I have found in recent years (as I get older, I guess?) that I am getting irritated more and more with some of the everyday things that I should be bigger than!! A mini-bus (Taxi!!) deliberately going straight through a red robot! Excessive noise coming from the flat next door to us while we were on holiday! The war in the Gulf and Ukraine and further talk of war emanating from more and more regions around the world etc, etc! Minor events keeping me at a level that sets my angst off at the least sign of provocation? So, I did some research – to enable me to pull myself together.
Being in a state of constant anxiety primes the nervous system to be on permanent high alert, which means your brain and body are always scanning for threats — Chronic anxiety keeps stress hormones (like cortisol and adrenaline) elevated. This reduces your tolerance for minor irritations, so things that might normally be a mild annoyance can feel like a huge “storm-in-a-teacup”. The amygdala (your brain’s alarm system = I had to look that up !!) fires more quickly and more regularly when you’re anxious. That makes it easier to slip into fight-or-flight mode before your reasoning brain (prefrontal cortex) can calm things down. Okay, so that is the theory of it all.
But the Word of God delivers a counter-plan for those who trust God and are able to turn to the Lord in states like this!
Let me take us back to King David and the precious book of Psalms – where so many of our questions are answered. King David lived in our kind of world, surrounded by enemies, betrayed by friends, hunted down, living under political instability, and sometimes even feeling God was far away.
David often accurately described that “constant high alert” state, but instead of letting it burn him out completely, he teaches us to repeatedly bring it all before God, venting honestly and then reorientating our hearts and minds. He cries before the Lord: “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” (Psalm 55:4–5).
But, then, we are reminded of a plethora of Scriptures bringing comfort and peace. I received a word of encouragement from the Lord when he took me to Exodus 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still!” (NIVUK). Or, from the Amplified Bible “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent and remain calm.” You see, God alone can calm your spirit. God alone can deal with the angst and the stress and the panic that the world inculcates into our minds. We simply need to humbly approach him and relinquish ourselves into His lap and be still – and the healing balm of the Lord will flow over us. That is the promise of the Word of God!
Try to remember this verse: – “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.” (Psalm 17:8–9).
Even as I read that verse, I begin to start feeling my angst lifting – one’s sense of a permanent state of high alert being mitigated by the power and the peace of the Word of God. For God alone is above all the chaos of the world and the angst and stress of living within that chaos. All you have to do is to “keep silent and remain calm.”
King David felt the very symptoms I described in my own life — racing mind, heightened alertness, reduced patience — but his pattern was to pause, name his feelings before God, remember God’s promises, and choose to rest in in the stillness and peace of the Lord. That’s how he lengthened his emotional fuse in an anxious world.
Listen to the beautiful comforting words of the song: Hide me now, under your wings.
A Calming Prayer for the Anxious Soul
Christ of the quiet waters,
still the storm within me.
Christ of the steadfast rock,
anchor me when fears pull me adrift.
From the rising of my thoughts to their setting,
be the guard of my mind,
the shield of my heart,
the breath that slows my breathing.
Take the weight of what I cannot carry,
lighten the shadows that trouble my steps,
speak Your “peace, be still”
into the winds that howl inside.
Circle me, Lord Christ,
above and beneath, before and behind.
Let Your presence be my dwelling,
Your promise be my pillow,
Your love be the calm in my bones.
Amen.
May the Lord grant you peace under the shadow of His wings.
With my love,
Rob Penrith
6 - 13 September
The Global Week of Prayer is an initiative of 24-7 Prayer, an international, interdenominational Christian movement that promotes continuous, non-stop prayer day and night. (1999 UK)
We envision every nation on earth hosting a physical prayer room, with non-stop prayer happening night and day. Following our first Global Week of Prayer in 2025, we are joining together again, and our theme for 2026, At the Name of Jesus, is rooted in scripture:
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 NIV
As we pray together, we want to acknowledge that Jesus is Lord over all of the earth.
In a divided world, we sense God’s invitation to unite across national borders and denominational lines to lift up the name of Jesus. We are inviting communities around the globe to join in on a whole week of unbroken, day-and-night prayer.
A 24-7 Prayer Room is a creative prayer space that enables a chain of unbroken day and night prayer, bringing friends, communities and churches together to seek the presence of God.
St John’s Anglican Church, Walmer is one of about 791 prayer rooms in around 140 countries registered as a venue so far, and open to all.
The church will be open for prayer from 8:30 to 5pm, Monday 7th to Saturday 12th September, and for regular Sunday services — starting 6pm on Sunday 6th September and finishing on Sunday 13th September at our 9:30 service.
There will be 7 Prayer Stations available, each with guidelines and creative prayer activities.
The content of the Lectio365 prayer app during this week will be focused on this call to prayer, and thousands of Christians worldwide will be united in prayer on this platform. You’re invited to download the free app and follow along with the prayers each day.
We are partnering with CSW, OM and Tearfund, three Christian organisations working around the world, for relevant prayer pointers. www.24-7prayer.com
20 September
Walk starting at 11am from the parking lot.
Bring your own meat, braai tongs, drinks, cutlery, crockery; and a salad to share.
Fires will be lit at 12noon.
Holiday Club
28 Sep – 2 Oct
Centre of Concern Golf Day
30 Oct | 12:30pm
For bookings contact Bev Sanderson
– bev@stjohnswalmer.org.za / 082 338 1402.
To advertise your business by sponsoring ITEMS OR SERVICES up for AUCTION and support our outreach programs, please contact Rachelle Bakker
– 082 719 8830 / bakker@webafrica.org.za
Our Regular Gatherings
Gather • Grow • Support
15 Sep | 11am
17 Sep | 6:30pm
24 Sep | 7pm
Lesotho: We thank God for Pieter and Keila’s precious ministry to the elderly in Lesotho. They recently received a donation that allowed them to bless the elderly in the valley with food parcels. Pieter wrote: “Our elderly are so special to us and hold a very important place in our ministry. It is a privilege to come alongside them, spend time with them, and remind them that they are loved, valued, and not forgotten.”
Thank you, Lord, that they can show the love of Jesus in such a practical way. May You be glorified through their ministry.
In need of prayer?
If you or a loved one need prayer, please contact Vanessa on 0614874639 or to be added to the prayer chain. This is a closed group on which you are welcome to remain anonymous.
Prayer Focus
This month pray…
Creator God, may grateful hearts inspire faithful stewardship and nurture a living hope for the renewal of all creation.
Special prayer request:
Please pray for physical and spiritual protection, wisdom and strength for the police at Walmer Police Station.
What is your name?
Let’s get to know each other better.
Order a magnetic name badge. The cost is R55 each.
This week's birthdays
14 Sep: Margie Whall, Niamh Bruinders, Stuart Hancocks
15 Sep: Chris Allen, Gay Penrith, Jason Erasmus, John Bee, Jonathan Warren
16 Sep: Samuel Paraziva
17 Sep: Lyn Haller
18 Sep: Bryan Dickson, Thomas Lawrence
19 Sep: Annaline Stiglingh, Jeanie Smith, Samantha Danoher
This week's anniversaries
13 Sep: Paul & Jo Allan, Simon & Suzanne King
15 Sep: Rob & Gay Penrith
NOTICES
Sabbatical
Please note that Revd Claire is on Sabbatical from 31 August – 28 November. Please contact Vanessa Smith or Revd Rob Penrith during this period
Mondays
Please be aware our pastoral staff have the day off on Mondays.
You are welcome to contact the office for assistance.
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