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Vol 18 No 8 August 2007 ONLINE The official gazette of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth: Anglican Church of Southern Africa

Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 3  •  The Bishop writes ...  •  The view from pulpit and pew  •  Tag lines  •  Let the Organ resound  •  Eyes right - well almost  •  Gender Desk formed The Bishop writes ... My dear People of God, The wage gap Greetings in the name of Christ, our Lord and Saviour! August is a month of Compassion. Two  things we focus our prayers and ministry on, are, namely: Prisoners and those who minister to them; and our Sunday School Programme - both children and those who minister to them. Any Sunday in August is to be used for prayer for, and ministry to, the children of our land, not only those inside the church. It was on the 13 May, as you saw in the last issue of Iindaba, that seventy inmates surrendered their lives to the Lord and confirmed their faith. This was my first experience and a very fulfilling time in our ministry. Our gospel is transforming good news which gives a new character. The love of God, and the embrace or inclusiveness demands a change of heart and attitude (Rom 12:1-3). The Grmetanoia= repentance and ‘epistrephe~= conversion both refer to this new beginning of a changed life from an ungodly, and therefore undesirable, to the loving compassionate character (2Cor 5:17). We measure this against the written Word of God, without being judgmental in our approach, but more loving and compassionate. While some prisoners are inside because of contravening the law of the land and therefore of God, some are innocent. Yet they are in prison because of miscarriages of justice. Some have been struggling to put food on their tables. Others were enriching themselves or being misused for the same aim. Whatever the case may be of each prisoner, poverty and unemployment continues to scourge our land. There are good things our government deserves credit for, eg electricity and water in rural areas, roads, housing etc. For these we applaud our rulers. The gap between the rich and poor is widening. This is very worrying. Strikes continue to cost this land more investment. There can never be contentment when the wealth of this land is enjoyed by a few. Salary disparities need drastic attention. Those who earn more should not be given any more increment until the wage gap is closed. The ANC government must remember its Manifesto. The wealth of this country must be distributed accordingly. Equal job opportunities and a denarius a day for a job well done must be taken more seriously (Matt 20:1-16). There will be no peace and prosperity for as long as these disparities exist. Some become impatient by taking the short cut of grabbing for themselves. This is criminal. Stealing and maiming innocent people for one's survival is criminal and unacceptable. Where people eat to their fill there are less criminal statistics. Our criminal activity escalates in the midst of increasing poverty. The month of Compassion challenges us to active ministry of love out of a compassionate heart. This is the heart of Jesus. He was full of ‘grace and truth’ (Jn 1:14) in order to instill a new character to all those who adhere to his teaching. Out of a compassionate heart he transmitted his love to both the rich and the poor without condoning sin (Mk 2:1-10; Jn 8:1-11) He fed the people and did not hesitate to point them to Life Eternal (John 6:63). He did not buy cheap popularity at the expense of the gospel. Did you know that in your life time, when God places you in a position of leadership, you are likely to influence eight hundred and forty thousand people - directly or indirectly? Take care when you deal with young minds like those of little children. Whether we are criticized as indoctrinating little children with the gospel of Christ leading them to know God as the Father of all, we have a responsibility to teach the young the basic principles of life. The new approach of ‘Outcomes Based Education’ impresses me as it puts no pressure on the young learner, but enjoyment in learning. Let it be so with our Sunday School programme. Little children must come to Christ out of love and joy for his blessing. Pray for prisoners and Sunday School in August, and always minister out of a compassionate heart (Mk 6:34). Yours in the love of Christ, Bishop Bethlehem Nopece Let the Organ resound Lovers of organ music, this is a must, especially if you are able to put the music on full blast with surround-sound. So, what organ music is this? It is the CD of Roger Fisher playing two romantic sonatas on the 1897 JW Walker organ at St Mary's Cathedral. The sonatas are: Edward Elgar's Sonata No 1 in G major (Opus 28) and Julius Reubke's Sonata in C minor on the 94th Psalm. The CD was produced by Eric Spencer, the Cathedral's organist, who says, "It is to support the future of the Cathedral's musical heritage and its celebrated JW Walker organ." The CD is available from St Mary's at a cost of R100 a copy or from Eric Spencer 041 581 3141 Eyes right - well almost Very good news has been received from David MacGregor who writes, “If you can access my blog at http://contact-online.blogspot.com/ you will see good news about my eyes, and how good the Lord has been in providing for us all these months. While really amazing”low vision” software would enable me to re-start Contact Online, it seems that this is not what the Lord desires.However I have a very positive direction for the News List which will be continued at a time of crucial events in the Anglican Church. Please let me know at davemac@wol.co.za if you would like to be added to the News List. With many blessings and thanks for the prayers I know some of you have offered for my eyes.” Gender Desk formed Bishop Bethlehem requested Ethel Pittaway to facilitate the creation of a Gender Desk and to form a committee.  Ethel told iindaba, “This is now in place. We will be having our first meeting during July to work on the vision, mission and goals as well as a strategic plan. I am thrilled to bits! I have worked on gender issues since 2000 so this is a huge door of opportunity to address issues with the blessing of the church.” iindaba hopes to have a report from the meeting in the next issue. The view from pulpit and pew Congratulations to Elizabeth Nel from St Cuthbert’s on reaching her 90th birthday – and with such grace and dignity. Elizabeth, who was a personal secretary to Sir Winston Churchill during the 2nd World War, married a South African officer, Frans Nel, and settled in Port Elizabeth. A short while ago, she was hosted by the British government to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the underground war cabinet room, where Elizabeth spent many days and nights, and was often woken up in the middle of the night by Sir Winston who wanted her to take dictation for an important letter or speech. iindaba would like to apologise to Valerie Heath for remarks in the last Pulpit and Pew. iindaba would like to assure her that in no way did we intend to offend or embarrass her, nor were we casting aspersions on her! What was printed was meant to be light-hearted. iindaba records with sadness the deaths of: - Zola Xuba, assistant priest at St John the Baptist in Walmer, who died in the Mercantile Hospital, where he suffered from a heart attack, after being admitted for pancreatitis. Zola was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral last Advent and is survived by his widow, Zanele, and their two young children; - Luyanda Tuku’s mother, Portia, in July. Her funeral was conducted from the Church of the Ascension, Cradock, in the Parish of Christ Church. Luyanda is the priest-in-charge of St Cyprian’s in Zwide; - Elsie Williams, churchwarden of St Simon of Cyrene; - Ann Nelson, lay minister in the Sundays River Valley Parish. Our condolences and prayers are extended to their families, and parishes as well. Congratulations to Nena Leavey, widow of Donald, as she turned 100 on 21 July. Donald was the rector of St Saviour’s in Walmer some years ago. Thanks to Dennis Burkinshaw, our diocesan secretary emeritus, who passed on to iindaba the news of Nena’s century! iindaba is sorry to note that Jill Andrews, 86, was brutally attacked in her cottage at the Methodist Homes in Greenshields Park recently. Jill is the mother of Sue Lake of Tankatara, whose husband Peter is chapelwarden of St Peter’s, Kinkelbos. iindaba wishes her a speedy recovery. The three intruders bent the burglar bars in the kitchen. An alarm system is now being fitted to her cottage. iindaba is concerned that many clergy report that when visiting elderly parishioners, they often find security gates unlocked, and on some occasions have found front doors wide open. iindaba encourages all its readers to take crime seriously, and make sure that they are adequately protected. It is so dangerous to think “It can’t happen to me!” We pray for God’s protection on them. iindaba congratulates the Centre for Spirituality coordinator, Barry Sendall, and his wife Sandra, who have became proud grandparents of Emily, daughter of their younger daughter, Jenny and her husband David.“Barry and Sandra visited their first grandchild last month when they went to the UK when she was a few weeks old. Emily is to be baptised in South Africa when the family visits later in the year.” Tag lines People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid. 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