My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the year has just began but the time and the days are running up so fast and a lot needs to be done therefore we need to catch up. Nevertheless we are writing at a time when all of us are approaching with remembrance the passion, the death, and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hugh in his book “God of Surprises” teaches us that ‘let us allow Jesus to easter in us, be a day spring to dimness of us, be a crimson-cresseted east.” we wish you all a happy Easter. He is risen indeed, hallelujah!
Bereavements
This is to inform you that Mrs Ruth Harker, the wife of our former Dean of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Grahamstown Jimmy Beaufort and wife of the late Revd Hugh Harker has passed away, we will be informed about the date of the funeral. We also want to inform you about Mr Xolisa Magcinandile Masola the son of Revd P.M. Masola has also passed away, the funeral service will be held at St Saviour's East London. To Ruth and Xolisa we want to pray ‘rest eternal grant unto them O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them’. We command all these families to your prayers. Contact details for the Harker family Tel: (041) 5810262 Kathy.
We have been advised by the office of the Archbishop that Cannon Ron Taylor has passed away peacefully in Kinsgbury Hospital and the funeral is still to be arranged. We pray ‘rest eternal grant unto him O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon him’. We command his wife Val and her family to your prayers. Probably some of you would know him for his outstanding work. If you want to contact Val her telephone number is (021) 761 4637.
Intersessions
We are also advised by Archbishop ++Thabo of Cape Town and Metropolitan of ACSA, of the suffering of God’s people in Madagascar that is 135 people were killed during opposition protests and turmoil, ‘rest eternal grant unto them O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon them.’
We are quoting the Archbishop’s words ‘we pray for those who have died and their families and for those who have been injured, we condemn the killings and we affirm the need for those on all sides in Madagascar to respect life as given by God. We also pray that democratic governance in accordance with the protocols of SADC and the African Union will be promoted and upheld throughout the region and the continent. The return to African politics of coups d’etat, assassinations and seizures of power – such as those we have seen in Mauritania, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and now Madagascar is deeply alarming. This should not be happening in 21st century Africa.’ We commend the people of Madagascar and others to your prayers.
We have been advised by the Archbishop on the issue on flooding which is taking place in the Northern part of Namibia and Angola and serious storms accompanied by flooding and loss of life in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal as well as Mozambique. We are asked to continue to pray for all the people of God in the above mentioned areas.
We urge you to continue to pray for the people of Zimbabwe especially Tshangarai who has lost his wife ‘may her soul rest in peace. ‘We pray that God in his son Jesus Christ may bring a solution of progress stability restoration of human dignity and an environment that will be favorable to all. We give thanks to God for our ecumenism with Methodist and Presbyterians, we wish Revd Dr Lizo and his family a happy stay in our diocese at St Nicholas church. Contact details, Tel : 082 457 8877. 4A Bunburry Crescent, Dorchester Heights. Beacon Bay, East London.
News from the Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches:
We are all invited to join in prayer and worship for the coming elections on the 29th of March 2009 at Holy Trinity Anglican church in King Williams town at 14 hr. We hope that all clergy, men and women, youth formations, all Church leaders, and Religious formations would attend such gatherings. We commend the elections of our country South Africa to your prayers.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches will be having its 6th triennial provincial conference in East London from the 12th – 14th of May 2009, we thank God for the ministry of the ecumenical churches in the Eastern Cape. We commend this conference to your prayers.
Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre
We have been informed by Lesley Ann Foster of Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre that they will be hosting a National Conference on ‘Trafficking in Persons’ from 25th to 26th March 2009 together with the Eastern Cape Social Development, those who are interested could phone (043) 7439169. We commend such initiatives to your prayers.
We are excited that the Bishop’s Chaplain George Van Der Merwe has joined us in Grahamstown on the 19th of March 2009, we welcome him, Maria and children in Grahamstown community. We are looking forward to his ministry.
Be informed that Mr Mxoli Sizani who was with the Brothers of the Order of the Holy Cross has been appointed as the Bishop’s Driver from the 12th February 2009, we congratulate him and pray that he will enjoy his time with us in the Diocese.
Education and Training
We are pleased to inform you that Archdeacons of this Diocese including other clergy 23 in number have attended a management course in the Investec Business School from the 23 – 27 of March 2009 at Rhodes University. We believe that this will enrich their ministry and better the life of our Diocese. It is our intention that all our clergy including those who are students at the College of Transfiguration will study this course which will assist us as we minister in a changing environment in Southern Africa and other parts of the world.
Growing the Church
The program of growing the church continues to grow in the various diocese of ACSA. The Revd Trevor Pearce who is a director of growing the church informs us that there are two primary goals that stand out; firstly they want to train 550 diocesan trainers who will then train up and mobiles 100 other Anglicans each, or 55 000 Anglicans in total.
He argues further that they are aiming to a common vision: ‘to be a vibrant, God – centered church which is clearly growing spiritual, numerically and holistically’. We commend this program to your prayers and especially for Archdeacon Mark Spyker who is driving this program in the Southern part of the diocese and Revd Masoka in the Northern part.
Licensing
We have licensed Revd Matshaya as Priest in charge of Good Shepherd Parish and its Chapelry on the 1st of March 2009, we will not forget the warm welcome that we received from the church wardens and the congregation of Good Shepherd and the hospitality we have received. It was humbling to see a congregation that is full of love, joy and vibrancy.
Installation
On the 8th of March we instituted Revd N. Mhlana as rector of Holy Cross and as Archdeacon of East London West. We congratulate Thami and her family, wishing them a good stay.
At the Diocese of Ukhahlamba we have instituted Revd M. Sibamba as Acting Priest-in-Charge of St Michael Herschel, Revd T. Mdedelwa as Priest-in-Charge of St Peter Ezibeleni, Revd T. Bada as Rector of St Andrew’s Lady Frere, Revd S. Makalima as Rector of St Alban’s Cathcart, St Mary Tarkastad, St Augustine Sterkstroom and to oversee Whittlesea area, Revd N. Arends as Priest-in-Charge of St John Bolothwa, Revd V. Kuse as Acting Priest-in-Charge of St Augustine Dordrecht and Revd E. Masoka as Priest-in-Charge of St Barnabas Sada. We congratulate these clergy and their families and wish them well in their ministry.
Congratulations
On the 15th of March we visited the Parish of St Barnabas Alicedale to do a service and a blessing of their wonderful garden. We congratulate Revd Cynthia Webbstock, Rev Monaheng, Rev Mnukiso and their team for the wonderful work and ministry which they are doing amongst the people of God especially the farming community.
Parishes that have not paid assessment for 2009
We want to encourage the Parishes that have not started to pay their assessment for 2009 such as St John’s Fort Beaufort, St Patrick’s Hogsbarg, St Matthew’s Keiskammahoek, St John’s Winterberg, Church of the Resurrection Fort Beaufort, St Gregory Mdantsane, St Luke’s Newlands, St Barnabas Tsholomnqa, Christ Church Grahamstown, Holy Trinity King William’s Town, St Philip’s Duncan Village to do so, as this affects the cash flow in the Diocesan Budget. Rector, Priest-in-Charge and Archdeacons must read the attached statement.
Important Dates
Family day: Southern part of Grahamstown diocese
§ Fundraising Dinner at Christian church East London at 18 hrs, 24th July 2009, please donate and attend.
§ Family day service will be held at St Albans Parish East London at 10hrs on the 25th of July 2009. Your parish love gifts to the diocese will be highly appreciated as this is for Ministry Endownment Fund which is part of our diocesan budget.
§ Service of the Renewal of vows by all the clergy in the South and their families and the BLESSING OF OILS will be held on the day of Maundy Thursday on the 9th April 2009 at Holy Trinity King Williams Town at 10am.
Northern part of Grahamstown Diocese
§ Fundraising Dinner on the 21st August 2009
§ Family day service at Ezibeleni Parish on the 22nd August 2009 at 10hrs
§ The new proposed diocese of Ukhahlamba will be inaugurated on the 3rd October 2009 by Archbishop + + Thabo of Cape Town and Metropolitan of ACSA in Queenstown at 9:30 am who will be celebrant and preacher
§ The elective assembly of the diocese of Ukhahlamba will be held on the 21st January 2009 in Queenstown by the Anglican Church of Southern Africa together with the elected people of Ukhahlamba.
§ Service of the Renewal of vows by all the clergy of Ukhahlamba and their families and the BLESSING OF OILS will be held on the day of Corpus Christi on the 11th June 2009 at St Andrews kwaMlungisi Queenstown at 10am.
Parish Vacancies
We continue to advertise these vacant parishes: St Michael's Hershel (Ukhahlamba), St Clement’s (Grahamstown), St Martin-by-the Sea-Gonubie (East London), St Alban's Parish (East London), St Philip's Parish Gompo (East London), St John's Parish (East London). Any clergy within the diocese or outside the diocese may apply.
Grace and Peace
Yours in service of Shepherds of Shepherds
Bishop Ebenezer St Mark Ntlali
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