This year the Cape of Good Hope District Synod is being held in Springbok. The reason for meeting so far from Cape Town is to commemorate the first Methodist mission in South Africa. It began 200 years ago with Barnabas Shaw’s mission to the Namaqua … Continued
Jesus said of man and wife “they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate” (Mk 10:8–9). At a wedding we joyfully celebrate the two made one, embracing a mystery that … Continued
Fifty days after the Israelites had escaped Egypt (an event memorialised by the Passover Feast) the Lord descended on Mt. Sinai “in fire” and the “mountain shook violently” (Ex. 19:18ff). Moses ascended the mountain and received the Law. Fifty days … Continued
“Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev 22:15). In our passage from Acts this Sunday (16:16-34) we see how the name of Jesus saves – … Continued
The drought has made us acutely aware of our dependence on water and very grateful for recent rains. The Call to Worship in our Sunday morning services is thus deeply appealing. It gives us a vision of “the river of … Continued
It is easy to imagine early Christians with a proud Israelite heritage despising Gentile peoples. They had witnessed the destruction of their beloved city, Jerusalem, the sacking of their Holy Temple and the slaughter of their countrymen and women at … Continued
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter, is “Good Shepherd Sunday” and, naturally, we read the 23rd Psalm. It is a radical Psalm – imagine not wanting anything! What would advertisers … Continued
This Sunday, is commonly called “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday”. Palm Sunday focuses on how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey as the people sang, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk. 19:38). … Continued
On Thursday, along with many Methodists, I dressed in black and pinned a little black badge to my shirt, which says “towards a world without rape and violence”. Black is the colour of mourning; I was more aware than usual … Continued
“Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers, crash and crush me” (Ps. 42:7, The Message) In white water kayaking, when scouting a rapid, we’d say things like “nasty … Continued