83 82 The Chronicle 2021 Centenary Edition Back row (L-R): Katlego Phetla, Kudzai Kamwendo Middle row: Lwandle Ngema, Matthew Smith, Sim Mkhize, Otsile Ntsele, Ryan Denekamp, Sbongakonke Maphumulo Seated: Joshua van der Merwe, Mrs Sue Murray, Joshua Owen, Rev. Kym Bishop, Jens Otto SCA As we started this, our centenary year, the picture we had in our hearts and minds was the one from Jeremiah 6, where we are invited to ‘stand at the crossroads and look, ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it’. As we have looked back on the path that has been walked by the Kearsney community for 100 years – a path of tradition and innovation, resilience but also faith and trust, we look back in celebration and gratitude for all that has been. But we haven’t only looked back. We asked for the ancient path, for the good way so that we too can walk it today. As we have celebrated 100 years of Kearsney College, we have also looked forward with hope to all that is yet to come, and to all that God is still going to do that we get to be a part of. And we walk it, not for our own benefit, our own personal growth or even glory. We walk that path so that those who come after us will also know the way. So that we can be a light to the world. The nature of God’s gifts and blessings are never just for one person alone. Always we are blessed to be a blessing. Just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden, or a light is not put under a bowl but on a stand so that it can give light to everyone else, so we are to let our light shine so that others may see us and praise God. That is a large part of why this school was established. Sir Liege Hulett, in recognising all that God had done for him, wanted to respond to God’s goodness in a practical, tangible way so that others could also know the love of God. He started Kearsney College in 1921 in response to God and out of love for Christ. It was fitting that our first Centenary event that we were able to host was Tolle Lege: a continuous reading of the New Testament. People gathered in person, as well as virtually, from all over the world for 18 hours to take turns reading the New Testament aloud from Matthew to Revelation. It was a truly remarkable event that blessed the boys and staff of the College as well as the wider community. Our weekly Chapel services have continued through the year, with most services being live streamed from the Chapel to various venues around the school. We have been able to sing together again, albeit through our masks, but it has been wonderful to hear hymns and the organ being played in the Chapel once more. The Head of Chapel for 2021, Joshua van der Merwe, modelled the way of Christ as he served the College so faithfully in this role. The Student Christian Association has also continued to meet each week through the year. This organisation has been ably led by a committee of boys, headed up by Joshua Owen, who plan each term and invite various speakers to share with and encourage the boys. The SCA also provides opportunity for the boys to encourage each other through sharing testimonies and praying together. This, together with the student led cell groups that continued to meet, has enabled the boys of the College to share their faith with each other. The SCA committee continued to put together meaningful online devotions each time we have been in lock-down or gone online. These devotions have inspired staff and boys alike and kept us united even when we were apart. We have had a few opportunities to interact with other school SCA groups, but COVID regulations have made this difficult, and we have not visited other schools as often as would have liked. We had plans for an SCA camp and a Worship Week that have had to be delayed until next year, but we are learning to adapt and adjust, and we are learning to recognise God at work even when things do not go to plan. We were grateful to be able to offer Methodist Confirmation and Catholic Catechism classes again this year, with several boys being baptised, and confirmed into both church traditions. The Methodist Confirmation Service took place in our Chapel on a Sunday afternoon, and the Catholic boys were confirmed by the Archbishop during Sunday Mass at St Dominic’s Church in Hillcrest. It was a privilege to gather with the boys and their families for these special events. The Moms Who Pray group continued to meet weekly, and have helped to re-establish prayer boxes within the Houses so that boys can leave specific prayer requests. Many within our Kearsney Community have known grief and loss, and so it has been wonderful knowing the group of moms pray so faithfully for the school each week. We were able to use the annual Remembrance Day service to observe Remembrance Week at the College. All members of the Kearsney Community were invited to come to the Chapel during that week, to leave a note or photo, light a candle, or spend a few moments in prayer in the Chapel remembering those whom we love who have passed away. It has been a season of deep grief for many, so this was an opportunity to draw closer to God, who is near to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit (Psalm 34:18). The year ended with our annual staff Thanksgiving Service, where all staff members gather to testify to and give thanks for the ways in which God has been with us through the year. As the words of the old chorus say, ‘I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow ‘til we’ve seen this journey through’. As we continue to look both back on all God has done and forward to all God will still do, God’s faithfulness continues to shine through the chaos and anchor us in the storm. And so we praise God for all that is past and trust God for all that is to come. Head of Chapel: Joshua van der Merwe SCA Committee: Joshua Owen, Matthew Smith, Kudzai Kamwendo, Sbongakonke Maphumulo, Lwandle Ngema, Sim Mkhize, Ryan Denekamp and Otsile Ntsele Rev Kym Bishop Chaplain Spirituality Right: Centenary event, Tolle Lege: a continuous reading of the New Testament. Readers were either in person or online and shown on the large screen in the Chapel during the 18-hour event. Kearsney Chaplain, Rev. Kym Bishop Due to COVID, most Chapel services were live streamed from the Chapel to boys in various venues around the school and shared online.
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