Presbevents 19

Wednesday 13 January 2010
Boet and Linda van Schalkwyk (Durban): Boet is ministering to the needs of the Greyville congregation on a part-timer Presbytery basis and is at the same time involved in leadership of the Sailors’ Society. The Sailors' Society is our outreach to seafarers visiting the ports of Southern Africa. We have approximately 285,000 sailors in our harbours per annum and try to have every ship visited by our chaplains.
To keep our ministry relevant and to care for seafarers (who suffer in disasters, abuse situations, ship arrests, piracy hi-jacking [trauma counselling] and injury/illness [on board and hospitalised folk]) we constantly research and develop models of ministry applicable to their 'post modern' context .
Our area of operation is from Somalia down the East coast and around southern Africa up to Angola.
Extract from the ISS Newsletter: Rev Van Schalkwyk has visited various centres to encourage and assist with developments, to check progress on projects and to establish whether they are experiencing – let’s not call them problems, but challenges. He is happy with ISS ministries and mentions that Christmas gifts have been collected and prepared for distribution to all seafarers in Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town on Christmas Day. Christmas services will also be held.
Our annual dedication service will once again take place in the Frere Road Presbyterian Church on 24 January 2010. At this service, tribute will be paid to the interpreters which the ISS can call upon to assist with translation when visiting seafarers experience language difficulties. This is especially vital during illness when medical staff have difficulties in understanding the information given by foreign seafarers. The interpretation has in several cases saved lives.
David and Sylvia Mather (United Kingdom): Having ministered to the UPCSA congregations of Milnerton and St John’s (Parkmore), David has now retired from the 30 years serving with the URC in UK
We served in Ashington, Northumberland; Workington, Cumbria; Chatham, Kent; Congleton, Cheshire ( a short term trouble shooting period); Blackburn in Lancashire ( our home County) when, after a Mini Stroke ( TIA) we moved to our final pastorate in Cobham, Surrey, where I was also Mission Enabler for the District Council ( the URC version of Presbytery). We now live in New Romney Kent, where I am desirous of developing my ministry to children, I got into the Fellowship Of Christian Magicians a few years ago, and indulge my passion for Steam railways.
Our love to all we remember and who remember us. Africa is constantly in our prayers.
Sibusiso Gwala (East London): Thank you so much for all the hard work of putting Presbevents together. I know how much work goes into producing this kind of work, I was editor of Presbyterian Link for two years. What a mission it was. I have enjoyed all the weekly articles! Thank you for the simplicity of presentation. A special thanks goes to my colleague and sister Michelle Black for her inspiring message
about why people come to church. A great year to all of you!
Ian Wilson, Webmaster (Johannesburg): New UPCSA Website www.upcsa.org.za
This site has been redesigned with the aim of being a useful tool to Ministers and Members.
Features:
·  Information on the Assembly Office Staff and their functions.
·  Mission Vision and Priorities of our Church
·  Current and past news of the UPCSA
·  Information on the various ministries, departments and commissions
·  Searchable information on Congregations, Presbyteries and Ministers.
·  Documents such as the Confession of Faith, and the General Assembly and
Executive decisions
·  Resources such as the latest revision of the Manual of Faith and Order, and
Service Books.
·  Various standard forms such as Calls, Edicts and Commissions extracted from the Manual which can be downloaded, filled in and printed.
·  Annual Return of Income and other reports required by the Assembly Office.
There are several empty pages waiting for information from the relevant people which will be updated in the future.
Please visit the site and tell the webmaster what you like, what you think could be improved, what is missing and any corrections.
Also forward any article you feel should be included.
Do please share with over 200 other Presbyterian Ministers what is happening in your neck of the woods!
Doug