St Kiaran's

Chronicle

June 2016

Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God

In our often selfie focused world, we need this constant

reminder - life is not all about us.

We may know that in our heads, but yet our hearts think differently so often.
We're prone to selfishness, He desires our eyes be set firmly on Him,
because that's where our true hope is found.
He is worthy of our praise, no matter what we face from day to day.
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness! Psalm 150:2
"And my tongue shall speak of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long." Psalm 35:28

Dear Friends and Family of St Kiarans

Presbyterian Church
The year is rapidly running away from
us but perhaps its because Im just getting
a little older! When I was a little boy time
seemed to drag on forever and each school
term felt like a lifetime! I suppose, in the end,
its really about personal busy-ness and our
individual perceptions.
I am sure you are aware that what we
get out of relationships and life in general is related to what we put in.
It comes down to sowing and reaping. We cant be miserable, snippy
and bark at people and then wonder why we dont have friends.
Very often folk behave, in principle, like the unfaithful servant in
the parable of the talents (Matt.25:14-30): I knew that you are a
hard man [ignore the hard man part, unless it applies], harvesting
where you have not sown and gathering where you have not
scattered seed.(V24b). The servants impression of his master was
that he was an unreasonable man when it came to expecting results.
Are we not sometimes guilty of looking for results when we have not
put in the effort particularly in our spiritual life?
There are five sponges lying on your kitchen counter. Each
member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your
home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what
was cleaned, but you can't tell by looking. They all look the same. So,
what do you do? As you squeeze the first sponge you see that cocacola comes out, and you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen
with that one. Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find bath-tub
and tile cleaner. That one was used in the bathroom. In the third
sponge you find motor oil. Someone cleaned in the garage. In the
fourth sponge, baby powder puffs out. The baby's nursery was
cleaned with that one. In the last sponge is floor wax. That was the
one you used on the hall floor. As you lay the last one down, you look
again at their similarity. They all look the same until they are
squeezed. Christians are the same! As life squeezes us, different
things come out: anger, revenge, tears, remorse, greed, untruth, lust
and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ. Just like the
sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in.
So what should we do? We need to remain in the Word of God on
a daily basis, take our lives to Him in continuous prayer and maintain
fellowship within the church - so that when life puts the squeeze on

us, Jesus, and Jesus alone will shine forth. Of course, this is the ideal
and we should never give up when we fall short. Instead, confess
your shortcomings to the Lord and get up and try again. As you
meditate on this, ask yourself, If I was squeezed, would it be mostly
Jesus who would shine forth?
Do enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
Please remember to take care, be generous and continue to love
one another.
With much love
Mike

65 And The 3rd Age

by Bob Hagley
Here's a small booklet, stuffed with helpful
information for those forward-looking people who
are approaching a point where they need to
consider restructuring their lives - quote from
former Editor of Rand Daily Mail Rex Gibbon).
The writer, Bob Hagley, managed a large
retirement estate for 20 years, says, I sadly learnt
that many retirement plans are looked at when it's
too late a time of careful reflection is needed for
important long-term decisions. Bob says, I urge
you to treat this book as a practical guide to preparing for later
life.
I have a copy of this booklet which I found very helpful.
If you'd like to borrow it, please ring me 021 7820864 (leave
your name and number; if I am not home I'll contact you on my
return).
Val Ruger

REFUGEES, THEN AND NOW .......

While the present gut-wrenching scenes get played out
world-wide through our television screens, I happened to pick up
a Huguenot Societys reconstructed description of one particular
familys experience of fleeing from France during the Roman
Catholic persecution of the Protestants. Imagine this: having to
flee suddenly with only what one can carry. In the case of this
couple, the Faures, their most precious possession was their
baby, Antoine. Travelling all the way from Orange in the south of
France (walking all the way?) they reached Switzerland. By this
time winter had come, so they stayed put until spring. It is
thought that they and other refugees split up: the women and
children were able to get passages on a boat on the River Rhine,
going to Holland (where they knew they would be welcomed).
This was expensive, so the men walked. (Imagine the agony of
the uncertainty of families ever being reunited....).
This family did meet up and were assigned to Borculo in the
Netherlands, where Antoines father was given a job as one of
the soldier/gatekeepers at the castle. Theres no space to tell the
rest of Antoines story, except to say he came to the Cape and
made a great contribution to the community. He married Rachel,
Abraham de Villiers daughter.
When visiting Norwich, I came across the story of The
Strangers. Fifty families, Walloons (from Belgium) had fled
religious persecution and were accepted by the town, and
brought their skills with them. They could instruct the British
weavers on all the latest technology. There is still a Strangers
Society in Norwich.
And what about all the refugees, fleeing from war zones or
part of an economic migration that arrive in our own country?
A Man of Good Hope by Jonny Steinberg gives a true, dramatic
picture of one such person. (In Fish Hoek Library: 920 ABD.)
The problem of course with the modern European/Middle
East crisis is the sheer volume of refugees and the huge

difference in social and religious backgrounds. Our Huguenot

ancestors were much easier to integrate with the Dutch: just an
effort needed to learn a new language. (No, Im not belittling the
traumas they went through or their poverty or the hard work of
farming from scratch.) I wonder how many people in our church
have Huguenot ancestors and have looked into their own family
histories? Ive had a fascinating time delving into mine: the de
Villiers, Jouberts, Nels, le Rouxs, the Rouxs and Tailleferts.
Lucy Centlivres

The symbolism of the Huguenot cross is particularly rich.

The cross as an eminent symbol of the Christian faith,
represents not only the death of Christ but also victory over
death and impiety. This is represented also in the Maltese
Cross.
It is boutonn, the eight points symbolising the eight
Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12).
Between the arms of the cross is the stylised fleur-de-lys,
each has 3 petals; the total of twelve petals of the fleur-delys signify the twelve apostles. Between each fleur-de-lys
and the arms of the Maltese Cross with which it is joined, is
an open space in the form of a heart, the symbol of loyalty,
which suggests the seal of the French Reformer, John Calvin.
The pendant dove symbolises the Holy Spirit. In times of
persecution a pearl, symbolizing a teardrop, replaced the
dove.

ARE THE TATES IN

YOUR CHURCH?
Do you know how many
members of the TATE family belong
to your church? There is old man DIC
TATE who wants to run everything, while Uncle RO TATE tries to
change everything. Their sister AGI TATE stirs up plenty of
trouble, with help from her husband IRRI TATE.
When new projects are suggested HESI TATE and his wife
VEGE TATE want to wait until next year. Then there is Aunt IMI
TATE who wants our church to be like all the others. DEVAS TATE
provides the voice of doom while POTEN TATE wants to be a big
shot.
But not all the members of the family
are bad. Brother FACILI TATE is quite helpful
in church matters. And a delightful, happy
member of the family is Miss FELICI TATE.
Cousins COGI TATE and MEDI TATE always
think things over and lend a hand. And, of
course, there is the black sheep of the family
AMPU TATE who has completely cut himself off from the church.

Reminiscences from Doug and Avril Muller

Simonsberg We were there when it all started.
The year was 1966. The Cape Presbytery had just acquired
the magnificent site at Simonsberg via one of the Somerset West
Congregation. With it had come the use of a bulldozer to clear
the land and make roadways. A refreshment kiosk at Groote
Schuur Hospital that had been serviced by members of the
Mowbray congregation had become redundant so found its

second home as a storeroom and office on the newly cleared

land. A borehole that was part of the gift of land had been dug
and had water gushing out for twenty minutes then nothing
more.
Douglas, pastor at Mowbray and just 30 years old, was the
Youth Convenor of the Cape Presbytery.
The idea of a pre-Christmas camp for about
20 juniors to test out the new camp site, began
to grow. Application forms were dispatched to
all the white churches in the Presbytery it was
in the days of Apartheid. Every mother must
have wanted a quiet period for Christmas
shopping as the applications streamed in until
they reached one hundred!
Do we or don't we? That was the question.
Doug Muller at the
Dust and sand everywhere, and no water. Lots
time of this story
of trees for shade. Lots and lots of playing
space. Lots of enthusiasm and might I add, a tinge of madness.
Could this newly appointed Youth Convenor make it work? But he
set to work. And work he did!
Tents were borrowed from the Youngsfield Military camp
those old army tents with the heavy wooden pole in the middle
and rope guy lines all around held in place with large wooden
tent pegs, for accommodation. About 10 kids could be squeezed
into one tent. These were erected ahead of time by that team of
Mowbray young people.
Drinking water came by way of two very large plastic
containers with small taps near the bottom. These were filled
twice daily by Douglas from the tap at the train station about
10kms away in Stellenbosch. Open fires and borrowed potjies
served the cooking needs. An abundance of firewood was
everywhere. And no need to convince 10 year old boys to keep
the fires burning there were always plenty of volunteers! This
was as close to paradise that boys could get! And guess who had
to organize the food requirements. Me!
Camp leaders came from Mowbray church. They formed an
extremely able team of about 10 young people, several of whom
had been trained as leaders for S&V camps that were popular in
the Cape at the time. Camp doctor was Margie Munnings, (nee
Hardman) then a second year medical student. She was

upgraded to camp doctor. Camp leader was Robert Benfield,

himself a UCT student. He also had to ensure the daily devotions.
Transport was via the Galleon an old world Ford that been
donated for youth work it was the kind that pre-dated combis
with 3 rows of seats and a bit more space at the back. Swimming
was on a neighbouring farm in the dam that doubled as a duck
pond.
Toilets were holes in the ground with some kind of structure
above. These were surrounded by hessian curtains attached to
wooden poles. Food was bought daily in Stellenbosch as there
was no refrigeration or even electricity connections. Torches, a
few borrowed paraffin lamps and candles in the storeroom, gave
light after dark.
What's missing? Ablution facilities? Hmm no water to
waste on this unnecessary detail for 10 year olds, so there
weren't any! Six days later those 100 campers were delivered
safely back to their eager parents, sadly though, several shades
darker than when they arrived. However, the daily swim with the
ducks had helped a bit. Sadly though, with clothes that might
never get back to their original colours.
But Simonsberg had proved itself!
Lots of development has followed. It is now a fully-equipped
Youth Centre. Many Presbyterians, both old and young over the
years have found renewal for their spirits in the beauty of this
natural environment surrounded by mountains.
But we were there when it all started! As were one hundred
eager kids and ten capable youth leaders. And needless to say,
Douglas was re-appointed as Presbyterian Youth Convenor for
another year!
Douglas and Avril Muller

Simonsberg camp today

Church Family News

Birth: Lucas van der Spuy was born on 21 April 2016
to Aileen and Gerhard, a brother for Suzanne and Gideon

Wedding Anniversary: Ron and Gill Zeeman

celebrated their 50th Anniversary on 2 April 2016

Birthday: Rev Doug Muller celebrated this special day

on 2 June 2016
God's rich blessings are wished for these dear folk.

Death: It is with great sadness though that we record

the death of Norma Beswetherick on 10 May 2016.
She had been a member for many years and was a
faithful servant of the Lord here, particularly through a
long period as an Elder. (This poem was used at her
funeral).

REMEMBER JOY
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw His face, I heard His call,
I took His hand and left it all .
I could not stay another day,
To love, to laugh, to work or play;
Tasks left undone must stay that way.
And if my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss
Ah yes, these things I too shall miss.
My Life's been full, I've savoured much:
Good times, good friends, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief Don't shorten yours with undue grief.
Be not burdened with tears of sorrow
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

A very sad story - Our duck's demise

I have to tell you the sad news that all our ducks are
dead; they have been massacred by a fiendish dog that
jumped over the wall of our garden. I only managed to
bury Jacob in our garden, the other three probably ended up
in a garbage bin of house number 31 on 3rd Avenue.
It happened this way. On Saturday 12 March 2016 at
about 11am the ridgeback dog jumped our garden wall and
immediately went for Jacob, broke his neck and attacked
the two teenagers wounding both before Naomi and two
passers-by chased the dog away. Rachel escaped unharmed
by flying away; Naomi followed her and she replied by
crossing the road in the face of all the traffic and flying into
the garden. The three ducks were traumatised, refused to
eat and spent the day near our front door in the porch.
The same night something incredible happened: Rachel
decided to find out where Jacob was and flew on a suicide
mission to 31 on 3rd Avenue about 400 metres away, she landed
in the back garden and was dispatched by the ridge back, 10
minutes later the wounded teenager who could fly followed
Rachel and was also killed by the dog.
How did these ducks know where to fly to? If you have an
answer please tell me.
By Sunday 13 March I was left with only one duck with a
broken wing that needed cleaning which I did carefully in water in
the duck bath. She was very tremulous but seemed to realise I
was there to help. The whole of Sunday she remained hidden
behind a bush, sometimes drinking water but refusing to eat.
The next day however she disappeared without a trace; the
dog had come back, took her home in his mouth and that was
the end of our ducks.
The owner of 31 on 3rd Avenue has apologised and assured
us that they will build a huge steel fence around their back
garden and give us a carrot cake as a peace offering. Jacob and
Rachel came to us almost four years ago in a card board box as
fluffy yellow chicks and entertained us with their clacking and
their uncanny intelligence and curiosity; sadly we will have to live
without them. Maybe we will start in the spring with new chicks,
but Rachel and Jacob are still our champions!
Arie de Koning

St Kiaran's Women's Fellowship

The next meeting will be held on 22 June
with Peter McLeod presenting a Quiz
Followed by a Beetle Drive on 27 July
Any questions? Contact Anne McLeod on
021 7823415

St Kiaran's Men's Fellowship

meets monthly on the 4th Saturday.
For information contact Hubert Stoll
(021) 785 4065

Presbyterian Educational Fund - Sunday, 19 June, 2016

Greetings to you all in the Name of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ!
Once again we have had unrest at places of study and the
lack of funds to pay for education has been at the heart of
the unrest. What a privilege then, as the Church, to be able to
help meet this need and make it easier for our own members to
pay their fees and stay in school.

The Executive Commission of 2015 set 19th June 2016 as

PEF Sunday and requested all congregations to hold a retiring
offering for the PEF on that Sunday or another of the
congregations choosing in June, 2016. In doing so, we hope to
bring the work of the PEF to the attention of your congregation
and to uphold the work of the members of the PEF Task Team
and the administrator in prayer on that day.
Currently, the fund is only able to contribute on average
between 10 and 20% of the need of the successful candidates
costs - not enough to make a real difference to families
struggling to educate their children. Many are also educating
children from their extended families. All these children are
members of the extended family of the UPCSA and we should
all be assisting in their education.
In the past six years, less than one in every ten
congregations has contributed annually to the PEF. Only 83
congregations have donated three or more times, and 80 have
donated only once. Between 250 and 300 congregations have not
donated at all. Imagine how much extra the PEF could raise if
each of these 300 congregations made even a small donation
towards the work of the fund!
In order to meet our goal for donations in the 2015/16
financial year (which will make it possible to disburse the amount
we need in 2017) we must receive more than the R281,657.76
which was donated in the 2014/15 year. This means donations of
R70,000 must be received before 30 June. Will you and your
congregation please help the PEF to do this? Without your help,
the PEF will not be able to continue to provide the level of
assistance that has been achieved in the last number of years,
and we will go backwards instead of forwards.
More information on the PEF can be found on the webpage
at: http://unitingpresbyterian.org/ministry/presbyterianeducation-fund-pef/
We give thanks to God for the work of the Presbyterian
Educational Fund (PEF) and the ministry that our Lord has given
us to enable our young people to achieve the kind of education
which will bring change and improvement to their lives and the
communities in which they live and work.

May our dear Lord and Saviour bless you and the needs of
our youth.
In His Name, Rev T P Letsheleha, PEF Task Team Coordinator & Rev L Mpetsheni, General Secretary

Have You Ever Tried?

A 5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

In the microwave - Servings: 1-2

Prep Time: 2 mins

Total Time: 5 mins

"You need a large coffee mug. You can now have chocolate cake

whenever you want. That's pretty scary but oh so yummy :-)"

Ingredients

4
4
2
1
3

tablespoons
tablespoons
tablespoons
egg
tablespoons

flour
sugar
cocoa
milk

3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons
chocolate chips
(optional)
1/2 teaspoon
vanilla extract

Directions
1. Add dry ingredients to a large coffee mug, and mix well.
Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and
mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla
extract, and mix again.
2. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at
1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the
mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out
onto a plate if desired.
Please note: If your microwave power varies from 1000watts mentioned
here you might need to experiment with the cooking time. Once the cake
rises above the top of your mug perhaps you should test the cake.
Mary Suter

Family Christian Bible

"CODEWORD"

St Kiaran's Presbyterian Church

Cnr. Central Circle and Recreation Road
P.O.Box 22146, Fish Hoek, 7974
Church Phone: 021 782 6118

Minister: Rev. Mike Muller

All are welcome at our

Regular Sunday Services
Sunday Worship Services at 9.30a.m. & 7p.m.
Holy Communion is served on the 1st Sunday of the month at both services

CHURCH PRAYER MEETINGS

Tuesdays: 11.45 a.m. in the Craig Room

Prayer is offered after services for healing or other needs, by members of our Prayer
Ministry