Dear friends, It is with great sadness that one looks around and sees no end to this unprecedented wild cat strike season. The miners not going back to work will have a huge impact on our economy, and more especially our ever growing budget deficit; enough for Moodys to downgrade the future prospects of our economy as any form of growth this year now seems almost impossible. Much closer to home of course is the truckers strike. Notwithstanding the violence and intimidation of these strikes, the trucks burned, drivers threatened, we all face the prospect of longer queues as we rush around looking for petrol/diesel to ensure we can get to work and our children to school. I remember people saying when the credit crunch came, that we would be spared because we had put such good credit legislation in place, and that was true. We also have wonderful labour legislation but what hap-pens when all of that legislation is ignored because of the massive wage disparities that exist between those who run companies and those who make its wealth? In a strange way we see all over again how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. At some stage some-thing has to give. In the subsequent mayhem that follows, everyone gets hurt. We are then reminded of that old saying, “When the elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.” The interesting thing for me is that the church has been around for a very long time, and has borne witness to this kind of social upheaval since her very inception. The church was born in a time of political, economic and violent social unrest. Many have tried to use her power to take sides, many have tried to silence her; none have ultimately succeeded. In times like these the church needs to use her role as “prophet” a role that speaks into fear, pain, and the uncertainty that is being felt by all. More than ever before do we need to pray the “Prayer for Africa.”

God Bless Africa, guard her children, transform her leaders and give her peace.

Your friend and minster Chunky

Monday 8th 10h00 13h00 16h30 19h00

Women’s Fellowship Bridge Outreach Meeting Property Committee Meeting

Tuesday 9th 17h30 19h15

PATH Music of the great cathedrals followed by cheese and wine

Wednesday 10th 09h45 Biscuit Club—Informal chat—planning ahead

Thursday 11th 11h00 19h30

Thusano Choir Practice

Friday 12th 09h00 Staff Meeting

Sunday 14th 08h00 Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young

09h30 Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young

Sunday School, Alchemist Group

18h45 AA meeting in the Jones Hall

19h00 Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk

MINISTERS: THE REV DR MARTIN (CHUNKY) YOUNG THE REV STEPHEN VAN SCHALKWYK THE REV PROF HANSIE WOLMARANS

ORGANIST: KEVIN KRAAK: ORGAN SCHOLAR: NICK REDELINGHUYS COUNSELLING CENTRE: SARAH TAYLOR / NICCI HUTTON

The CHALLENGE Spring Edition 2012 is now available Click on the cover to download

We have several new books, including Revelations by Elaine Pagels and Thank God for Evolution by Michael Dowd. The Book of Revelation was the topic for the first series of Wednesday Night Live talks this year. And Dowd’s book has been mentioned during the current series, Perspectives on God. Hansie has written reviews of these two books for our newsletter. Here they are: 1. Michael Dowd, 2009. Thank God for Evolution. Michael Dowd was born again, spoke in

tongues, had been taught that evolution was of the devil, and Darwinism the root of most social problems. He even distributed anti-evolution tracts and debated anyone who thought the world was more than six thousand years old. However, as he came to know more of the facts of evolution, he realised that there is no reason for faith and science to be at war. He discovered that “All truth is God’s truth.” He regards the 14 billion years of cosmic history as an epic of divine grace and creativity. In accessible language he not only ex-plains evolution, but also argues that religion and science provide a solid moral and ethical foundation for our lives. No less than five Nobel Laureates recommend this book, as well as a plethora of ministers and theologians. A must read.

2. Elaine Pagels. 2012. Revelations. Visions, Prophecy and Politics in the Book of Revelation. Elaine

Pagels is a professor of Religion at Princeton University. In this concise and highly readable book, she explores the basic questions surrounding the Book of Revelation in the Bible: Where did it come from? What is the meaning of its images of dragons, monsters, angels and cosmic war? Why were other books of revelation not included in the Bible and this specific one chosen? Pagels argues that the fascinating aspect of the Book of Revelation is that each generation sees its own conflicts, sufferings, and hopes reflected in its images of cosmic war and divine victory. Reading this book, provides us with a deeper understanding of why there are violence and division in the relig-ions of the world. It also provides hope for reconciliation. Book reviews by the Rev. Prof. Hansie Wolmarans

World Food Day is celebrated throughout the world every year in October – The aim is to increase awareness, understanding and informed year round action to alleviate hunger. The Pantry is a St Columba’s initiative to take food to those in need and we will focus on World Food Day on Sunday 21 October (Communion Sunday) .We especially appeal to all members of the congregation to please bring Non-Perishable food items to the church office during the week ahead of the services on that day so that we can create a display on the 21st October If you are unable to bring donations ahead of the services you are of course welcome to bring them to the services on the Sunday. Please support this as it is also one of the ways we can give thanks for the food that is so readily available to us.

7th October 2012

8.00am—Rev Prof Hansie Wolmarans

9.30am—Rev Prof Hansie Wolmarans

7.00pm-Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young

14th October 2012

8.00am—Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young

9.30am—Rev Dr Martin (Chunky) Young

7.00pm—Rev Stephen van Schalkwyk

Click here to follow us on facebook.

PANTRY Please remember the pantry when you

are grocery shopping:

Pkt of macaroni/spaghetti, tin mixed meat, jelly/instant pudding, dish liquid.

DAILY LECTIONARY READINGS

DONATION OF BINOCULARS

We run Leadership Academies for disadvantaged youth and these are always held at really nice venues in the bush, where part of the course in-cludes conservation and the environment. One of the requirements of the head facili-tators is binoculars to use on the field trips, game drives and walks. Unfortunately we only have about 4 pairs of binocs which makes things difficult as there are always 12 learners and 3 to 4 educators in the groups. We also find that the academies overlap quite often so we have no binocs to send out on some of the trips. Please if you have any spare binocs, in working order, would you consider donat-ing to the Leadership Academy.

Please could you drop them off at the church office.

Monday: 1 Cor. 4:8-21

Tuesday: 1 Cor. 5:1-8

Wednesday: 1 Cor. 5:9-6:11

Thursday: 1 Cor. 6:12-20

Friday: 1 Cor. 7:1-9

Saturday: 1 Cor. 7:10-24

Visiting our members recovering in hospital has long been a major component of St Columba's Pastoral Care Programme. We have a dedicated team under the able leadership of Lorna Riddet. As we are looking to strengthen the team, volunteers are invited to assist, especially occasional visits to the Park Lane Clinic and the Garden City Clinic.

16 Oct - World Food Day

21 Oct - World food Sunday

23-26 Oct - Santa Shoe Box Project

Nov 4—All Saints Day

Nov 11 - Remembrance Sunday

Nov 29 - Thusano Prize giving

Featuring: St Columba’s Church Choir with audience participation.

A Choir fundraiser for their gift of

the tower bells. The concert includes the premiere of Nick Redelinghuys’s organ mass

“Suite Medievale” written for his Cambridge

A-level final.

Date: Tuesday, 9th October Time: 7.15pm followed by cheese

and wine in the church hall Tickets available at the door.

MUSIC OF THE GREAT CATHEDRALS

Two helpers required to work on a Fri-day – twice a month.

Very convivial working conditions

Only one and a half hours in the morning

On the job training

Please Phone Peter Visser Tel: 010 222 0767 or 082 921 9704

SOUP KITCHEN

Dear Friends, There are two bounds copies of “The proceedings and decisions of the 10th General Assembly 2012” and “Papers for the 10th General Assembly 2012” in the church office for those who would like to peruse them. God Bless Ernie Blom Session Clerk

Yvonne Hattingh

Allen Sharp

Jennifer Gillies

Robert Van Dongen

Carol Timm

Loris Manferdini

Shannon Norton

Melanie Eddison

Geoffrey Ehmke

Candice Annandale

Matthew Ackron

Ian Davies

Helen Beggs

David Wright

Michael Rutherford

Helene Marsh

Heidi Clowes

Margaret Staveley

Susan Fanner

Victor Mcculloch

Robyn Corder

Chris Griswold

James Leslie

Joern Kuebler

The Santa Shoebox Project is an inspiring community initiative of the Kidz2Kidz Trust (IT2671/2009, PBO 930031301 Section18A NPO 102-098) that co-ordinates the donation, collection and distribution of personalized gifts at Christmas time to underprivileged chil-dren across South Africa. Please can you help in one of the following ways: Go onto www.santashoebox.co.za, register as a donor and pledge one or more boxes. Note: You should select JOHANNESBURG CENTRAL as a drop-off location, as this is the St Columba's drop-off

Unfortunately every year, many incomplete boxes get delivered so another way to help would

be to sponsor 'fillers'. By this I mean actual items that go in the box, ie toothbrushes & tooth-paste, facecloths & soap, educational supplies, toys, sweets, and what we usually struggle with most is NEW clothes, in particular for the older children 10-19 years of age. The third and last way in which you can help, is to assist as a volunteer on the actual drop off days, when we need to scan and pack over 4000 boxes into the correct cartons for logis-

tics to deliver them to the orphanages, safe havens, nursery schools in townships and similar facilities. The days are 24th and 25th October 2012, we will be open from 7:30am

- 6:30pm, at St Columba's church in Parkview. People who would like to volunteer for this should contact me on 082 417 1775 or ingabothner@yahoo.co.uk so that I can put their names into my volunteer rota.

MEN’S SHOESMEN’S SHOES

& T& T--SHIRTS SHIRTS

URGENTLY URGENTLY

REQUIREDREQUIRED

forfor

distribution to the local communitydistribution to the local community

Any underwear, socks (preferably washed) and caps are Any underwear, socks (preferably washed) and caps are

also most welcomealso most welcome

There is a receiving bin at the church entrance for your There is a receiving bin at the church entrance for your

convenience.convenience.

Thank you and kind regardsThank you and kind regards

PennyPenny

SANC registered nurse required.

The incumbent must have nursing admin and managerial experience with lots of compassion and patience for the elderly.

Please forward CV to

rosehaven@mwebbiz.co.za

or fax to 011 883 9038

Commencement date: January 2013 with prior probation

period required.

Rosehaven Retirement Village has frail care space available for imme-diate occupation.

All rooms are private north-facing with shared ablutions.

Please contact Noeleen for more information regarding costs etc.

011 883 2872

All proceeds will go towards the ongoing care of our

300 children and adults with profound

intellectual disability.

Register online at

www.littleeden.org.za

Or contact office

011 609 7246

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the walk will no longer take place on 6th October and has been rescheduled for

the 10th November. Time: 09h00—12h00