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• Our roof's got a hole in it
• Eric retires as cathedral organist
• We have a vision
• RSCM tribute
• Good and faithful servant
• Pray for our persecuted family
Our roof's got a hole in it
At about the time Holy Spirit in KwaZakele was built the
Serendipity Singers had a hit song, “Don’t let the rain
come down ... my roof’s got a hole in it and I might drown.”
That was 50 years ago and since then no repairs have been done to the
Holy Spirit Church roof and it is now leaking badly.
The Archdeacon of Kariega, Zweli Tom, was one of about 1 500 guests at
a banquet held on Saturday 8 November to raise funds to repair the
roof.
While the guests arrived at the beautifully decorated Nangoza Jebe
Hall, and throughout the evening, they were entertained by the
Fiks Jazz Band and their wonderful singer.
The banquet began a bit late as the organiser was waiting for the guest
speaker to arrive. After a while all the preliminaries took place ...
and still the guest speaker failed to arrive. By 20h30 Zweli was
‘thrown in at the deep end’ when he was approached, the
guest speaker had phoned to say she was unable to come, would he please
help? A very difficult job at short notice, but he managed to put
thoughts together and spoke on a subject he is passionate about,
“The church and state relations in the new SA”. Saying it
is not a new subject because it emerged with Constantine in 313AD. He
spoke about a meeting held in Pietermaritzburg in 1990 to discuss what
role the church should play in the new SA. He said the Archbishop of
Cape Town should be a critical friend to the government. “We are
called to be the salt and life of the world, so we need to bring life
where life seems to be decaying. We should be empowering our
confirmation classes to be responsible, to use their votes responsibly
to bring meaningful change where it is needed.”
Pic: Thokoza
Mngomezulu looks over the shoulders of Rosy Witbooi, Zweli Tom and
Zanele Mgomezulu at the Holy Spirit Parish banquet.
Eric retires as cathedral organist
After five years as organist and Master of Choristers at the Cathedral Eric Spencer left the diocese at the end of November.
Eric’s skill on the organ has thrilled many people who have
visited the cathedral, and his training of the choir has enhanced the
joy of many services. He has encouraged budding organists and young
voices and felt the pain at the present lack of interest among
young people today in joining a church choir.
Eric visited Port Elizabeth in January 2003 to look at the city and
discuss the position as organist he’d seen advertised in an old
RSCM magazine. After accepting, he commuted between PE and the UK from
April until June when he moved into his beautiful home in Walmer.
Eric’s last service for the Cathedral was a very beautiful
‘Vespers and Benediction on Advent Sunday’. The service
began with a procession starting in the darkened cathedral, moving
"from darkness to light", and included Gregorian chant and other
traditional Advent settings to create a vivid and spiritual preparation
for the coming of our Lord to Earth. Music by the English composers
Orlando Gibbons and Edward Elgar was sung by an augmented Cathedral
Choir.
Eric will be sorely missed by the diocese - but our loss may well be
Cape Town’s gain as Eric is looking to perhaps settle there.
Pic: Eric Spencer plays his last notes as Organist and Master of Choristers on the 1897 JW Walker organ at the Cathedral.
We have a vision
Having spent time workshopping and praying about their parish
Vision and Mission statements, the Sundays River Valley Parish held a
special service on 23 November to launch them.
During the service a billboard was unveiled with the statement in
English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans. The rector, Zweli Tom, said,
“This day marks the beginning of a new era in the life of our
parish. Today God is affording us an opportunity to start afresh. After
this day our parish will never be the same again, because God has
given us a new vision and a new mission statement.”
Mazoe Nopece, who had been part of a planning workshop held in April,
was the guest preacher. She spoke on how the vision reflects the Matt
25:31-46 reading . She said, “The church is called to be agents
of change. It is called to be the hands, the eyes of Christ to bring
peace and love to the community.” She went on to say that the
parish needs to commit itself to love - beginning with everyone
learning to love themselves. “Loving entails acceptance, respect
and not only loving the loveable. We need to let that love spill out
... we need to cross those barriers that keep us apart,”
she said, “And smile more to lift someone’s spirit!”
Pic: Ashley Whyte and Tarryn Jones unveiled the board with the vision statement on it while the rector, Zweli Tom, looked on.
RSCM tribute
[ Maureen de Villiers ]
Royal
School of Church Music SA (Eastern Cape Branch) would like to take this
opportunity to extend its best wishes to Eric Spencer on his retirement
as Cathedral Organist. Eric’s vast experience as an organist and
choirmaster in the UK brought a new dimension to the music in the
Cathedral. The popular concerts and organ recitals that he organised
have reached out to many sectors of the music loving public. He was
also responsible for spearheading the refurbishment of the organ,
turning it into an instrument that has been highly acclaimed by leading
overseas organists.
We the RSCM committee would like to thank Eric for the invaluable help
and guidance that he has offered to us in the selection of music for
workshops and, in particular, for the recent Summer School. We are also
grateful to him for the workshops and services that he either
conducted or accompanied.
We are indeed sad to be losing our friend and mentor, but we wish him a
long, happy and healthy retirement and hope that he won’t let the
dust settle on his music just yet!
Pic: Bishop
Bethlehem thanked Eric Spencer for all his work in the diocese. RSCM
members were there to make a presentation to Eric too.
Good and faithful servant
A memorable breakfast was
held at St Margaret’s Church, Summerstrand, on Sunday 23 November
to honour Henry Heine on his retirement from 40 years of service as a
layminister. Henry has been a lay minister at St. Margaret’s for
half his lifetime, with his ministry starting shortly after John Dunn
came to the church priest-in-charge in 1968. It was a fitting
celebration of his long service. Henry was rewarded with a gift of a
holiday at the Beacon Isle Hotel.
Both Henry and and his son Roy are members of the Order of the Diocese
in honour of the contributions they have made to the Lord’s work.
We can only say with humility “well done, good and faithful
servants”. We wish Henry health and happiness in his
'retirement’ and hope to see him in his pew for many more years.
Pic: Henry and Moira Heine
Pray for our persecuted family
Christians in many parts of the world are being persecuted for
their faith. An Indian has written a plea for us to pray for them,
“I am an Indian, and am proud of being a Christian. Please pray
for us.”
Open Doors writes: In Orissa State, violence erupted in August. Several
churches and prayer halls were torched ... Christian houses and shops
were damaged. Christian worship places were desecrated. Women were
burnt, raped and Christian priests were subjected to inhumane torture.
Many villagers fled to the forests to save their lives.
Pic: Violence in Puri District of Orissa.
World-wide
Anglican news
The Anglican Church is going through many challenges at
present such as: The Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) being
held in the Holy Land and being attended by many bishops who are
boycotting the Lambeth Conference; The Archbishop of Canterbury saying,
the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK "seems
unavoidable", and much more.
Stay in touch through: http://contact-online.blogspot.com
Do visit the blog and check out what all the news and views - and the
simple way it works.
If you have any suggestions or comments to make, please email David
MacGregor at dsmacgregor@gmail.com
Keep
up to date with what is happening among Christians in the NMM:
www.pechurchnet.co.za
iindaba
Editor: Frankie Simpson
Layout / design : Frankie
Email: iindaba@anglicandiocesepe.org.za
Tel/fax +27 041 360 6808
- evenings only.
iindaba is the vehicle for sharing
your parish news with the rest of the Diocesan family.
Please send contributions and photos to the editor.
Deadline for contributions:
6th of the month prior to publication
Opinions expressed are not
necessarily those of the Bishop nor the editor.
Articles may be reproduced but
credit must be given to iindaba.
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