Epiphany message
Financial matters
Retreats
Proposed Diocese of Ukhahlamba
Students at COTT
AIDS Ministries
Recent events
The Church in the World
For your prayers
Vacant parishes
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
We write at the beginning of the New Year. We hope that you have enjoyed your holidays, and now it is time to go back to work, to start schooling and to move on. May the spirit and the love of God which is revealed in the incarnation of Christ and that of the New Year energise all of us as a diocese, as we move together facing challenges of 2009. This is enclosed in the gospel of St John 1 14, 15, 16 “Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the law through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.
The epiphany of our Lord which is celebrated on the 6th of January yearly is full of meaning and what a wonderful way to starting the year. The visit of the Astrologers from the East, they were led by the star of Christ to Bethlehem and they saw the child with his mother Mary. This shows us that human beings can be led by creation to see the living God. They brought to Jesus love gifts like gold, frank incense and myrrh. Mary and Joseph were amazed by these love gifts. This is teaching us that stewardship was practiced by the faithful at the earlier times when people were thankful to God’s revelations. May we be inspired by the generosity giving of the Astrologers to God, so that we too as a diocese can close our year by updating our 2008 assessments. Epiphany also teaches us the star disappeared at Herod’s house. Outside Herod’s boundaries it came back again. We need to pray for our homes and parishes so that the glory of God may shine upon them.
We want to remind those parishes that did not deposit their Lenten offering for 2008 into the diocesan account. We enclose the record of the parishes that have deposited theirs [available from the Diocesan Office]. Could you kindly deposit the Lenten offerings so that we can be able to meet the obligations of our projects. We humbly ask the clergy especially the Rectors/ Priests in charge/ Archdeacons to remind the church wardens before Ash Wednesday 2009
We call upon all parishes and chapelries to give generously towards the Lenten project to assist the development that is being done by the people of God, your brothers and sisters in Christ at Bernard Mizeki church in the parish of St Saviour, East London. Jesus says “ I teach you a new commandment, love one another as I have loved you, if there is this love among you then all will know that you are my disciples”. What we must remember is Unity is strength.
We are grateful to those parishes that have done so well in the payments of their assessments by finishing 2008 and starting 2009 on a clean slate. However, there are those parishes who did not finish their assessments for 2008, as a result we have fallen short with R344,415.03 to finish 2008. We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit may assist and encourage you to close the year in a responsible and accountable manner as members of the body of Christ. We know that you love your diocese and this will be shown in your actions. St James says in his letter “If faith is alone and includes no actions then it is dead” ( James 2:17). We enclose an assessment list [available from the Diocesan Office] so as to show you how each parish performed.
As you know, your love–gift of the family day forms part of our budget for the ministry endowment fund. A big thank you to all those parishes that have met their targets through their contributions. We enclose a list of those parishes that have contributed [available from the Diocesan Office]. If your parish contributed and you do not see the name of your parish, could you kindly contact Zoleka the Diocesan office administrator on 046-636 1995. We pray that those parishes who did not contribute may do so before we call upon you to come to the office and account. May God bless you as you prepare to meet these obligations in Jesus’ name. We would like to remind you of APB p434-435 and you read 82, 83, and 84.
We thank God for Graeme and his team for their wonderful work in the department of spirituality which is a great gift to us as a diocese. As a diocesan Bishop I call upon all the clergy and their spouses to attend the following retreats for your own spiritual nourishment:
Weekday retreat: 8-11 September 2009
Weekend retreat: 9-11 September 2009 [these dates require updating. Contact Nobuntu at the number below]
Please register your attendance through our Secretary, Nobuntu at 046 636 1996 and specify which retreat you will be attending. We want to encourage the parishes and the church wardens to pay for your retreats. Please do note that these retreats are compulsory.
Be informed that the St Aidan's resthouse provides a place of rest and relaxation for Anglican priests, active or retired. Their charges remain reasonable:
Deposit of R150.00 of which R50 is the booking fee and the rest goes towards accommodation. Accommodation charges are R35 per day for Priest and his/her dependent family (max 6), for a minimum of 5 days including a Sunday, where the Priest celebrates the communion service starts at 8am. In addition there is maintenance, a levy of R120. A typical 5 day stay family stay costs R345, no food. Sheets, pillow cases, bath, beach towels are provided.
This is part of the wellness programme for clergy and their families. We pray that the Parish wardens and chapel wardens may encourage their clergy and families to make use of such facilities as means of support.
We want to inform you that Archbishop ++ Thabo, the Archbishop of Cape Town and the Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa will inaugurate the proposed diocese of Ukhahlamba on the 3rd of October 2009 at 10H30 in Queenstown. I have asked the Dean to set up a team from Grahamstown South and North to prepare for this historic event. “A lot needs to be done”. We have appointed in chapter a Bishop’s Vicar to assist us in making all our parishioners in the proposed Diocese to think and act diocesan.
Under the authority of the Bishop of Grahamstown our Vicar will visit all the parishes, celebrate, preach and hold meetings and other duties that will make our branches, chapelries, parishes and diocesan administration to be at the diocesan level. He will also facilitate workshops using our own resources and other resources for the training of the clergy and Laity. He will assist in the establishment of structures such as Chapter, Trust Board, Executive, Diocesan Council and so on. He will conduct meetings of the executive of various diocesan guilds so that structures for the new diocese are set and all other duties that will be assigned to him by the Diocesan Bishop. The Vicar will be accountable to the Bishop of Grahamstown. I will be doing Episcopal acts and be of support until the new proposed Diocese has been made and a new Bishop is in place. Let us also be reminded that our responsibility is a marriage of 10 years that will be evaluated as we move along. We commend all these to our prayers in the diocese.
We also want to inform you that the Elective Assembly is planned for the 21st January 2010.
In 2008 we had four students at the college that is Noluthando Gixana who is now a deacon at the Cathedral, Randall Galant who is a deacon at Holy Trinity in King William's Town, Zweni Nqoko and lastly Mzinzisi Dyantyi. All these students have done very well, it seems that we have future leaders in them. We are grateful as a diocese for our students for the excellent and good reports that we get from the Reverend Dr. William R. Domeris our Chancellor.
In 2009 we have the following students at the college for formation for one year and a move towards a stipendiary priesthood: Reverend Hazel Goodfellow, Reverend Mzikazi Mfenyana and the Reverend Sandile Mhlontlo. We also have Zweni Nqoko who will be doing his last year, Mzinzisi Dyantyi doing his second year and Monde Makandula who is doing his first year. We pray that God may bless our students and the Rector of our College and staff for their excellent work.
This is an initiative that promotes the strengthening of values such as courage, faithfulness, selflessness, honesty and compassion. On February the 24th 2009, the new Heartlines series will be screened on SABC 2 at 19:30 for six weeks. We encourage you to learn about this and for further information go to www.heartlines.org.za or email info@heartlines.org.za or contact 011-771 2540. This will add value in the building and restoration of the moral fibre of our society and especially our children.
We thank God for the ministry of the Reverend Noelene Arends and her team for their wonderful work which they are doing towards the HIV/AIDS epidemic, for coordinating, for programmes, care support, encouraging people to test, encouraging those who are infected to take ARV’s and for their love, service and tenderness.
We also want to acknowledge the leadership of Archdeacon Moses Madywabe, Archdeacon Reg Morgan, and the Director of DSR Mr. Tony Schnell, the Director of Tshwaranang Mr. Zolile Ntlale, Mrs Lubelwana, Isibindi Project, Siyafundisa project for their wonderful service to God’s people.
We pray for a day that through these initiatives Southern Africa and other parts of the world will be freed from HIV/AIDS. We want to echo the words of Arends that “Let us join hands with all denominations to declare that as the body of Christ we will stand together as leaders and keep the promise to stop HIV/AIDS."
We want to thank the people of the Diocese for participating in all HIV/AIDS programmes, keep it up.
We have been asked as Bishops to remind our diocesan coordinators of the withdrawal of Siyakha Funding on the ministry of HIV/AIDS. An extension of few months has been asked from the donors so as to keep the project running. We commend this process to your prayers.
We have moved into Bishopsbourne on the 19th of December 2008. As a family we are familiarizing ourselves with the house. We are grateful for the huge renovations which the Trust Board through our Dean and Administrator is doing. The first phases of the renovations are towards the end. There are other phases to follow according to the Architect. Zipho has started school at DSG doing grade 9, Anda is at St Andrews doing grade 5, Aphiwe is at East Cape Midlands doing Level 2 in Information Technology and Nokuzola has finished her BSC Honours in Chemistry. I, Noncedo and the children want to thank the diocese especially the community of Grahamstown, the Dean and Claire, Suzanne, Zoleka, Nobuntu, Vuyokazi, St John and St Chad in Zwelitsha and others. Nangamso! Maz’ enethole for the warm welcome which we have received and the assistance for us to settle in. Now we are finding a home in Grahamstown.
On the 11th December 2008, I was attending an M.U. meeting at Holy Trinity in King William's Town. When Layminister Dyantyi was on his way to fetch me, a certain car that did not stop at the stop sign knocked the Diocesan car on the right hand side and both doors were affected. The Jetta is under repairs by the insurance company at NJ Bodyworks in East London. We pray that it may be ready soon, by God’s grace nobody was hurt.
In our diocese, one of the elderly clergy Father Mapoma died. His funeral was on the 2nd of January 2009. We could not publicise this as our offices were closed, but we thank Reverend Mpumlwana, the congregation of St Francis who did a wonderful support to the Mapoma family and to notify those they were able to reach. We commend the Mapoma family to your prayers. We thank God for the ministry of Father Mapoma.
Bishop +Peter Lee of the Diocese of Christ the King, informed us about the death of Sr Maureen. Probably some of you know her, her memorial Eucharist will be done on the 14th of January 2009 at 16H30 in the afternoon at the chapel of St Benedict. We thank God for her life and Ministry. Grant eternal rest unto them O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon her. (APB p562)
On the 7th of December 2008 I was invited by Father Robin Murray and his congregation St Paul and St Barnabas to come and celebrate with them their 150th Anniversary, it was followed by a Gala dinner at the beach. Thanks to Andrew our Dean and all the clergy and spouses that attended. We wish that God may continue to sustain these congregations with his presence and blessings and that each one of them may continue to surrender their lives, time, talents and possessions to God. Devoting their lives to prayer, bible study and other Christian books which will inform their daily living soaked in the presence and blessing of God and continue in love for a better life and community as body of Christ. Congratulations and happy anniversary.
What a beautiful ending into early retirement by Reverend Canon Johannes Hartnick and his wife Kathy. On the 21st December 2008 we were invited by Canon Johannes, parish wardens and council to come and celebrate the beautiful extensions they have made in their church. A new Vestry, restrooms and the extension at their hall. We dedicated the extensions to God and exhorted the congregation to remain a spiritual building of the undivided blessed Trinity. Congratulations St David’s, may you grow from one degree of glory to another.
On the 26th December 2008 we were invited by the children of the Mrs N. Mfenyana, the wife to the late Canon Mfenyana to a thanksgiving ceremony in which they were thanking God for her and also thanking her for what she did in their lives. It was a moving ceremony attended by Mrs Nosimo Balindlela, the Archdeacon Reg and Helen and other clergy with their spouses. Again, congratulations to MamNtlane and the whole Mfenyana family. We enjoyed it, God bless and long live Ntlane.
We were invited by the parish wardens of St Martin-by-the-Sea through the parish council to join them when they were saying farewell to their Rector who has served God and us with a distinction. Congratulations to Godfrey and Lillian. We enjoyed it, and it was a moment of sadness and joy. We pray that the Lord may continually bless Godfrey and Lillian in their ministry in Cape Town. I commend the congregation of St Martin to your prayers for the appointment of a new Rector.
We want to congratulate Canon Suzanne Peterson our Sub-Deacon for being appointed as Public Policy Officer for ACSA and Correspondence Manger for the office of the Archbishop, after serving God and us as a diocese for 18 years. This is sad news to us as the diocese for we are losing a leader, a mother to street kids, a person who has passion for Africa, a pastor, social worker, a Theologian and a mother to the diocese. On the other hand this is good news because the Office of the Archbishop will gain a very talented person.
Thank you to the Cathedral Congregation, the Dean and his team for doing a farewell for Suzanne. We have assured Suzanne that we will call her back to the Diocesan Family Day 2009 to allow the diocese to say farewell to such a great person.
We want to congratulate our honorary Canon Lulama Ntshingwa on being appointed through the office of Archbishop++ Thabo by the Archbishop of Canterbury to serve in the Anglican-Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission. We want to assure Lulama and Nomhle of our prayers in the diocese, as they serve God and us in such ministry.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams through the office of Archbishop++ Thabo encourages those who are interested to apply for the post of “Secretary for International Development”. We enclosed the advert. [available from the Diocesan Office]
This is to inform you that the World Council of Churches through the office of the Archbishop++ Thabo encourages those who are interested to apply for the position of “General Secretary in WCC”. We will forward the application forms to you email address and those who do not have email addresses please contact Nobuntu.
The Reverend Andrew Karamaga who is the General Secretary of the All Africa Conference churches through the Office of Archbishop Thabo is reminding us of the current situation of Zimbabwe. He believes that Africa should pray for God’s intervention in the following concerns:
The cholera epidemic continues to spread, 37000 people have contracted the disease and 1800 have died (Jan 12). The health system has broken down
There is food shortage.
The schools have not been able to run properly due to the financial and social stress.
Political violence and intimidation continues.
The power sharing deal of September 15 2008has not been honoured and talks have stalled due to lack of sincerity and political will.
Official inflation (July 08) was 231 million percent but continues to rise by the day; the newly issued 50 billion Zim dollar only buys the owner a few loaves of bread.
There are also other initiatives such as NIRSA that is calling all Christians to pray for Zimbabwe through the office of Archbishop++ Thabo. There is also a suggestion of declaring Ash Wednesday to be the day to pray for God’s intervention all situations that affect the people of Zimbabwe (10 December 2008).
Bishop Rubin is updating us by giving us information from the Right Reverend Suheid Dawsi who is the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem. We are asked to pray for God’s intervention in the following:
Military conflict
Patients with burns and acute
Crippling psychological trauma
Shortage of food
Staff for hospitals that work around the clock
Hospitals and medical doctors that cannot cope with the victims of war.
As a diocese, we urge you to include Gaza and Zimbabwe in your intercessory prayers and your private prayers as well.
We are reminded by the Bishop+ Geoffrey Davis that there will be a national summit in Johannesburg from the 10th to the 12th of February 2009 and the theme is “Religious Leaders for a Sustainable Future”.
Bishops are invited to participate in the poverty development course facilitated by HOPE Africa. The course starts on 21st April and ends on the 24th April 2009. Do pray for us.
The Bishops and the PSC members have made the following statement:
“We agreed to continue working for the unity of the world wide Anglican Communion through the current instruments of communion and dialogue, including the proposed Anglican Covenant, the Windsor continuation group and a possible pastoral Forum. We agreed to work with all parties in the current debates particularly on our own continent and to share South Africa’s experience of a reconciliation which embraces all”.
We commend these initiatives to your prayers. The PSC members also looked at issues that are affecting us directly and indirectly eg. Xenophobia, gender, the environment, ecumenism, social development and youth. We need to engage our parishioners and communities to pray and to deal with such challenges in our country, and that through the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ, such challenges may be dealt with so that men, women and children, may find peace and reach true freedom.
We have been encouraged by the Bishop Peter Lee in his Christmas sermon on midnight 24th December 2008, to pray for Jerusalem, Israel, Palestine, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, the north through Syria, Turkey, Greece into Europe and across the Atlantic, then the South through Egypt, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe and lastly Johannesburg.
We are grateful to Archbishop++ Thabo for passing our condolences to the family of Helen Suzman, a person who has served God and the citizens of this country. She was an advocate against apartheid in South Africa. Through such initiatives democracy was achieved in 1994. “May the Lord grant her eternal rest and let light perpetual shine upon her”.
We have been informed by Bishop Martin Breytenbach about the illness of his dear wife, Sarah. The situation is serious in the sense that the brain tumor is growing aggressively and in the wrong direction and this time it is inoperable. I am calling upon the diocese to pray in our churches and private prayers for her recovery. May God bless Bishop Martin and his family at this hour.
Archbishop Thabo writes on our behalf as a Province to the Bishop of Natal Rubin Phillip and the Bishop of Lebombo, Dinis Sengulane: “Our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones, who have been injured, and who have lost homes and livelihoods through these storms and flooding. We hold them all in our prayers and in our love and especially remember before God those who have died. May all those in need hear the still small voice of God within the anguish and chaos they face, bringing comfort and strengthen the days ahead. We commend all these to our prayers and let us continue to pray for these concerns and that action may be taken."
We have received correspondence that our colleague Bishop + Maternus Kapinga from Tanzania will visit us. He is interested to be with us during his sabbatical leave. We will let you know how we are going to share his time with us.
This is to let you know that we are still faced by a challenge of vacant parishes that need Rectors or Priest-in-Charge. In this manner we are advertising them and any Clergy person within the Diocese or outside the Diocese may apply. The vacant parishes are:
St John’s parish East London;
St Martin-by-the-Sea East London
St Clement’s Grahamstown
St Alban’s Parish East London
St Michael’s Parish Herschel
Grace and Peace
Yours in service of Shepherds of Shepherds
Bishop Ebenezer St Mark Ntlali