Keen to learn, participants in the Workshop came from St Augustine’s Church, and from other denominations.

Top of the page

Lent Appeal 2009: Bernard Mizeki Church, Scenery Park

This Lent the people of Grahamstown Diocese are challenged to raise the money needed to build a church in Scenery Park, East London. The keen Anglican congregation in this former informal settlement has been growing under the care of St Saviour’s parish and its Assistant Zamile Dlanjwa, but at present has to worship in a tent. An architect has drawn up plans for a church. In order to begin the building project a sum of R300,000 is required, of which R100,00 has been raised by the congregation and about R70,000 is already promised. See Lent leaflets for details.

Tent of meeting where the congregation presently worships.

Zamile Dlanjwa, Assistant Priest, and some of the congregation at a recent Patronal Festival.
Top of the page

From the Department of Spirituality

Embracing diversity in our spirituality and worship

By  Peter Mtuze

It is exciting to note that our church, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, is acutely sensitive to its diversity. We are all proud Anglicans although we come

from different backgrounds. It cannot be doubted that we all subscribe to the basic Anglican doctrines such as God, Creation, the Word of God, Christ, Redemption, and many more. Black Anglicans, however paradoxical that may sound, respect the Anglican traditions as much as they respect their cultural roots – Qamata, the ancestors who serve as intermediaries between them and God (Qamata). As much as the saints do not replace Christ, the ancestors do not purport to take the place of Christ. That is why it is totally wrong to say blacks worship the ancestors. Christ is regarded as the Proto-ancestor, the Second Adam, in Paul’s terms.

Perhaps the strides we have taken in our joint worship in the church have brought us closer to one another than our theological comfort zones. Worship in the Cathedral and in some of our mixed congregation services elsewhere, has served as the binding force we need to become a real Catholic church. A good example of this was the recent ordination of Deacons and Priests in the Cathedral. The medley of English and isiXhosa hymns, Scripture readings and prayers reflected our diversity. If the music tended to be more African in style and rhythm, the lingua franca which was English balanced the chemistry of the service.

The Department of Spirituality is keen to try to help in building the bridges between all our cultural groups in the church. Although we are certainly steeped in the Anglican rituals, traditions and doctrines, we would like to add value to our Days of Recollection and Retreats by inviting contributions from our large black congregations that would reflect their way of worship and theologizing. In doing so, we also appeal to the youth to come forward with suggestions as to how the church could be made more attractive, appealing and relevant to them.
Top of the page

First Profession for Brother Robert OHC

By Br John Forbis OHC

Brother Robert Magliula, OHC, made the First Profession of the Vow to the Order of the Holy Cross on 1 January 2009.  The ceremony took place during the Eucharist for the Feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ  in the Church of St Peter on the Rock at Mariya uMama weThemba Monastery in Grahamstown, South Africa. More than 30 people witnessed Brother Robert read his vow and be dressed in the choir cowl of the Order, affirming his desire to seek God in our community.  Present were the community, friends of the community, Associates of the Order and the Revd Janet Vincent, the rector of St Columba’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC and a long-time friend of Br. Robert’s for about 20 years.  She was the preacher for the event.

The vow is the Benedictine three-fold vow of obedience, stability and conversion to the monastic way of life, and the first profession is made for one year to be renewed annually for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. 

Robert was a psychotherapist in New York City for 16 years and later served as a hospital chaplain. His long relationship with the Order of the Holy Cross began in 1981 while he was a seminarian at Union Theological Seminary in New York City and first visiting our Order’s monastery in West Park, New York. Then, in 1989, Robert became the rector of Christ the King Church in Stone Ridge, New York just nine kilometres from Holy Cross Monastery. He was the rector of that church for 17 years and became an Oblate to the Order in 2004. An Oblate makes a promise to the Order without being a monk.

In 2005, Robert came to live and help out in the monastery for a few weeks.  South Africa “got into his blood at that time”, and he was looking forward to coming back. He then joined the Order and began the first three months of his postulancy here assisting in the Guesthouse and the After-School Programme. After finishing his postulancy and one year of his noviciate in the States, he returned to South Africa in November of 2007 and now continues to assist in the Guesthouse and with the Scholarship Programme. One can see his eye for aesthetic value in many of the touches around the Guesthouse and the monastery, and his work in the Scholarship Programme has been a tremendous help with the distribution of funds for school fees, uniforms and supplies.   

The day had a wonderful simplicity, and “the rightness” of it moved him a great deal.  Since this event was a long time coming, he approached it with calmness, excitement and a feeling of centredness. Because of their lengthy and close friendship, Janet Vincent’s presence also offered a kind of continuity for him, helping to make the day a “natural unfolding” of everything in his life up to this point. 

We are delighted that Br. Robert has decided to take this step with us and look forward to what further “unfolds” in his life in our community. Please pray for him as he continues in his vocation in the Order of the Holy Cross. 

Humble request: Br. Robert, OHC makes his desire known to Br. Timothy, OHC to make his First Profession of the Vow to the Order of the Holy Cross.

Friendly support: Br Robert, OHC with his friend of over twenty years, Janet Vincent, rector of St Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.
Top of the page

Gonubie’s Patronal Festivities last a whole week!

By René Taljaard

Gonubie’s St Martin-by-the-Sea Anglican Church held its annual Patronal Festival with a difference in November 2008. “Every year we have a Fete to celebrate the Church’s birthday,” explained the Rector, Godfrey Walton, “This year we decided to have a run-up to that day by organising a festival week.”

      The festival week began with a Health Awareness Evening on Tuesday 4 November, during which members of the public could receive free blood sugar and blood pressure screening tests performed by volunteering medical doctors who belong to St Martin’s. The evening ended with a talk by Dr Gerhard Coetzer about the symptoms of certain diseases and general health. 

The following morning members of the church attended a Pastoral Care meeting in the hall, and in the evening they enjoyed a hamburger and movie evening. A Healing Eucharist service was held on the Thursday night.

The main attraction of the St Martin’s festival week was on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November, when the Church Fete and Festival of Flowers were held. Guests were spoilt for choice, as there was an array of delectable treats to eat and interesting stalls to see. The week ended with a Eucharist Service and parish lunch on Sunday. 

“I’m very impressed with the turnout and atmosphere today,” Godfrey Walton said at the Fete, “There’s a joyful bunch of people here supporting the church and playing their role in making everything possible.”

He explained, “The key ministry of St Martin-by-the-Sea is pastoral care; the healing ministry is our theme and that’s why the Health Awareness Evening and Healing Eucharist service was held as part of our festival week.”

“The Festival of Flowers also ties in with this theme – flowers represent spiritual growth and beauty; when you look after yourself, you become like a flower that grows in the church and out in the world.”
Top of the page

Aids Ministries

Over 1,600 children and counting!

News of the Isibindi* sites at Ilinge, Ezibeleni, and Alice

By Heidi Schmidt

These few months have had some excitement to report. We have received a donation of a set of marimbas each for the Ilinge and Ezibeleni sites last year from Holy Trinity Church, Wimbledon, UK.  Our very gifted instructor Smamkele, a Fort Hare University music student, met with a group of enthusiastic teens and Child and Youth Care Workers for the summer holidays, and they learned to play a variety of traditional isiXhosa songs, jive, gospel, as well as how to compose their own music. I can’t describe the buzz that was generated among the youth learning, nor the boost of self-esteem and confidence at their ability to create such beautiful music in such a short time.  And the queue of children in line waiting to learn is long.

Also very exciting is the filming of the Isibindi Alice site for the SABC 2 programme, Masupatsela, (Trailblazers), to be aired shortly on a Thursday at the 9 pm slot, highlighting the Isibindi Model.

We have assisted hundreds of children with school uniforms, acquiring documents, and advocating for school fee exemptions for orphans this year.  We also have seven children attending multiracial schools outside of the townships, including one child in special education in King William’s Town.

We have given over 60 food parcels for Christmas for the sites for families with no access to social grants, and special cases received clothing, toiletries, and some toys.

This is all akin to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, as we started with very little a few years ago, and much has been shared and multiplied among so many.

*Isibindi—Circles of Care were started by the National Association of Child Care Workers, to care for children affected by HIV/ AIDS.

A new song: Learning to create beautiful music boosts self-confidence.

Hula hooray for the Isibindi sites!
Top of the page

Diocesan Youth called to be “Vessels of Hope”

Mohlaki Nkogatse (DYG General Secretary)  

The Diocesan Youth Guild conference was held on 3-5 October at Pallotti Farm, Queenstown, with the theme “Young people as vessels of hope”. Fr Thembalakhe Manna was a guest speaker., as was Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali, who encouraged the  young people to know and acknowledge their role as shapers of and contributors to the church and the community at large. The youth participated  enthusiastically in groups discussing youth development, youth ministry and growing the church.

The Revd Chuma Mduzana of HOPE Africa addressed the youth about social issues, in particular poverty in  the broader context,  saying they should be open-minded about factors affecting different communities. Delegates of the Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF) from the Diocese of False Bay, Cape Town, were present.

The youth was well represented from all Southern  Region Archdeaconries and the new diocese in formation of Ukhahlamba. The DYG Chaplain, Revd Simphiwe Magxwalisa, helped the youth understand the importance of meditation. He maintained discipline through out the conference assisted by Revd Themba Phillip, who also served as an entertainer and  ‘energizer’.

The new leadership of DYG elected were Ms Nolusindiso Laxa (Chairperson), Mr Mbulelo Sokanyile (Deputy chair), Ms Mohlaki Nkogatse (General Secretary), Mr Siyabulela Gwarube (Treasurer), Ms Zisiwe Ntontela (Organiser) with Ms Noluvuyo Klass, Ms Namhla Mkiva and Ms Yoland Bonase as additional members. The conference was worthwhile, spiritually-filling, creating solid and important friendships as well as being a learning venture for all. The DYG leadership expressed the hope that young people would remember and strive to be vessels of hope in everything they engage in: “Come Lord Jesus, Lizalis’ idinga lakho”.
Top of the page

Patronal Festival at St Augustine’s

On 16 November 2008 St Augustine’s Parish held a glittering patronal festival, attended by many parishes including St Philip’s Fingo Village, St Thomas and St Barnabas. A moving sermon was delivered by the Revd T Phillip of St Barnabas’ Church, quoting from Luke 19:1. Other Anglican leaders present included the Revd Jolobe and ordinand Noluthando Gixana. A well-cooked lunch was prepared and served by the AWF and youth members. Leading sectors (iinqila) were announced as follows: Mrs Fobe’s sector (Extensions 4 & 5) won first prize, followed by Mrs M Ngqameni’s (Ext. 4)  as runners-up. Mrs B Kolisi’s sector won the award for the best performing ward (Town-Fingo Village). The Revd M P Mize wishes to thank all parishes and everybody who graced the occasion, wishing God’s blessing on them all.

Festive: The Revd M P Mize is seen behind (seated, l-r): Mrs B Kolisi, Mrs V Mize, Mrs  Fobe.
Top of the page

Umbuliso uyakubulisa

Ntshingwa to sit on Anglican/ Methodist Commission

Umbuliso congratulates Canon Lulama Ntshingwa of Gonubie on his appointment to serve on the Anglican/ Methodist International Commission for Unity in Mission.

This appointment, for 5-6 years, does not involve a change of job or moving house. Canon Ntshingwa will be required to attend meetings of the Commission, the first of which took place from 10-17 January 2009 in Mexico City. He will continue to be CEO of the Eastern Cape AIDS Council, and to be attached to St Martin-by-the-Sea, Gonubie.

The International Commission was set up as a result of a Consultation in London at the end of 2007, and has a mandate:

to monitor dialogues and relationships between Anglican and Methodist Churches worldwide;

to resource developing Anglican – Methodist relationships around the world;

to propose ways toward the full visible unity of Anglicans and Methodists.

The communiqué issued at the end of the Mexico City meeting stated that the Commission had reviewed the reports and agreements produced so far, and “identified the main strands of work which it wishes to address at future meetings. The meeting took place in the context of daily prayer, worship, and the celebration of Holy Communion in both traditions. The members of the Commission left the meeting with enthusiasm about the work to be done, and the possibility of the reconciliation of our two traditions.”

The next meeting of the Commission will be in February 2010, in the United Kingdom.

Members of the Commission at their meeting in Mexico City, in January 2009. Lulama Ntshingwa is 2nd left in the back row.

Photo: ACNS.
Top of the page

Clergy Moves - Please pray for:

Sue Paton, who has been appointed Community Engagement Manager  and Assistant Chaplain at the Diocesan School for Girls. She has left the Cathedral staff, but will continue to act as Chaplain to the students of Rhodes University and the Midlands College.

Johannes Hardnick, rector of St David Queenstown and Molteno, is taking early retirement on grounds of health, and moving to Port Elizabeth.

Ste Rini has left Bholothwa to move to Port Elizabeth Diocese.

Ruth Brandt has left Queenstown on her appointment as Diocesan Secretary in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth

Albert Chaoana leaves St Michael’s Sterkspruit to take up an appointment at Clocolan in the Free State Diocese.

Richard McLean, the Presbyterian Minister at St Nicholas’ ecumenical church, Beacon Bay, has emigrated to New Zealand. Dr Lizo Jafta, a Methodist minister, will succeed him. He will be assisted by Dennis de Lange, a retired Methodist Minister. Both of these appointments are temporary, for one or two years.
Top of the page

New Year wishes for BMMG Members

From B B Mfenyana

The Provincial EXCO of BMMG (i.e. Bernard Mizeki Men's Guild) wishes all members and their Families a New Year full of Blessings and Progress. May your parishes, Archdeaconries and dioceses grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. We look forward to seeing you at  the next PCM (Provincial Council Meeting) to be held in George from 20 to 21 February 2009.   
Top of the page

From the Bishop’s diary

Return to the front page of the Diocese of Grahamstown