Umbuliso/ The Greeting
Newsletter
of the Diocese of
Grahamstown Christmas
2005: Vol 28 No. 6
Sister Zelma CR was installed by the Bishop of Grahamstown, Thabo Makgoba, as Mother Superior of the Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord on 24 November 2005 in the Sisters’ Chapel in Grahamstown.
Brought up in Knysna by a devout Christian family who adopted her and her brother and sister at a young age, she was in her own words a "tomboy" who joined in the boys’ games of rugby and cricket, and went through a phase of rebelling against the tradition of daily family prayers.
The phase of rebellion did not last, and she obeyed a calling to the religious life, entering the Grahamstown-based Community in 1989, under the name of Sister Zelma. In 2000 she was ordained a deacon, and in 2001 priest. For the last few years Sister Zelma was Assistant Superior under Mother Carol.
Although she is not the first
South
African born Superior, Zelma is
the first "black" Superior. At the simple but moving service of
installation the words of the service and the songs were in Xhosa,
English, Afrikaans and Sesotho.
From Diocesan Secretary to Queenstown curate, setting up Mission Area structure
Ruth Loots, Diocesan Secretary of
the
Diocese of Grahamstown since
1997, and since June 2004 a deacon at the Cathedral, has resigned from
her position to go into full-time ministry. She is to be ordained
priest on 17 December, and will be appointed as an Assistant Priest at
St Michael’s Queenstown from 1 February. Based in an office at
Tshwaranang, she will spend three-quarters of her time creating a
financial structure for the new Grahamstown-Free State Mission Area.
Bishop Thabo commented that she will be sadly missed as Diocesan
Secretary, but he is grateful that God will be using her in her new
role.
The Chapter of the Diocese has revised the Vision and Mission Statements and Strategic Goals of the Diocese in the light of Synod members’ ranking of diocesan priorities (See Bishop’s Letter).
Vision
Mission
To proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to a broken world through building a diocese which is:
Strategic goals:
To live out our Vision and fulfil our Mission we dedicate ourselves to deploying our unique strengths of prophetic leadership, prayer, worship, and advocacy in the achievement of the following Strategic goals:
In service to the world:
In strengthening the Diocese:
Developing our Human Resources capacity, including the creation of a database, and an audit of skills; providing appropriate training for present and future clergy roles as well as intercultural and anti-racist training for all our people.
Studying further the spiritual needs of young people and issues around human sexuality.
Have you ever thought about the monastic life? Have you ever wondered if the monastic life is for you? Come to this week and explore first hand elements of the monastic life.
3 - 5 March, 2006: Pathways to Prayer
Begin this Lent encountering different ways of praying though this practical and experiential weekend. Explore for yourself the different kinds of prayer. Led by the monks of the monastery.
Fee : R400, Deposit : R200
"A family (people) that have walked in darkness have seen a great light" Is 9:2
Dear People of God
Synod members were asked to rank the top seven priorities for social involvement, mission and ministry for the diocesan family. The following is their ranking:
votes rated
Evangelistic ministry 49 191
This ranking necessitated that we revise our Vision and Mission Statements, and strategic goals. These are included on page 1 of Umbuliso.
The ranking of HIV/ AIDS is top of the list, possibly because our people are dying from the scourge of the disease, and because the diocese and the CPSA’s interventions are starting to make an impact on people’s level of awareness.
"Promotion of Christian family life", was ranked fourth, which was a surprise, compared to "Address injustice", the issue of relevant spirituality and the land issues. The message is clear from Synod: address family life issues.
This Christmas time, please reflect and ponder on what is meant for you, your family, your parish, your suburb, your township and village by "Promotion of Christian family life", or if I may put it differently, Promotion of Christian family values.
Isaiah’s message in Is. 9:2 is: "The people (the world family) who walked in darkness, have seen a great light."
Christmas cannot be separated from Easter. Remember the darkness of Good Friday, that leads to the celebration and the joy of Easter. Christmas also reminds us that God is taking a huge risk, and joins the human family as its family member. That is, the divine Word becomes incarnate, and illuminates our dark world.
This Christmas, as God’s family, we are reminded that the key value to remember as we celebrate Christ’s birth, is: we celebrate our movement from darkness into light, Darkness is associated with death, blindness, despair, revenge, lostness, envy, drunken stupor, bombing, killing, gluttony, unrighteous anger, and uncharitableness.
Great light is associated with love, compassion, caring, sharing with others, seeing Christ incarnate in orphans, the hungry, the spiritually poor and materially healthy.
As we celebrate, eat, dance, and join in that song of the angelic host who say "Glory to God in the highest, and peace and goodwill to his people on earth", we also need to ponder and reflect on the greed of certain nations, on the individualism and materialism of corrupt governments, of structures that are self-serving and not serving God, of families that are tortured, families that do not have the opportunity nor the resources to celebrate, and share our prayers and our resources with them.
Mary pondered on this great news, as in Luke, the Magnificat. Simeon was overcome by this news, as in the Song of Simeon. So I ask you also to ponder on this good news, and commit yourselves to bringing this good news to all God’s people, the world family.
Merry
Christmas!
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane wrote to Bishop Thabo to thank him for copies of the 2005 Diocesan Profile, and the August-September issue of Umbuliso.
.let me congratulate you on the production of the Profile, it is well done and most informative.This work is to be commended, as are those who were responsible for its production.
With regard to the
newsletter, I found the article "A gracious discussion on human
sexuality" both interesting and encouraging. It is indeed heartening to
know that this issue can be discussed quietly and sensitively, without
reverting to homophobic rhetoric and insults. For this you and your
Diocese are to be commended.
Damp and chilly
weather
did nothing to dampen the
enthusiasm of the small crowd which gathered at St John and St Chad’s
Zwelitsha on 5 November for the first Diocesan Family Day. Holy
Communion was celebrated by Bishop Thabo, after which Nyameko Nqodi of
the Bernard Mizeki Guild conducted the Mjikelo. Representatives from a
number of parishes, and members of AWF, MU, St Agnes Guild and the
Guild of Bernard Mizeki from all over the diocese, vied with each other
in their generosity. Some came from as far afield as Sterkspruit. The
day’s takings amounted to a whopping R46,000, with the promise of more
expected from parishes which had not sent representatives, but which
had conducted their own giving ceremonies.
By Nyameko Nqodi
"Relevance of our Ministry to the Challenges of the 21st Century" was the theme of this year’s Provincial Conference of the Bernard Mizeki Men’s Guild. As Nyameko Nqodi, Diocesan Media Officer wrote, it seemed that neither the time span 28 September - 2 October 2005 nor the venue at St Mary Magdalene Parish in Gugulethu, Cape Town were wide enough to accommodate all views and responses exhaustively.
Three Bishops spoke. The Suffragan Bishop of Cape Town, Bishop Garth Counsell, in his keynote address reminded the Guilders that their ministry exists exclusively for the sake of others. In performing their role as men and in emulating Jesus Christ, St Bernard Mizeki Guild has to confront social welfare challenges head on: poverty, family crisis, sexuality etc. On the second day of conference the Archbishop of Cape Town addressed the conference exhorting members to commit themselves to the Church of God. As leaders it is expected that they lead by example.
The Bishop of Umzimvubu, Mlibo Ngewu is the Liaison Bishop for St Bernard Mizeki Guild. He put over a strong message that the purpose of ubudodana is service. The relevance of the Guild’s ministry is to follow the pattern of Jesus Christ and serve the disadvantaged groups in society like orphans, street kids, drug addicts etc.
Fundraising
The Diocese of Grahamstown successfully defended the floating trophy by raising R13,700.00 to come first out of 15 Dioceses. Pretoria Diocese came second with R12,400.00, and Johannesburg third with R5,200.00.
Elections
Elections:
Grahamstown’s
Br B B Mfenyana was elected
the Provincial Secretary and Br V Jonas of Port Elizabeth Assistant
Secretary. Most of the previous officials were returned to their
positions including the President, Treasurer, Chaplain and Chairperson.
There was keen
anticipation as the Bishop and
clergy, visiting Sisters and laity, and young servers, prepared for the
service of thanksgiving for the 150th anniversary of St Matthew’s
church and mission, Keiskammahoek, on 25 September. Revisiting
St Matthew’s Mission for the 150th was former Rector Christopher Cook.
By Velile Koot Dayimane
On 17-18 September 2005 the Herschel Anglican Youth Guild (HAYG) held its 16th conference at St Gabriel’s Walaza. The conference theme was "Youth and Protection". The guest speaker was Inspector Spambo. He advised the youth on several risks including drugs, crime and the influence of peers.
One other group that was invited was the Eluthandweni Support Group. The main speaker of the group was Mr Vuyo Magengenene (co-ordinator), who spoke on Romans 13:11-14. The Group is blessed by having the support of the Anglicans, and especially the priests who are members.
At the Conference over 30 new members were robed, and it is hoped to bring in more next year.
Entertainment items included gumboot dance and "Sarafina" by the St Gabriel’s Youth, and Ballroom Dance from All Saints.
The Youth pledged to take part in all Diocesan Youth Guild activities and to revive the Archdeaconry Youth.
AIDS MinistriesEducational weekend at Hogsback
By Sue Paton
Hobbiton Outdoor Education Centre, Hogsback, hosted a successful Anglican Aids Education weekend at the beginning of November. Eighty children, as well as their teachers and concerned family members from the Hogsbackparticipated in the weekend, which was funded by the Anglican Church.
Undeterred by particularly wet and muddy weather, the children were eager to learn from the charismatic facilitator, the Revd Themba Phillips. Smaller group work, in which the important information was processed, brought about an intimacy and sharing which led to important disclosures and discussion. The weekend also served to increase the sympathy of the children towards those who already bear this suffering.
The children were each presented with a T-shirt as a memory of the camp, and were returned to their homes after an intensive two days, well contented from good food andwhole lot more aware of the AIDS pandemic.Young people bring parish into computer age
By Immanuel Ngubo
The Youth of St Philip’s Gompo in East London gave the Parish an early Christmas gift of a computer stand and printer for their computer which was donated by one of the parishioners. They also promised to see to it that all the programmes are installed in it and are working.
Each year the Youth Guild in the parish organises a project: e.g. last year it was a refrigerator, and this year is the computer stand with the computer printer.
Dioce$an Finance$Treasure belongs to God: Part 3
By Immanuel Bangubukhosi Ngubo
During the year appeals for jobs, good health, family concerns, promotions and better salaries etc were the subject of our daily prayers to the Lord. But come festive season everything is new, but the house of God is empty. Why? When answers to all the above prayers and more are received, people choose not to celebrate them in the place where the appeals were made, in the festive season.
The Diocesan deficit is still our problem or challenge, even during this period when we are looking forward to spoiling ourselves and our loved ones. Your response to Part 1 and 2 is appreciated.
Guilds, parishes and individuals need to hear with understanding the appeal against deficit and put good thoughts into action. As Christians of today, especially the youth, we must take offering seriously. It means we must offer ourselves and all we have to God (Jesus Christ). Boldly and without hindrance we must preach the kingdom of God and also teach about the Lord Jesus Christ, and live life for our Saviour. Then deficit will be something of the past. In fulfilling our aim to achieve a Diocese free from deficit, each must do all the good you can, by all means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
I pray that this Part 3 will help us better in understanding what it means to really work hard so we can become increasingly like our Lord. Nothing matters more than knowing God.
God must bless our struggle to do away with the deficit before the end of 2007. Thank you in advance. Remember in Christ we are conquerors!
[top]By N N Yapi
We are just a few weeks from Christmas. It is Advent, derived from Latin adventus corresponding with Greek parousia – meaning anticipated second coming of the Lord.
Biblically Advent is the beginning of a Christian rather than the geographical season, depicting Summer and end of the year. And therefore it is the season of hope "for unto us a child is born; (Is. 9:6a) or what Paul calls "fullness of times" when "God sent forth His Son". (Gal. 4:4a)
What then does spirituality say to us? We are called upon to "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mat. 3:2) and "prepare …. the way of the Lord; make His paths straight". (Mat. 3:3b). Therefore we need spiritual healing and cleansing by walking closer with Jesus and spending a period of prayer, for Lord Tennyson in his "Morte d’Arthur" says "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dream of".
In the light of the foregoing I make bold to say Advent is the best time to go on retreat and cleanse ourselves of the stable-like material where Jesus will be born. It should be a period of making a covenant with God to pave and prepare the road ahead during the long walk from Christmas onwards. Perhaps the Methodist Church may be advised to hold "iicawa zomnqophiso" now rather than January or so.
I
close by
singing a Zionist tune: "Uyez’onamandla. Yemakholwa thandazani".
Sister Heloise CR
Sister Heloise CR died on 27 October, shortly before her 93rd birthday, and 65 years after entering the Community as a novice.
Of Eastern Cape stock, Sr Heloise trained at the teachers’ Training College in Grahamstown under the CR Sisters, where she first felt a calling to join them. As a Sister she taught for 23 years, in Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown and Pietersburg, being Principal of St Mark’s School in Port Elizabeth from 1957-1970.
After that, as a complete change she was "plunged" into the unknown mysteries of housekeeping etc, running retreat houses in East London, Zimbabwe, London (St Peter’s Bourne) and Grahamstown (Hillandale), where as Sr Dorianne said she was "dearly loved by the many visitors ... for her warm hearted welcome and generosity".
Sr Dorianne, who
has
known her 65 years, described
her as possessing "a beautiful character, always the same, calm and
relaxed, radiating joy and gladness of heart. Her special qualities
were her simplicity of character, absolute loyalty, loving kindness to
everyone, tremendous faithfulness and obedience, and a personality that
was always self-effacing." May she rest in peace.
Welcoming programme for the Bishop
By Immanuel Bangubukhosi Ngubo
The Skenjana Hall, Bisho, was the place to be on 4 November when Archdeacon E Ntlali, Diocesan Guilds and Parishes welcomed Bishop Thabo Cecil Makgoba. The Traditional House was represented by Prince Z Burns Ncamashe. As usual in occasions like this, the humour and praises of Canon Peter Mtuze proved a winner.
The theme was "Thanks be to God for all the good things in our Diocese". The Bishop’s reply was informal and touching. He encouraged us to read Luke 6:38 where Jesus speaks about generosity.
The guest list was honoured by the Eastern Cape AIDS CEO and the CEO of the East Cape Provincial Council of Churches, who brought motivational and congratulatory messages. Ms Magwentshu represented the Buffalo City Mayor. The Dean highlighted special moments with the Makgoba Family, how special they are.
Uthixo akugcine Thabo!By Olumide Ademola
ANSOC members at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, got together for an end of year braai on Sunday 23rd October 2005 at the Dean’s place. In attendance were Prof Michael Whisson, the Revd Ingrid Anderson, John Stubbs and his wife as well as the ANSOC members.
Many thanks for the Stubbs
family for
supporting the event. A big
thank you to the Stubbs for the financial contribution, time effort in
making the day a great success.
St John’s 125th Anniversary Celebration: 1880 – 2005
By Clare Stewart
On Sunday 20 November, the people of St John the Evangelist Church East London celebrated their 125th Anniversary, with a joyous service attended by 300 parishioners and friends of St John’s from near and far.
The Celebrant and Preacher was Bishop Thabo, together with George van der Merwe, the present Rector and Canon Graeme Deas, who retired as Rector in December 2004.
Distinguished visitors included the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Nosimo Balindlela, and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond and Leah Tutu. The parish welcomed past rectors and their wives: Canon Graeme and Carol Deas; Canon James and Louise Hoyle and the Revd Eric Kleb. The Buffalo Rifles were represented by Lt and Mrs Errol Frohbus; the RAF by Mr and Mrs R Johnson and the University of Fort Hare by Dr and Mrs Terry Marsh.
The Premier and Archbishop Desmond gave the most
delightful addresses. Canon James Hoyle presented Father George with a
sketch of St John’s by Basil Kenyon which was given to him on St John’s
100th Anniversary when he was the Rector. The offertory from the
service went to Bishop Thabo’s Ministry Development Fund.
Umbuliso
greets those to be
ordained priest on 17 December at 10:00 in the Cathedral: Anaida
Allwood, Holy Trinity King William’s Town, Ingrid Andersen, St
Bartholomew’s Grahamstown, Ruth Loots, the Cathedral (to transfer in
February to St Michael’s Queenstown), Simphiwe Magxwalisa who is moving
to assist at St Barnabas Sada and St Andrew Mlungisi, Mzikazi Mfenyana
of Zwelitsha and Simphiwe Silwana of St Saviour’s East London. Ruth
Loots and Simphiwe Magxwalisa will be full-time stipendiary assistants,
while the rest are self-supporting.
Prayers are asked for diocesan clergy moving on to new ministry within the diocese:
Barry Wittstock is moving at the end of December to become Rector of St Mark’s Cambridge and Christ Church Amalinda. Between appointments he and Linden will be visiting India, and we wish them well in this exciting adventure.
Barry will be succeeded at St Michael’s Queenstown from 1 February by Reg Morgan.
Wilson Ntlola is moving from St Andrew’s Mdantsane in January to take up the post of Rector of St Philip’s Duncan Village.
We will be welcoming the Revd Peter Lenkoe from Johannesburg Diocese from 1 February, when he will take up the post of Rector of St Gregory’s Mdantsane.
Loyiso
Mphathelwa is leaving Bholothwa to
take up a position in the Diocese of St John’s from 1 January. We wish
him and Nofanele well in this new phase in their ministry.
College of the Transfiguration students
Noelene Ahrends and Themba Mdedelwa have each spent a year studying full-time to complete their courses at the College of the Transfiguration (COTT). Initially they will be going into lay ministry, with the prospect of ordination to the diaconate in June 2006. Themba, whose studies have been sponsored by the Guild of St Bernard Mizeki, will be attached to the Queenstown cluster of parishes, and to Tshwaranang. Noelene studied with a bursary from an overseas foundation which sponsors women ordinands. She will be involved in AIDS ministries, working at Ilinge with Heidi Schmidt and Monica Vega, and at St John’s Bholothwa.
Next
year’s students at the COTT will be: The
Revd Sue Paton of Hogsback and the Revd Thami Mhlana of East London, Mr
Gordon Johnson of Gonubie and Ms Noluthando Gixana of Zwelitsha. In
addition Messrs John Anderton of Grahamstown and Godukile Mbolekwa of
East London will be studying part-time.
We pray for the full recovery of Chris Kokoali, after an operation in November.
DS Mhlwatika has also had health problems, and is recuperating.
Congratulations
to Archdeacon Nathaniel Ndaxuma
Nakwatumbah, who has been elected as the next Bishop of the Diocese of
Namibia.
Sister
Jean Mary CR
passed away on 22.11.05.
Obituary in next issue.