Rector’s Report to Annual Vestry 2019
St Andrew’s Church, Newlands
"Master, it is good for us to be here;…” (Luke 9:33; NRSV)
Introduction
Our Annual Vestry meeting this year falls on the cusp of Lent, marked by our celebration of the Transfiguration, an experience in the lives of Peter, James, and John highlighting Jesus’ immanent Exodus (departure). Exodus, as we know, is all about moving from captivity into freedom; a shift from living under the oppressive agenda of others to the freedom of God’s all-encompassing love. Our journey of faith is never disconnected from our daily lives, and is always a forming and informing influence on our life-experience. The temptation to remain on the cusp is often intense; to join Peter in his comment to Jesus, “Master it is good to be here; let us make three dwellings…” (Luke 9:33; NRSV) is always compelling. However, like Peter, James, and John we find ourselves quickly back down from the mountain, grappling with the joys and struggles of life.
Looking Forward
Nationally we are reeling from the ongoing revelations of how deeply “State Capture” has devastated our political and economic resources during Jacob Zuma’s tenure as President, further undermining our trust in those who govern us, and leaving South Africans staggering under an increased tax-burden and fearful for our future. The upcoming elections in May are critical, and we will require great wisdom in exercising our vote effectively.
As a Diocese we will bid farewell in April to Bishop Garth and Marion as he retires as the Bishop of Table Bay; and towards the end of the year we will welcome a new neighbour next door!
As a Parish we have begun implementing the Communion-wide Anglican commitment to being intentional in our discipleship and in our making of disciples, and look forward to the impact the Leadership for Evangelsism And Discipleship (LEAD) course will have in transfiguring us as a Christian community.
Reflecting on 2018
Looking back briefly over 2018, there is a lot to give thanks for:
Kildare Pre-Primary School
We have made great strides in our relationship with Kildare Pre-Primary School: we at last have a new lease in place, which includes a substantial commitment towards the cost of renovating the School building; and a constitutional amendment passed at the School’s Annual General Meeting on 19 February 2019 giving St Andrew’s a permanent position on the Governing Board. I was elected to the Board in 2018, which proved hugely beneficial in forging a renewed working relationship between St Andrew’s and the School, and led directly to the constitutional amendment, which passed without controversy. 2018 was not easy for the School as Jo Griffiths resigned after a brief tenure as Head in order to emigrate to the United Kingdom, and a completely new Board was elected at the start of last year. We welcome Heather Porter as the new Head, appointed in September 2018.
Building Plans
Our Building Plan, as you will hear from the Building Committee’s report, is now a tangible reality, and we await the City of Cape Town’s final approval of our plans.
Treasury
Financially, Freya Griffiths stepped back as Honorary Treasurer soon after last year’s Annual Vestry due to growing responsibilities in her day-job. Freya has played an important role over the past few years in helping spread the load of the Treasury and getting our accounts computerised, for which I am deeply grateful. I’m thankful to our Churchwarden, Debbie Coombe, who was willing to step in as acting Treasurer while we sought a new person to fill Freya’s shoes. Council formally appointed Graham Reynolds in August 2018 as our new Honorary Treasurer, and he has settled in well to the role. Graham holds a B.Comm CA (SA) from the University of Cape Town, and is presently Group Chief Financial Officer for Mediology, presently South Africa’s largest independent media agency.
Children’s Church
Jess Gwynn-Evans has stood down in December as our Children’s Church Coordinator in order to pursue her cycling (she’s been awarded Provincial Colours for Downhill MTB Racing), but will continue to offer ad hoc youth events for our young people. We’re thankful for her leadership over the last two years, and the older Children’s Church group are already missing her energy! We welcome Penny Middelkoop, appointed by Council in January, as our new Coordinator, and wish her and the growing team of teachers every blessing for this year.
Liturgy
In terms of Liturgy, February saw – after consultation with the regular attendees, Layministers and Council – an important shift in our Wednesday morning Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer to An Anglican Prayer Book 1989 as the usual liturgy at 09:30. More generally, we will continue to use some of the experimental liturgies authorised by the Synod of Bishops for use in Lent and Advent after positive affirmation of these liturgies by parishioners last year.
Layministers
Over the last few years we have spoken often of the need for additional people to swell the ranks of our Layministry team, and excitingly we now have seven new Layministers-in-training. Sadly Daphne Myburgh, due to health and family needs, has made the difficult decision to step down: we are thankful, Daphne, for the gift you have been to us in this particular role over a long period of time.
The Environment
A new portfolio on Council in 2018 has been that of the Environment, which Meagan Hughes embraced to the full, contributing notably not only at Parish-level but also to the Diocesan team. If you haven’t yet bought your “Bring-your-own-Bag” there may still be one or two available!
Personal
In August 2018 I was elected by my peers as Canon of the Cathedral, which while not having yet proved too onerous, together with my being elected at Synod in 2017 as the one of the Diocesan representatives to Provincial Synod and the Diocesan Representative to Provincial Standing Committee, has meant for the first time since my appointment to St Andrew’s that I have some substantial Church-related commitments beyond the boundaries of the Parish. I have been very grateful for the support of the Churchwardens and Council in this regard.
After five years in the Diocese I am due Sabbatical leave of which I will be taking a portion this year, probably in June/July. This additional leave builds up at 18 days a year to a maximum of 90 days.
As some of you are aware, Dawn’s dad was diagnosed with progressive heart-failure around the middle of last year. This has necessitated the closing of his Stamp Dealership and moving him into a care-facility, which we did during my December leave. He has been hospitalized this weekend for the second time this year, which he finds hugely disorientating, and which necessitates Dawn flying up to Pretoria to be with him. While his condition is terminal, the journey ahead has few other certainties. I’m deeply thankful for Dawn’s ongoing support of my ministry in the midst of all she is coping with at this time.
Thank You
St Andrew’s is an amazing community: welcoming, caring, busy. Thank you to every one of you, and especially to those who facilitate our common life. I am amazed and massively thankful for the amount of volunteer-time that is given freely and without expectation: the Morning Market, events like our upcoming Shrove Tuesday Pancake Evening, fundraising for our Building Plan, Building Committee commitments, Home Groups, Children’s Church, Youth and Confirmation, Music and Readers, Sides-people and Money-counters, Sacristans and Layministers, Council, and more.
A special thank you once again to Bev Shaw, who does everything from bookkeeping to counseling, minutes to rosters, pew leaflets to service-sheets, and a whole lot more; surrounded constantly by the steady flow all year round of goods delivered for the Morning Market, always with a smile and without complaint. Thanks, too, to Stephen Middelkoop, Bishop Geoff and Denise Ackermann for their high quality of preaching and teaching, and a willingness to always go the extra mile.To our outgoing Churchwardens, Councillors, Representatives to Archdeaconry Council and Diocesan Synod, thank you for your commitment, time, and ongoing support.
In Conclusion
In closing, the words of 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NRSV) hold my attention, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” As much as we may wish to remain on the mountain-top, revelling in how good it is to be there, St Andrew’s lies at the foot of the mountain in the midst of suburban life. As we embrace 2019 let us do so in the spirit of freedom, whether it is voting in the upcoming elections, participating in parish life, involving ourselves in family and with friends. Let us trust in the Spirit of the Lord, in the Spirit’s prompting and leadership. My prayer for us is that we may have the courage to let go of the mountain-top experience, however we may experience it, and embrace the tough realities of the moment and of life itself; and let us do this for our great good and to God’s greater glory!
MARK R D LONG
Rector
March 2019
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