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Leading thought Hope for the future by Richard Goodall “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” So said Helen Keller. This utterance by someone who knew first-hand what it was like to be hopelessly lost in the dark is a useful thought to unpack a little in our time. What for instance is the nature of the faith on which her optimism was based? What could it be for us? All on our own we can soon find ourselves with severe writer’s block if we try to script the future. There are so many variables and unknowns, possible prognoses and also fears. We may know that we are supposed to “unite with the world’s evolving” but how exactly do we go about this lofty task? Certainly not on our own and certainly not based on our very limited perception of what, in reality, is going on in the world. As in all cases where nothing of the past nor the thinking of the present is helpful in solving a problem, we have no other choice than to look up for inspiration from a totally different realm. Here we tap into a world of unlimited The Wind Call The Christian Community in and around Cape Town November 2024 to January 2025 39 Timour Hall Road, Plumstead 7800 Tel. +27 79 407 8448 e-mail: christiancocpt@gmail.com www.thechristiancommunity.org.za Contents Leading thought - Hope for the future The Africa Seminary Regional Council Update Community Milestones John Coates’ Birthday Estelle Bryer’s Birthday Richard Goodall 30 years as a priest The Church Fair Advent Festival Announcements Children’s Camp 12th-19th December 2024 Africa Seminary Module 2, 28th-30th March 2025
hope and possibility. To quote Rudolf Frieling: “Christ as a divine being has placed himself on the scales of human value. He has united himself with the destiny of Mankind. Everything now depends on whether human beings allow this infinitely encouraging, hopeful fact to enter their consciousness and in turn unite with Christ, to ‘believe in Him ’to use St Paul’s words.” Once again one could ask; “How do I do that?” We need to realize that the angelic hierarchies, through which the Christ works, are completely ‘invested ’in the future of humanity’s development on the earth. They are not passive in this regard. Those beings closest to us are continuously unfolding pictures in our souls while we are asleep of what the future needs to be. It is up to us to be receptive to these pictures as they filter through into our day consciousness. This we do by having moments of inner peace and quiet every day during which we turn to that angelic world and listen. It is in this inner listening that we unite with Christ from whom those soul pictures flowed. Through this daily practice we become subtly aware of a sense of presence around us and know that we are not alone on our path into the future. What helps a lot in this endeavour is to acknowledge that we generally have a very impoverished perception of the reality of the world and how we stand in it. We are not just a five sensory being in a three-dimensional world who is limited to perceiving only the physical aspect of everything. In reality we are multi-sensory beings in a multi-dimensional world, in which the physical and the spiritual aspects of everything are always present all around us. We are at all times surrounded and imbued with the Godhead, all the angelic hierarchies, the souls of the dead, the elemental world and the thoughts and feelings of our fellow human beings. We are a point of individualised consciousness in a flowing fabric of creative weaving. Just living with this imagination and trying to feel our way into it changes our awareness of our true environment, and also our relationship to the future. We are truly never alone! Rudolf Frieling continues in this regard by saying: “Such an approach to the being of Christ creates in human beings the seed of a higher, future humanity. Christ becomes the guarantor of our true future.” In feeling this connectedness we can afford to be optimistic and truly face the unknown of the future with hope, enthusiasm and confidence. The Africa Seminary: The Festivals as a path to healing and development Module 1 - Advent, Christmas and Epiphany
On the weekend of the 9th - 11th of August an enthusiastic group gathered to explore the Festivals in more detail. With an introductory talk to our theme on Friday evening by Richard and brief introductions by Richard and Andreas in the sessions that followed, we deepened our understanding of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany through artistic exercises and conversation. For the most part the Festival year has shrunk into the background of our modern culture. What happened as a matter of course in days of old, today needs to be made new again and again. After the Mystery of Golgotha the festivals take on a new significance altogether. The Christ event has utterly changed the course of our human development and in turn the festivals take on new meaning also. Living with the festivals, seeking new relevance in what they mean today can indeed become a path to healing and development. Advent By Alison Tobler In the session on Advent for example we looked at the profound Conversation between Mary and the Angel Gabriel in the Annunciation. We hear the story of a woman who is asked to take on an impossible task - to be the bearer of the Christ Child. She at once is disbelieving of what the angel has to tell her, saying “how can this be for I know not a man?” Gabriel’s reply confirms that she is indeed ‘the most highly favoured maiden’. She replies “Lo, I am the Lords handmaid, may it be fulfilled in me as you have said”. We all face questions in life continually, are confronted with impossible tasks for which we at first feel unprepared, perhaps even unworthy. But can we, like Mary say, “Yes”? Can we say “yes” to the questions of our life, “yes” to the difficulties that we encounter, and “yes” to life itself? In this way we may find places in our life continually that have an Advent quality. Of course for Mary, this is a much greater question. But again, how can this relate to us, today? Can I prepare a place in myself where the divine wishes to be born. Then may I become a bearer of light in the world. An Advent poem In quiet waters Silence holds its breath. A darkened sky looks on expectant. But soft, a gentle sound whispers from beyond. Out of formless night Dawn paints nature's cloak. Burgeoning light, Where does the Sun rise? by Andreas van Breda
In Module 2 we will focus on The Passion, Easter and Ascension; all are welcome to join in these experiential workshops. Look out for dates and information for Module 2 and 3 below. It was with some trepidation that I attended the Africa Seminary workshops held in August. Richard’s lecture on the Friday evening certainly prepared the grounds and launching us into the festivals of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Saturday started with the Act of Consecration. The artistic workshops and discussions deepened the experience of these festivals. What a joy to live into them in recollections, and also to find the relevance for the now. The Father God element certainly lays the base for our journey throughout the year. All in all, a wonderfully enlightening, communal and measured weekend. Thank you Richard and Andreas! Barbara Herbert Regional Council Update The 26th Meeting of the Regional Council of Southern Africa was hosted in our Cape Town Community on the 26th - 28th July 2024. Council members from the four communities in our region made their way to a cold and wet Cape to meet once more as a Region. As inspiration behind our working, we worked a little on the question
from the Michaelmas Epistle: what does it mean when Michael is described as “gathering up the free power”? Many matters of business were discussed as well as changes in the Executive, which now follow: After several years of dutiful service, Sharon Cox from the Kwa-Zulu Natal community has stepped down as Chairperson and will continue as an active Council member. Elna Kuehhirt from Windhoek has kindly stepped forward to be our next Chairperson. John-Peter Gernaat from Johannesburg will step into the role as Secretary, taking over from Anne-Marié Winkelman. Hazel Fornale will continue as Treasurer. Our very sincere and warm thanks to all the Office Bearers for taking on this task and carrying the consciousness of our Region in their hearts. A very special and sincere thank you to Anne-Marié for her years of service. She has been the Secretary of the Region since its inception and carried this task with great dedication. Her diligence and organising will be missed as well as her ability to keep the meeting aware of the clock, even when weighty matters needed ventilating. Milestones in the Community John Coates celebrated his birthday after the service on Sunday 11 October, with the community and his family. Christina, Gideon and Andreas provided some jolly music Africa Seminary Module 2 - Passion, Easter and Ascension 28th - 30th March 2025 in Cape Town at 39 Timour Hall Road, Plumstead Friday evening - Light supper, followed by a welcome and Introductory Talk on the Theme • Saturday - beginning with the Act of Consecration of Man, followed by 4x sessions to explore the theme in more depth through artistic exercises and conversation • Sunday - Service with the Community, followed by a collecting/harvest of how far we have come over the weekend; and a final closing round. You are warmly invited to join us and share the dates with anyone who may be interested. Please indicate your interest by contacting Andreas van Breda andreasvanbreda@gmail.com for registration or any questions. The fee for the Model is R550 per person. Please make contact to discuss an alternative if the recommended cost would prevent you from attending. The fee goes towards covering catering and material costs; any surplus is added to the Priest Training fund.
and everyone enjoyed the delicious feast and watched on as John, Julia and Gita danced a merry jig!! Estelle Bryer also celebrated her birthday on the 20th October with the Community and family, showing us all that life is indeed to be celebrated!
We celebrated 30 years (plus one) since Richard Goodall’s Ordination. Richard was Ordained in March 1993 and sent to Heidenheim. After spending some time in Germany, he was sent to Cape Town, becoming the sole carrying priest in time. He has stood in the centre of the community as a pillar of strength, an inspiration and a calm voice in the ever shaking world. Our most sincere and heartfelt thanks to Richard for all that he brings to our community as we acknowledge this significant milestone. We extend our appreciation and acknowledgement to Christina also for her support as the priest’s wife and of course for the most wonderful music and singing she brings to the Service and our community. On Sunday 24th November was the Sacrament of Baptism for Grace Julia Leedenberg. Her christening was warmly celebrated in the community.
Church Fair On the 7th September 2024, our community came out in numbers to put on our annual Fair. The Fair was well supported by our immediate Church and School community and beyond, with a wonderful offering of food, crafts, games and music. Many thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success, giving of their time and energy in ways big and small to creating something beautiful.
The Advent Spiral for Children was held on the 30th November. Thirty-three children from our Church and School community gathered in anticipation. We prepared in the courtyard; making candle holders from clay, decorating them with pods, fynbos and shells before going into the Festival room where we heard a story about a Troll who longed to be Human. The Children walked the spiral one-by-one as the lyres played and we sang Christmas carols. A very big thank you to the Lyre group - Christina Goodall, Gabriella Feiter, Christiane Janowski and Barbara Herbert. Our thanks also to Anette Bestwick for the beautiful music, our angel Michelle Kaplan, as well as Katya Karakashian for the spicy drink and Louise Basset for the delicious cookies. Thank you also to Rosemarie and Patrick Enthoven for once again providing pine branches.
See our beautiful array of Advent Wreaths below. Thank you to all who stayed after church to make them, and a special thanks to Richard for collecting large amounts of fynbos on his travels.