar in
Africa and not too far from home either.
Read all about this venture at
www.toilettwinning.org
Kneeling at the
communion rail one
has a close-up view
of the feet and
footwear of those
administering the
sacrament. These
range from open
shoes revealing
brightly painted red
toenails, to
comfortable tackies.
One couldn’t help noticing the shiny black
pointed shoes worn recently by our assistant
priest, the Rev Mkhuseli Lujabe. In my day
they were called “winkle-pickers”. I bought a
brown pair as a teenager in the ’60s with
money I earned from tips in my father’s
restaurant. I thought they were trendy but
my mother had other ideas. “You’re not
going out in those dreadful shoes,” she
decreed. “I’d like to burn them.” - Editor
Do you have news for What’s
Happening? Contact editor David Hill
on 021-7945387 or 060 783 1665 or email
13 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
Now
Kirsten
wins
provincial
recognition
Kirsten
Roodman has
recently received
the following
email message:
“Congratulations
on being chosen
to represent
Western
Province Athletics at the SA Cross Country
Championships taking place in
Potchefstroom on Saturday September 9.”
So our teenage 9.15 server goes from
strength to strength...
Following her unexpected age category win
at this year’s Two Oceans Half Marathon
(21.1km) and the Don Locke Memorial Race
(8km), Kirsten has made it onto the Western
Province Athletics radar! They sponsored
her in the Total Sports 10km Women’s Day
Run for Life where she came second in her
category.
In between these road races, she has been
representing VOB Running Club in the
cross country league season (6km) claiming
five 2nd places and two firsts and ending
with the Western Province Cross Country
Champs where she gained a podium silver
medal. Now she will represent WP in the
nationals in Potch.
Kirsten will be up against the fastest runners
in the country and the high altitude but she
is training hard, hoping to peak at the right
time and get a top-20 position.
Meanwhile she’s not one to take anything
for granted. She also works at a restaurant at
weekends (Friday night until 4am (late shift)
and Saturday night until 2am (early shift!) to
earn money to pay for a gym membership.
Balancing her work, varsity, training, rest
and race schedule together with her church-
serving duties has become tricky.
This is Kirsten’s last season as a junior
runner so she plans to move to under-23
triathlons – hence the need for the gym
membership.
(Paid Advertisement)
PHYSICAL SCIENCE TUTOR &
PSYCHOLOGY STATISTICS
Syllabus work & Exam Preparation
All Grades and Abilities - Located in Tokai
Tel David: 083 6921669 (after 3 p.m.)
e-mail: [email protected]
What’s Happening is now accepting paid-
for advertising (see above) as a service to
parishioners and their families. To
advertise in our monthly newsletter,
contact David Hill on [email protected]
14 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
Pictures: Mkhuseli Lujabe
Terry welcomes the schoolchildren......
Passing the apple isn’t easy....
A chance to relax in the church grounds....
Primary party time was
just magic.........................
The church hall was alive to the sound of 40
Grade 4 learners from Constantia Primary
enjoying the 9th annual party organised by
the Fellowship Committee, on Friday
August 4.
After rector Terry Lester welcomed the
learners, assistant priest Mkhuseli Lujabe
played games, including Simon Says, Egg
and Spoon and a relay with an apple under
the chin – the transfer of which to the next
learner caused great hilarity.
Sheila Thompson played a couple more
games followed by a “say after me” action
song.
Party boxes were handed out and, as
happens every year, all the children eat a
small amount, write their names on the
boxes and take the rest home to share with
their siblings.
Regardt the magician entertained the
children with a wonderful show – oohs and
aahs from everyone – and even the adults
could not work out how the magic was
done!
At the end of the morning chocolates were
handed out as the learners walked back to
school after a morning which gives so much
pleasure to everyone involved. – Fellowship
Committee
15 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
Morning has broken.....
Morning has broken, like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for the springing fresh from the word
Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the one light, Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God’s re-creation of the new day.
Giving thanks for each day........
A stunning photo and lovely words of
inspiration, although olive hrush – or even
hadedah – might be more appropriate than
blackbird, in our neck of the woods.
However, we can certainly relate to he
“praise for the sweetness of the wet garden”.
The hymn originally appeared in the second
edition of Songs of Praise (published in
1931). There was need for a hymn to give
thanks for each day so English poet and
children’s author Eleanor Farjeon was asked
to compose a poem to fit the lovely Scottish
tune “Bunessan”.
“Morning Has Broken” was a hit song in the
16 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G
1970s. It was sung by Cat Stevens who
copied the lyrics from a hymn book he
found in a London bookstore. He later
converted to Islam and adopted the name
Yusuf Islam. It was his second name change
because he was born Steven Demetre
Georgiou.
He has received two honorary doctorates
and awards for promoting peace.
Yusuf Islam,
pictured, will
appear at
Kirstenbsoch as
part of the
summer
concert series,
on November 11 and 12.
Both shows are sold out – at R850 a ticket!
It goes to show what good value our
monthly Christ Church concerts are at R100
a time.
Christ Church Constantia Telephone 021 794 50 51 [email protected]
www.christchurchconstantia.co.za
DIARY
Sunday 3 September 3pm
Concert – The Quarrymen
Monday 4 September 7pm
Healing service
Tuesday 5 September 8.30am
Clothes sorting
Wednesday 6 September 10.30am
Seniors’ Tea at 26 Alphenvale
Friday 15 September 5pm
Junior Youth Social
Saturday 16 September16 10am
Baptism preparation classes start
Sunday 17 September 3pm
Fintry Concert (not part of Christ
Church Concerts)
Wednesday 20 September 7.30pm
Start of 4 part Spirituality course
Monday 25 September
Heritage Day Walk in Constantia
Sunday 1 October 3pm
Concert – The Hungarian Trio