SPRING

Dear Prayer Partners,

Come and join us as we journey through some of the special places on Volmoed. The chapel, which reminds us of the importance of Thanksgiving, was built with donations that came in from people who wanted to give thanks for specific events in their lives. The wall hanging in the Chapel depicts the waterfall and river on Volmoed, as well as a montage of valley scenes Ezekiel 47 & Revelation 22:1-5 were the inspiration.  This  is the start of the Pilgrim Walk,* to define what you are hoping God will do for you. Try to clarify what you are expecting, “to kneel where prayer has been valid” as TS Elliot wrote. A place steeped in prayers, where their spirit will sustain you on your journey, so allow God to direct your thoughts.

* The Pilgrim walk is available from the office at R25 a copy.

• THURSDAY MORNING COMMUNION SERVICES WILL COMMENCE ON THE 3RD OF SEPTEMBER

Contact the office to register as space is limited.

• Recently one of our guests had the following to say: Thank you for a wonderful weekend. Everything was what we expected and more. ‘

 Spring Into Action

 Book your stay at our special September rates of R400 per person per night.

If it is your Birthday this month make use of our Birthday Special of pay for one night and get one night free

Priory News

THE BOTHERS CELEBRATED THEIR FIRST YEAR AT VOLMOED

Spring Comes to Volmoed

It has been a challenging winter at St Benedict's Priory at Volmoed - cold, damp, and all that under the cloud of COVID-19. So, the signs of Spring are particularly welcome. 

Our church customs mostly grew up in the Northern Hemisphere. The joining of Spring with the celebration of Easter is evidence of that. Seeing buds emerge from apparently dead plants or barren earth is a wonderful metaphor for Jesus rising from the tomb - new life is a moving sign of hope. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, while Spring is upon us, Easter is a long way off. Yet lockdown has felt, in many ways, like a particularly long Lent - we're ready for Easter. Indeed, every Sunday is meant to reflect Easter, so we don't have to wait for months. Any Sunday will do.

Easter is emotionally complex - it is joy mixed with sorrow, life mixed with death, beauty mixed with ugliness. It is a time of dying to old and rising to new. Jesus emerged from that tomb in a form that his closes friends could hardly recognize. If COVID has been a sort of tomb, then our families, our churches, our social institutions will emerge from that tomb in a new way.  If we emerge from the devastation of COVID just as we were before, then we will have wasted a great deal of suffering. If we emerge from lockdown dedicated to rebuilding our world so that it is more just and fair, so that it more closely resembles God's Kingdom, then God will be honored, just as God was honored through the horror of Jesus' crucifixion. 

Of course, we're not quite out of the tomb of COVID just yet - but we see light breaking over the horizon. Flowers are springing up at Volmoed and guests are returning in cautious numbers. The doors are being opened for corporate worship - also in careful and sensible ways. I can't help but think Christ is Risen...

• CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

My annual 8 day Silent Retreat in August began with Jeremiah 29:11. With great thanksgiving, I gazed at the immense ocean,  breaking waves, basking in the beauty that is the coast here in Hermanus, and in the boundless love of God. What a privilege. I am ever hopeful that the permit to build a house here will be issued soon despite delays, that I may have a home on Volmoed by the end of the year. Pray with us, for the Spirit to continue to leading us, for faith and trust as we walk the path of Love with Christ.

The Prayer Ministry at Volmoed, coordinated by Molly  Wood, has continued faithfully online during lockdown. They will meet in person for the first time since lockdown on 3 September at 11.15am.

Pray for little Zoe who had jaundice after her surgery in July, and then another operation on 24 August. She is recovering well and is scheduled for a last chemo session in mid September. We continue to pray for Peterus, and Evette who is still at Tygerberg Hospital with Zoe.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon mentions that there is a time to gather stones. Well we have been gathering the most beautiful stones here on Volmoed, courtesy of the Le Breton Family. We are surprised by these beautifully painted stones in various unexpected places, putting a smile on our faces. This circle reminds me of the circle of friends of Volmoed who continue to pray for us and support us financially. So once again a big THANK YOU.