Friday 2nd October

(Thought I'd posted this last week - don't know why it didn't happen!!  More news, probably tomorrow.  N)

The Retreat has now finished and I am recuperating at the home of Peter and Ritha Menyatso in Potchefstroom, where it is hot and sunny and the pool is appealing.

In some ways the final 2 letters to the Churches in Rev.3 seem to be the wrong way round. To the Church in Philadelphia there is nothing but praise, but to Laodicea there is no praise at all! There is however the promise that the risen Christ will never cease trying to gain entry to the human heart.

It could have been an anti-climactic end to the Retreat, but we ended with a Penitential Service – a service in which the priest leads a time of Recollection. We sang ‘Refiner’s fire’, which I had taught them earlier in the week – a fitting song for a gold mining area. I took the 10 commandments as the theme, broadening out the meaning of some: eg having respect for all living things rather not commiting murder; the use and abuse of authority rather than just honouring parents; etc. The form for individual confession is then used, leaving silence for each one to name their particular sins to God, and the formal Absolution pronounced. I then went to each one, anointed them and prayed for a fresh filling of the Spirit as they returned home. The service ended as they filled the chapel with their songs of thanks and praise, in their own languages. The tears, hugs and words of thanks said that God had truly been at work in their lives. Now it’s over to them. Do pray that as they return home they may find new strength and vision for themselves and their people.

This afternoon, Friday, I shall be helping to chop vegetables for the funeral meal after Ritha’s friend’s husband’s funeral tomorrow, and this evening there is a welcome meal for Archbishop Thabo at the Bishop’s home. Tomorrow looks as though it will be a quiet day for me, though Peter, who is a Funeral Director has 3 funerals to do, no doubt all before lunch, Saturday being the traditional day for funerals here. Sunday I shall probably go to the Cathedral with Peter – Ritha will be away at a conference – where ++Thabo is preaching and there is a lunch to follow the service. But this is Africa – and it could all change! And next week? it's called walking by faith!

Clergy with jumpers to go to very poor families. I wished I could have brought more.