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• The Bishop writes ...
• DS/T Keith thanked for 16 years work
• The view from
Pulpit and Pew
• Tag lines
The
Bishop writes ...
My Dear friends in Christ
In pursuit of time
Humans
live in consciousness and the awareness of time. The understanding is
that time flows one way from preexistence as the future unfolds its
curtain, to the present and into the unending past. It is in this time
flow that people feel, think, act as they grow into maturity. Time is
conceived to be ‘measurable period that lacks spatial
dimensions’. The fact remains that time is the most familiar of
concepts used in the organisation of thought and action; it is also the
most elusive in that it cannot be given any simple illuminating
definition (St Augustine, 5th C). Time is held to be non-ending,
nonbeginning, linear and continuous.
For John the Evangelist, time begins, flows and ends in and with God
(Jn 1:1ff). In his prologue the logos (word) begins the movement of
God’s visitation in time and space for the salvation of humans.
He fully partook of human nature ‘full of grace and truth’
(Jn 1:14). It is fitting that on New Year’s Day our thoughts in
the Church calendar are set towards pondering about the naming of
Jesus. Jesus is a Jewish name whose equivalence
‘Joshua’ means help or save.
In an acceptable time God breaks into human history to take over our
affairs. That story of long ago as of now, still tells of human
longings for freedom from evils of their lot, personal, social and
political. As we saw in Advent tide, evil is to be separated from good. We can never dream of that true freedom until our hearts are flooded by the presence of the Spirit of Christ.
We also make resolutions in the New Year of the things we intend doing
to better our lives. We are a people called by the name of Christ
(cf Acts 11:26).We are challenged to live the hope of our calling. The
Church is intended to be a place of joy to the benefit of those outside
her. It is imperative that we aspire to be used by God in restoring human dignity, liberty, equality and safety, values that human nature yearns for. We should be resolute in the pursuit of Ubuntu out of a pure compassionate and generous heart in mission to the world. Time flies!
May the Lord increase your faith to move mountains.
Yours in the love of Christ,
Pic: Bishop
Bethlehem with Olivia Mtetwa, who has been living with AIDS for 11
years, and Jean Underwood who spoke on AIDS work at St Mark’s in
Humandorp.
DS/T Keith thanked for 16 years work
Keith
Rae, who is retiring as diocesan secretary-treasurer, was overwhelmed
by the gift of an HP laptop, with all the software installed on it,
that he received as a gift from the diocese at a ‘thank you’ gathering on Monday 22 December.
Keith is not leaving the diocesan office. He will spend January showing
our new diocesan secretary-treasurer, Ruth Brandt, a priest from
Queenstown, the ropes. Then after a holiday he will return in the
capacity of internal auditor.
Bishop Bethlehem thanked Keith for the devotion and dedication he
has given to the work. He spoke of Keith’s having left a very
well paid job with Mossgas to take up the position in the diocese for a
very small salary, and how he had done so well at keeping the diocesan
finances sound.
Keith replied by thanking everyone who had come. He spoke of
having worked with three bishops - Bruce Evans, Eric Pike and now with
Bethlehem Nopece. He said he’s received gifts from the former two
bishops when they left, and then said, “Bishop Bethlehem bestowed
the title of Honorary Canon on me at a simple but moving ceremony
in the chapel at St Hugh’s. His off the cuff citation was more
than just a compliment to me and my work in the diocese. This was a
humbling moment, which I’m not sure I deserve.” He went on
to say that the untold support and compliments he has received
over the years for doing the job he’s supposed to do, is
extremely humbling. He said he had always tried to do his job with
honesty and integrity.
In speaking of the support, encouragement and compliments he’d
received from laity and clergy he said, “These are humbling
moments because without God’s help nothing is possible ...
I’m not only grateful for the loyal team of workers at the office
but also for the Morning Devotions where simple truths are shared with
one another” He thanked the parishes that had helped, or
tried to, help lessen the administrative burden, and his wife, Denise,
for her support. He said he had never been ‘too good’,
because if he had been he would not be retiring just yet.
He ended saying, “I don’t know what challenges Denise
and I are going to face in the years ahead but we are left with no
doubt that these will be faced with God’s strength and
support.”
Dennis Burkinshaw, who had had to come out of retirement to show Keith
the ropes when he started as DS/T, shared some amusing anecdotes
on life as a diocesan secretary.
The function was attended by clergy and spouses, churchwardens and the office staff - almost 100 well-wishers in all.
Pic: Denise and Keith Rae receive the diocesan gift ‘Thank you’ from Sharon Nell, Archdeacon of the Bay.
The
view from pulpit and pew
- At the time of publication of iindaba, news from Cape Town
is that Nicolette Leonard is out of hospital after successfully
undergoing a bone-marrow transplant which she received from her sister
Mel. Nicolette was devastated by the death of her mother in
December – especially that she was unable to attend the funeral.
Robert Penrith was able to be with her on the day of the funeral, which
brought her much comfort. She and Myron are staying with Mel, and she
attends a clinic at Groote Schuur twice a week. iindaba commends
her to the prayers of its readers, praying that her appetite will
return, enabling her to put on some weight and giving her strength.
- Good news from the Nell family. Jacques has completed his
degree at NMMU, after having had a very trying time. He has been taken
off most of his medication, and is now, according to his mother Sharon,
rector of the Zwartkops River Valley Parish, looking for a job!
- The McCoy family recently returned from Cape Town where
they attended the graduation of their elder son, John. Dad Mike is the
Dean of Studies as well as being assistant at St Hugh’s, Newton
Park.
- The Holmes family are saying farewell to their daughter and
sister Katharine as she travels to Chatham-Kent in Ontario, Canada, as
a Rotary Youth Exchange student for a year. In the meantime they will
be welcoming Danish Youth Exchange student, Amalie Wedege, into
their home for 3 months.
- Some clergy moves are taking place.
-
The dean, Dudley Greenshields, is moving from All Saints’
United Church in Somerset East as rector of St Katharine’s in
Uitenhage.
-
Gill Bowman, assistant at St Margaret’s in Summerstrand, moves
to be assistant in the Zwartkops River Valley Parish. She will,
however, continue as University Chaplain.
-
Robin Behrens has joined the stipendiary ministry after having been
self-supporting. He is appointed assistant at St Nicholas, Charlo.
-
Mzie Doda, rector of St Stephen’s in New Brighton, has left the
diocese. He and his wife Lovely have moved to King Williamstown, where
he has been appointed archdeacon. iindaba wishes them well in their new
ministry there.
-
Two parishes are swapping archdeaconries! St Stephen in New Brighton
leaves The Bay archdeaconry, and joins the Kariega archdeaconry, whilst
St Peter’s, Zwide, leaves the Kariega archdeaconry, and joins The
Bay archdeaconry.
- iindaba is sad to record the death of Dorothy Holmes of St
Hugh's in Newton Park - a Member of the Order of the Diocese. Dorothy
exercised a loving and encouraging ministry to new Christians, and
mentored many in their walk with the Lord. She was also an
organist at the church. Some of the clergy of the diocese have said it
was Dorothy who encouraged them and was instrumental in the growth of
their faith. iindaba expresses condolences to her family and all who
loved her. May she rest in God's eternal peace.
- Some of the clergy children have just completed their
Matric, and iindaba is happy to report they all did very well, and all
qualify for university:
-
Joshua Daniels (Eddie and Nicky);
- Vashti Damon (Elroy and Lyn);
- Katharine Holmes (Christopher and Susan).
Congratulations to all three of them, and all others from the diocese who completed their schooling last year!
Tag
lines
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
A thought!
To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world. - Karl Barth
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