Presbevents 13

Wednesday 18th November 2009
The circulation of this issue is 226, of whom 214 are ministers of the UPCSA
Greg and Shona van der Lingen (Vryheid): This week I will be taking part in training for Emergency Services Chaplaincy, Northern Natal division. ESC gives emotional and spiritual support to Emergency Services personnel, as well as the general public, in any traumatic or crisis situations.
Shona has qualified to be set apart to administer the Sacraments and we are looking at early February for this service. We are visiting my Dad (Ian van der Lingen) in December, with other family from Zimbabwe and UK, to celebrate his 80th, and soon after we return to George briefly to celebrate Shona's mum's 80th birthday.
Alan and Margie Maker (Hermanus): In answer to your question as to whether Heinrich's length of service at Goodwood is a record for the denomination, the answer is not even close. I served St. Columba's for 36 years; Peter Gordon was at St. Mark's for something like 40 as was Hugh Yule at Greyville, but I am sure the record would be held by Abner Poho who died in pulpit at the age of 103. I am sure he was at Heilbron (I think) for over 50 years.
Bob and Lesley Samson (Benoni): Bob enlarges on Alan’s observation: I'm afraid it's actually quite far from the record. The Rev. Abner Poho served at Heilbron in the Free State from the date of his ordination until he retired not long before he died at the age of something like 81 years of age. I no longer have my Assembly Papers to check how long he served there but I think it was over 50 years.
Then there was the ministry of the Rev. John Smith (first Moderator of the PCSA) at St John's Church in Pietermaritzburg. He served for 50 years in the congregation between 1870 and 1920.
If memory serves me right (and it's not as good as it used to be!) the Rev. Hugh Yule was at Greyville for over 40 years.
St Mark's, Yeoville, I believe, had two or maybe even three ministries which lasted over 30 years.
We should note, though, that all these ministries were served at a time when there was no compulsory retirement age. 35 years in one congregation with an enforced retirement age of 68 remains a remarkable period of service.
Calvin and Pat Cook (Howick): How many of us are de facto members of the Ephesian church: sound on doctrine, morally above reproach (at least from a wicked and corrupt generation) but having lost the love we had at the start? The igneous rock has cooled to granite - see Presby cemeteries! Heinrich's contribution suggests the reverse: From Asches to open flame.
As to a congregational record, no one comes close to 'that schismatic ' John Smith the PCSA's first moderator of the Assembly. He was called to the Presbyterian Church of Pietermaritzburg in 1865 as William Campbell's colleague and successor, resigned after 5 years because Campbell gave no indication of wanting to be succeeded, founded a second congregation, St John's, and retired in 1920, after celebrating his and the congregation's jubilee 1920. He returned as the congregation’s interim moderator after the unexpected death in 1927 of his successor Vickers Taylor!
Pieter and Rhona Smit (Port Elizabeth): (This from Rhona): Our big news is that we have become grandparents! Robyn, our eldest daughter, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on the 9th October, named Jennifer Grace Doughty. She and hubby Steve are very proud parents. We join them at the end of the month for a month’s holiday. There will be a Christening on the 6th Dec and then we all (our other daughter Diane and her husband Deon) go to Wales for the week around Christmas. We can’t wait!!!
Pete has had a good year health wise. Praise the Lord! We even took up ballroom dancing!
(And this from Pieter): Hi. Our other big news relates to the non Hodgekins lymphoma and bipolar disorder that I have. Both are under the best possible management that I could hope for. As far as the cancer is concerned, which is to be found both above and below the diaphragm, blood tests have recently
come back which are the best ever since starting treatment. A major review of treatment takes place next year. As for the bipolar disorder, I am now better able to discern for myself when I am swinging high or low and therefore what treatment to seek. I enjoy a wonderful quality of life in spite of everything. I would be willing to chat to anyone who might be afflicted with serious illness. There is life and life in abundance in our on going walk with the Lord.
Charmaine (Port Elizabeth Presbytery Secretary): The Rev Errol Theophilus is going in for a quadruple by-pass operation today (13th Nov). Errol’s wife is Audrey and his son is Ian.
Do please send word of what is happening around you. It may all seem routine to you, but it is so good for the Body when its members share with one another!
God bless you!
Doug