Tag: TSSF

From the Rector’s Desk – 7 January 2022
From The Rector's Desk

From the Rector’s Desk – 7 January 2022

Fr. Andrew ManningLeave a comment

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the words of St Paul to the Colossians:

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,  because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.” (Col 1:3-6a).

Sometimes we forget that the impact of our faith, is not always visible, but is always significant. Our faith, though small, is used by God to continue His good work in the world through all
circumstances. Scripture says that even when we are faithless, He is faithful (2Tim 2 :13). God uses every ‘act’ of ours to grow His kingdom and achieve his purposes. Therefore, let us
recommit ourselves to the good works that he has prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10).

I thank God for you and for your prayers, for me and for the people of God. In this last month I have been reminded just how much the prayers of the faithful sustain us, and I thank God that he has called us to bear one another’s burden’s (Eph 4:2).

Let us therefore not grow weary of this ministry to one another, especially when so many people are experiencing so much loss, death and illness.

I pray for all of those who are recovering, it is a long slow road and when we are weary, it is a blessing to know that there are people who love us and uphold us in prayer.

2022 will demand a lot of us, but we look to our Saviour to provide us with the wisdom and the strength to endure. I think of all the learners awaiting their matric results, all those in the process of applying for university, and those who will be starting a new season of their education in a new school this year. Make every effort to apply yourselves fully to these opportunities given to you.

I pray for those whom God is calling to Parish Leadership. For Church Wardens, Church
Councillors and Lay Ministers. God has given various gifts to various people, all for the
edification of His body the Church, and as we seek to use these gifts, may God’s Church be strengthened.

I thank you all for the opportunity afforded me to fully recuperate before returning to work (on the 17th). This rest has been essential to me and to the reordering of my own life and ministry.

Be assured of my love and prayers for you all.

Rector.

Psalm 1
Daily Reflections

Psalm 1

VandaLeave a comment

Journeying through the Psalms

Life has two roads. The life of a faithful person in contrast to the life of a faithless person.

The writer begins his psalm by praising the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him.

Our friends and associates can have a profound influence on us, often in very subtle ways. If we insist on friendships with those who mock what God considers important, we might sin by becoming indifferent to God’s will. This attitude is the same as mocking.

Do your friends build up your faith, or do they tear it down?
True friends should help, not hinder, you to draw closer to God.

Let us pray:

Almighty Father,

Grant your Spirit in full measure to the leaders of our church so that they might think deeply about your Word and will and become fruitful and effective in building your church and extending your kingdom in the world.

Make them people of substance who are rooted deeply in your Word and useful in your kingdom service.

Amen

From the Rector’s Desk 28 November 2021
From The Rector's Desk

From the Rector’s Desk 28 November 2021

Fr. Andrew ManningLeave a comment

Grace and peace to you.

As we enter this Advent my prayer for you is that it will be season of renewal. I can relate more and more to St Paul, who had to rely on “letters” to minister to those whom he loved, letters written from his prison cell.   I know that our challenges seem to be getting greater by the day and we wonder if we have the strength to go on. Do not lose heart! As our Gospel reading today, the things of this earth, our trials and tribulations are not permanent. But God’s action,  when Jesus said “My words” remember that He meant “my deeds/ my being / my existence.” Jesus spoke the world into being (John 1)

We continue to pray for the Learners writing exams and for all our teachers.

We continue to pray for the sick and their families.

We continue to pray for those threatened with job loss and financial hardship.

Tomorrow the Diocesan Council will meet and I ask for your prayers for us all as we deal with the challenges of being an organized church. But I remind you that the organized church is sustained by the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. The Church is an organization that exists for the benefit of the people of God to structure their life and witness. To receive the Sacraments and ministry. You are the Church, the fellowship of all believers, and we serve Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. Therefore our hope is in Jesus Christ, but our commitment to Him, must lead us to action, in the Church, which is a chosen vessel to manifest His presence in the world. May God bless us as we seek to be a community at work for Him. A community that holds onto our faith in all our trials and a community that is prepared to give an account of the hope that we have within us.

Thank you for your prayers.

Rector. Fr. Andrew Manning

Journeying through the Psalms
Church Chatter · Daily Reflections

Journeying through the Psalms

VandaLeave a comment

Journeying through the Psalms

This week we begin a new series of reflections, focused on the Psalms. I encourage you to continue with your Journalling, as we grow in our faith.

Psalm 32

In Psalm 32, we read how David expresses the joy of forgiveness. God had forgiven him for the sins he had committed against Bathsheba and Uriah.

The message that we are receiving today is that God wants to forgive sinners. Forgiveness has always been part of his loving nature. He announced this to Moses, he revealed it to David, and he dramatically showed it to the world through Jesus Christ. These verses reveal several aspects of God’s forgiveness: God forgives transgressions, covers sin, and doesn’t count our sins against us. We can have this joyous experience of forgiveness through faith in Christ.

In order to be forgiven, we need to confess our sins. But what is confession? To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that he is right to declare what we have done as sinful, and that we are wrong to desire or to do it. It is to affirm our intention of abandoning that sin in order to follow him more faithfully.

God longs to guide us with love and wisdom rather than punishment. He offers to teach us the best way to go.

Accept the advice written in God’s Word and don’t let your stubbornness keep you from obeying God.

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,
there are many times when I have failed to listen to Your voice,
gone my own way, and fallen flat on my face!
Thank You that I can confess my faults to You,
and that You are faithful and just to forgive all my sins
and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Help me to grow in grace, mature in the faith,
and draw ever closer to You.
Keep me alert to your instructions, show me the path I should go,
and guide me with Your eye, I pray.
May I never stray from Your path,
and may my life be a godly witness to others and a blessing to You.
This I ask in Jesus’ name, AMEN.