My dear brothers and sisters in Christ
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We are writing to you after a wonderful synod which we had at St Alban's Church, East London from 20 -23rd April 2010. This was followed by a colourful installation of Bishop Mazwi Tisani as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Ukhahlamba on the 24th April 2010 conducted by the Most Revd Dr. Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town and the Metropolitan of ACSA. Thereafter, major feasts of our Church followed i.e. Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday and Corpus Christi. The feed back that we get from some of you and from uKhahlamba is that, this was a time of inspiration, love, joy, fellowship, generosity giving, growing the Church, worship, warm welcome, hospitality, thanksgiving and experiencing the ever presence of the Almighty God, in Christ Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a time of renewal. To all the people of our Diocese, we say in the words of St Paul “May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, give you Grace and peace” 1 Cor 1:3. You deserve this blessing for your hard work. Let us continue to be Christ servants by participating in God’s mission in our diocese and allow Jesus to make it through us an environment where all, men, women and children will find an environment in which they are able to serve God with their different gifts which come from one Holy Spirit.
Bishopsbourne: We are well wishing you the same. We can feel your prayerful support which is accompanied by your love and hospitality as we visit you from time to time. Thank you for your love for us and the Diocese. Be informed that on the 12th June our nephew and son Aphiwe is going at initiation school in Grahamstown. The pre-initiation will be done on the 11th of June in Mqanduli, then Umgidi or celebration that he has reached manhood, will be done at Mqanduli on the 2nd July 2010. Those who can, are invited at Mqanduli on 02/07/2010 at 10H00.
On Monday the 17th, we have been away with my family to the Mpandela location near Mthatha which is my eldest sister’s home, to prepare for the funeral which was on the 20th May. The funeral went well and thanks for your prayers and messages from Archbishop, brother bishops and yourselves. We thank the prayers, welcome and hospitality of the people of Mpandela location. We also thank God for the clergy and those who attended the funeral; it was a special support ministry. “Rest eternal grant unto her O Lord and let light perpetual shine upon her.”
Synod: Thank you for the feed back which we receive from the people who attended synod. Maggy Clarke, our media officer writes “For three days I had been part of a close fellowship in the Lord. That’s what Church should be like!" (The Spire: May: 14). Our synod was also graced by the presence of two priests from Episcopal Church – United States, Revd Jacquelyn Rowe and Revd Joan Anders. The CR Sisters were represented by the Revd Peter Mallinson from Derby as an overseas Anglican observer. Their presence added value to our lives and synod. Our Dean thanked all the role players in the synod. We urge you to look into our diocesan website, retrieve the minutes and do a follow up as parishes, with the resolutions, Bishop’s charge, Diocesan vision and strategic goals. We shall not forget the love, hospitality which we received from St Alban’s Parish, East London and Synod Planning Committee.
Family Day: (29th August 2010): This is to inform you that our diocesan family day will be on the 29th August 2010. Kindly prepare yourselves for the service that will be held at Victoria grounds, King William’s Town at 10H00. May God pour His grace on us and give us the ability to implement what we have agreed on for His glory and for the betterment of our people and our diocese. Please remember that the Diocesan Council agreed that our Parish/Chapelry/Congregation targets remain as 2009. Other correspondence will follow from the Stewardship and Giving Committee.
Clergy School: This is to inform you that Clergy School will be on the 8th July 2010, at Fort Hare Bhisho branch next to Legislature, from 9H00 – 16H00.
Installation of Bishop Mazwi Tisani: We want to thank the Dean, members of chapter, clergy and spouses and members of our Diocese who attended the service of the installation of Bishop Mazwi Tisani as the first Bishop of Ukhahlamba Diocese on the 24th April 2010 immediately after our Diocesan Synod. You have shown us your true commitment of living together in the body of Christ. Our Archbishop Thabo conducted the service very well. His presence was a blessing to all of us. We thank God for giving us Bishop Mazwi as the first Bishop of our daughter Ukhahlamba; he delivered an outstanding encouraging charge. In his charge he thanked our Diocese of Grahamstown whole heartedly for what we have done to make uKhahlamba a Diocese and for its support. The people of the Diocese of Ukhahlamba gave us a warm welcome and we enjoyed their hospitality. As their mother diocese we gave them, a small token of our love of an amount of R20 000.00 for Bishop and diocesan needs. We pray that God may pour His Grace on Bishop Mazwi and Ukhahlamba to grow from strength to strength in the name of Jesus.
Ordination, 22-05-2010: We thank the Dean, the Very Revd Andrew Hunter for conducting the retreat for the Ordinands and for the excellent sermon that focused on the life and the ministry of the Deacon. God has given the Diocese wonderful gifts of Deacons of the Church of God, namely, Vic Graham (College of the Transfiguration, Grahamstown); Nosisi Khotlo and Kazeka Somhlahlo (Holy Cross, Mdantsane); Bukhosi Mabandla and Bubele Mfenyana (St John and St Chad, Zwelitsha); Siphokazi Njokweni and Mzinzisi Dyantyi (Cathedral of St Michael & St George, Grahamstown); Patricia Wells (St Andrews Bedford) and Mary Botchway (St Mark, Cambridge). We enjoyed the ordination service.
We thank the Dean and his team for organising and planning the ordination service and for the Diocesan Administrator for providing catering for the people and visitors of the diocese who attended the service. May God bless our Deacons abundantly in their service for Christ.
Anglican Women’s Fellowship – St Joseph - Workers' Day 01-05-2010:
This is to inform you that on the 1st May 2010 we celebrated together with the Diocesan members of the AWF, St Joseph and Worker's day at the Cathedral of St Michael & St George. It was a moving service, in which AWF members made testimonies thanking God for sustaining them in their jobs, in a South Africa that has a high rate of unemployment. We prayed for the employed and the unemployed, for the Government and the private sector that God may create employment for all in South Africa.
The diocesan AWF members led by President Khokela Siqendu gave generously towards the diocese for Education and Training an amount of R12 674.00. As a diocese we are grateful and praying that God may continue to bless AWF in their wonderful ministry in the Diocese.
Mothers Union: We congratulate the Diocesan Mother’s Union and its leadership for the following:
· On the 27th March they celebrated the Lady Day together as a Diocese at Victoria Grounds in King William’s Town. On that same day they have launched a “Prayer Diary” for their members, so that they may be women who are soaked in the life of prayer.
· For buying a new vehicle which is mainly used by their Development Officer for R270 000.00 cash.
· Mary Sumner continue to assist their Development officer with a portion of the salary and Travel for the period 2010 to 2011 (1st April 2010 – 31st March 2011)
· For training the Mother’s Union on family life through the Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches from 13 – 15th of April.
· We thank God for what the Mother’s Union is doing in the diocese especially for their ministry to women, children and the entire family.
We wish to thank the leadership and members of Mothers’ Union for their warm welcome and for pledging their prayers and support for us as we minister to God’s people in the Diocese. We continue to thank God for their ministry towards women, children and the entire family.
Bernard Mizeki Guild: We further acknowledge the sum of R10 620.00 for family day and R 2 579.00 for Training for Ministry deposited by Bernard Mizeki Guild into the Diocesan Account on 25th November 2009. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.
Retreat for Clergy: Retreat for Clergy who are going to start working at the new parishes of the Diocese, namely All Saints Breidbacht, Berlin, Bernard Mizeki Scenery Park, St Mary’s Pumlani, St Mary and St Andrews Kidds Beach, St David Ncera, St Cyprian Qumrha, St Johns Gwaba, St James Mooiplaas, St Barnabas Tsholomnqa, St Peter Zozo. We give thanks to God for these Chapelries that have opted to be small parishes under our programme “effective ministry – Growing the Church.”
The retreat will be conducted by Bishop Ebenezer at UMariya uMama weThemba monastery, Grahamstown on the 24th to 27th June 2010. Arrival is at 4pm on the 24th
The following are invited to attend:
· The Revd Thobile Makalima
· The Revd Simpiwe Silwana
· The Revd Vuyani Mnqathu
· The Revd Pumza Tiso
· The Revd Zamile Dlanjwa
· The Revd Mteteli Mhlauli
· The Revd Zibele Mvambo
· Ordinand Ntshukumo Zantsi
· The Revd Mluleki Mize
· The Revd Simphiwe Mnukiso
· The Revd Noluthando Gixana
· The Revd Randall Gallant
· The Revd James Rusch
· The Revd Lorraine Rusch
We urge you to pray for these retreats as we seek God’s guidance in our ministry of serving the people of the diocese in serving Christ.
Assessment: We congratulate all the Parishes that are up to date with their assessment from January to end of May. Let all the Parishes that are in arrears be reminded to pay their assessment to date. See the June-July issue of Umbuliso, under "Diocesan Finances".
Lent: Thank you very much for the Parishes, that have forwarded the Lent offering towards Theological Education and Training. We want to encourage all those Parishes that have not yet forwarded their Lent offering to do as others. Remember that in our Diocese we have taken a decision that Education & Training for Clergy and laity has become a priority. We know that all of us love our Diocese, we wait with prayers. Look at your Parish as reflected in Annexure “B” and please respond urgently.
Intercessions – Please pray for:
Ø We recommend that we use Archbishop Thabo’s prayer for the World Cup, which reads thus:
“God bless the 2010 World Cup:
Bless those who compete, and those who watch,
Bless those who host, and those who visit,
And help all who love the ‘beautiful game’
Grow in the love you have given us to share.” Amen
Ø Bishop Mark Van Koevering, who has a kidney failure and pray also for his wife Helen, who is taking care of him.
Ø Our Diocese: for Bishop Ebenezer, Noncedo and family as he is engaged in God’s mission, church planting and Vision development initiatives.
Ø Clergy, retired clergy and spouses, clergy widows and widowers, Deacons and Ordinands.
Ø Diocesan officials, Guilds, Institutions, Religious Communities, Departments and Capraway.
Ø Clergy who are sick: Canon Lulama Ntshingwa and Revd Ewart Collett.
Ø The Diocese of KZN. Intervening in violent intimidation of members of Abahlali in Kennedy Road, that life and justice may prevail over the forces of death and injustice.
Ø Archbishop Ben Kwashi of Nigeria who met with industrialists, businessmen and women, academics and religious leaders to plan a reconciliation and peace initiative after the killing of hundreds of people by Muslim Fulani. We affirm his conviction that the prayers of the worldwide church are ascending to God’s throne of mercy.
Ø The Diocese of Harare and Bishop Chad leading a commission to address the violation of human rights by the police, by beating and killing people indiscriminately.
Ø The Anglican Communion: The Global South to South encounter calling on provinces to develop structures for church growth and to reach out to the youth. To uphold the ethos and traditions of the church and impart it to the youth.
Bereavements :
This is to inform you that Revd Gloria Smith has passed away on 2nd June and the funeral was on Saturday 5th June 2010 at St Martin by the sea Church at 10H00. “Rest eternal grant unto her O’ Lord and let light perpetual shine upon her.”
Be also informed that Mr. Penrose Bada, father of Revd Bada’s funeral was Friday 4th June 2010 at Ngutyubeni-Gungululu, Mthatha at 10H30. “Rest eternal grant unto him O’ Lord and let light perpetual shine upon him.”
We commend these families to your prayers.
Good News: We congratulate Revd Canon Daniel Kgomosotho on his election as a second bishop of Diocese of Mpumalanga; please pray for him, his family and the people of Mpumalanga as they are preparing for his consecration and enthronement at St Paul’s Church KaNyamazane on Saturday 24th July 2010.
Archbishop’s News
v To read Archbishop Thabo’s Pastoral letter to all South Africans dated 7th April 2010, click here.
Archbishop Thabo’s concerns in the World cup about human trafficking – to provide safe spaces for children in the extended school holidays. Thank God for the initiative of ACSA and Hope Africa of establishing the “holiday club” to occupy children through activities.
v Archbishop Thabo’s visit to the fire stricken township of Dunoon taking a message of hope. Addressing tragedies the Archbishop wrote: “we must gather courage to let God work in and through us in the worst possible circumstances, to bring to fruit a good that is greater than the evil that went before – to cooperate with resurrection in the place of crucifixion.
Hope Africa Awards: We encourage all parishes that have outreach programmes to enter this competition and stand a chance of winning R60 000. All they have to do is to tell their story of hope in a form of an article that addresses developmental issues, i.e. Poverty, HIV/AIDS, Education, etc. A self explanatory letter from Hope Africa that will guide you on how to enter is attached, see Annexure “C”
Ø Permanent Deacons’ Training will be held at Holy Cross Mdantsane on the 19th to 23rd July 2010 at 9H00.
Ø 12th September 2010 – St Nicholas Church
Ø 9th October 2010 – Grahamstown/Albany
Ø 11th October 2010 – DSG and St Andrews College
Ø 17th October 2010 – Good Shepherd EL
Ø 7th November 2010 – King William’s Town at St John & St Chad
Ø 14th November 2010 – Holy Cross EL
We request that you forward the names of the candidates to Nobuntu to enable her to do certificates.
Your hard work is highly appreciated. Thank you for what you are to God, to yourselves and to one another in serving Christ with your various gifting.
Now unto Him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish in exceeding joy. To the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time and now and evermore. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)
Grace and Peace
Yours in the service of the Shepherd of Shepherds
+ Ebenezer Grahamstown
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