From Hope to Halloween

This week I interrupt the series on hope in order to look at halloween. This festival is celebrated on 31 October and its name means hallowed or holy evening,   Allhallows’ Eve, because it takes place the day before All Saints Day.  Each year schools and shopping centres promote halloween.  For many unsuspecting people, halloween  is regarded as clean innocent fun for the kiddies!

The practice originated from an old Druid custom of sacrificing children during the autumn festival called samhain .  There were many superstitious beliefs and pagan customs connected with halloween.  For instance the Druids of England believed that on halloween, ghosts, spirits, fairies and witches came out to harm people.  They believed cats were sacred and had once been human beings who were changed to animals because of their evil deeds.

The Irish have a tale about the origin of jack-o’-lantern.  Jack was unable to enter heaven because of his miserliness.  He could neither go to hell because he had played practical jokes on the devil, and as a result he had to walk the earth with his lantern made of human fat until judgement day.

Should your children and grandchildren practice halloween?  Definitely not.  It is the most sacred day of witchcraft and occultism.  It encourages belief in mediums and psychical  powers as children dabble in things like demons and poltergeists (mischievous ghosts or spirits).  Scripture warns us not to imitate that which is evil, 3 John 11, Deut. 13:9.  We are called upon to abstain from what is evil, 1Thess.5:22, Rm. 12:9 and cling to what is good.

In the eighth century the Roman Catholic church tried to neutralise halloween by combining it with All Saints Day on November 1.  Yesterday evening a number of churches in the city combined to provide top-class alternative celebrations, at Bryanston High School, for young believers to worship Christ.  The two thousand or so participants were informed on the historical and current implications of Halloween, and  time was set aside to  pray for those affected by the occult and related issues such as addiction.

Shalom,

Moshe.

We welcome a new Christian publication The Believer

Liz mentioned the publication when she shared the notices today and it was made available at no charge after the service.

The editorial line is upbeat and positive and I would like to share the "Publisher's Note" with you celebrating the inaugural edition, which will be distributed on a monthly basis from now on.

"This is the first issue of the Believer, which will tell you all about the word of God and great stories about people, who have impacted positively on other people's lives.

"We will bring you testimonies, celebrations and encouragements from those, who have been touched by God.

"We believe that every human being is special in their own unique way. Therefore we will be looking for those beautiful stories that are a Revelation of how great the Lord Jesus Christ is. 

"Our mission is to see more and more people getting ready to receive God's word, carry the torch of salvation and run with it.

"In our mission we promise to write about everything good that we see, hear or experience.

"We will not be engaging in any negative reporting. If we have nothing good to talk about, we will not say anthing about you. As ambassadors on this planet, our purpose to promote a positive atmosphere.

"The world is no infested with a lot of negative talk and reporting that God may be wondering if there is anything good left in his people.

"There are so many God fearing and loving people in our world. All we need is to see things in a positive light
May God Bless you all.".

The Marksman Online can only endorse the views of editor Ali Ndlovu and his editorial team and request that all support this initiative be it by contributing editorial content  or any other way that comes to mind. The Believer is welcome to reproduce any copy from this Blog as a reflection of what is going on at St Mark's.

Contact details for The Believer are:
info@beliver.co.za
Mobile: 082 972 2905.

Men for the Master Breakfast - we need your input

Men for the Master plan to host a breakfast for prospective members on the 29th November in the Church Hall. The concept still has to be thrashed out as this may impact on tea at 11h30.

The idea is that the current committee will contribute breakfasts representative of the African continent and invite all males, who want to make a difference at St Mark's to attend. Guidance will be asked of session and other key role players to ensure that this is a successful venture.

The committee got feedback from Samuel today, who is our treasurer, that a minimum balance of either R500 or R1 000, is needed to open various "flavours" of "group" accounts at Standard Bank. The collection today has taken us some towards the minimum target.

We would be most grateful for comment on our way forward. There is a poll in your right hand column, or you can have your say by clicking the comment button at the bottom of your screen.

Get to know your Elders

Profile Elder Geoff van Heerden

Geoff sailing with the Green family, who are also members of St Mark's, at the Vaal Dam

Joined St Mark’s	1985
Ordained as an Elder	1998
Accepted Jesus as his Saviour	At spiritual retreat with Geoff & Ceridwyn Jamieson 1998
Current Accountabilities	St Mark’s Finance Committee, Quarterly printed Marksman, The Marksman Online, Committee member Men for the Master.
Marital Status	Married to Marianne, stepchildren Mark and Brigid and two grand daughters Zoe and Alexis.
Occupation	Executive Producer, SABC Sport. Formerly a print journalist specialising in boxing and rugby.
Favourite Bible Verse	"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 25 (Whole Chapter)
Other interests	Sailing, wildlife, reading, technology, people.
Contact	Mobile 071 226 0866 E-mail: vanheerdeng@gmail.com

IBRA Bible Readings and Closer to God

The IBRA Bible Readings for 2010, either Words for Today or Light for Our Path, can now be ordered. A donation of R60 is requested and the contact person is Liz.

Margaret McLarty will take orders for Closer to God, the Scripture Union Bible Readings for 2010, which will cost R65.

Ithemba alibulali

In isiXhosa and isiZulu there is an expression which the sages of old used when people came face to face with doubt and fear.  They assured you, ‘ithemba alibulali’ – don’t give up, because there is always light at the end of the tunnel: hope will neither kill nor disappoint you.

Romans 5:1-11
Nearly two thousand years ago Paul assured the Romans that their hope of sharing in God’s glory was not an illusion (v2). It was real and would not disappoint them. What were his reasons?
Firstly, God prized them so highly that his Spirit would ‘drown’ them with his love (v5). Secondly, Christ died on the cross, making a way for believers to share in his eternal kingdom (v6). Paul was dedicated to teaching everyone this wonderful truth in order to present them perfect in Christ (Col. 1:28). Thirdly, because of Christ they had been reconciled to God (v11).
As believers they should place their hope in the unchanging Christ and not on worldly wisdom, economic strength or mental prowess. Thus for the church in Rome and for all who have subsequently been justified through faith, there is hope based on what Christ has done. It is a hope that does not disappoint us. For believers,  ‘ithemba alibulali’.

Meditation
No doubt you want to see God at work in fresh ways in your life, fellowship and community. Mere human efforts to solve problems are doomed to failure, yet with ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’ (Col. 1;27) there is a way. Ask Jesus to help you place your hope unreservedly in him.

Shalom

Moshe

Men for the Master update

The working committee of Men for the Master met at Geoff van Heerden's home on Monday night to discuss the way forward for the men's fellowship. Giyanni, the chairman, Solomon, Roger and Samuel have listed the following 4 objectives as priorities.
1. Get official sanction from for the fellowship from St Mark's.
2. Contact Standard Bank Ellis Park and find out what is required to set up an account for a "group".
3. Set up an account.
4. Give Mac MacTaggert a list of members available for door duty.
5. Organize and host a men's breakfast at the end of November to which all male members of the congregation will be invited.
On Sunday the 25 October Giyani will feed back to the bi- monthly meeting.