Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent by Br Mpumelelo

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Let us pray: Make us to know Your Ways, O LORD JESUS CHRIST; teach us Your Paths. Lead us in Your Truth, and teach us, for You are the GOD of our Salvation; for You we wait all day long. Amen.

Last week we were told about John the Baptist, that “he is a voice crying in the wilderness, saying: Prepare the way of the LORD, make his paths straight” — as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah — and I believe that each one of us had a question in their heart: “How do we prepare the way of the LORD? How do we make His paths straight?” Today, we see GOD answering that question through His Word clearly: to prepare the way of the LORD, and to make His paths straight, means to repent and bear fruits worthy of repentance! This is why Mark once said: “John was proclaiming the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins!” (Mark 1:4)

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Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent by Br MpumeleloRead More »

Sermon for the Third Sunday of Advent by Br Mpumelelo Read More »

Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday of Advent

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In the Name of God the Creator, the Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen!

This week marks the second week of Advent. The period of Advent for me is a time of reflection. We look at what is and anticipate what ought to come. We reflect on the life that is and hope for something better. This second week of Advent takes us from thinking about hope to a related idea of peace, something we all need to think more about.

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday of Advent Read More »

November 2024 News – Rowan Williams at Volmoed

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We were privileged to have the presence and input of Bp Dr Rowan Williams, a former Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, at Volmoed during the first half of November. His deep spirituality humbly shared was much appreciated.

Bp Rowan provided input on the theme of passions and freedoms to the Volmoed Colloquium during the first weekend of November. Some of the colloquium group attended Vespers with the Brothers on the Friday evening, and most of the group attended the Eucharist on the Sunday morning. This was followed by the final colloquium session, during which Bp Rowan spoke about freedom with (dynamic relationships that welcome diversity by reframing questions) in addition to freedom from and freedom for.

During the following week, Bp Rowan provided input on the theme of the prophetic witness of the church today for a retreat that was offered at Volmoed. There were one or two input sessions each morning (they can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/@CrossingRivers2024/videos), and a question-and-answer session after supper each evening.

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November 2024 News – Rowan Williams at Volmoed Read More »

Reflection for Sunday 1 December 2024 – the First Sunday of Advent – by Br Aelred

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May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, our Strength and our Redeemer. Amen.

Can you imagine what a boring place this world would have been if Almighty God had created all of us the same; with the same brain, the same way of thinking, the same personalities, just everything the same? We would not have had anyone or anything to challenge us, we would not have had the ability to use our brains to interpret and choose for ourselves how to live our lives.

Today we start a new liturgical year, a time for deep reflection. You see, the past is in the past, and as Christians we don’t look back, we look forward. We take what we have learned from the past and move forward, with the light of Christ as our guide.

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Reflection for Sunday 1 December 2024 – the First Sunday of Advent – by Br Aelred Read More »

Sunday 24 November 2024: Feast of Christ the King – Sermon by Br Daniel

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And so, the liturgical year ends with the celebration of Christ the King.

The Catholic Echo tells of the origin of the Feast of Christ the King as follows.

Since the first century A.D., Christians have acknowledged that Jesus is a king. However, it was only 99 years ago that the feast day of Christ the King was created and inserted into the annual church liturgy. 

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Sunday 24 November 2024: Feast of Christ the King – Sermon by Br DanielRead More »

Sunday 24 November 2024: Feast of Christ the King – Sermon by Br Daniel Read More »

Sermon for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

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I wonder what the disciples were thinking when they asked Jesus about when his prophecy of the destruction of the temple would come about, and what signs they should look for. Such a massive building erected over so many years: Was there perhaps some scepticism in their questioning? How could it all be destroyed so completely?

We know that the temple was in fact destroyed some years later. The unthinkable did happen. The centre of their practice of faith, the place where heaven and earth came together, where God was most surely to be found, was no more. They should have asked another question: What will we do then? Where will we find God afterwards?

What do we do when what we had thought to be the centre of our world, the source of our security, is no more?

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Sermon for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Read More »

Reflection for Sunday 10 November 2024 by Br Aelred

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May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

Before I entered this beautiful and wonderful community, I worked full-time at my local parish while going through discernment, whether for ordination or joining this blessed community. While working at the parish, I got myself quite busy.

As I continued my discernment, one day I was journaling and one line of what I was writing stood out to me. It was the following: I believe I’ve become so busy with the work of the Lord that I am afraid I am heading on a road where I will be forgetting the Lord of the work.

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Reflection for Sunday 10 November 2024 by Br Aelred Read More »

October 2024 News

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Br Aelred led a weekend retreat for a group of lay ministers from St Andrew’s Anglican Church in Steenberg. His input was appreciated, and the group attended chapel prayers with the Brothers, some of whom made themselves available for individual spiritual accompaniment, together with Rev Wilma.

Brs Josias and Roger travelled to Mariannhill Monastery in KZN to attend the annual meeting of the ACSA Religious Life Council, together with representatives from most of the other Anglican religious communities in southern Africa as well as the new Liaison Bishop, Bp VV Mnculwane. It was good to share the experiences of religious life together with prayer and fellowship.

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October 2024 News Read More »

Homily by Br Luc for Sunday, November 3, 2024 – Proper 26 B

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Scripture Readings

May God our Father, who has brought us together again this morning to feed us by His Word and Sacrament, be praised! Our readings today direct us towards love.

Character is defined by the Merriam Webster dictonary as “the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, a group or nation”. Character can therefore be understood as the pattern of behavior or personality found in an individual or a group. For our purpose this morning, we shall deal with the Individual, bearing in mind that a group cannot be without individuals.

One’s character is related to how reliable and honest one is. If someone is of good character, they are reliable and honest. If they are of bad character, they are unreliable and dishonest. However, character is mostly used in a positive way to mean qualities that are admirable, interesting and unusual.

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Homily by Br Luc for Sunday, November 3, 2024 – Proper 26 B Read More »

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost – Sermon by Br Josias

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Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the creator, the redeemer and sustainer. Amen!

Working with persons with intellectual disabilities (PWID) has taught me many things, but the values of tolerance and patience are what I have learned to appreciate most. Trust me, it is a difficult yet a fulfilling task to work with PWID. They too can test your patience, but people who pushed my buttons the most were the coaches and the caregivers.

It is not an easy task to tolerate and be patient with people, regardless of their background. However, these values are important for living and working harmoniously with one another.

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The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost – Sermon by Br Josias Read More »

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