Please note, there will be a Computer Help Desk at meeting â ... software and cyber problems! Prayer Retreat .... open
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Proposed Changes to the Constitution The constitution of Northcliff Union Church was adopted in 1952, and was last amended in 2003 as part of a requirement to register as a non-profit organisation. The Constitution sets out our Statement of Faith, and is primarily used to provide the rules and guidelines for leadership and governance in our Church, and a sense of continuity in the way decisions are taken. At the same time, it needs to be a living document, and understandable for those new members who read the constitution when joining NUC. At present, there are two areas we would like to address with the proposed revisions: 1. Content: There are a few practices in NUC which have evolved over the years, which means that we are not doing quite the same things as we did six decades ago. The intention is to explain these differences, and seek amendments to keep us in step with changing times, while not
sacrificing our principles and beliefs. 2. Style: The language of the early days has also changed, and we have engaged skilled editors to simplify the wording, grammar, punctuation and layout to a format which is more readable.
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The review process commenced with a working group of Council, which involved legal expertise and benchmarking with other churches, to identify some of the issues warranting reconsideration. These issues were then put to Council, which agreed to the possible changes and what we were wanting to achieve. A number of people have been involved in drafting the revisions, under the guidance of the Senior Pastor. The amendments have been endorsed by the Elders and are now being considered by Council, prior to submission to the members of the Church, as required by the Constitution. Because of the changes being both to content and style, a ‘track changes’ document in Microsoft Word cannot g
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Proposed Changes to the Constitution (continued) adequately serve to show (and explain) all the changes proposed, as this makes the revision unreadable, and also does not work well for people without computer facilities. To assist members with their evaluation of the draft changes, the following process is planned. 1. A document explaining the reasons for the content changes will be made available in hard copy and
online to set out the rationale for the substantive changes, with reference to the relevant paragraphs in the existing constitution.
3. A deadline will be given for the submission of questions/issues of concern, to allow for personal answers to each.
2. The current approved constitution, together with the proposed amended constitution, will be made available in hard copy, by email and online for members to work through, over a period of four weeks, to allow for careful reading, consideration and prayer.
4. A date will then be set for a Members’ Special Meeting which will address this topic alone. A resolution to amend the constitution will then be tabled in terms of the constitution. If approved, the new version of the constitution will be published and used in future.
A Prayer for South Africa Lord, we pray for a movement of ethical leadership to pervade our country. Whilst on this earth You gave us the template. You were fearless, courageous and relevant – as a servant leader, You set the example by washing your disciples’ feet.
and the blind leaders of the blind. Our country more than ever needs ethical leaders with
When necessary, You were outspoken against the hypocritical leaders of the time, calling them whitewashed tombs
Instructions for Living Be like the sun. Arise early and do not go to bed late. Be like the moon. Shine in the darkness but submit to the greater light. Be like the birds. Eat, sing, drink and fly. Be like the flowers, loving the sun, but faithful to your roots. Be like the faithful dog, but only to your Lord. Be like the fruit. Beautiful on the outside and healthy
integrity. Our prayer is for a movement of integrity across all levels and spheres of leadership – business, government, NGOs and faith-based organisations. Most of all we pray that we may have the humility to repent, turn from our evil ways and seek Your face. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen
on the inside. Be like the day, which arrives and leaves without boasting. Be like the oasis. Give your water to the thirsty. Be like the firefly. Although small, it casts its own light. Be like the water, good and transparent. Be like the river, always moving forward. And above all things, be like the heavens: a home for God.
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On Reflection called ‘Freedom of Religion’. This means that we believe that everyone is completely free to believe whatever they wish about whatever they feel.
There has been growing concern lately about a proposed Mosque being planned near to the Northcliff High School. Some Christians have aired their concerns and feel that a petition should be signed in order to prevent this from happening on our doorstep. Unfortunately, some of these reactions are based on fear and a lack of information regarding some of our fundamental Christian beliefs. As evangelicals, one of the principles we hold to is a firm belief in what is
This does not mean that we don’t share the love of Christ with them. However, it does mean that we do not force anyone to believe in Christ or not to believe in something else. This is actually a great environment in which the gospel can and should thrive. Let’s not forget that the Gospel message of God’s grace and forgiveness in Christ was born into the most hostile environment imaginable (cf. Acts). Christians have been persecuted, tortured and martyred since the very beginnings of the Church (the Apostle Stephen was the first New Testament martyr). As much as we would love to live in a world where there is a complete absence of false faiths and religions, this is neither realistic nor possible. However, we must work fervently to share the love of Christ with as many people as we can, wherever they happen to live – around the corner or around the world!
congestion, unacceptable noise in the suburb, to mention a few. But, far more importantly, we pray for the salvation of everyone who will attend that mosque. I use the mosques in Greenside and Northcliff as prayer prompts. Whenever I drive or run past them I pray for those inside who are earnestly seeking truth or questioning their faith. I pray that Jesus will reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions and I pray that Jesus will so fill my heart with love for these dear people that it oozes out all over the place whenever I have the opportunity to greet them or meet them. Brother Andrew, who founded the ministry and mission of Open Doors sixty years ago, explains that, to him, the word ‘ISLAM’ means ‘I Sincerely Love All Muslims’. We too easily take for granted the fact that, without Christ, people cannot know the love of God or the hope of eternal forgiveness and salvation. The only reason the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ exists is to glorify God by making disciples of ‘all nations’. This should concern us far more and motivate us to pray for people, whatever they might believe. People need the Lord!
So, what do we do if a Mosque is going to be built next door? We can lodge an objection based on concerns regarding traffic flow,
I have kleptomania, but when it gets bad, I take something for it.
Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.
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Prayer Opportunities
Dates to Diarise : First Saturday : For Young Adults : First Tuesday : Second and fourth Tuesdays : First Sunday between morning services (prayer for our supported missionaries) Third Sunday between morning services
NUC Arts and Crafts Meetings for 2016, 09h00 to 12h00 in the JL Green Hall on Saturdays: 16th July, 20th August, 10th September and 22nd October You are welcome to invite friends and relatives. Check the Weekly Bulletin for details of which crafts are involved. Please note, there will be a Computer Help Desk at meeting – bring your laptop and someone will be available to help you with your software and cyber problems!
Please join us as we pray together on the following occasions. Everyone is welcome. First Saturday of each month 07h30–09h00: Prayer Breakfast in the JL Green Hall. Third Sunday of each month: Prayer between services (check for venue). Every Sunday: Praying through the second service in the Prayer Room (prayer specifically for the pastor preaching, for the services and church activities). Saturday 21 May: Prayer Retreat. Venue: Jan and Rosa van Eck’s home (numbers limited due to logistics).
Queries: Contact Owen Elsley 082-565-0173 or Stella Smith 082-740-1030
Prayer Retreat Saturday 21st May 09h00 to 15h30 Venue: The home of Jan and Rosa van Eck Cost: R30 per person (Numbers limited to 20 people) Contact: Stella Smith 0827401030
Advance Notices Hot Potato evening Sunday 29th May Pastor’s Tea F-J Sunday 12th June Holiday Bible Club 4th to 8th July Marriage Prep starts Wednesday 27th July
Life is too short for drama and petty things, so laugh hard, love truly and forgive quickly. Live while you are alive.
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Getting to Know the NUC Council Brett Beaumont, Deacon
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wo new Deacons were elected at the Annual Vision Supper in February, and one of them was Brett Beaumont. Brett has been at NUC for about two years and has been involved in the Men’s Ministry and the Welcoming Committee. “I got involved in Northcliff Union initially by attending Gavin’s Christian Life College courses on a Tuesday night,” explains Brett. “I loved sitting under his teaching and got to meet some of the other members this way. My wife and I decided to move to NUC after coming to faith about three years before, as we wanted to be a part of a local church and have an impact in the immediate area where we live.
“I believe completely in God’s sovereignty and have seen His hand at work in my life over the years. After growing up in a totally irreligious household He graciously led me down a long road before I was actually saved.
been married for 15 years and have two children, son Tyler (12) and daughter Jasmine (also 12), both at Northcliff Primary. “They’re not twins,” says Brett, “just very close together!”
“Fifteen years previously spent in an oppressive, legalistic church where I tried to earn my salvation have taught me to really appreciate the true grace of God once coming to know Him. Ephesians 2: 8–9: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” Brett has his own estate agency here in Northcliff and wife Suzy is a fundraiser with Childline. They have
The Lees You Can Expect In our next article featuring one of the Home Groups at Northcliff Union, we travel to Ontdekkers Park to the home of John and Margaret Lees, who cheerfully host a group of mostly over-60 couples. This group meets on a Thursday night, which is nice to know for those who find a Tuesday or Wednesday difficult. The regulars arrive at 7.00 pm and enjoy watching a 40-minute video (from one of the great series available in the NUC Video Library) followed by active discussion, to which is applied a wealth of life experience which resides in this group. Afterwards, they have about half-an-hour of
prayer-and-share, which allows these prayer warriors to seek the Lord’s will and mercy in respect of the cases brought before Him. By that time, supper has settled, and everyone is ready for tea and some tasty eats, together with around 30 minutes of fellowship. This is not grey
hair you see here – it’s wisdom highlights!
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Air Conditioning in the Auditorium
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is now heating up the exterior.
ith the recent hot weather (and the impending winter cold) it could be a good time to explain how the air conditioning works in the Auditorium, and share some of our plans going forward. Without getting too technical, we do not actually have ‘air conditioning” units in the Auditorium, but evaporative chillers. When they were installed 24 years ago, this was the most cost-effective way of cooling the vast interior, and still is. These large motors have now seen better days, and parts are very difficult to come by, with technical support challenging. Last year we repaired the motors, but are told by industry experts that their life expectancy is not great. Most other churches with similar high ceilings and big spaces even today install chillers as opposed to A/C units because of the high cost of purchase and operating expenses. We are liaising with professional ventilation people to assess our options for the longer term, and will communicate our plans once these have been evaluated and budget is available. The other factor to be aware of is the different experience of temperature by different people – certainly at the different services,
but even in the same service, where we sometimes receive vociferous complaints that it is both too hot and too cold at the same time. There are two understandable causes: We are all different. Sometimes you will be at home or in a building, and you are freezing, while others are sweating. This happens in open-plan offices every day, even with the most sophisticated aircon systems and low ceilings. Some people prefer the cold, while others hate it. We all think we are normal and others are crazy! Secondly, the outside (and inside) temperatures at Sunday services vary as the day progresses. For instance, during autumn, the morning temperature when the people arrive at 07h45 into an empty Auditorium is very different to when the second service people are still in the venue at 11h15 where 250 bodies have been generating body heat, and the sun
Unfortunately, heating or cooling a large Auditorium is not achieved in a few minutes, as it might be in a small office. The temperature with chillers goes lower when the doors are open, unlike air conditioners where the doors must be closed for it to cool. We therefore have to attempt the happy medium, and ask the others to cope as best they can. But what can YOU do? ● Consider where you sit in
the Auditorium. Several people have already experimented, and know whether they want to sit near the open doors or not – front, sides or rear. ● Bring a cardigan if you
tend to feel the cold, so that you have some selfregulating flexibility. Remember, chillers are either on or off, and have no thermostat for in between. We hope this has given you some insights into the air temperature issues we face. We will be considering further enhancements over the coming months. Thank you for your tolerance and understanding.
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Serving Each Sunday We were recently asked how many people are involved in supporting a typical Sunday Service. It might surprise you to learn what is involved, especially behind the scenes. Apart from the extensive preparation beforehand, such as the buying and arranging of flowers, cleaning the auditorium and grounds, preparing/printing the Order-of-Service, the bulletin, slides and noticeboards, on the day you will find: 1 x Preacher (having spent days in preparation) 1 x Service Leader sharing news, upcoming events and praying for a persecuted country 6 x Welcoming Team members on doors, desk, outside and taking the offering 2 x Offertory counters
4-6 Worship Team members (who have practised in advance as well) 1 x PC operator, projecting the notices, song words and PowerPoint and recording the sermon 1 x Sound Desk engineer, who has set up the mics, soundchecked the band and manages sound outputs to the PA system, recording and 3 external TV feeds 2 x Janitors managing security and parking 1 x Facilities Manager on duty on Sunday mornings 2 x Tea Servers and one for washing up 1 x Foyer Pastor 1 x Book Table/Librarian
operate during the 10h00 service. We are grateful to these servants for tithing their time and talents on Sundays and beyond. On Monday, the work continues with re-counting and banking the offertory, collecting and actioning Green Slips and follow-up with visitors, cleaning, distribution of flowers, sermon-posting on the website, and duplicating recordings for CD. Thank you to everyone involved!
This list does not highlight the Children’s Church and Teen Church leaders and teachers who
Bibles for Believers It was very exciting for us all to see 132 bibles in Swahili being delivered by Pastor Theo Burakeye (one of our supported missionaries) into Tanzania.
represents a transformational gift towards their discipleship, as these families can now study the Word together at their own pace, and not just hear it on a Sunday.
The contributions from our people at Northcliff Union made this practical gift possible. The joy on the faces of believers in various poor villages was wonderful to see.
We praise God for his servant, Theo, who is constantly travelling to remote parts of the continent in support of church development.
So many of us regard a Bible in our home (written in our own language) as something we do not even regard as something special. But for 132 families, this
Thank you to our NUC members who contribute faithfully to Kingdom work, and whose offerings make such a difference in people's lives.
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Focus on Missionaries: Mildred Cable finally accepted in 1923. The trio's base was Jiaquan, in the far western part of Gansu province. For most of the next thirteen years, in the words of Mildred Cable: "From Etzingol to Turpan, from Spring of Wine to Chuguchak, we ... spent long years in following traderoutes, tracing faint caravan tracks, searching out innumerable by-paths and exploring the most hidden oases. Five times we traversed the whole length of the desert, and in the process we had become part of its life."
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he daughter of John Cable a prosperous draper in Guildford, Mildred Cable early decided to become a missionary and studied pharmacy and human sciences at London University. She was engaged to a man who had also declared his intention to become a missionary, but he changed his mind and said he would not marry her unless she too abandoned her ambition. She broke off the engagement, declined to take her final examination to graduate, and joined the China Inland Mission in 1901, meeting Evangeline (Eva) French who was returning to China following her first home leave. They worked together for the rest of their lives. Cable and French were stationed in Huozhou, Shanxi, and travelled constantly in the surrounding area. Eva's younger sister, Francesca, joined them in 1910 ( and they became known as the ‘trio’). After 20 years in Huozhou, they believed that the mission should be turned over to Chinese leaders and the three applied to work in relatively unknown, largely Muslim western China. Although there were doubts that women should be assigned to this region, their proposal was
In June 1923, all three set out for Central Asia from Huozhou. Travelling 2,414 km over the next eight months, evangelising as they went, they reached Zhangye (then referred to as Kanchow). Zhangye was the last city inside of the Great Wall. A Chinese evangelist was already working there, and at his request they set up a Bible school over the winter. When summer came they were on the road again, following the Hexi Corridor westward, this time with some of the Chinese believers they had trained. They rented houses for themselves and a building for a church in Jiuquan which thereafter would be their base. From Jiuquan they travelled extensively, selling and giving away Bibles and Christian literature and extending their range to Tibetan villages in Qinghai province, Mongol encampments, and Muslim towns in Xinjiang province. They studied the Uighur language to communicate with Muslim women, the top priority of their missionary efforts, although it appears that they made very few converts among the Muslims. The trio were independent, strongwilled, and bold women. Eva French was criticised for giving Communion
to her Chinese congregation on Christmas Eve 1924, celebrating Communion being considered a male prerogative. Uncowed by the criticism, Mildred Cable celebrated Communion the following Easter. Their mode of travel in Central Asia differed from the expeditions of contemporary explorers who often travelled in large caravans with armed guards. The trio loaded their cart up with religious literature and traversed the Silk Road alone or with a few Chinese colleagues. The interpersonal relations among the ‘trio’ were that Mildred was the 'father figure', Francesca the mother, and Eva the strong-willed, puckish and wonderful child. Mildred was called ‘Napoleon’ by some of her coworkers. To return to England on home leave in 1926, they travelled via Russian Siberia. After their return in 1928, they took a year-long journey into Xinjiang (then known as Chinese Turkestan), on the way being detained by a Dongan leader, Ma Zhongying, to tend his wounds. In 1932, they made their first journey into the Gobi, where Cable was badly injured by a kick from a donkey. The trio left China for the last time in 1936 and were unable to return because, in August 1938, all foreigners were ordered to leave Gansu and Xinjiang by the local warlord. Cable and the French sisters retired to Dorset. During her retirement, Cable was much in demand as a speaker, making several international tours. She and Francesca French continued writing. Mildred Cable served as a Vice President for the British and Foreign Bible Society until her death in London in 1952. (Source: Wikipedia)
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Firm Foundations: Marriage Preparation Course One of the vital Christian Education programmes run at Northcliff Union is our Marriage Preparation course.
● House or Home by Chip Ingram ● Biblical Portrait of Marriage by Bruce Wilkinson
The success rate of marriages in today’s society is not great, so we at Northcliff Union believe that a Christ-centred marriage begins long before the actual marriage ceremony. Besides praying for our engaged couples, we offer a nine-week Marriage Prep course which pulls no punches, and which is designed to equip tomorrow’s Christian families adequately for the journey they are about to walk together.
NUC’s Dale and Lauren Felton can attest that the course “benefitted us in so many ways,” particularly in grappling with those awkward issues like the roles of the man or the woman in the house. Mark and Delia agree: “Your teaching of the Lord’s word on marriage has been written onto our hearts. I know that from these lessons we will make every effort to honour the Lord in our future together.”
John and Margaret Lees are the facilitators for this programme, which is based on two solid components from Walk Thru the Bible:
The next Marriage Prep course will start on 27th July. Bookings can be made via the Northcliff Union Office, and it’s open to all.
Spread the Bread Northcliff Union Church, specifically The Tshepo Project, partnered with an organisation called #secondchances in an event called Spread the Bread on Sunday the 17th of April 2016. The aim of the event is to get together once a month under the large trees of Parktown North and make thousands of sandwiches for the underprivileged in the community. This month the Tshepo Project received some 500 out of the 2000 sandwiches made that day to distribute at the weekly soup kitchen and to the children of the Windsor Aftercare. The other sandwiches were distributed to an orphanage in Alexandria or handed to the needy on the streets. This is such an incredible opportunity to help the community out in a practical manner – watch out for the next event coming up during this month!
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Journey with George and Cecile
We were very grateful for two weeks of holiday at the end of January. It was wonderful to leave Silver Oaks (and of course Oscar and Charlie – our dog and cat) in the capable hands of our new team members, just to kick off our shoes and enjoy different parts of the North Coast of KZN. Soon after our return, the Lord also opened the heavens and blessed us with beautiful showers of rain. Though the dams are still pretty low, our storage tanks are full again and the soil is ready for planting vegetables. Our flower gardens also look as though they had a face-lift.
Unfortunately we also had showers of another kind rain down on our
property. During our time away, a series of break-ins started. Some perpetrators started targeting certain areas of the camp site and stole a new microwave in our community kitchen, food from the locked grocery cupboard, sets of linen, some machinery and things we may not even know about! We thank God that it wasn’t worse, but felt disturbed as it was just so unnecessary. Consequently we have changed to another security company and installed alarms in all the buildings. We are also a lot more diligent in keeping areas locked and checked out. Maybe we took the Lord’s protection a bit for granted?
What a blessing to host the SCBS (South Coast Bible School) week of teaching again last month. We had 34 eager students on site and they blossomed every day. The group was especially challenged in the whole area of ministering to young ones in the church. A couple from a children’s ministry in Gauteng,
called ‘Jacksonville’, shared God’s heart about children with them. Some comments were made about the Church in Africa needing to repent about sincere error in their view of children. Didn’t even our Lord in His ministry on earth often refer to little ones, or called a child into their midst to teach His disciples important life lessons? Hearts were touched when they were guided in leading young ones into the very presence of God. Everyone was challenged to treat children as the church of today – and not of the future. It was also special to have another non-profit organisation bring their church leaders to Silver Oaks for a leaders’ retreat. They had a profitable and up-building time together. We had an opportunity to share with them about our ministry and they invited us to take hands with them and help with some training. It will be great to see some of their church leaders join us for SCBS in May. God is indeed opening new doors. Thank you for travelling with us on this journey. With much love,
Cecile (and George) (This letter has been shortened. For the full version, email Denise at dtilbury@mweb. co.za or phone 011-768-2216)
Please pray for George regarding the following: 15 May: Share about CFC Ministries in Pietermaritzburg. 16 May: Launch of the Life-Skills Training Programme (Still a lot to do for preparation!) 22 May: Preach at Emphangeni Baptist Church. 23 – 27 May: Teach at Zululand School of the Bible in Emphangeni (same subject as SCBS). 29 May: Preach at Paddock Community Church. 5 June: Preach at Harding. 12 June: Preach at Paddock Community Church. 26 June – 1 July: Teach at Light to the World School of Missions – Tylden. (Same subject as SCBS). 2 July – 6 July: Visit Cecile’s Parent in Hofmeyr. 11 July – 15 July: South Coast Bible School – I will teach on the Doctrine of Christ.
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Pray for the Persecuted Church Since coming to Christ, Mariam (28) from Chad has had to deal with public threats from Muslim family members, rejection from her own family, and grave disappointment when her husband – who is also the person who first led her to Christ – caused her immense pain. After visiting Niger for job training, her husband returned to Chad with a new wife! Polygamy is common in these parts of the world and even affects the Church. This was a
devastating blow for Mariam. “Had it not been for my faith in Christ, I would not have been able to withstand this pressure,” Mariam testifies. A deaconess from her church took Mariam and her children in. Since then, Mariam has started a business to make ends meet, but it is going slower than she had hoped. (From the Open Doors website www.opendoors.org.za)
Where’s My Green Slip? For many years the Green Slips have been inserted into the weekly Bulletin. They are an ideal way for the congregation to communicate prayer needs, comments, suggestions and so on. For logistic reasons, the slips are no longer handed out with the Bulletin but are kept in specially-made plastic boxes at the end of each pew. If you need to communicate with the Church Office staff, the Pastors, or the Operations Manager, please feel free to take one and fill it in.
The Green Slips are also a useful way of indicating that you’d appreciate a visit for whatever reason, as well as for visitors to NUC to give us their details so we can keep in touch with them. So if you are aware of visitors in the service, please hand them a slip for that purpose. As before, completed slips should be placed in one of the boxes situated along the back wall of the Auditorium. All Green Slips are read on Monday mornings and action taken if necessary.
With all the new technology regarding fertility recently, a 65year-old friend of mine was able to give birth. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, I went to visit.
asked, “May I see the new baby now?” “No, not yet,” she said. After another few minutes had elapsed, I asked again, “May I see the baby now?” “No, not yet,” replied my friend.
“May I see the new baby?” I asked. “Not yet,” she said, “'I'll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.” Thirty minutes had passed, and I
Growing very impatient, I asked, “Well, when can I see the baby?” “When he cries!” she told me. “When he cries?” I demanded. “Why do I
have to wait until he cries?” “Because I forgot where I put him, okay?!!”
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Yet another example of creativity in flower arranging at Northcliff Union. This remarkable creation using bicycle wheels was featured on the weekend when NUC cyclists were busy doing the Jo’burg to Sea mountain-bike race in aid of Bibles for Open Doors. Praise God for the creative talents of those who can show off His handiwork.
(Interdenominational) Corner Pendoring Road & Dawn Drive Northcliff View Tel: 011-476-5643 Fax: 086-588-3373 E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.nuc.co.za
Nine metres up in the air on scaffolding stand our intrepid workers under careful supervision of our Facilities Contractor Lorenzo Sirchia. The team are fixing the ceiling tiles in the main hall which were dislodged by wind. No ladder can reach up high enough, so scaffolding on wheels was hired for the job. Nearer, my God, to thee.
Editor: Denise Tilbury Tel: 011-768-2216 E-mail:
[email protected] 