The dic�onary defines community as a group of people

mee�ng in the same place or having a par�cular

characteris�c in common, or a group of people having

certain common a�tudes and interests.

I am persuaded that the great strength of St Luke's, the

factor that has kept us together and enabled us to

thrive even though so many churches are struggling, is

its strong sense of community.

We are an increasingly diverse group of people who meet together to

worship God. We are bound together by a common set of values which lead

us to display certain a�tudes, a certain worldview.

The vision that cements this is the objec�ve of building the kingdom of God in

the Orchards area. We do this by enabling, equipping and encouraging our

members to place themselves in a covenant rela�onship with God.

Our focus on God gives us this common and shared purpose, a purpose which

is realised as we worship together and learn together and grow spiritually

together. This happens in the various - very different - worship services and

home groups and in various community events such as Saint Luke’s Day.

While recognising that people come from a diverse group of social and

theological backgrounds, we are united by a common trust in the Lord Jesus

Christ and are led by His word to guide us in life. We accept with joy the

salva�on promised to those who accept and follow the Lord Jesus, and we

revel in the constant presence of the risen Lord Jesus. This enables us to not

only cope with the problems and challenges and difficul�es of life but to

thrive and prosper in them.

The latest addi�on to our community is the Soul Friends programme which

we are in the process of working through together.

On Saint Luke’s Day, which we celebrate on 16 October this year, we will

come together as a community to celebrate our unity as we worship God

together. We will gather as a thriving and growing community of believers

with a common adherence to God, a community that thrives by loving each

other, suppor�ng each other and encouraging one other. The sermon will

focus on the need to encourage others, as demonstrated in the Bible by

Barnabas.

18 High Road, Orchards, 2192 / P.O. Box 92351, Norwood, 2117 (tel: 011-728-7015) office@stluke.co.za

St. Luke’s News October 2016

From David’s Desk … Celebrating Community Inside this issue:

Put my Tears into your bottle … 3

Report Back:

SAINTS (What contribution

can I make to the new SA)

Simon Reed’s Visit

John Atkinson

Holiday Club

3

4&5

6

8

On & Off Salvation 7

Meet Jordan & Helen Theron 9

Testimony:

From Zanna Goodenough 10

YPC:

Report of the year so far

10

11

What’s coming up? 12

St Luke’s seeks to build God’s Kingdom by helping believers to develop a

covenant relationship with God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—that will

enrich our daily lives and equip us for service to others

. . . . con�nued overleaf

Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila Prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila (1515(1515(1515(1515----1582) 1582) 1582) 1582) –––– Carmelite NunCarmelite NunCarmelite NunCarmelite Nun

Christ has no body now but yours.Christ has no body now but yours.Christ has no body now but yours.Christ has no body now but yours.

No hands, no feet on earth but No hands, no feet on earth but No hands, no feet on earth but No hands, no feet on earth but

yours.yours.yours.yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Yours are the eyes through which Yours are the eyes through which Yours are the eyes through which

He looks compassion on this world.He looks compassion on this world.He looks compassion on this world.He looks compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which He Yours are the feet with which He Yours are the feet with which He Yours are the feet with which He

walks to do good.walks to do good.walks to do good.walks to do good.

Yours are the hands through which Yours are the hands through which Yours are the hands through which Yours are the hands through which

He blesses the world.He blesses the world.He blesses the world.He blesses the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the Yours are the hands, yours are the Yours are the hands, yours are the Yours are the hands, yours are the

feet, yours are the eyes, you are His feet, yours are the eyes, you are His feet, yours are the eyes, you are His feet, yours are the eyes, you are His

bodybodybodybody

Christ has no body now on earth Christ has no body now on earth Christ has no body now on earth Christ has no body now on earth

but yours.but yours.but yours.but yours.

From David’s Desk (continued)

Page 2 St. Luke’s News St. Luke’s Day Edition 2016

During the joint service, we will admit to communion eleven new young members, we will renew our own personal

covenant commitment to God, and we will make or renew our pledges to God regarding our financial giving to the

community.

This will be followed by a bring and share brunch which will be a wonderful opportunity to get to know each other

be3er.

I pray that we will con�nue to grow together in love and will con�nue to be bound together in our united allegiance

to God and love for His Son Jesus Christ. Together we will be be3er people. Together we will grow closer to God.

Together we will be a greater force for good in a society than we could be as individuals.

God bless you all,

David

Christmas @ St. Luke’s

Sunday 11 December 2016Sunday 11 December 2016Sunday 11 December 2016Sunday 11 December 2016

19h0019h0019h0019h00

On the lawns outside the Church On the lawns outside the Church On the lawns outside the Church On the lawns outside the Church

(weather permitting)(weather permitting)(weather permitting)(weather permitting) Saturday 24 DecemberSaturday 24 DecemberSaturday 24 DecemberSaturday 24 December

16h00 Childrens Service

22h30 Holy Communion

Sunday 25 DecemberSunday 25 DecemberSunday 25 DecemberSunday 25 December

07h30 Holy Communion

09h30 Holy Communion

Please join us

For our Children’s Christmas Service

Saturday 24 December @ 4 pm

This year we will celebrate the very special gifts that God has given to us FOR FREE!! And we will find out what we can give back to God this Christmas.

This service is aimed at children 12 years and under BUT all are welcome to join—so children—bring your older siblings, your moms and dads, your uncles, aunts and grandparents.

Seen at last year’s Carol Service:Seen at last year’s Carol Service:Seen at last year’s Carol Service:Seen at last year’s Carol Service:

Some years ago a small boy le4 his home and walked into the nearby town. His inten�on was

to find a job in order to earn the money to pay for school fees. Following an inner promp�ng

he found his way to the owner of the hotel who listened carefully to his story. Instead of a

job or a dismissal ‘Oom Chris’ enrolled him in a school, bought him the uniform and paid the

fees. He con�nued to do so throughout his school career.

Today that li3le boy has a Ph.D and is the Anglican Bishop of Johannesburg. A Spirit-filled and

charisma�c personality, Steve Moreo is a wise and highly intelligent man. Humble and

gentle, He expresses Himself fluently and clearly as he radiates the love of the God who has

called him and laid His hand upon him.

On 17 September he addressed a SAINTS workshop with Moses Thabethe, the Rector of St Thomas’ Church in

Linden. These two very gi4ed men shared themselves and their insights in one of the most moving and enlightening

mee�ngs that SAINTS has held. Here were not arm’s length observa�ons or academic points of interest but deep

truths and understandings gathered on their journeys with the Lord.

Bishop Steve’s star�ng point was that there are so many problems and challenges facing the na�on and the Church

today that we need to stay together. To walk out or to walk away is not acceptable. Because of the Cross we are

already a part of each other as Chris�ans. In fact we are ‘stuck with each other’ and we need to accept and embrace

it. In this it is not a ques�on of striving towards unity, but of recognising and maintaining the unity that we already

have in Christ. There will therefore be �mes when it is more important to be unified than to be right. He referred to

the expression ‘dead-right’ to highlight his point. Being right but dead is not necessarily helpful for individuals or

rela�onships!

One of the points he stressed is for us all to improve our listening skills together with a preparedness to listen to

God and to others – those close to us and the society in which we live. This may be very challenging when the words

and ac�ons