Who are we?

We are a small group of pilgrims following the Way. We come from Lynedoch Eco Village near Stellenbosch, Klapmuts, Somerset West, Greyton, Cape Town and whoever wants to join or visit us. We have various home languages, including English, seSotho and Afrikaans. We have members of all ages – at the moment from 10 to 84 years old.

What do we do?

• We have a time of prayer, contemplation and reflection on the 2^nd Sunday of every month at 10am at Lynedoch Eco Village. Weather permitting we gather under the trees, otherwise in the Studio. Being an Eco Village, we have a wonderful environment to find our Creator God in all things, from the wagtail that hopes for crumbs after our tea to the mountains which help us contemplate the steadfastness of the Holy One.
• We have a monthly Eucharist on 4^th Sunday of every month at 10am at Lynedoch Eco Village, near Stellenbosch. When the weather is good, we gather outside under the trees for our Eucharist followed by tea and fellowship. In winter or at other times when the weather is not good, we gather in the Studio at Lynedoch Eco Village. All our services are also on Zoom.
• Our Eucharists and other offerings are increasingly multilingual.
• During the school holidays, especially close to Easter and Christmas, we offer a morning or afternoon of craft activities, Bible stories and fun for primary school children. We regularly make palm crosses for Palm Sunday and we decorate candles, make decorations for a Jesse tree or other Christmas craft activities.
• Together with Cape Town Open Table we sometimes have a quiet day at Christian Brothers’ Centre in Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch.
• We care for each other – providing a meal, praying for each other and supporting income generating initiatives.
• Sarah does house blessings, blessing of village activities and she help to lead an annual Carols by Candlelight in the village.
• Pastoral care is also available from Sarah

What is important to us as Stellenbosch Open Table?

Recently in a shared homily, we (young and old; all genders; different languages) identified what we value about being followers of Christ in the Stellenbosch Open Table:

• God accepts us as perfectly enough, even with all our imperfections
• We need and grow from the connections in Open Table
• Open Table can create brightness, even in ‘grey’ times
• There is a recognition of the complexities of life and that the Eucharist can bring new life where there is fragility
• Persistence and perseverance in our faith is important and Open Table can and does nurture this
• God enables our growth and development even when we are not very attentive