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• Banquet raises funds for projects
• Called back into service
• Called and equipped
• Easter Bonnet Parade
• Being well-trained
Banquet raises funds for projects
On Saturday night 8 August St Augustine’s, Walmer Gqebera, held a very successful banquet in the Walmer town hall.
The
banquet was held to raise funds for the feeding scheme, the HIV/AIDS
outreach, and the many other programmes the parish runs. Zola Nanana,
the rector, told iindaba that they had raised a good amount and that he
was pleased that the programmes can continue.
Mcebisi Xundu,
chairman of Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches, was the guest
speaker. He quipped that he was black and is now white, so he would be
speaking in both Xhosa and English. He broke his talk into four
sections, saying the church needs to help establish good governance in
this Province. “Wealth without work is not acceptable. Corruption
such as ‘ghost grants’ which are enriching the rich at the
expense of the poor must be dealt with,” he said, and went on to
mention many other areas needing to be addressed. He then touched on
the HIV/AIDS issue, saying, “Pleasure without conscience is
dangerous. Casual sex spreads the virus, and parents need to take
responsibility and teach children from as young as 11 about their
bodies and sex. Young people need to realise that if they have a child
while they are still young, the child is their responsibility.”
His third point was: “Religion without sacrifice is no religion.
Jesus said, ‘Take up your cross’ and that means getting
your hands dirty by going in among the poor and hungry.” He
concluded by speaking on Politics without Principles being bad
governance. He said, “The challenge to all governing bodies is to
be the people looking after the people, not some of the people looking
after some of the people.”
Called back into service
Although
Mcebisi Xundu retired from active parish ministry some years ago, he
“reluctantly, because of my age,” accepted the call by the
Eastern Cape Provincial Council of Churches (ECPCC) to become
their president for a two year term of office.
In
a letter to church and secular leaders he said, “I request you to
give me your prayerful support in order that I may use this office for
the extension of the Rule of God. I am very aware of my inadequacy in
fulfilling the role which I am called to play.” He went on to
write that after much prayer and reflection he has identified two major
challenges for the church, which are poverty and HIV/AIDS. “I
believe we should embark on strategies that are both measurable and
sustainable in our effort to encounter the two challenges,” he
said. “I know that at denominational levels we have a number of
pastoral interventions to arrest these two challenges but I believe
that at an ecumenical level we can pool our resources for greater
effect. We are ministering at a time when government has realised that
in order to have effective delivery of services it needs the
faith-based organisations. They want to partner with the churches. The
departments of Social Development, Agriculture, Health and Education
are poised to co-operate with us without seeking to divert us from our
mission.”
Poverty and agriculture
Mcebisi
went on to suggest that there is much land lying fallow in the former
Ciskei and Transkei because of the move by people to the cities. He
said, “I believe that programmes run together with the
departments mentioned, can have positive spin-offs. Together with the
Department of Agriculture the right crops can be identified and planted
and good marketing strategies formulated. I therefore believe that
seminars and workshops should be held to motivate people for the
realisation of this effort. I request your support and participation as
we embark on this journey to reclaim the land for productive
agriculture, and will appreciate any comments from you in this regard.
Poverty alleviation through the creation of jobs will impact positively
in reducing social crimes like theft, the sex industry, drugs
etc.”
HIV/AIDS
Mcebisi called for a time of fasting and praying as a means of repentance for the sin of HIV/AIDS.
Pic: Enjoying the evening - Thobeka and Zola Nanana at the banquet with Tandi and Mcebisi Xundu in the centre
Called and equipped
Eileen
Bambrough of the Parish of the Good Shepherd reports that it is true
that those whom the Lord calls “He equips with everything good
for doing his will” for the women of St Patrick’s,
Humansdorp.
Some years ago the women initiated a feeding
scheme for ‘vulnerable children’ from the nearby primary
school. This ministry is now being extended to holding
‘home-based care work-shops’. Hopefully the first of these
will incorporate caregivers from Sea-Vista and the community which
surrounds St Patrick's.
To equip themselves for this ministry
three members of the MU Christian Family Life have been trained in
home-based care and the prevention and care of people living with HIV
and AIDS. Anne Skosana and Catherine Links completed a four day
residential workshop at the House of Resurrection Haven. This was
financed by St Patrick’s Women, Santereme Women’s Guild and
St Francis Women’s Guild in Jeffreys Bay. The third trainer,
Lizzie Matroos, was trained through the Anglican Wellness Management
Programme.
It was with much alarm that the women learnt of the
withdrawal of government support for the House of Resurrection Haven,
and they were relieved to hear Bp Bethlehem speaking out in
support of the Haven. We congratulate him on the stand he has taken and
we pray that donors will come forward to support this essential cause.
Pic: Trained to care - Ann Sosana, Catherine Links and Lzzie Matroos have been trained to care for people living with HIV/AIDS.
 iindaba reporter becomes grandparent
Soon
after submitting her article on Mothering Sunday at St Mark’s
featured in last month's iindaba, our reporter, Pam Brown, flew
to Johannesburg where an emergency operation was performed on her
daughter Lucy, to deliver healthy twin boys. Jordan and Jude weighed in
at 2.58 and 1.9kg respectively. Although kept in separate incubators,
the first minute they were placed together, six days after birth, they
were holding hands and sleeping contentedly. Praise God they are now
home. iindaba congratulates Pam and the the family.
Easter Bonnet Parade
Patty Matthews of St Katharine’s Parish in Uitenhage reports on a very successful Easter Bonnet Parade.
As
part of our fund raising drive towards the painting and renovation of
our parish hall, the parish council women decided to hold an Easter
Bonnet Parade. Tickets were sold and about 50 of the women, and a few
gents, joined in the fun of making a bonnet, then parading it in front
of everyone.
The afternoon was a great success - plenty of
laughs, a delicious tea, and our ‘Tina Line Dancers’, our
ballet dancer Nadia van Huyssteen, and Lynda Rands on the piano to
entertain us. There were three categories with two prize winners in
each, and an overall winner - Joyce van Vuuren.
For more fund
raising we are planning ‘A breakfast with Edie’, a games
evening, and a fashion show in the next few months. During September we
plan to have a Spring Carnival. We welcome members of the PE parishes
to join us at any of these events. Details may be obtained from the
parish office (mornings) 041 992 1983.
Pic: Parading their work - 1st prize winner Lionel Matthews (4th left) and overall winner Joyce van Vuuren (extreme right).
Being well-trained
The
recurring testimony of the current students and graduates is that BIEC
provides unique and effective training for Christian ministry.
Many
of our clergy lecture at the Bible Institute Eastern Cape, and
Bishop Bethlehem is on the Board of Directors. It is an
inter-denominational, multi-cultural theological college based in
Villiers Road, Walmer.
The principal, the Revd Vernon Light,
writes, "The graduates are trained for service in different racial
contexts, especially multi-racial, multi-cultural local churches."
The
interdenominational char-acter of the Institute means that the students
come from many different denominations and churches. The different
doctrinal views are presented, which enriches the students'
understanding and helps foster greater respect for Christians from
other churches.
Vernon says, "Training students for tent-making
and how to teach unemployed members in their churches to run a small
business are future goals."
Readers are invited to visit BIEC at
16 Villiers Road, Walmer, or phone/ fax for more details about courses
offered: 041 581 3106.
Website: www.pechurchnet.co.za/bibleinstituteeastcape
iindaba is proofread by
Mike McCoy of
WriteRight Editing
Copy-editor, proofreader and consultant on written English
www.writeright.co.za
Cell: 083 664 3982
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iindaba
Editor: Frankie Simpson
Layout / design : Frankie
Email: iindaba@anglicandiocesepe.org.za
Tel/fax +27 041 360 6808
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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
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