Volume 8, Issue 7 1111 1 11

July 2017

What’s HAPPENING

@ happening

OUTREACH SPECIAL

Transforming lives...........

Christ Church Constantia, in its mission

statement, is committed to “reach out into

the community and help others in the name

of Christ”. Our Community Outreach (CO)

team does amazing work, helping to feed

and clothe the needy, counselling the bereft,

starting up libraries in disadvantaged areas,

supporting organisations caring for children

and those with special needs – and yes,

transforming lives, but are we doing enough

to support our small band of volunteers?

This month What’s Happening salutes our

Outreach team, details the remarkable range

of their activities in the community, salutes

our modest man in charge of CO, and most

important, in mid-winter when the need is

greatest, spells out

HOW WE CAN ALL HELP….

2 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Personality of the Month

Doing the

hard yards:

Rob Smith

has given 11

years’

service to

Community

Outreach.

It’s the smiles of joy that keep

Rob going..................................

What’s Happening has celebrated

Personalities of the Month for a couple of

years and now it is the turn of the

Community Outreach chairman.

When I first tried to interview him some

months ago I was unable to pin down the

self-effacing Rob Smith. But now, as Rob

clocks up 11 years of serving the church’s

Outreach programme, I’ve managed to

collar him – well over the telephone at least.

First let’s establish some context. There’s

much more to Christ Church Constantia

than getting posteriors onto pews on a

Sunday morning.

Of course, the gracious stone church on the

corner of Constantia Main and Parish roads

is also popular for baptisms, weddings and

funerals and, important as they are, other

priorities beckon.

If part of Christ Church Constantia’s

mission statement promises to “reach out

into the community and help others in the

name of Christ”, how well are we fulfilling

this commitment?

The man in pole position to attempt to

answer this is Rob who has been the

chairman of the Outreach Committee since

taking over from Richard Cooke in 2011.

He and wife Gilly have attended Christ

Church since arriving from Zimbabwe in

2004. They lived in Tokai before moving to

Fish Hoek.

Rob began helping John Richardson with

food parcels in 2006. There is a bench in

memory of John, a former captain of the SA

Agulhas, outside the church hall.

Rob took over the Christmas hamper drive

from Jean van den Heever and in 2007 he

became a member of the Outreach team

with responsibility for food and appeals.

During 2010, when schools closed for three

weeks for the World Cup, the Outreach

team had to go the extra mile to ensure

children had something to eat each day.

The need is great, there is never enough

cash, food and clothing to go around and

there are plenty of frustrations but,

undeterred, Rob has stuck to the job year

after year, overseeing what is an

unglamorous but essential function of the

church, reaching out to the poor and

vulnerable.

“When I see joy on their faces it keeps me

motivated. I’m chuffed with that,” he says.

“There are some amazing people running

these places that we support and it is a real

privilege to be able to contribute to their

work.”

3 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

So how can we help?

“We like to feel

good about ourselves

as we drop food into

the baskets at the

church entrances on

Sundays,” says Rob.

“People like to feel

part of the deal but

we do need more

variety. The present

focus seems to be pilchards and beans, but

we would appreciate a more mixed basket of

foods from the detailed list of preferred

items.” (See “what food to give” on next

page).

Whenever food donations are insufficient,

Rob goes out and buys staples, making up

food parcels and delivering to schools and

libraries (started in Vrygrond and Village

Heights some years ago by the inimitable Lil

van Ryneveld).

It all takes time, energy and petrol.

Highlights in the Outreach year are the

Blanket & Jersey drive at the start of winter

and the Christmas hampers.

Paul Palmer is the key figure in the church’s

prisons ministry which reaches out to help

those who have strayed and feel isolated,

bringing comfort through healing and

prayer.

Gilly, who works at UCT, is Rob’s

“supporting cast” but the work of Outreach

at Christ Church falls on too few shoulders.

Rob would like to delegate but to whom? He

would encourage more people to come

forward and help in this important work

among the community.

In tribute to Rob’s dedicated and unstinting

contribution to Outreach over a long period

and his reluctance to take any of the

limelight, the following quote comes to

mind:

“Man’s goodness is a flame that can be

hidden but never extinguished” (Nelson

Mandela , Long Walk to Freedom).

If you would also like to experience the joy

on appreciative faces, or help in any way,

you can contact Rob on 082 660 9920 or

rogis@telkomsa.net.

David Hill

Comprehensive guide to the

Community Outreach (CO)

Programme................................

What your team does

The CO team distributes about R280 000

each year in cash or kind to the wider

community of people who are less fortunate

than us.

Monthly support grants go to 11 community

organisations (which are monitored by CO

committee members). This is a direct annual

distribution of R140 000.

Around 500 food items are distributed each

month to six organisations. (about R50 000 a

year).

Seasonal appeals (further R 90 000 a year):

4 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

a. Annual Harvest Festival : fresh produce

delivered to charity organisations ;

b. Winter Jerseys &Blankets: about 500

blankets and 500 jerseys delivered each year;

c. Christmas hampers : every year over 400

hampers are distributed to needy people.

Monthly clothes sorting (led by Jenny

Warwick) and distribution to 10-12

organisations, including the Haven Night

Shelter, Salvation Army, City Mission and

others (all donated goods).

Counselling, visits and prayer support to

prisoners, carers, staff and Aids workers.

How you can help

a. Drop off tins of food each Sunday into

the baskets at the church doors.

b. Donate clothing, children’s books, money

etc. (parish

office or

boxes in

the

church)

c. Through

supporting

The Shop

- a major

funding source for our outreach

programmes.

d.Through your prayers.

e. By supporting the CO team when help is

needed: packing hampers, sorting clothes.

What food to give

It costs so little to give each Sunday, it

means so much. Please try to remember.

Any “dry goods” food items are most

welcome. Particularly popular are mealie

meal, rice, pasta, peanut butter, tinned jam,

sugar, tea bags, samp & beans, noodles,

tinned meat and fish (beef, pilchards), tinned

vegetables (beans, peas, relish), cooking oil,

long-life milk.

Key charities CO supports

1. Church-based programmes :

St Simon’s Anglican Church in Hout Bay

provides pastoral care and support to the

fishing community on the slopes of the

Sentinel.

Ocean View Anglican Church in Kommetjie

gives support and care to the Ocean View

and Masiphumelele communities.

Westlake United Church Trust acts as a hub

for about 8 000 people in the local

community. Activities include the

Emmanuel Educare pre-school catering for

up to 210 children; a Home-Based Care

programme supporting 350 people, with the

carers making an average of 2 000 home

visits a month, and a Community Advice

Office with a variety of outputs, including

job placement and literacy training. See

http://www.wuct.org.za/

2. Community-based programmes:

Christ Church Constantia has helped the

Vrygrond Community Trust to organise and

equip a local library, develop a pre-school

crèche and organise the community centre.

CO is also involved at the Heights Library, a

satellite library established in nearby Military

Heights. See

https://www.facebook.com/vrygrondlibrary

5 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Further broad-based educational outputs

include Life Matters Foundation, an

organisation which strives to stem the flow

of 50% of learners dropping out of primary

schools in impoverished communities such

as the Retreat, Steenberg and Westlake areas,

through literacy, numeracy, counselling and

life-skills guidance in schools. See

http://www.lifemattersfoundation.org/

3. Child-caring centres :

CO gives financial and counselling support

to the Sunrise Special Care Centre, a school

in Elfindale which provides intensive day

care to children with profound disabilities

(CO helps with direct support for the

carers).

CO also supports Margaret’s House, a

registered non-profit child and youth care

centre based in Lansdowne (established in

1987), home to 22 boys in need of care and

protection. See :

http://www.mhouse.org.za/; and

Leliebloem House (founded in 1868), a non-

profit child and youth care centre in

Crawford, home to 84 vulnerable children.

See : http://www.leliebloem.org.za/

4. Feeding schemes :

CO helps support the Happy Valley Feeding

Scheme, Heinz Park, Mitchell’s Plain, where

many people are in desperate need of

clothing, food and spiritual support.

Outreach also supports the Fikelela

organisation, GAPA (Grannies against

Poverty & Aids), and others.

5.Transforming lives

Your CO team recognise that people need

help up as well as a handout. They support

LifeXchange - see

http://www.lifexchange.co.za/ - which

transforms lives through professional

mentoring programmes, the Kairos Prison

Ministry (Paul Palmer), and the DP Marais

TB hospital in Retreat, where CO provides

personal touches such as a birthday card and

slab of chocolate on each patient’s birthday.

For more information on any of these (and

other Outreach programmes) please contact

the church office (021-794 5051) or Rob

Smith on 082 660 9920

From the Wardens

The first of the winter storms hit with a

vengeance and we are pleased to report that

the only damage was to the green

noticeboard in Constantia Main Road

reflecting service times. The strength of the

wind ripped it from its moorings and

scattered it in a million pieces across the

road. Quotes to replace it have been

obtained and an insurance claim will be

lodged.

The most pleasing aspect from the heavy

rain is that the leak above Jean Catchpole’s

desk in the office appears to have been

resolved. Jean came to work the day after

the storm with some trepidation, once again

expecting to find her papers and pens

floating on her desk but the roof withstood

the deluge so it’s “another box ticked”.

No sooner did we start recovering from the

devastating fire in Hout Bay when we were

confronted with the horrific blazes in the

Knysna area and surrounds. Your Parish

6 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Council has agreed to donate R10 000 which

will be paid to the Diocese of George to

assist those who have been left destitute.

Over and above what we as a parish are

contributing perhaps you may feel you too

would like to make a difference to

someone’s life which was so suddenly turned

upside down. Should you wish to make a

donation please credit our banking account,

Standard Bank, Constantia branch, account

number 07 1699120, with the reference

“Fire”.

Jean, our longstanding secretary will shortly

be on annual leave, visiting friends and

family in the UK. We wish her safe travels

and a relaxing, much-deserved break.

In her absence, Anne Burrough will be

occupying the “hot seat”. We thank Anne

for agreeing to fill this important position.

On returning from annual leave James has

been working with gusto on the brick-paved

pathways around the church which have a

habit of being lifted by roots, creating a

potential hazard to those walking on them.

Thanks James for your attention to detail

and ensuring that the paths remain safe as

well as looking tidy.

We feel it would be remiss not to comment

on the quality of the What’s Happening as

well as the variety of interesting articles

which we are sure appeal to most readers.

A big thank you to David Hill, our editor,

for the time and effort he puts in to produce

such an excellent monthly magazine – long

may it last.

Mike and Grant

Each parish

councillor

has been

asked to

share their

vision for

their

portfolio.

Ruby

Klazen’s

area of

responsibility

is our church’s Youth Ministry.

Youth Ministry vision for 2017...

Our vision is to create a culture of worship

that is both nurturing and inspiring, that will

cultivate a more active and engaging youth

within the parish and broader community.

Our objectives are:

Accountability - to foster a relationship

which will instil trust and confidence, our

team have committed to being accountable

in our conduct relating to youth matters and

deadlines set within our team.

Responsibility – we are tasked with leading

the youth into a deeper understanding of

who God is. We are therefore responsible to

have well prepared lessons and activities

geared to reaching them at their level; giving

them a sense that God is tangible and not

something abstract from the past.

Reliability – we will strive to be reliable

when having to meet deadlines required for

Youth events or any other duties placed on

us in relation to youth matters. We will strive

to create a sense of community that can be

depended upon.

7 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Consistency – we will strive to be consistent

in our preparations and interactions with our

peers as well as the parents and guardians of

those in our care. We will strive to create a

sense of continuity within our ministry.

Our aspirations for this year are:

A service coordinated by the youth at least

once a term.

Youth socials – engaging with the members

within our parish in a manner that is non-

threatening whilst also creating a sense of

belonging through team-building activities.

Active recruitment of youth members

through posters on noticeboards and

announcements of youth events and socials

at services and through social media;

possibly creating a Facebook page or linking

with the church website or both, and having

a section in the What’s Happening monthly

newsletter.

Creating a platform to engage with parents

through fellowship and communication.

Our challenges for this year are:

Creating a data-base of the youth in our

parish.

Access to lesson plans or the use of media in

the Youth Room due to the lack of a

projector.

Communication with parents and youth with

regard to the importance and relevance of

this ministry.

Regular attendance of young people to

Junior Church and Youth group.

Games and equipment for entertainment

within the Youth Room.

Kyle and Bianca ... working together to grow a

thriving youth group.

Meet our youth team trio,

nurturing the ministry

– through God’s grace........

Bianca Mariani is a youth worker at Christ

Church Constantia. She has been here since

September 2013 and first became involved

with the youth as a leader for the Pirate

Time Travel theme holiday club that year,

largely organised by the Rev. Sharon Davis.

After seeing Bianca’s passion for Christ and

young children, Sharon asked her to stay on

as a Junior Church teacher to fill a need for

youth ministry. Since then she helped plan

and run another successful holiday club in

2014 and attended the Uth2UK trip in 2015.

She is 23 years old and is enrolled in first-

year medicine at Stellenbosch University.

She enjoys working with people and has a

passion for helping those in need. She has

recently started visiting Hout Bay Educare

8 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

with Sarah Fenton, delivering donations of

books and stationery for the Grade R

students. She enjoys reading and making

yummy food.

She looks forward to working alongside

Kyle and Ruby to strengthen and build a

thriving youth at our church.

Kyle Marco Abrahams works alongside

Bianca. He heads up the Senior Youth at the

church. He arrived in August and assists

Bianca with Sunday School during term

time.

Kyle, 22, has been involved with youth work

and young people’s ministry since the age of

16; he is the vice-president of the Diocesan

Youth Committee of Cape Town.

He says, “Growing up with my father as a

priest, I have been fortunate enough to be

part of many different and diverse parishes

within the Anglican Church.”

Kyle matriculated at St. George’s Grammar

where he assisted in the service and outreach

portfolio. He is a first-year student at the

University of Cape Town, studying for a

Bachelor of Theology.

He believes in building a platform and a

space for the young people within Christ

Church and the broader Anglican

Community. He enjoys interacting with

people, and does not hesitate to debate

controversial issues.

Before joining Christ Church Kyle had been

away from home, part of the Volmoed

Youth Leadership Training Programme. He

enjoys educating and equipping young

people with the tools for their ministry,

beginning with a loving God.

He is excited about being part of the youth

ministry at Christ Church and hopes to

create a sustainable running youth group,

with Bianca and Ruby.

Ruby Klazen wears many hats within the

Christ Church community. If she is not seen

welcoming members of the 9:15

congregation to worship on a Sunday as a

steward, she can be found either seated in

the second row, behind Aunty Marie, or at

the altar serving alongside Helen and

members of the clergy.

Recently, she has been elected to serve on

parish council, with youth ministry as her

portfolio.

Part of Ruby’s childhood was spent in

Kimberley, where she was a member of the

Altar Guild, Youth Group and Sunday

School, in the parish of St. Augustine.

Relocating to Ocean View, Ruby has been

actively involved in the parish of St. Clare of

Assisi, serving as a youth leader, preparing

confirmands and co-training altar servers.

She often spent time volunteering as a

holiday club co-leader for Living Hope.

Ruby is passionate about children, their

education and spiritual well-being. She is an

educator and is often exploring creative

methods with which to capture the

imagination of children and sometimes

adults, so as to instill a love of learning. She

finds inspiration through meditation,

9 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Bible studies and exploring uncharted

territory.

Ruby is eager and excited to be working with

Bianca and Kyle within the youth ministry at

Christ Church and wishes to see this

ministry growing through God’s grace.

“After life’s many storms… the peace and

beauty of our Lord “

(Photograph and caption: Keith Honeyman)

Take a drive around the Cape Flats and

witness the destruction... Forget about your

oak trees that were uprooted, your alarms

and electric fences that don’t work – think

about those without homes, schools, food

and warmth (Sandra Thomas, Claremont)

Excerpt from a letter in the Cape Times

Parish

councillor

Marvel

Billett has

the

Education

and

Spirituality

portfolio.

Apart from having a super-hero first name,

Marvel has a lovely sense of humour. “Not

everyone knows I’m the cheeky one,” she

says.

When asked for some biographical details

for What’s Happening, she replied: “I hate

writing. I’d rather talk - much easier!”

Marvel certainly manages to project her

voice. No-one nods off when she is reading

the lesson or leading intercession.

So who is Marvel Billett?

She was born and bred in Mossel Bay. She is

a retired teacher/lecturer, having taught at

Plumstead High and Cape Peninsula

University.

She worshipped at St Peter’s Mossel Bay, St

Barnabas in Kloofnek Road, St Saviours

Claremont – “so I have always been an

Anglican and involved with the church”.

She has worshipped at Christ Church

Constantia for 22 years. She was a steward;

now a lay minister “and now, for my sins,

Terry asked me to draw up the duty rosters

for clergy and lay ministers”.

What would she like to achieve? “To

establish a committee to run with this

portfolio (any offers?) – please don’t be

shy!”

10 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Portfolio objectives:

1. To recruit people to serve on the

Education and Spirituality Portfolio,

representing the following areas:

1.1 Quiet mornings/retreats

1.2 Small groups

1.3 Lent and Advent courses

1.4 Bible study

1.5 Contemplative prayer

1.6 Prayer diary

2. To set up a year plan for retreats, Bible

study, retreats, courses

3. To review Bible study and small groups

within our parish.

4. To ensure that an article on Spirituality is

written for What’s Happening.

Why did she become a parish councillor and

why take on the education/spirituality role?

“I was asked to serve on Parish Council and

now that I am retired I thought I would be

able to give back to the church. I was

looking at taking on the Admin portfolio but

our dear Terry suggested I take on

education/spirituality (I suppose because I

was in education).

“So now, as the hymn says, I am fighting the

good fight with all my might!”

What is the value of retreats, small groups,

bible study etc? “Well, spirituality is

important to us all and many want to get to

know the Bible as sometimes we are not

always sure what preachers are referring to

in their sermons...

“Quiet mornings/afternoons and the

contemplative services are time to spend

with God!

“Penny Day will be leading a quiet morning

and a quiet afternoon (for those who work)

later in the year.

“Our contemplative services on the 2nd and

4th Sundays of the month are becoming a

popular space for people to be with God.

Connie Hutton, Penny Day and Father

Terry lead wonderful services.

“As far as Bible study and courses go we are

looking at a course with small groups in

September – details to follow.

“Most important – I am looking for those

who are interested in serving on this

committee – my thanks to Glynis Schreuder

and a number of persons for their input.

“We are always looking for new ways of

doing things. Please feel free to contact

Marvel at mr.billett@telkomsa.net

“So ‘Onward Christian soldiers, onward we

shall go’.”

PADDY

DOESN’T

FAKE IT...

You never

know what

sort of

goods will

arrive in

the church

shop. This unusual item, modelled sportingly

here at our request by Paddy McPherson, is

potentially controversial. It’s a real animal fur,

which is not so PC these days. and in excellent

condition. It will have been an expensive item

in its heyday. The shop price of R200 was a snip

and it soon found a new owner to help boost

Community Outreach funds.

11 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

The significance of Petertide......

Around this time marks Petertide,

traditionally regarded as “ordination season”.

It is centred on the Feast of St Peter and St

Paul which we celebrate on June 29.

The other traditional “ordination season” is

Michaelmas, which occurs around the end of

September. It is centred on the Feast of St

Michael and All Angels which we celebrate

on September 29.

St Peter and St Paul are also celebrated

separately in the lectionary. On January 18

we remember St Peter’s confession of Jesus

as The Messiah and on January 25, St Paul’s

conversion, maybe to signify the esteem and

regard in which God’s Church holds them.

St Paul wrote with such clarity that there is

“neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male

nor female for all are one in Christ”. This

meant that the national, ethnic, racial, gender

and social divides in which so many place

such high regard, counted for less because

they have been surpassed by God’s love and

grace shown to all.

Similarly and quite separately, St Peter came

to much the same realisation when he

announced in the home of Cornelius that he

has learnt that nothing that God has created

should ever again be regarded as “unclean”.

As we remember those being ordained this

Petertide – and we think especially of Jo

Heal, who is being made deacon on 2 July at

St Alban’s. We also pray that the gift which

St Peter and St Paul gave the Church will

again come into its own in the power of the

Spirit, especially amongst the Church’s

leaders.

Every blessing, Terry

Much-

loved,

long-time

Christ

Church

regular

Pam

O’Brien

celebrated

her 90th

birthday on June 27. Here she gets a happy hug

from verger James Grootboom.

Virginia’s protégés set for

Christ Church............................

Head of Vocal Studies at UCT, Professor

Virginia Davids, has nurtured the talents of

some of South Africa’s finest operatic

singers, including multi-award winning

Pretty Yende, Grammy nominee Pumeza

Matshikiza, Given Nkosi, Maudee Montiere,

Magdalene Minnaar, Mandisinde Mbuyazwe

and Robin Botha. These young singers are

already gracing the stages of La Scala, The

Met and Covent Garden.

Now you have the opportunity to hear her

current crop of students aiming for operatic

stardom, when they appear in concert at

Christ Church Constantia on Sunday 6

August.

Virginia says: “I will be bringing along a

group of young singers, some already young

professionals. The programme will consist

of arias and ensembles from operas by

Verdi, Rossini, Bellini to name a few, as well

as a few lighter pieces from the musicals.

They will be accompanied by Danie Theron,

one of our accompanists/coaches at the

South African College of Music.”

12 | P a g e W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

The concert starts at 3pm. Tickets are R100.

Book through Anne Burrough on 082 218

0100 or by writing to

ccctickets8@gmail.com Payment can be

made at the door (cash or snapscan); no later

than 2.45pm please.

Roll out the barrel............

We will be hosting our annual

winter dinner on Friday July 28 in the hall at

6.30pm. This year’s event is a pub evening

with pies, mash, peas and gravy followed by

cappuccino chocolate pudding and custard.

Bring your drinks and there will be a

complimentary glass of draught beer with

each ticket bought. Come along, join in the

sing-along and enjoy what is always a very

popular evening with lots of fun.

Tickets are R100, available from the church

office. They sell out fast, so early booking is

advised.

Christ Church Constantia Telephone 021 794 50 51 parish@cchconst.org.za

www.christchurchconstantia.co.za

DIARY

Monday 3 July 7pm

Healing service

Tuesday 11 July 8.30am

Clothes sorting – note the change of date.

Saturday 22 July 10am

Baptism preparation classes start

Friday 28 July 6.30pm

Pub evening

Tuesday 1 August 8.30am

Clothes sorting

Wednesday 2 August 10.30am

Seniors’ Tea at the home of Veronica

Douglas

Friday 4 August 10am-noon

Party for learners of Constantia Primary

School

Sunday 6 August 3pm

Concert – Virginia Davids Singing

Studio

Sunday 6 August 5pm

Confirmation classes start

Back-page smile......

Overheard during a walk through Newlands

Forest: “Comrades is the only thing in this

country the Guptas don’t run...”